Fairly Hexed: Cozy Witch Mystery (Witches of Winterfield Book 3) Read online

  The two of them started to walk down the street, and they turned when they heard Carly calling out to them.

  "Hey, guys. Wait up." Carly said and jogged towards the witches. "Thank you so much for helping me. The last thing I need is everyone thinking I'm in cahoots with aliens."

  "Why didn't you just come out and say something?" Murielle asked just before Belladonna elbowed her in the side. "Hey, watch it, witch. I'm just asking."

  "I'm still pretty new around here. I don't want to upset anyone. Especially now when the whole town seems to be on edge."

  "We understand. Murielle is just cranky because she's anxious about her wedding. Speaking of which, we're having her bachelorette party tomorrow night. You should come with us. Ooh, and bring Jessie. You younger gals can help us find a good time." Belladonna said, and this time, it was Muri who did the elbowing.

  "I'm one hundred and twelve years old," Carly said with an impish grin.

  "I thought you were Jeremy's cousin or something?" Murielle looked perplexed.

  "Well, I'm more like a cross between a cousin and a great great great Aunt. It's hard to explain. I am family, though."

  "So will you come with us tomorrow night? And bring Jessie?" Belladonna asked hopefully.

  She'd never thrown a bachelorette party before, and Bella was terrified that it would be completely lame. She'd wanted to do something special for her best friend that didn't involve strippers or too much noise.

  "Gosh, I'm getting old," Belladonna mumbled.

  "What's that?" Carly and Murielle said in unison.

  "Oh, nothing. Sorry, I was talking to myself. Anyway, Carly we're going to go search the graveyard and the forest entrance. You wanna come with us? Bella asked.

  Before she could answer, Olwen tugged at the leash and started to pull her. Fortunately, the dog was pulling her in the direction of the Winterfield Cemetery.

  "It looks like Olwen agrees with you," Murielle said.

  None of the women were sure what to expect when they walked through the entrance, but they certainly didn't expect to see nothing. The entire graveyard was as quiet as...

  "It's as quiet as a graveyard," Belladonna said and laughed.

  "You're hilarious," Murielle responded, but she chuckled too.

  "Should we go check out the tree line, then?" Carly added.

  They made their way across the cemetery to the forest on the other side. None of them wanted to go very far in. Not because they were afraid, but Belladonna and Murielle were tired. Carly was a little scared, but that wasn't something she was going to admit. She was supposed to be a terrifying vampire, and she didn't want it to get out that the video of the little green person Jessie showed her had scared her to death. The idea of space and everything that could be out there was petrifying.

  "We should get to bed. Maybe if we don't stay up too late tonight, we'll be able to party like rock stars tomorrow night." Belladonna said and yawned.

  She hated to leave Carly. Bella knew that her nightlife must be a lonely existence sometimes.

  "That's okay. Jessie goes to the bakery at 3 a.m. to get the days baking started. I've been meeting her there and helping out as long as I can. There isn't much business for a gardener this time of year, so it keeps me busy. I'll meet you guys tomorrow night?" Carly asked.

  "Yes, and bring Jessie," Belladonna answered.

  Murielle and Belladonna walked Carly home and then headed back to Bella's house. Sterling was sitting in the window watching for them. Her ears went back, and Bella could swear she heard her hiss when the cat saw they'd brought Olwen back.

  "You should stay the night. You're off work tomorrow, right?" Bella asked as she opened the front door. "I won't get to see you the whole time you're on your honeymoon, so you should stay with me now. I've only got a few appointments at the salon tomorrow morning, and you could come in and help me."

  "That depends," Murielle said and raised one eyebrow.

  "On what?" Belladonna said with a laugh.

  "On whether you've got the goods."

  "You're too much. You let Aunt Sumac get you addicted." Bella said.

  "Well, witch. Do you have them or not?" Murielle said and crossed her arms in a fake pout.

  "I do. I got a brand new bag yesterday."

  "Are they the minis?" Muri asked.

  "What other kind of strawberry marshmallows would I buy?"

  "Sold. I'll spend the night."

