Magic & Mystery Read online

  “I’m sorry, girl,” I said as I laid her down on the passenger seat. “I’ll be right back.”

  She lifted up her head for a second but then fell back to sleep. When cats sleep, they really commit to it. I locked her in the van and went inside. It was after regular dinner hours, so the diner was dead. I paid cash and was in and out in a few minutes.

  I wanted to get back on the road, but if I wrecked the van because I was eating and driving, I’d never forgive myself. It only took me ten minutes to eat my fish and chips. That’s with having to pick pieces of the white fish out of the batter and feed them to Jezebel. I thought she was thoroughly exhausted, but apparently, she had enough energy to beg for food.

  Driving after dark was a less than perfect idea. No one got hurt, but I started to wonder if I’d drifted off to sleep or something during part of the drive. It’s all a little unclear, but for some reason, the drive took a lot less time that I expected.

  After I pulled out of the diner, the rest of the trip to Tree’s Hollow should have taken a few hours, but it felt like it took under an hour. When I arrived at Tree’s Hollow Bed and Breakfast I looked at the clock on the dash of the van, but it had gone out.

  Jezebel woke up and stretched her legs, and I forgot about the time. I grabbed my suitcase and her, and together the two of us went into the giant Victorian mansion.

  Walking in took my breath away. I hadn’t visited my Aunt in years, but I had so many childhood memories of this place. It hadn’t changed a bit. The burgundy brocade wallpaper hadn’t aged a day, and the lights on the walls still looked like gas lamps. The lobby was quiet, and Lenny’s boots barely made a sound on the dark wood floors.

  Jezebel wriggled violently and worked her way out of my grip. Her paws hit the floor with a soft thud, and she ran up the stairs ascending from the lobby before I could react.

  “Jezebel,” I whispered because I didn’t want to attract the attention of the man behind the desk.

  “It’s fine. I’m sure she knows where she’s going.” The man behind the counter said as he looked at me over the book he was reading.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Jezebel. I’m sure she knows what room to go to, Lenny.” He responded.

  “You know my name?”

  “It hasn’t been that long, has it?” He asked and raised his eyebrows at me. “It’s me, Nick Strunk. I’ve worked for your Aunt since you were little.”

  “Oh my gosh, Nick. You look great.”

  And, it was true. Nick had to be in his fifties by now, but he didn’t look like he’d aged since I was a little girl. He’d been in love with Aunt Kara since they were in elementary school together. Nick had helped her open the place. Aunt Kara had never given in and agreed to go on a date with him, but he wouldn’t give up. She gave him a job in the B&B working the desk at night figuring he’d give up eventually and move on. He never did.

  “Thanks. I’ve got your room all ready for you.”

  I walked over to the desk and sat my suitcase down. Nick handed the key across the counter to me, and I looked over the tree-shaped keychain attached to it.

  “Don’t most places have those electronic key thingies now?” I asked.

  “Yep, but since when has Your Aunt ever done what other people do?”

  “You’re right,” I had said before a big yawn escaped from me. “Ugh. I’m more tired than I thought.”

  “Get up to bed then. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  I picked up my luggage and started up the stairs. I ran my hand up the polished wooden balustrade the way I did every time I went up these stairs as a kid. When I reached the second floor, I turned to the left instinctively and saw Jezebel lying in front of the door at the end of the hall.

  As soon as she saw me, she rolled onto her back and started to swish her tail against the thick cream carpeting. I made my way down the hall and used the key to open the door. Jezebel was impatient, and she pushed her way past me into the room as soon as I cracked the door.

  When I got into my room, the frantic pace of the day hit me. I couldn’t tell what time it was because the clock next to the bed was suffering from the same malfunction as the one in the van, but I knew I was tired.

  I opened my suitcase and pulled out my fuzzy sheep pajama pants. After I was dressed and ready for bed, I slipped under the covers. I fell asleep almost instantly. The last thing I remembered before drifting off was Jezebel jumping onto the bed and curling up beside me.

