Chapter 2
Ten weeks later, Aiden rode into Hudsbury, parked in the little car park hidden behind the doctor’s, and strolled through the tiny high street.
He passed the church, where the yew tree was tied with a rainbow of remembrance ribbons, the fairy statue – whose feet were polished from all the hands that touched them to wish for safety – overlooking the river, and the ancient gatepost that residents knocked for extra luck.
It was foggy again. It hadn’t been when he’d left home, but he wasn’t surprised when he’d rounded the top of the hill to find the little town still tucked up in its sleepy shroud of mist in the valley below.
As a biker, he hated fog – it blurred and softened the world, making it harder to see where the road ended and the sky began.
And where danger waited. But in Hudsbury he liked how it wrapped around things, making the world seem cosier and changing the tone in the air until the buildings seemed to hum in welcome.
And how droplets glistened on the fat yellow rosebuds that bloomed early in the garden of the funny-shaped house on the corner.
He paused by the shop door and bent down to pet the grey cat that twirled around his ankles. ‘Hello, Mist.’
The cat gave him one of those stares – like she knew exactly what he’d been up to and wasn’t the least bit impressed. She allowed Aiden the privilege of petting her for a few more seconds before ceasing to find him interesting and wending her way through the door.
The shop felt warm and welcoming as always and the floorboards squeaked and creaked their usual greeting.
Some days, when he was feeling more fanciful, he almost thought the pattern of noises might mimic the cadence of speech: Morning!
How’s you? What’s your news? Come in and look around…
He shook his head at his silliness – clearly Ophelia, and her habit of talking to creatures and things like they were sentient, was rubbing off on him.
‘Morning. Want coffee?’ He winced when her voice rang out from the kitchen – he’d hoped to sneak in before she’d come down from her flat.
‘Yes please.’ He sauntered over and leaned in the bookcase-cum-door.
‘Weren’t you wearing that yesterday?’ Ophelia pulled a face as she handed over the steaming, richly scented mug. ‘I take it you spent the night with the lovely Linda?’
‘Actually, Linda was last month. Yesterday was the rather delectable Deanna.’
‘Goddess above. What are you like?’
‘Can I help it if I’m irresistible to women?’ He grinned.
Ophelia shook her head. ‘It’s bizarre to me – the idea of sharing so much of yourself with so many different women. What’s this? Third since I’ve known you?’
‘Mmm. Something like that,’ Aiden murmured as he gulped his too-hot coffee.
He hadn’t realised Ophelia was trying to keep track – although she hadn’t done a very good a job if she thought last night’s new friend was only number three, and he wasn’t about to correct her.
‘Besides, what am I supposed to do when the two most gorgeous women I know have taken each other off the market?’
‘Watch it,’ Ophelia warned, laughing.
‘What? It’s the truth!’
‘I think she’s warning you about me, Romeo!’ Katie elbowed him in the ribs.
‘Sorry.’ Aiden stepped out of the way of the shorter woman, his mouth already watering at the smell of bacon.
‘You do know that I’m the one paying you, not her?’ Ophelia grumbled. ‘Why do you do what she says, but not me?’
‘Because you’re nice. Katie’s scarier. And she feeds me.’ Aiden grinned.
‘I probably shouldn’t have started that, but I’ve always had a soft spot for strays.’ Katie giggled. ‘That’s how we semi-adopted Mist. Or she adopted us. Now you’re mostly domesticated, stopping seems mean. Bacon sarnies?’
‘I swear, boss, you found yourself an angel.’ He quickly kissed Katie’s cheek while snagging a sandwich. ‘You’re lucky you met her first, otherwise I’d have stolen her.’
‘Shut up.’ Katie smacked his arm.
‘See? Told you she’s scary!’
‘Again, I’m the one who pays you. Not to mention, owning a magical store.’
‘Yeah, but you like my baking too much to curse me,’ he teased, still unsure how many of her comments about magic were jokes and how many she really believed.
‘Keep winding me up and I might break my rule about spelling colleagues…’
‘Oh, so I’m a colleague now? That’s an improvement on underling.’
‘I could listen to you two bicker all day.’ Katie laughed. ‘But I’ve got to get going.’ She placed a sweet kiss on Ophelia’s lips. ‘Oh, Aiden? She probably won’t tell you, so I will – we had a bit of trouble with Father Michaels last night. Keep an extra eye?’
‘Will do.’
‘It was hardly trouble,’ Ophelia grumbled.
‘Not so loud as the last one, then?’ Aiden grinned, remembering when the very traditional priest had tried to ‘exorcise’ Ophelia’s store – with a water gun filled with holy water – drenching both them and two customers, and sending a batch of their newly finished Valentine’s bath bombs fizzing pink and red hearts all over the place.
Not to mention soaking a couple of grimoires, which had given off the oddest smells while drying on the radiators.
