Chapter 10 #2
“What about you guys?” Finn shook her head.
“No. This is the first time I’ve felt like I’ve had family in a long time.
My mom tried, but she thought I was weird too.
When I told her I could hear the baby she was carrying, well, that sealed the deal.
What about this tester? That was her wake I was catering? ”
“Yeah. I didn’t know she was even from Magic Springs.” Mia tapped her can thoughtfully. “I guess I need to find someone who knew her.”
“You should ask the woman at Magic Brews. She knows everything. Once my magic was confirmed, she gave me a gift.” Finn stood and walked over to the table. She picked up a dragon made of amethyst. “This. She said I might need it someday.”
Mia hadn’t talked to Marsha Fieldstone for a while. She seemed nice but very tied to the coven. “How did Marsha know about your magic? Did you tell her?”
“You’re kidding, right? I don’t need people thinking I’m crazier than they already do.
No, one day, I was in there working on my recipe book, and she walked up with a box.
The dragon was inside. She said it was lovely to meet a new witch, and if I ever needed help, I could call on her.
She said she was on my side.” Finn looked down.
“Then she hugged me. I was shocked. She ran out of the dining area and back to the counter. I stayed away for a few weeks, but she chilled out after that.”
“We need to have Grans check out the statue, and you should tell her about Marsha. I’ll do some research on that too. Before we arrived at the wake, did you see anything?” Mia pushed away her questions about Marsha Fieldstone.
Finn shrugged. “I had some trouble keeping the sternos lit, but nothing weird about that. Some catering companies don’t replace those containers often enough.
Of course, people didn’t start showing up until eleven.
That guy Brandon who talked first came over and introduced himself.
Said he was a friend of yours, and if I was considering joining the coven, he’d be glad to walk me through the process. ”
“He said we were friends, and he knew about your talents?” A pit formed in Mia’s stomach. How had the coven found out about Finn? Did they know about Christina as well?
“I knew he was lying. One, he never comes over to the house, and two, he just had this liar, liar, look about him.” Finn rolled her eyes.
Finn’s description made her smile. “Good instincts. I haven’t told anyone about your history, so I don’t know how he found out you were training with Abigail, or how Marsha Fieldstone knew. I guess I need some coffee.”
“Sounds like a good place to start gathering information. Coffee shops are the best place to find out about the community. Before I moved here, I’d stop at a shop for a few days to see if the town felt right.
” Finn looked up from rubbing the table with her jacket.
“That was my magic talking to me, wasn’t it? ”
“You seem to have a strong intuition skill. Make sure you mention this to Abigail. Maybe there’s some specific training around that. I only know kitchen witch stuff.” Mia wondered how strong Finn really was with her magic.
“I don’t think that’s true.” Finn turned around and found a worn paperback on her desk. “You should read this. The most important line in the whole book is ‘Argue your limitations, and they’re yours.’”
Mia looked at the copy of Illusions by Richard Bach. “Do you mind if I borrow it?”
Finn smiled. “I know where you live, so sure. Your library has been so generous with its books, I guess I can lend one of mine.”
“You’ll get it back, I promise.” Mia stood. “I’m going to get that coffee now. I’d take you with me, but I want to talk about you, and it might be uncomfortable with you right there.”
“Take Christina. You shouldn’t be alone.” Finn stood and followed her to the door. “Thanks for inviting me to your society. Things are starting to make sense.”
“I’m afraid we might have put you in danger or on the wrong side of the battle, but you need to make your own decisions and alliances. I’m not even going to tell you to stay away from Marsha. I think you can figure out who is good and who’s not.” Mia held up the book. “Thank you for sharing this.”
“Mia the good witch. It has a ring to it, right?” Finn giggled as Mia reacted. “You should see your face.”
Christina was sitting in a booth at Magic Brews while Mia waited for Marsha to finish making the coffee. The dining room was empty. They had come at the exact right time to corner the coffee shop owner.
“Here you go.” Marsha set a tray in front of Mia.
“Marsha, if you aren’t busy, I was wondering if you could chat with us. I’d like to talk about Finn Shiley. She works for Mia’s Morsels and now lives in the academy with us. She said the two of you talked?” Mia held her breath, half expecting Marsha to run out of the dining room to the back.
But the woman turned toward the large pot and filled a cup with black coffee. Then she put three cookies on a plate and gestured to the booth where Christina waited. “Let’s get this over, then. I’ve been wondering when you would show up. I’m surprised it took Finn this long to tell you.”
“Honestly, we’ve been limiting her witchy knowledge, so she probably thought you knowing and giving her the dragon was just cool.
We sat her down today and filled her in on most things.
Abigail’s training her, and from now on, she’ll be involved.
” Mia sat down and handed Christina her coffee.
“So how did you know? Did the coven make an announcement?”
“An announcement? No. You must remember, I deal with the witch entrance log for Magic Springs. As soon as Finn arrived in town, I’ve been keeping an eye out for her.
She obviously didn’t know who or what she was for a few months.
Now, I feel her power growing.” Marsha took a cookie, then handed the plate to Mia.
“I hope I didn’t frighten her. I was just trying to be friendly. ”
“So, she showed up on the new entrance list. I suppose that’s also how Brandon found out?” Mia took a cookie, then handed the other to Christina.
Marsha shook her head. “He already knew when he called me about two weeks ago and asked me when she arrived. The list isn’t given to the coven.
They have to work through me to get the specific information.
That way, if a noncoven witch comes into town, then leaves without causing any trouble, the coven never knows they were here.
It’s a right-to-privacy issue, and it saves unattached witches from having to deal with coven admission coordinators in every town they visit.
You’ve met Sabrina. You know they can be a little pushy. ”
Christina dusted the cookie crumbs from her hands. “When did the list show me?”
Marsha smiled softly. “I didn’t realize you already knew your history, but the moment you showed up in town as a teenager.
Wearing all that black. I was certain you’d realize your potential sooner rather than later.
The funny thing is that no one in the coven has asked about you.
Typically, if a witch stays longer than a year, the coven gets an alert, and they come to me for the specifics.
Right now, it’s like you’re shielded. Mia, did you put that spell on her? ”
Christina and Marsha turned to stare at Mia. She lifted up both hands in surrender. “It wasn’t me, I swear. I wonder if it was Grans.”
“Honestly, now that I’m up close with you,” Marsha said, gazing at Christina, “the spell feels older. Like it was put on when you were a child. Speaking of children,” Marsha started but saw Mia shaking her head, her eyes wide.
“Yes?” Christina asked.
“Oh, I was wondering how you liked the cookie. It doesn’t have as much sugar as it normally has. I hope it’s sweet enough.” Marsha’s words stumbled out.
Mia needed to talk to her friend soon to let her know she was expecting. Maybe all first-time moms were this clueless to what was going on inside their bodies, but Mia thought Christina would realize it sooner or later.
If someone like Marsha didn’t blurt it out first.