  I had the strangest sensation of falling as unconsciousness took me, but it wasn’t frightening. It was as if a balance was being set inside of me. I was falling into myself, and then I was gone.

  Four

  I awoke to the scent of fresh cinnamon rolls and bacon. I sat straight up in bed and scared the bejeezus out of Jezebel. The smell was overwhelmingly divine, and I actually had to wipe a bit of drool from the corner of my mouth.

  “That smells fantastic. Oh, sorry Jez. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

  I jumped out of bed and made my way for the room door. I have no idea why, but absolutely could not resist the smell of those cinnamon rolls. It was almost like magic.

  “I’m going downstairs to grab some breakfast. Can I get you anything?” I had asked Jezebel before I went out the door.

  “Just a carton of milk, please.”

  “Okay, see you in a few. Don’t destroy the room.”

  I went downstairs and followed the scent into the breakfast room. Aunt Kara was there dressed in an apricot apron and a 1950’s style dress. It was both completely charming and absolutely hilarious. She looked beautiful, but the look didn’t fit her personality at all.

  “Brat!” She called out and crossed the room quickly to embrace me.

  Her hair smelled of honeysuckle. It immediately took me back to the time I was balancing on the fence outside the inn, and I fell off. I skinned me knee so badly that I thought I was going to die.

  Aunt Kara rocked me in her arms until my sobs subsided. She was also the only person I would let re-bandage my knee until it was healed. I cried, sobbed, and carried on, but it meant more to me than she’ll ever know. I wasn’t always the best patient, but the times she cared for me are the times in my life that I felt the most loved.

  “Aunt Kara. It’s so good to see you. It’s been to long.” I said and then I was crying in her arms again.

  “Let it out, Brat. Let it all go.”

  Just like that, I felt better. My tears dried up, and the smile returned my face. The scent of breakfast filled my nose again, and I actually felt my new life begin.

  Aunt Kara grabbed us two cinnamon rolls, a big pile of bacon, and two coffees. She even brought a packet of hot cocoa for me to mix into my coffee. I wasn’t sure how she knew I’d want it, but she knew. It was as if she’d been waiting for this day.

  “This is all surreal, Aunt Kara. My life has changed so much in the last two days. I had no idea any of this was coming.” I said and took a bite of the cinnamon roll.

  The warm, sweet frosting melted in my mouth, and my apprehension vanished with it. I felt my shoulders relax and my breathing deepen as I chewed the perfect texture of the pastry.

  “Feel better?” She asked and smiled.

  “I do.”

  “Good, then we’ll tackle the small issue of your talking cat.”

  “What?” I dropped my fork, and it bounced off the plate and onto the floor.

  “Keep it down. Finish your cinnamon roll, and we’ll talk as soon as breakfast is over.” She said and took another bite of her food.

  That was the moment that Jezebel asking for milk as I left the room came rushing back to me. Aunt Kara’s sweet smile was the same one she used to plaster across her face every time she had to take me to the doctor for shots. Something was about to go down.

  Kara finished her roll quickly and excused herself from the table. She had to finish hostessing breakfast before we could talk. Every time I would start to get tense about the things that were going on arou
nd me, I would take another bite of the breakfast Kara gave me, and I’d relax again. Even the bacon was the perfect combination of salty, savory, crispy goodness. The food almost felt magical.

  Once the last guest left the breakfast room, a young woman in a French maid’s uniform came out of a door on the other side of the room. Aunt Kara removed her apron and handed it to the woman who took it back into the room she came from. As Aunt Kara took her seat at the table with me, the woman reappeared and started to clean up.

  “Go ahead and ask,” Kara said as she crossed her legs and adjusted the hem of her dress.

  “Why is your housekeeper wearing a French maid’s uniform?” I’m pretty sure that’s not the question she was expecting, but I had to know.

  “Oh. Okay. That’s Evette. She just likes that uniform. I provided her slacks and a black button-down shirt. I figured it would be more comfortable, but Evette bought that dress.”

  “Evette eh. Is she French? That name sounds French.”