‘No, this was much quieter. Just a few of his friends and a bunch of pamphlets. He left… quickly.’ She glowered.
Aiden wasn’t convinced that was all of it, but it was clear that was all she was willing to share, so changed the subject. ‘So, is it Easter decorating today? You promised Rayenne we’d get the decorations up.’
Mist glared at him, grumbling a warning.
‘Ostara.’
‘Sorry?’
‘It’s not Easter, it’s Ostara. Spring equinox and a time for balance, renewal and rebirth.’
‘OK. So, no Easter eggs then?’
‘Nope. But plenty of Ostara ones. And hares. And lots of garlands and flowers.’
‘Sounds pretty.’
‘It is. But it feels like a lot of work. We could leave them and do something more fun. I’ve had a great idea for a new bath soak recipe, and you could use more practice with your herbology…’
‘That sounds great, but you did say we needed to decorate.’
‘I don’t fancy climbing around ladders and things right now.’
‘If Rayenne comes back and they’re not up, she’s going to be unhappy.’
‘Rayenne doesn’t own Glimmers. I do.’
‘But she rents her room, and I don’t really want to upset a reiki master. Especially as she’s training me.’
‘She’ll be fine… Maybe a bit sarcastic.’
‘Ophelia…’
‘Aiden…’ She matched his tone, but he folded his arms and met her gaze evenly, patiently.
‘Ugh. Again, you do remember I’m the one paying you, right?’
‘Yup. And I remember one of the things you pay me for is helping you keep on track with tasks and not getting distracted when it comes to things you should do but would rather not.’
‘I can fire you.’
‘I know.’ He grinned cheerfully. ‘But then you’d have wasted the last ten weeks training me to deal with you in moments exactly like this. Katie would rehire me anyway. And Mist likes that I remember to feed her on time.’
‘Mew!’
‘You being right doesn’t make you any less annoying.’ Her glare would have made most people suddenly remember urgent appointments, or other reasons to be anywhere but in front of a grumpy Ophelia.
‘You know that look doesn’t work on me. Any more than it does the cat.’ Aiden shrugged. ‘Besides, I know you don’t really hex people.’
‘I think I liked it better when he was scared of me,’ Ophelia muttered to Mist, who h’rumphed in agreement. ‘Fine, we can do the decorations. But it still seems like a massive job.’
‘Which is why I’m helping.’
‘You really don’t mind?’
‘Nope.’ Aiden shrugged. ‘I know you only hired me for my baking and to be your minion for all the jobs you don’t like!’
‘Minion? I like that.’ She cackled.
‘Well, this minion better get to work. How about I get the boxes out, you tell me where to put things, and I’ll do all the climbing about?’
‘Thanks.’
‘No problem.’
He polished off the rest of his breakfast before putting his mug in the sink and holding out his hand for Ophelia’s things.
While she got the store ready for opening, he washed up quickly, put food out for Rayenne’s garden birds, then grabbed his bag from one of the high cupboards Ophelia didn’t use and headed for the little washroom.
He’d just pulled his shirt over his head when he heard movement behind him.
‘Did I know you were keeping clothes and stuff here?’ Ophelia asked.
‘Um. Maybe not?’ In fact, definitely not. He’d made a point of usually changing before she saw him. ‘It’s just a stash bag. You know, in case I spill something. Some of your oils and essences are pretty strong, and baking is always a bit messy.’
‘Right.’ She watched as he shook out the shirt. ‘Do you often need to change from spilling things?’ Mist miaowed, and Ophelia turned to look at her. ‘Why didn’t you tell me sooner?’ She glared at the cat before turning her attention back to Aiden.
‘You know, the more time I spend with you, the more I think you really are having proper conversations with her.’
‘No changing the subject.’
‘I hadn’t mentioned it because I didn’t think it was a big deal. If it bothers you, I’ll stop.’ He’d just go back to stuffing things in his bike panniers, or making sure he got home in the mornings. Even if it meant skipping some of the nicer wake-ups.
‘If I hadn’t noticed, I guess it’s not an issue.’ She shot the cat another look before stalking off, muttering about unreliability.
‘Why do I think she’s talking about you, and not me?’
If Mist had an answer, she wasn’t sharing it.
Aiden shook his head, amused to find himself talking to the cat like his bosses did. He peered at himself in the mirror and his hazel eyes grinned back from beneath level, dark eyebrows. His hair was a mess – hazard of the bike – so he yanked it loose, smoothed it back and retied it.
When he was done making himself presentable, he found Ophelia sat behind the till, still scowling at Mist. He wondered if the cat had broken another relic.
‘Can I ask you something that might be a bit personal?’ Ophelia glanced up at him.
‘Sure.’
‘I don’t mean to be offensive, but you are… being careful, aren’t you?’