Chili Cauldron Curse - Lynn Cahoon Page 0,15
hurricane lamps, making the atmosphere romantic. A few couples were scattered around the room and classical music feathered down from speakers on the ceiling. An empty hostess’s stand declared they should seat themselves.
“There’s a waitress station over near the bar. I bet someone’s in there.” Christina pointed and sure enough, a young woman dressed in all black stepped out of the darkened area and directly toward them. She picked up menus as she passed by the hostess stand.
“Two for a late lunch? Or is it an early dinner?” The young woman paused in front of them.
“Actually, we need to see the manager. We have flyers for Saturday’s chili cook-off to benefit the Magic Springs Food Bank, and we’d like to leave some here.” Mia rattled off the pitch she’d been practicing in her head since they’d left Grans. Selling wasn’t her groove, even when it wouldn’t cost the other person anything, like hanging up flyers.
“Of course. Please follow me. She’s back in her office. She’s a popular person today.” The woman didn’t miss a beat, she just turned away from the dining room and led them back to the employee-only area. Instead of turning left to enter the kitchen, they turned right on the hallway. The first door said break room on a placard, but the second had Manager in big letters. The woman knocked, then held open the door. “Go ahead. I’ve got to get back to the customers.”
Mia started to enter, but then heard the raised voices.
“I don’t care what you have to do. You need to reverse the spell. I told you last week if you didn’t, I’d have to take action.” A woman’s voice threatened. “And what did I find out yesterday? He’s proposed to the woman. She got my ring. My ring. And my future. She’s not even out of college. He was supposed to fall in love with me. You promised.”
“Sometimes spells can backfire. It’s a sign that he wasn’t the one. You need to be patient. Your soulmate will appear when the Goddess determines, and then the potion will work.” A calm voice Mia recognized as Pricilla’s spoke quietly, warmly. Mia also recognized the calming power of the spell Pricilla was weaving into the words to try and settle the other woman.
“Patience is not my virtue.” The woman took a breath. “Look, I don’t want to hurt you. I just want him to love me like he was supposed to. Like I paid you for.”
Mia didn’t like the implied threat in the words so she loudly knocked on the door. She pointed to Christina to stay back in the hallway. There was no need for them both to step into the fray. “Pricilla? Are you in there? We need to talk. The chili contest is coming up and we have flyers.”
She didn’t wait for an answer, just pushed through the door. Mia stepped around the doorway and into a plushy, decorated office. The carpet felt soft under her feet and the walls were a soft-peach color. Behind a white antique desk, Pricilla Powers stood, her face as white as the desk.
“Mia, so nice to see you again. What brings you here?” Pricilla pointed to the woman who was standing in front of the desk, shaking so hard, Mia could see her body tremble. “This is Julia Breggs. She lives over near the high school here in Magic Springs.”
Mia had to hand it to Pricilla. Even in the middle of a fight, Pricilla was calm and feeding Mia information just in case the woman pulled a gun. Of course, if it did go that way, the crazy woman would probably just shoot Mia as well. Mia pushed a flyer into Julia’s hands. Keeping her busy might be a more pro-active action. “Nice to meet you. The food bank is doing a chili cook-off Saturday in the warehouse on the south side of the school. Please come and support us.”
Julia glanced at the flyer and let her hand crumple around it. Mia could see the anger was still there, but the over-the-top moment had passed. She didn’t look at Mia as she answered, focusing instead on Pricilla. “I don’t know. I’ll try. Pricilla, fix this! You know where to find me.”
Mia watched as Julia stormed out of the office, brushing past a shocked Christina who had been peeking around the doorway, watching the show. When she came inside the office, she stepped close and spoke to Mia.
“She went out the side door. Man, was she