A Drop of Magic (A Sugarcomb Lake Cozy Mystery Book 3) Read online

  “How are things going?” Matilda asked.

  “Um, fine,” Clarissa replied cautiously.

  “Where is he today?”

  “He’s busy working.”

  Matilda clucked at that. “Two workaholics trying to date?” she asked disapprovingly. “That’s a recipe for disaster. Something’s gotta give. You need to make time for each other if you want things to work out.”

  Clarissa stared at her aunt blankly, wondering what had gotten into her.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Matilda said. “You’re thinking I’m a divorcee who’s barely even dated since her twenties. You’re wondering who I think I am, telling you how to make your relationship work.”

  “That’s not what I’m thinking,” Clarissa fibbed.

  “I have mild psychic abilities,” Matilda reminded her. “Besides, you’re an awful liar.”

  “So are you.”

  Matilda visibly flinched at that. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said stiffly.

  “You turn up at my house on a Saturday afternoon looking for diseased willow tree bark?” Clarissa asked skeptically. “Please. There are willow trees in Green City. What’s this really about – and why are you suddenly so interested in my love life?”

  With a sigh, Matilda held up her hands in defeat. “Okay, you got me. I actually came over to ask you a favor,” she admitted. She hesitated and then blurted out, “I know this is weird. And it’s kind of embarrassing. But could we go on a double date?”

  Clarissa’s eyebrows shot up. She certainly hadn’t been expecting that!

  “Who’s the lucky guy?” she asked, trying to sound nonchalant even as she was salivating for details. The mere fact that her aunt was dating again was mind-blowing! Matilda had been single for ages, so this was big news!

  “He’s someone I met at work,” Matilda replied.

  Clarissa’s face fell. “It’s uh…not a student of yours, is it?” she asked apprehensively.

  Matilda’s judgment could be, well, questionable at times. Hopefully the flighty college instructor wouldn’t be foolish enough to date a student and put her job on the line…but sometimes common sense didn’t exactly seem to be Matilda’s thing.

  “He’s a colleague,” Matilda said, much to Clarissa’s relief. “So…double date next Friday?”

  “Um, I’ll have to check and see if Parker is free,” Clarissa said hesitantly.

  She had yet to introduce Parker to her quirky aunt – and for good reason. Who knew what sort of kooky antics Matilda might engage in? Was Clarissa’s budding relationship with Parker already strong enough to withstand her aunt’s brand of crazy?

  “Please, you have to say yes,” Matilda begged. “I haven’t dated in a long time – not seriously, anyway. My colleague is charming and funny and he has a good job. I mean…the last two guys I went on dates with didn’t even have jobs! The point is I really like this guy.”

  “You’re nervous,” Clarissa surmised as they walked back to the house.

  “No I’m not.”

  Clarissa gave her aunt A Look.

  “Okay, fine,” Matilda admitted. “I’m nervous. What if I talk too much or not enough or say the wrong thing? What if it’s awful? What if I need an out? I just figured if we went on a double date you could, you know, help me out.”

  Clarissa sighed, feeling defeated. As worried as she was about introducing her boyfriend to Matilda, she felt bad for her aunt. “I’ll ask Parker if he’s free next Friday,” she promised as they walked onto the front porch.

  “Thank you!” Matilda grinned. Then she reached for her broom.

  “Aren’t you coming in?” Clarissa asked.

  “I’ve got papers to grade!” Matilda replied.

  “What about your diseased willow tree bark?”

  “What?” Matilda asked in confusion.

  “For your potion,” Clarissa clarified. Then she pursed her lips and stared her aunt down. “There is no potion, is there?” she asked, putting her hands on her hips. “I got all scratched up by thistles in the forest for nothing!”

  “There is too a potion,” Matilda insisted.

  “What’s it for?” Clarissa demanded.

  “Okay fine,” Matilda sighed. “There is a potion…but it may have actually called for a ripe banana, not diseased willow tree bark. In my defence, it’s very easy to get those two things confused,” she insisted lamely.

  Clarissa rolled her eyes.