  "Do you want some cocoa too?" Belladonna asked as they walked toward the kitchen.

  "Ooooh. We can put the strawberry marshmallows in the cocoa. Chocolate covered strawberry cocoa."

  Bella was glad that Muri seemed to be relaxing. Witches didn't get married often, so the whole wedding and marriage thing put a lot of stress on Murielle.

  Fortunately, a hot cup of cocoa and an hour of reading helped both of them drift off to sleep. In the morning, Belladonna made eggs and pancakes for breakfast while Murielle took Olwen out on a run. Before she left, Muri invited Bella along.

  “If you ever see me running, you better run too because there’s probably a monster chasing me. Like a scary monster, though, not like one of our friends.” Bella said with a laugh.

  Murielle got back just as Belladonna was finishing up the cooking. She gave each of the animals a scoop of food and then helped Bella set the table. For just a moment, Belladonna’s heart hurt a little because she knew that this was probably the last time they’d do this. Murielle was about to be a married woman. A family came next, and Bella knew that meant she and her friend would have to spend less time together.

  “It’s one of the reasons I resisted him for so long,” Murielle said, and Belladonna wiped the one tear off her cheek.

  “I forgot that sometimes you can see what I’m thinking.”

  “It’s going to be okay. It’s not like I’m leaving. In fact, I have a surprise for you. I wasn’t going to tell you until after we got back, but I can’t wait.”

  “What is it? Are you guys having a baby already?” Bella practically whispered.

  “Belladonna Nightshade. You know better than that. Well, now I’m not going to tell you the surprise seeing as how you think I’m a hussy and all that.” Murielle said and crossed her arms.

  “You’d better tell me, woman, or I’m going to turn you into a goat.” Belladonna teased.

  “Okay fine.” Murielle put her hands up in front of her chest in surrender. “Luke and I bought the house across the street,” Muri said and then covered her ears with her hands.

  It was a good idea because the shriek Belladonna lets out was almost enough to break a window. Sterling hissed and ran upstairs as Olwen howled. Belladonna grabbed Muri and pulled her into a tight hug.

  “Okay, Bells. You’re going to suffocate me.” Murielle grunted out.

  “Sorry. I just got a little excited.” Bella said and let her friend go.

  “Let’s eat those chocolate chip pancakes before they get cold,” Murielle said.

  “Yes. That sounds good.”

  Belladonna and Murielle took Olwen to the salon with them. Ben and Luke were both working during the day, and Bella felt bad about leaving the dog alone with Sterling all day. Sterling liked her quiet time, and Olwen didn’t like quiet time at all.

  Bella left a key under a flowerpot on her porch for Ben. She and Muri would take Olwen back to Belladonna’s house after work and before the bachelorette party. Ben said he’d come over to her place after work and play with Olwen. At some point, it seemed his dog had decided that she was Bella’s dog instead. Ben was all right with that because if his plans came true, Olwen would be their dog.

  The salon was pretty quiet during the day. Muri took over as Belladonna’s shampoo girl, and Olwen guarded the snack basket Bella kept on the front counter. By early afternoon, all of Belladonna’s appointments were complete.

  “So, what are we doing for my bachelorette party?” Murielle said as she swept the floor.

  “You’re going to hate me,” Belladonn
a replied.

  “Oh God. What have you done?”

  “It’s nothing bad. I promise.” Bella said.

  “Spill it, witch.”

  “I rented out the roller skating rink in New Salem for the night. Do you remember how to shoot the duck?” Bella raised an eyebrow at Muri.

  “You didn’t.”

  After they had dropped off Olwen at Bella’s house, the witches went to the Devil’s Pesto for Italian Beef sandwiches. The skating ring wasn’t open yet, but they headed out for New Salem anyway. Bella surprised Muri with a massage and facial at Tranquility Spa and Massage.

  “This is nice,” Murielle said sleepily as the masseuse rubbed lavender oil into her shoulders.

  “This is really nice.” Belladonna agreed as the masseuse worked on massaging citrus oil into her temples.