  “She’s not French. Evette just has a very clear idea of who she is and what she likes.” Kara said.

  “I envy her that,” I said.

  “I’m confident you’re a great deal more like her now than you were two days ago.”

  “I’ve changed the subject again. I’m not sure why, but in the last twenty minutes, the fact that my cat is now talking no longer seems strange. I do have to take her some milk soon.” I said and took the last swig of my coffee.

  “You should. She’s not going to like being made to wait too long. Then you have a job interview at nine. The editor in chief of the Tree’s Hollow Tribune is looking forward to meeting with you.” She said and stood up.

  “Wait, I have a job interview? For what job?” I couldn’t believe that I already had a job interview.

  “Charles will explain everything dear? Now, I have a conference call with some Japanese diplomats that want to stay here after they visit Springfield.” Find me later, and we’ll have some dinner together. “Oh, and Evette.” She turned and called for the housekeeper. “Evette, would you be a dear and grab Lenny a carton of fresh cream for her cat.”

  Evette hurried into the back room and reappeared with a small container of heavy cream. She put it on the table and flashed a million-dollar smile at me.

  “Your kitty will like this much better than plain old milk. We keep a stash in the kitchen for the guests that request it. Most people are happy with milk or half-n-half, but some people only want cream.” She said.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m here until four. Just let the front desk know if you need me for anything.”

  She went back to her cleaning, and I realized that I needed to get a move on if I was going to get to my interview on time. I took the cream upstairs and poured some of it into one of the glasses from the bathroom.

  “Thank you,” Jezebel said and licked her paw lazily before diving into the cream.

  “I suppose I’m just expected to accept that you’re a talking cat now,” I said as I walked back into the bathroom to start the shower.

  “Ooh, this is cream. And yes, you’re going to have to get used to me talking. I have a lot to say, lady.” Jezebel said and went back to greedily lapping up the cream.

  “Oh really? Like what?” I was going to regret asking, and I knew it.

  “You fart in your sleep.” She said without looking up at me.

  “What?” My cheeks turned bright red.

  “You pass gas when you’re dreaming.”

  “Jezebel!”

  “I don’t mind. I just thought you might like to know.” She said, and I could swear she was smiling impishly.

  “I don’t believe you.” I crossed my arms.

  I guess I figured that if I got angry, I could stop being embarrassed. Jezebel continued drinking her breakfast while I glowered at her.

  “Fine. I made that up, but you do snore like a chainsaw when you have a cold.” Jezebel said and went back to licking her paw.

  “I can live with that. More cream?”

  “Thank you.”

  After that, I took my shower and got dressed. Jezebel sat right on my feet while I curled my hair and put on a touch of mascara.

  “I thought you were some sort of enlightened being. Why are you getting fur all over my pants and shoes?” I asked while looking down at her.

  “Still a cat, Lady.” She said and then ran off to climb the curtains in protest.

  “I have to go. I’ll be back soon. Please don’t destroy the place while I’m gone.” I pleaded.

  “Leave the door open, so I can explore.” She said still clinging to the thick velvet curtains.

  “I can’t do that. You can’t just run around here.” I said, and she jumped down.

  “Fine, I’ll just poop in here, and I’ll shred every piece of fabric in this room. You’ll be so mad that you’ll put me up for adoption, and maybe my next family will appreciate the fact that I’m a freaking talking cat. Jeeze, Lady.” She said and flexed one of her claws at me.

  “Okay, okay. I’ll leave the door open. Just please promise me you’ll behave.” I begged. “And stop calling me Lady. We’ve been friends for years.”

  “Whatever, Lady. Good luck at your interview.”

  I huffed, scratched her under the chin, and then left the room. The door stayed open. Aunt Kara was in the lobby as I was leaving, so I let her know about Jezebel’s newfound freedom. She told me not to worry. Apparently, the inn has a greenhouse in the back yard, and Aunt Kara grows catnip. She figured Jezebel would spend most of the day out there.

