Chapter 16
Prim stood in the twilight glow of a streetlamp in front of Tangled Up in a Spell, staring at the store that had been her happy place for so long, and felt a deep sense of despair.
She’d been advised that she could not go inside until after the Magical Task Force had investigated.
In fact, the MTF had told production they couldn’t go in either until they were done investigating as well.
Prim could only imagine the calls she’d already gotten from McKenna, though at least she wouldn’t have to deal with them until her phone finally turned up.
She supposed she could kiss the production fee goodbye. At the rate things were going, she’d be surprised if the studio didn’t try to sue her. For what, she didn’t know. Surely the store couldn’t be blamed for the knitting needle incident, could they?
Of course they could. Everybody was going to be pointing fingers at everyone else. McKenna wasn’t likely to be reasonable after she was attacked.
Defeated, Prim sank down onto one of the metal benches that lined the downtown streets.
She knew she should leave. After the day she’d had, the best thing to do was to stay as far away from the shop as possible.
Only she couldn’t. She cared too much about it and her gardens.
Oh, how she longed to sneak into her garden and stand among her plants and herbs where she could center herself.
There would be hell to pay if she did that, though. Or there would be if she got caught. Her soul was so depleted, she actually contemplated climbing the back fence. It was tall, but she could probably find a way. Prim was resourceful. That’s what everyone was always telling her, anyway.
“It’s a real shame, isn’t it?” a soft female voice said from behind her.
Prim jumped, her heartrate spiking so high it left her breathless. “Where did you come from?” she asked the woman standing in the shadows behind her.
“The inn. I was just taking one last walk through this gorgeous town before I head back to Los Angeles.” The woman moved to stand in front of the bench, and when she turned to look at the yarn shop, Prim spotted a large bandage on her face.
“Oh my gosh. You must be Bree.”
“Yes, I’m Bree.” Her tone was wistful as she scanned the area, seemingly trying to commit the town to memory. “And you’re Prim Easton. Owner of the yarn shop.”
Prim stood quickly and took the woman’s hands in hers, squeezing them lightly. “Yes, that’s me. I am so sorry about what happened to you today. I can’t even imagine how terrifying that must have been for you.”
“I actually didn’t even see the needles coming,” she said with the saddest laugh that Prim had ever heard.
“I was trying to gather my courage for the big kissing scene. I was staring at Trace, my costar, trying to decide if I should really go for it. You know, bury my hands in his hair and make it really steamy, or if I should let him take the lead and sweep me off my feet. Then, bam! Just like that, out of nowhere, I had two knitting needles lodged in my face.” She held her hand up, showing off her cheek.
“Right here in my money maker. Cruel irony, right? I was just about to kiss Trace Chance, and this freakish nightmare happens.”
“That’s tragic,” Prim said, thinking it sounded eerily like something that would happen when her magic was out of control.
It shook her to her core, and she thanked her lucky stars she hadn’t been there when it happened.
She squeezed Bree’s hands one more time before letting go.
“Is there any chance that they’ll wait for you to heal before they film?
Maybe you’ll get another chance with Trace. ”
Bree let out a scoff. “You’ve met McKenna. Do you think she’ll delay filming for anyone?”
Prim made a face. “She doesn’t seem the type.”
“No, she isn’t. She’s already called in a new actress to take my place, and I’ve been given a one-way ticket back home.
It looks like my movie-star career ends right here.
This is where she fired me, so I figured I’d come back, take it all in, and then let it go.
” She held her hand up, mimicked spitting into her palm, and then blew on it as if she were releasing all the bad energy she carried with her.
Prim admired the woman. It was obvious she was sad, but she was channeling her emotions instead of letting them boil until they exploded. The realization made Prim gape at the other woman.
“What is it? Did my bandage fall off or something?” Bree asked as she reached up to pat the injury.
“No, it’s not…” Prim started and then took a second to gather her thoughts. “I’m just amazed. You’re taking this a lot better than I would have if I were in your position.”
“Oh, no. Don’t get me wrong,” Bree said with a humorless laugh. “I’m heartbroken. This was supposed to be my ‘big break’ according to my agent. I turned down another role that I really wanted just to do this rom-com with McKenna. She— What?” Bree stopped abruptly and studied Prim, looking confused.