  After their massages and facials, the two witches found out the Spa had a café. It was bright and airy with floor to ceiling glass windows that overlooked a Zen garden. They sat down in bamboo chairs at a frosted glass table, and a young man brought them a recycled paper menu.

  “Salad, Belladonna?” Murielle said and wrinkled her nose.

  “Let’s just give it a try. We have a little while before the limo brings Jessi and Carly to meet us. I don’t want to drive anywhere else until we go home.”

  “Okay, but if it’s bad, you’re taking me for a burger. It’s my bachelorette party, remember?”

  “Whoa bridezilla.” Belladonna laughed.

  “Sorry, was that too harsh?”

  “I’m just kidding. And yes, if the salads are horrible, we’ll go get a burger.”

  They settled on a salad that had grilled chicken breast, candied pecans, dried cranberries, and blue cheese crumbles. It all came dressed in a vinaigrette dressing with a small baguette of whole grain bread on the side.

  “That’s one of our richer salads, are you sure you ladies wouldn’t like to split it?” The young waiter asked.

  “You have got to be joking kid,” Murielle said with a snort. “No we don’t want to split a salad, and while you’re at it, add some extra bread to our order. Do you guys keep butter back there? We’ll need butter for our bread. Lots of butter.”

  The waiter took their menus and hurried off. He mumbled something about hoping it went right to their hips, but the whole thing was so funny that Belladonna and Murielle let it go.

  “This is splendid,” Muri said right before shoving another forkful of the salad into her mouth.

  She looked like a chipmunk her cheeks were so full.

  “It is good.” Belladonna agreed.

  “If I’d known there was this much cheese on salad, I’d have started eating them a long time ago.”

  “Murielle, there isn’t that much cheese on these salads when you order them. You made that waiter go back and get you a second helping.” Bella said with a snicker.

  “Oh, right. Anyway, when we make salads, we’ll put even more cheese on them.”

  The rest of the bachelorette party was a success. The limo Belladonna rented for the evening arrived with Jessie and Carly right about the time the witches finished eating.

  The inside of the limousine was lit with a black light, and Bella had paid the driver extra to decorate it with decals that glowed in the light. There was loud techno music playing, but Carly, Belladonna, and Murielle looked like they had no idea how to let loose.

  “I’ve got something that will help us, you know, have a good time,” Jessie said. “I wasn’t sure if I should bring it, but I figured I would offer.”

  “Did you bring drugs to my bachelorette party?” Murielle asked with a gasp, but she wasn’t nearly as offended as she let on.

  “It’s not drugs. It’s elven spirits. It’s a drink, but it’s not like booze. It’ll make you feel light and silly, and there’s no hangover.”

  “Give it to me,” Murielle said and stuck out her hand so fast it made them all laugh.

  All of them took a nip and then passed it back to Jessie. The four women giggled as the bubbly sensation washed over them.

  They arrived at the skating rink, and their hostess Elaine showed them around. There was a buffet table set up in what typically served as the snack bar area. The spread contained hot and cold appetizers and a selection of different cupcakes.

  “Oh no. I didn’t think about your dietary considerations, Carly.” Bella blushed. “Can you eat any of this?”

  “I can, and I fully intend to,” Carly said with an excited smile.

  “But, what about the, you know, vampire thing?” Murielle asked.

  “Muri, that’s probably rude.” Belladonna chastised softly.

  “Oh, sorry.” Muri actually blushed a little.

  “It’s okay. You guys probably don’t want to know too much about that, but let’s just say I’ll be okay tonight. And, I can totally eat as much of these treats as I want.”

  Once Elaine helped them get their skates from the rental window, the women made their way over to the rink. As they started to skate, the house lights went down, and colorful spotlights lit up the rink. The disco ball in the center that no one had noticed began to spin, and it turned the whole place into a giant kaleidoscope.

  They spent the rest of the evening alternating between skating to disco music and stuffing their faces full of mozzarella sticks and red velvet cupcakes.

  Around ten o’clock, Bella and Muri realized that they weren’t going to be able to party all night and be bright eyed and bushy tailed for the wedding the next afternoon.