  Aunt Kara also gave me the keys to her car. She said one of the bell hops would unload my moving van today and put my things in my room and in storage. They’d also return the van for me.

  “You don’t have to do this,” I said.

  “Get going, or you’ll be late. I’ve already put the address to the paper into the GPS for you.”

  So with that, I was on my way to the Tree’s Hollow Tribune for my job interview. The funny part was, I didn’t really know what job I’d be interviewing for today.

  I’d been in the city too long, and the drive to the newspaper was awe inspiring. From my vantage point, the trees seemed taller than the buildings in the city. I knew it was an illusion, but it was almost magical. The trees had the smallest smattering of baby leaves and buds and the brown color with tiny bursts of green and red against the clear blue sky was enchanting.

  The GPS told me to turn, so I slowed down and took a right onto a narrow, but paved road. I drove for another mile or so amongst the majestic trees and arrived at what appeared to be a large log cabin.

  The Tribune’s sign was also made of a large plank of dark wood stained a deep red-brown. The place instantly felt like home in a way that my cubicle at my former job never did.

  “Hello, Ms. Brewer! Come in. Would you like some tea?” The older gentleman seated behind his desk called out to me as I walked inside.

  “Yes, that'd be great.” It had been years since I drank tea, but I figured I’d give it a shot. “I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage, though. You know my last name, and I only know your first.”

  “Indeed. I’m Charles Zapier.” He said as he walked towards me with his hand extended. “Editor-in-Chief of the Tree’s Hollow Tribune.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Zapier. Thank you for seeing me today.” I said as I took his hand.

  “The pleasure is all mine, Lenny. May I call you Lenny? And please, call me Chuck now that the formalities are out of the way.” He said and started to walk towards a doorway on the inside wall of the office.

  “You can call me Lenny, Chuck. Should I sit down?”

  “Please follow me. We’ll have our tea in the sitting room. The office is much too formal a place for our chat.” He said, and I followed him into a room furnished with two leather couches positioned around a glass and oak coffee table.

  In the middle of the room was a huge roaring fireplace like yo
u’d see in a grand hunting lodge. On the other side of the fireplace was a kitchen. The teapot on the stove was already starting to whistle.

  I sat down on the sofa facing the window and waited for Chuck to return with the tea. As I waited, I ran my hands nervously over the leather I was seated on, and I noted that it was as soft as butter.

  “I wasn’t sure how you liked your tea, so I brought everything.”

  Chuck placed a silver tray on the table. In addition to the teapot, it held two cups, lemons, a sugar dish, honey, and a container of cherries.

  “Honestly, I’m not sure how I like my tea either. I’ll just try mine the way you drink yours and go from there.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” He said and poured tea into the cups.

  After Chuck had dropped two cherries, a thin slice of lemon, and a huge dollop of honey into the cups, he handed me mine and took a seat. We exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes, but eventually it was time to get down to business.

  “So, Lenny, I’m not sure how much your Aunt told you about the position, but what I need is an investigative reporter. Is that something that you’d be interested in?” Chuck asked and took a sip of his tea.

  This had to be too good to be true. Of course, I wanted the job that Chuck was offering me, but it just seemed so strange.

  “I’m very interested, but I need to ask you a question. Why do you need an investigative reporter in Tree’s Hollow?” I also wanted to ask him why he needed one now, but I didn’t want to push my luck.

  “Ah, that’s a good question. I see I’ve made the right decision when it comes to you. “ He said and stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Now, as to why I need an investigative reporter, and why I need one now. That’s simple.” I’m pretty sure he just read my mind. “Print media is pretty much dead, but around here, we’ve got a lot of folks that like the old ways. They like their morning paper with a cup of coffee, and they don’t want to read it on a screen. So, they’re willing to pay real money for the product I produce. Oh, and Tree’s Hollow isn’t the only town around here that likes their newspaper made out of actual paper. We serve several small towns in many local counties. I sell a couple thousand papers a day, and at a dollar twenty-five per paper, I’m sure you can see where the math leads. It only costs me twenty-five cents to produce the papers too.”