  Her aunt paid her no attention. Matilda was busy looking around, presumably to make sure no one was around to witness what she was about to do. When she was satisfied that the coast was clear, she hopped onto her broom and effortlessly ascended up into the air.

  “Bye!” she trilled, giving a wave before the broom whisked her away.

  Clarissa stared after her aunt in disbelief.

  “Okay, how does she make that look so easy?” she wondered aloud. “It’s not fair!”

  She went into the house and grabbed her own broom. Then she took it back out onto the sunny front porch. The cat followed her outside, no doubt eager to watch her make an idiot of herself yet again.

  “I’m going to do it this time,” Clarissa told the cat stubbornly. “You just watch.”

  She walked over to the edge of the porch and looked down the stairs. There were only four steps between the ground and the porch. Even if she did take a tumble, it wasn’t as though she would break her neck or anything.

  “I’m not going to take a tumble,” Clarissa said to herself sternly.

  The cat stared at her.

  “Yes, I know I’m talking to myself. And no, I don’t care!”

  Poised at the top of the steps, Clarissa took a deep breath and shut her eyes. She tried to clear her mind of all thoughts – and to ignore the cat’s judgmental stares. She knew she needed to concentrate if she wanted to fly. She had to focus. She had to filter out all distractions and –

  “Meow,” said the cat, choosing that moment to weave its body around Clarissa’s ankles.

  “Hey! What are you doing? Get out of the way!” Clarissa ordered in exasperation, her eyes popping open. Her concentration was very much broken now. Annoyed, she shooed the cat away. Then she tried to get back in The Zone.

  “Visualize flying,” Clarissa told herself. “If you can see it, you can do it…”

  As she held onto a mental image of herself flying on the broom, she stepped forward. She could feel the broom in her hand slowly beginning to come to life. It became lighter, as though gravity had no power over it. How exciting!

  Now Clarissa was standing on only one foot. The other was extended in front of her, as though she had paused in mid-step. By now the broom was floating a good three feet above the ground. Feeling cautiously optimistic, she released the broom. To her delight, it stayed in the air.

  Encouraged, she felt a surge of exhilaration. It was going to work this time! She just knew it!

  Suddenly the slamming of a car door startled her.

  Clarissa looked over and saw her boyfriend Parker’s flashy red sports car parked out front. She had been concentrating so intently that she hadn’t even heard him drive up. Now he was walking toward her with a broad smile on his handsome face.

  Tall, blonde-haired and blue-eyed, Parker was gorgeous. He had been born into a life privilege, living a life of luxury. He was good at everything he did, whether it be sports or working for his wealthy father’s big city newspaper. But somehow, he still managed to be modest, kind and down-to-earth.

  And now he was waving at Clarissa.

  Oh no. If he could see her, that meant he could see the broom levitating! For reasons Clarissa still didn’t quite understand, she wasn’t supposed to tell non-witches about her powers. Matilda had been very, very clear about that. (Unfortunately, Matilda was rarely clear about much else!)

  Panicking, Clarissa grabbed for the broom.

  Unfortunately, she missed. Even more unfortunately, she was still standing precariously on one fo
ot. She promptly lost her balance and tumbled right into the rose bushes beside the steps. It was not her most graceful moment.

  As soon as he saw her fall, Parker broke into a run.

  “Are you okay?” he asked as he helped Clarissa out of the rose bush.

  “I was just…doing some gardening,” she said, red-faced.

  “Oh? It looked to me like you were doing yoga with a broom,” he said, amused.

  “I hear broomstick yoga is the hottest new workout – nine out of ten janitors swear by it,” she joked. She was relieved that he apparently hadn’t noticed the levitating broomstick. She wasn’t sure how she would have explained her way out of that one! Thankfully, she wouldn’t have to.

  Suddenly, Clarissa winced.

  She glanced down at her knee and saw blood streaming down her leg.

  “You’re hurt,” Parker said, sounding distressed.

  “I’m fine,” Clarissa assured him. “I just got scratched by a thorn, that’s all.”

  “Let’s get you into the house,” Parker insisted, his arm encircling her waist.