  “I’m sorry you guys, us old ladies have to get some rest. We’ll have the limo take us back to our car, and you two can keep it all night if you want.” Belladonna said as she took her skates off.

  “It’s okay. You and Murielle are a blast. We’ll have to hang out again sometime.” Carly said. “How late do you have the skating rink for?” She said and shot a look over at the buffet table that still contained half of the food.

  “Haha. It’s rented until one a.m. You guys stay. We’ll have the limo take us to the car and send it back here.”

  When Belladonna and Muri arrived back at Bella’s house, Ben was asleep on the couch with Olwen beside him and Sterling curled up in the crook of his arm. Bella grabbed an afghan and covered him up without waking him.

  “You should stay too,” Bella whispered to Muri. “One last time.”

  Three

  The next day, Bella woke Ben up early so he could head over to Luke’s house and help him get ready.

  “I can’t believe they’re actually getting married today,” Belladonna said as she flipped the French toast that she was making him for breakfast over with her favorite red spatula.

  “It’s exciting,” Ben said and took a sip of the coffee she’d also made him. “I feel a little guilty just sitting here while you make me coffee and breakfast.”

  “You should.” She teased. “My ancestors would have turned you into a toad. Nightshade women don’t wait on men. However, you’re lucky that I love you so much. I actually kind of like having someone other than Murielle and Sterling to make breakfast for sometimes.”

  “I feel like I should do something for you.” He said and smiled sheepishly.

  “Oh, believe me. I have an extensive list of yard work and handyman stuff that needs to be done come spring.”

  “Anything for you, my love.” He winked at her.

  “Oh god, gross.” Murielle came into the kitchen in an old gray t-shirt with her hair sticking up in just about every direction.

  “Your hair is what’s gross. We’re going to have to get you into a salon chair stat, but first, do you want any French toast?” Belladonna asked her as she plated Ben’s food and slid it across the counter to him.

  “Thanks, babe.” He said and grabbed the syrup.

  “Yes. I would love some of your French toast and for you to fix my hair. Where are Aunt Sumac and Granny? I thought they’d be here by now?”

  “Aunt Sumac said they’d be late because they have
a big surprise for you,” Belladonna said as she threw two more slices of egg soaked toast into her pan.

  “Oh lord,” Murielle said as she put her face in her hands. Ben got her a cup of coffee and patted Muri on the back.

  “Hush. I’m sure it will be all right.” Bella looked back over her shoulder and winked at Murielle.

  After breakfast, Ben kissed Belladonna goodbye and gave Murielle a big hug. “Good luck, kid. See you at the sentencing. I mean the wedding.”

  It’s enough to make everyone laugh. It also made Belladonna worry for a split second that she was mistaken about Ben’s inclination to get married. In the end, she decided that it was just a joke and she forced the tiny flutter of anxiety in her belly down. This day had to be all about Murielle. Bella could go back to agonizing over marrying Ben after her best friend’s wedding.

  “Let’s get to the salon so I can get your hair and your makeup done. Your dress will be there soon. I’ve had it pressed and steamed, and the cleaner will deliver it there.” Bella said.

  At Bella Beauty Salon, Belladonna worked her magic to tame Murielle’s run away hair. She took out her wand and waved it over Muri’s head.

  For her wedding day, Murielle had wanted something different, so that’s what Belladonna gave her. She used magic to make her friend’s hair grow out to waist length. A twirl of the wand made her long hair twist into soft waves. Belladonna pulled the strands from the front back to Muri’s crown and pinned them.

  The next step was the color. The shifting color that Belladonna wore would detract from Murielle’s wedding gown and makeup, so Bella decided to go a different route. She used a light spell to make Murielle’s hair glow like a fairytale princess.

  It was a good thing that Belladonna did the bride’s hair before doing her makeup because when Murielle saw her hair, she burst into tears.

  “This is really happening. I’m really getting married.” She gasped in between sobs.

  “It’s not too late to back out. We could take off and move to a Greek beach or something.” Belladonna said completely seriously.