Chapter 11 DRESS TO BESPELL #3
‘It’s trying to tell you that we need frozen lemonades,’ said Lara, hurrying over to a vendor who was set up by the side of the boardwalk.
He was a young guy with a cheerful smile and hair in a braid that ran all the way down his back, and even under the umbrella of his stand, I could tell from the way he filled the cups that he had magic.
We went to work on the lemonades with our novelty spoons, chatting and complaining about brain freezes as we stepped off the boardwalk and headed up to the main street.
The town was fully dressed in its Summerween costume now: vibrant flower baskets hung from the lamp-posts, and ghostly garlands wafted between letterboxes.
Pumpkins and apples formed decorative cairns in every nook and cranny.
Bananarama blasted from the window of Lorraine’s, and the three of us bopped along – how could we not?
‘We’ll be by for coffee in a few,’ Lara called to Lorraine, who was out on the patio adjusting the floral arrangements on the tables.
‘You’ve just gone and made my whole day,’ said Lorraine. ‘I’ll save you a slice of the apple cinnamon pie. And a cruffin, because I know Miss Molly can’t just pick one.’
We gave her a wave and then continued on up the street, past the sundry shop and the Hammer and Thistle, towards For Old Times’ Sake, which we’d decided to visit before heading to the bookshop.
Further down the street, I could see the tiny library and the Camellia, the cute B&B that Lara was staying at.
‘I’m not paying money to make my own bed and take out the trash,’ said Lara, when Tiff asked her about whether it was worth the splurge over a vacation rental. ‘I want turn-down service and a chocolate on my bed, damnit!’
Fair. We all wanted a chocolate on our beds.
‘I always forget how much I love this town,’ said Tiff as we approached the quaint vintage shop, picking our way up its chrysanthemum-lined front steps.
Wind chimes tinkled happily in the ocean breeze, and Lara burst out laughing as she caught a whisperwind.
‘Someone’s confessing to deliberately not picking up after their dog when in front of their best friend’s house, which they’re jealous of. ’
Shaking her head in amusement, Tiff grabbed the crystal door handle and pulled open the yellow-painted front door for us. We obediently wiped our feet on the shag welcome mat. Mostly because it was always a joy to interact with shagpile anything.
‘Hey, girls,’ purred Alberta, the shop’s owner, who was hanging dramatic scarves in order of thickness on tiny hangers. ‘Looking for something for the beach? Or a gift? Or just something a wee bit haunted with a fun backstory?’
‘Definitely that one,’ said Lara, inspecting a candle in the shape of a peacock. ‘Especially if it pairs well with a strappy heel.’
‘We possibly already have something haunted, actually,’ I said.
I showed my ring to Alberta, who propped her glasses up on her enormous bouffant hair – Alberta had been part of a somewhat successful folk group, and still had the vibe – then pulled a pair of reading glasses out from her pocket.
‘I’m at the age where I have more lenses around than your typical optometrist,’ she said with a sigh.
She inspected the ring carefully. ‘It’s magical, that’s for sure.
And probably from the seventies? And those moonstones …
My money is that they’re from what used to be The Shooting Star.
Poor old Francis isn’t with us these days, but he had this glorious jewellery shop off one of the laneways.
This feels like it has his magical signature. ’
‘But it’s not from your shop? More recently, I mean,’ I pressed.
Alberta shook her head. ‘I usually remember the magical items. Like a shawl I sold yesterday – that one brightens any conversation. The purchaser has a snake of a mother-in-law, so it was a good buy. Where’d you find this one?’
‘Down at the beach, near the Heart Tree,’ I said.
‘Ah, with all the lovers’ initials.’
I nodded, thinking about J.Lo and her unfinished heart.
‘My late husband proposed to me there, you know,’ said Alberta, smiling gently.
‘It’s a place that makes your heart sing.
Lots of love magic – I’m not surprised you found a ring like this there.
There are probably hundreds of pieces of jewellery to be found, if you stopped by with a metal detector. ’
I smiled, thinking of the bottle caps Mom and I had joked about.
Lara rubbed her hands together. ‘I know what I’m doing tomorrow morning. All right, dead end on the ring for now, but there’s nothing to stop us from shopping. Because, Molly, you have some Tucker boys to knock dead, and Tiff and I are here to help.’
‘Uh uh.’ Tiff held up her hands. ‘I want absolutely no part of this. There are plenty of boys in the world, Molly, and all but two are staying somewhere other than the Pink House.’
‘Maybe Molly prizes convenience,’ said Lara, head cocked.
‘I’d hope she prizes our relationship with Rosie and the boys,’ said Tiff archly.
‘I prize these shoes, actually,’ I said, holding up a pair of platform polka-dot heels.
Tiff huffed. ‘You’re lucky those are really great shoes.’