  Clarissa really didn’t need help climbing the steps. She wasn’t badly hurt – well, aside from her pride. But she didn’t protest when Parker helped her inside. She would be crazy to do that when his arm felt so nice wrapped around her!

  Once they were inside, Parker sat Clarissa down at the kitchen table. He crouched down in front of her and gently inspected the cut on her knee. “It isn’t a deep cut,” he announced. “It’s just a little scratch.”

  “Mmhmm,” she murmured in agreement. “Of course I would have to be wearing shorts today!”

  “Where do you keep your first aid kit?” Parker asked her, all business.

  “Oh, I don’t think I need that,” Clarissa said, still feeling sheepish.

  “Yes you do. We don’t want the scratch on your knee getting infected,” Parker said, now in full-on protector mode. “Where is the first aid kit?” he asked again.

  “Bathroom medicine cabinet,” she replied.

  A moment later, Parker returned from the bathroom carrying an armful of medical supplies. Clarissa thought it was a bit much, but she didn’t say anything. The way her boyfriend was fussing over her was actually pretty sweet. So she sat there and allowed him to do his thing.

  He carefully cleaned her wound with soap and water before covering it with a bandage.

  “So um…are you free next Friday?” Clarissa asked reluctantly.

  “I was planning to work late – or rather, my father was expecting me to work late, as usual. But I can probably sneak away for an hour or two,” Parker replied. “After all, I snuck away early today to see you,” he added with a wink that made Clarissa’s heart skip a beat.

  “I’m glad you did,” she smiled.

  “So am I. What’s happening on Friday?”

  “My aunt was wondering if we wanted to go on a double date with her and someone she works with. I told her it depended on your schedule. But you don’t have to say yes,” Clarissa added quickly. “If it sounds awful to you, then just say the word and I’ll tell her we can’t make it.”

  “I’d love to meet your aunt,” Parker assured her, sounding excited by the prospect.

  Clarissa bit her lower lip. “You say that now, but…Matilda’s an odd duck,” she cautioned.

  “What do you mean?”

  Hesitating, Clarissa wondered how to answer.

  “Clarissa?”

  “I don’t know how to say it nicely,” she admitted.

  “Then just say it,” Parker urged. “I won’t tell.”

  “She’s a bit eccentric and can be kind of…well, strange. She’s a free-spirit. She used to travel with a Peruvian circus, I think. After that she took a vow of silence and spent months basically acting like a mime. And she lived and worked on an alpaca farm for a summer.”

  “An alpaca farm, huh?”

  “She got fired for stealing a baby alpaca. She said it was too fluffy and cute to not steal. She also said it wasn’t stealing because she and the alpaca’s mother had an adoption ceremony,” Clarissa said, pausing so her boyfriend had a moment to absorb the kookiness of it all.

  “She sounds interesting,” Parker chuckled. “I’m sure Friday will be fun.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Clarissa replied, unconvinced. She had a bad feeling about it.

  Chapter 04

  Friday evening was a beautiful night for a potential disaster.

  The weather was mild, and the sunset was absolutely gorgeous. Clouds were starting to build up in the distance, but so far the forecasted rain was holding off. The colorful, rapidly darkening sky was truly a sight to behold.

  As Clarissa and Parker strolled across the scenic university campus, she couldn’t help but wish they could have a date night alone, just the two of them. The historic campus was so romantic, especially at sundown. She would have loved a low-key, quiet evening of admiring the stunning architecture and lush gardens.

  But there wasn’t time to take in the sights. Matilda and her mystery date were waiting.

  “So who’s this boyfriend of your aunt’s?” Parker asked conversationally.

  “No idea,” Clarissa replied. “I didn’t even know she was back in the dating game.”

  “It’s been a long time, has it?”

  “My aunt hasn’t had the best track record with men,” Clarissa explained. “After her divorce she was drawn to quirky, eccentric guys. It never ended well. Eventually she gave up and quit dating altogether. But who knows what this man she’s seeing is like…he might be really weird.”

  “It will be an adventure, then,” Parker said cheerfully.

  “Yeah,” Clarissa agreed, feeling tense. “That’s one way of putting it.”