Prim decided the actress must have been trying to decipher the horrified expression on her face. “Um, well, McKenna doesn’t seem like a great person to work for. I don’t understand turning down something you really wanted to do in order to endure that kind of abuse.”
Bree tossed her head back and laughed but then slammed her mouth shut and pressed a palm to her cheek. “Laughing is a bad idea.”
“I’m so sorry,” Prim said, meaning it.
“It’s not your fault. And to answer your question, McKenna has a reputation for producing hit-makers.
If an actor is a star in one of her films and it does well, they can go from constant auditions to having directors come to them.
This was supposed to help me be able to do the films I want but also be offered the ones that actually pay a decent wage. ”
“I see.” Prim still wouldn’t have wanted to endure that kind of abuse, but she understood someone following their dreams. She had them too; they just didn’t involve acting.
“But that’s all over now,” Bree said with a sigh. “Or at least I think it is. With this cheek, who knows if it’ll heal properly or if I’ll ever get hired again?”
“I’m so sorry,” Prim said again. “Nothing like this ever happens in my store, and I have no idea why it happened today either.”
“Maybe there were just too many witches in one spot,” Bree said with a sigh as she took a seat on the bench.
“My grandmother once told me that if you want to see sparks really fly, put three or four crazy witches in a room. One could dine out on those stories for life. And in the movie business, nearly everyone is crazy. You have to be to live this life.”
“Did she ever do that?” Prim asked, amused.
“Oh yes. She’s a sucker for drama,” Bree said, her eyes sparkling with humor. “Back in her prime, it was all shenanigans.”
“I’d like to meet this grandmother of yours,” Prim said. “She sounds fun.”
“She is. And maybe you will.”
Prim thought over what she’d said. Maybe there were just too many witches in one spot.
Besides Prim, who else had magic that was there?
Viv did, but her magic was limited to basic potions.
She mostly used hers for special dyes for the hand-dyed yarn they sold.
“Who were the witches at the store today?”
“Oh, let’s see,” Bree said. “Trace. One of McKenna’s assistants. The brunette, not the blonde, and one of the other actresses. The one with curly auburn hair.”
“Thanks,” Prim said. “That information will likely be useful.” Especially when she spoke with the Magical Task Force. Whenever that would be.
“If I had to bet, I’d say the person who attacked me was McKenna’s assistant and that she was aiming for her boss,” Bree said.
“Do you really think so?” Prim asked, trying to understand why an assistant would attack her boss.
“Yep. I do. The movie industry is hard enough, but add in tough workloads and an abusive boss? That’s a recipe for disasters and mental breakdowns.”
“I’m on the verge of my own mental breakdown,” Prim said quietly. “And I’ve only been associated with the business for a week now.”
“I’m sorry you’ve been caught up in this,” Bree said.
“It’s not your fault.” Prim shook her head. “You’re not leaving tonight, are you? The Magical Task Force is going to be investigating, and I’m sure they’ll want to talk to you.”
“Tomorrow morning,” she said. “I just wanted to see the town one last time.”
They both turned to look at the moonlight shining over the Hood Canal and mountains that were to the west. It was a view that Prim often took for granted, and she was sorry that the actress had to leave. “I wish things had turned out differently for you.”
“Me, too. Good luck, Prim. I hope you make it out of this tangle unscathed.”
The sweet actress smoothed her dark locks, gave Prim a sad smile, and bent her head as she walked down the street toward the water.
Prim watched her go and felt a pang of sadness, like she’d just lost someone who could have been important in her life.
It was a strange sensation. Prim had just met the woman but knew instantly she was some sort of a soul connection.
Had Bree felt it too? Maybe that was why she’d stopped to talk to Prim.
It was rare for Prim to connect so instantly to anyone, and she seriously contemplated going after Bree.
But what would she say? Should she tell her they were going to be besties?
Prim shook her head at herself. Surely, the woman would consider Prim one of the ‘crazy ones’ she’d mentioned and run for the hills.
Feeling a sadness wash over her, Prim took one last look at her shop before deciding it was time to find Dante.