Chapter 21
“Perfection, Adeline,” Nannette said as she handed one to her husband, Charlie. “These Bad-Day Brownies are absolute perfection.”
“Thanks, Nannette.” She waited until Charlie moved down to the cash register before whispering to Nannette. “I guess things are going better?”
Nannette beamed. “They are. Oh, Adeline. It was so silly. I thought it was me, but he finally told me things at work were pretty stressful, but he didn’t want me to worry, so he tried not to talk about work, which meant we weren’t doing a lot of talking.
” She laughed. “We made a pact to talk about things, no matter how bad or stressful from here on out.” She grinned. “For better or for worse.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
By nine o’clock, the bakery was in full swing.
Word had apparently spread around town that Adeline’s magic had returned because every citizen in Moonlight Bay seemed to have shown up all at once.
Now the line continuously stretched from the counter to the door, and the display case was emptying faster than she could fill it.
She hadn’t even had time to tell Emory all that had transpired yet.
She’d left Mason’s house late last night—they’d had dinner, watched a movie, and then talked late into the night.
But Emory knew something was up because she’d already sent Adeline a text saying they’d talk when things weren’t so busy.
“This is the best Cocoa-Courage Truffle you’ve ever made,” Penny Barlow said, pressing a hand to her chest. “I just asked my boss for a raise. In my head, of course. But still...it’s progress!”
“That’s the spirit,” Adeline said, boxing up a half-dozen for Penny to take home.
“Move it along, Penny,” Princess Muffin Top said from her bed near the register. “Some of us are trying to run a business here. Chop. Chop.”
It wasn’t long after that Herschel came in and bit into his Soother Scone. “That’s the ticket. I think the crick in my neck and the pain in my hip are gone.”
Adeline smiled as she watched him shuffle to the window and sit in his usual spot.
This was why she baked. Not for the Beaumont name or the council’s approval or to prove something to her grandmother.
No. She baked for Herschel. For Nancy. For Penny.
For Nannette. For Mr. Harwick. For the frazzled vampire mothers, the nervous fairies, the stressed werewolves, and the many other citizens who came for a touch of magic from her pastries.
The rush died down around eleven, and Emory came through the archway with two hot chais with the cinnamon powder steamed in, just the way Adeline liked it. The last of her customers had just left, so she was basking in the silence.
“You’re glowing,” Emory said, handing her a cup.
“I am not glowing.”
“Please, I bet you can be seen from the sky,” Princess Muffin Top said. “It’s repulsive.”
“So tell me everything,” Emory said. “I’ve heard bits and pieces from the rumors this morning, but I want to hear it from you.” She waggled her finger at Adeline. “And don’t think I’m not aware I had to hear this from others before I heard it from you, my best friend.”
Adeline winced. “I know. I’m sorry. It just all happened so fast.” She took a sip of her chai and tried to keep from dancing a jig right there. “I went to Mason’s house after I closed the bakery yesterday.”
Emory nearly fell off the stool. “No way! And?”
“And I gave him the chocolate chip cookies I made for him. We talked. He apologized and told me his side, and I apologized and told him my side.” She paused and blinked back tears. “Did you know he called an emergency council meeting yesterday and single-handedly saved the squish-squids?”
Emory grinned. “I’ve heard that rumor.”
“I still can’t believe it.” She wiped away a tear. “And then I told him about my parents and what it was like growing up like I did.” She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “I told him everything, Emory. Things I’ve only shared with you.”
“Oh, honey. Good for you.” Emory took a sip of her chai. “What did he say?”
“He said, ‘Thank you for telling me.’” She laughed. “That was it. And it was the exact thing I needed to hear.”
“They made out,” Princess Muffin Top said. “Don’t let her lie to you like that, Emory. It was repulsive, and all I could do not to be sick right there.”
Emory snorted. “What do you think your grandmother will say when she finds out?”
Adeline’s eyes went wide. “Get this! Apparently Grandmother Lavinia went to Mason after he spoke to the council and told him it would be ‘acceptable’ for him to ask me out.”
Emory’s mouth fell open. “No way! Grandmother Lavinia said acceptable?”
Adeline held up her hand. “Her word.”
“That’s practically a declaration of love coming from that woman,” Emory snickered. “So now what?”
“Now we just take it slowly.”
The front door banged open, and Tempi Draven came storming in. Her silver-blonde hair lifted and swirled around her shoulders on its own...no breeze, no wind, just pure air elemental fury. She had a gift bag dangling from one arm and murder in her eyes.
“That man makes me so mad!” Tempi slammed the gift bag onto the table where Adeline and Emory were sitting with enough force to rattle the napkin dispenser. “I just want to whip up a dust storm and smother him!”
Emory laughed, happy to focus on something else. “What’s Ronin done now?”
“You should see this ridiculous treasure hunt he put together without my approval!” Tempi jabbed a finger at the bag. “Without. My. Approval! We are supposed to be co-chairs for the town’s birthday celebration, but he went behind my back and changed everything!”
Adeline frowned. “What’s wrong with the treasure hunt?”
Tempi’s mouth opened and shut twice without producing any sound.
“Stop doing that,” Princess Muffin Top said from her bed. “You look like my pet goldfish.”
Emory turned to Princess Muffin Top. “You have a pet goldfish?”
“I might. The details are classified.” Princess Muffin Top yawned. “Continue with your meltdown, Tempi.”