  “Hey,” Parker said, reaching out to squeeze her hand. “Relax. I’m sure it will be fine.”

  “Famous last words,” Clarissa muttered. Then as she looked off into the distance, she groaned.

  “What is it?” Parker asked.

  “See that woman over there?” Clarissa asked, pointing to a lone figure a short stroll away.

  “Yes, I see her…” Parker trailed off as he looked at the woman who sat all by herself in the middle of the grass. Then he squinted as though he couldn’t quite believe his eyes.

  Sitting cross-legged near the walking path, the woman had her eyes closed. Her hands were flapping spastically at her sides. She was swaying gently, and she appeared to be either talking to herself or chanting. She looked like a complete nut.

  Parker furrowed his brows in confusion. “Um, what is she doing, exactly?”

  “My aunt appears to be meditating,” Clarissa sighed with a shake of her head.

  The two walked over. Parker seemed perplexed, but unfazed. Clarissa, meanwhile, felt sick.

  Matilda was now humming loudly. It was a tuneless, bizarre noise. She swayed from side to side, rocking her back and forth with increasing violence. She opened her mouth and screeched something in a language that didn’t sound like English. It was enough to make Clarissa – and everyone else within earshot – jump.

  She seemed to be completely oblivious to the strange looks she was getting from passersby.

  Clarissa cleared her throat. “Uh…Matilda, this is Parker. Parker, this is my aunt.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Parker said.

  Matilda cracked an eye open. “Hi!” she replied. Then she resumed her swaying and humming.

  “Are we late for the double date?” Clarissa tried again, desperately wishing her aunt would stop.

  “That’s not until seven o’clock,” Matilda replied, eyes still closed and hands still flapping.

  “It’s seven now,” Clarissa pointed out.

  That got Matilda’s attention! The witch’s eyes popped open and she jumped to her feet. Looking horrified, she gathered up her belongings, which were strewn about in the grass. Then she practically raced across campus. It was all Clarissa and Parker could do to keep up with her.

  The plan
was to meet at a little café on campus. Maybe it wasn’t the most glamorous or romantic spot, but the location was convenient and Matilda swore the food was delicious. When the three arrived, a dark haired man with graying temples was already seated at a corner table.

  He stood up when they approached. He was well-dressed and good looking in a distinguished, dignified sort of way. And when Matilda got close enough, he leaned down and gave her a warm, friendly hug hello.

  Clarissa noted that her aunt appeared giddy after that.

  Turning his attention to Parker and Clarissa, the man smiled warmly. He extended his hand.

  “I’m Cliff Harrington,” he said as he shook Clarissa’s hand. “You must be Matilda’s niece. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you – she brags about you all the time.” He had a firm handshake and a quiet confidence about him.

  “It’s nice to meet you too!” Clarissa replied. “I understand you work with my aunt?”

  “Yes. I do. I teach economics, but our offices are on the same floor.” Cliff explained. “We started chatting during our downtime and, well…the rest, as they say, is history.”

  Matilda was practically swooning, and it wasn’t hard to see why. Cliff seemed like a total catch!

  He was good looking and well dressed. He seemed well-spoken and polite. When the introductions were done, he even pulled out Matilda’s chair for her. He seemed like a true gentleman. He was a real step up from some of the losers Matilda had dated in the past!

  Clarissa was pleasantly surprised to discover that her aunt’s love interest was, well, so normal. He was cordial and friendly, making small talk without completely dominating the conversation. He even had good table manners, and he was kind to the waitress. What wasn’t to like?

  Okay, so the sports talk was kind of boring. But that was okay. It was a minor complaint, really. Clarissa was not a sports fan, and she doubted she was even capable of faking interest in football. When Cliff and Parker began discussing the Green City Roughriders, she promptly tuned the conversation out.

  That was when she noticed the state her aunt was in.

  Poor Matilda was a nervous wreck.

  She hadn’t said a single word in a very long time. Instead, she was biting her lower lip and sneaking not-so-subtle glances in Cliff’s direction. When she wasn’t gawking at him, she was busy toying with her silverware. In fact, she was fidgeting so much that it was becoming a terrible distraction.