“He’s making this a costume treasure hunt!” Tempi exclaimed. “Have you ever heard of such a ridiculous idea?”
“What’s wrong with that?” Adeline asked. “It actually sounds fun.”
“This is what’s wrong with it.” Tempi grabbed the gift bag and thrust it at Adeline. “He bought this for me to wear. I mean, it’s bad enough we have to be partnered up as it is, but I draw the line. Absolutely. No. Freaking. Way.”
Adeline reached into the bag and held up the contents.
The two-piece mermaid dress was made from soft crepe in swirling shades of blue, aqua, teal, and purple.
The skirt looked like it would hug the body like a second skin, fitting closely from the hips down to the knees.
From there, layers of blue, aqua, teal, and purple tulle flared dramatically outward, cascading to the ground like colorful waves around the feet.
The halter top was made to fit just below the breasts and was made with the same shimmering enchanted crepe fabric.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” Emory whispered.
Princess Muffin Top cat-whistled from her bed. “Hubba-hubba.”
“I’m not doing it,” Tempi said, snatching the costume back and stuffing it into the bag. “It’s sexist and lewd and—stop laughing, you guys! This is serious!”
Adeline wiped the tears from her eyes. “Okay, okay. So what’s Ronin going to wear? Is he going in his merman form? Doesn’t that require water for merfolk to shift?”
“Oh, that’s the thing!” Tempi threw her hands in the air, and a gust of wind swept through the bakery.
“That’s what he’s calling the ‘best part.’” She air-quoted viciously.
“The treasure hunt was supposed to be around town. You know, around the shops, the square, the park. Normal and fun and on dry land like it usually is. But he overruled me on that as well, and now it’s out at Crystal Cove.
” She held up her hands again. “You’ll never believe this!
He wants everyone to search for Captain DuBois’ never-found treasure, The Crimson Heart. ”
“I thought that was just a myth,” Adeline said.
“It is!” Tempi shrieked. “Which is exactly why it’s perfect, according to Ronin!
” She deepened her voice to a baritone impression of Ronin.
“‘It’s all about the adventure, Tempi. The mystery. The romance of the sea.’ He’s going to ask Lucinda to help him with authenticating the background for everyone. ”
“Lucinda Towrek?” Adeline mused. “Isn’t she a descendant of both the human pirate, Captain LaBuse, and his cousin who was a vampire pirate, Captain DuBois?”
“Yes!” Tempi hissed. “The only good thing is Lucinda has agreed to make up some of the clues for us, so that’s less time I have to spend with Ronin.”
“What about supernaturals who aren’t water shifters?” Emory asked. “I mean, this is great for merfolk, selkies, turtles, and other sea creature shifters, but what about the rest of us?”
Tempi let out a humorless bark of laughter.
“Oh, he has a solution for that too.” She made a face and lowered her voice again to mimic Ronin.
“‘Well, Tempi, aren’t you an air elemental witch? You can just whip up a breathing spell for everyone. Should be easy for someone with your talents.’” She scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“How in the world the council thought putting water and air elementals together to co-chair anything was a good idea is beyond me!”
“I don’t look good when my fur is wet,” Princess Muffin Top whined. “My ears go flat, and my tail looks like a drowned squirrel. I’m not sure I like this either.”
“See?” Tempi gestured at the cat. “Even Princess Muffin Top thinks it’s a terrible idea!”
Before anyone could say another word, the front door opened, and Mason walked in. He was in uniform, and the sight caused her pulse to race. He was also holding a colorful flyer with a cartoon treasure chest on it.
He took one look at everyone and frowned. “Am I interrupting something?”
“Yes!” Tempi said.
“No,” Adeline, Emory, and Princess Muffin Top said simultaneously.
Mason crossed to the table, leaned over, and kissed Adeline lightly on the lips. Right there in front of everyone.
“Hey,” he said, smiling into her eyes.
“Hey,” she whispered back, doing her best to ignore the grin that spread across her face.
He held up the flyer. “Did you guys see this? A treasure hunt out at Crystal Cove. It sounds like fun.” He smiled at Adeline. “Do you want to go as my treasure-hunting partner?”
Adeline looked at Tempi. The air elemental’s eyes were wide, her hair still floating, the mermaid tail still clutched in her hand like a weapon she was deciding whether or not to deploy.
She turned back to Mason and smiled up at him.
“I’d love to go as your date. I think a treasure-hunting party will be fun. ”
Tempi groaned…and Emory clapped.
Princess Muffin Top unsheathed her claws and examined them.
“I suppose this means I need to find a waterproof haircare regimen.” She jumped down off the counter.
“One question. If we find the treasure, do we get to keep it? Because I’m only in if we get to keep the gold and jewels for ourselves.
” The Maine Coon turned in a circle. “Tell me I wouldn’t look glorious in a jewel-encrusted tiara.
My name is Princess Muffin Top after all.
I’ve always felt I should be sporting a tiara, to be honest.” She wrinkled her nose at Adeline.
“I feel like a fraud sporting the name Princess Muffin Top, but not having a tiara.”
“My apologies,” Adeline said.
Princess Muffin Top turned her nose up in the air. “You can make it up to me by finding me a tiara on this treasure hunt.”
Adeline picked up her chai. “I guess it’s settled then. Looks like we’re going on a treasure hunt next month.”
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