A Taste for Magic (Familiar Kitten Mysteries Book 5) Read online

  One side of the building had windows that mostly looked out into the parking area, but we’d been seated where you could see the creek that ran near the building and then on through the new section of town. There were several clusters of trees as well as a large expanse of green grass. On the other side of the creek was a walking path where a few people took a nighttime stroll.

  “It is a nice view,” Thorn said. “As nice as we can get here.”

  “Did you say that because you wanted to go into the city?” I asked.

  “No, I just don’t want you to feel like I shortchanged you tonight,” Thorn said.

  “Why would I think that?”

  “Can we just drop it?” a man’s voice cut into our conversation.

  I looked at the table next to ours, and a man and woman occupied it. They were dressed elegantly with her wearing a tasteful black dress and him in a white shirt and black dress pants. Her dress might have been simple, but the diamonds adorning her neck, ears, wrists, and fingers definitely were not. The woman dripped with thousands of dollars’ worth of rather large diamonds. Probably tens of thousands.

  I didn’t recognize either of them, but if I’d had to guess, I would have wagered they lived in the old aristocracy section of Coventry. It was an area where all of the houses were as big and historical as Hangman’s House. Those houses were where the old money of Coventry lived. It was a very small section of town given that throughout history, most of the most important residents of Coventry were witches. Still, every small town had a couple of streets like that, and we weren’t the exception.

  “No, we can’t drop it, Paul. You’re deflecting again, and last time we tried to have this conversation, you were using distancing language. This is important for our marriage,” the woman said.

  “Rebecca, stop. You’re my wife, not my shrink. Please don’t try to psychoanalyze every conversation. It’s exhausting. I just wanted to bring you out for a nice dinner. It wasn’t an invitation to take a deep dive into all of our problems. I just wanted to enjoy a nice evening out with you. Is that too much to ask? Is it?” he asked and sort of threw his napkin down on the table.

  Rebecca winced a little, but then instead of backing off, she straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin high in the air, and continued. It was like a train wreck that I knew I shouldn’t be watching, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

  “I don’t see how we can enjoy anything with these issues hanging between us. Clearing the air is the only way to fix our marriage,” she said.

  “Why do we always have to fix our marriage?” Paul’s face had started to turn red, and I could see the beginnings of a vein starting to pop out in his forehead. “It’s just like you to do this. We don’t need to fix anything. What you mean is that you can’t enjoy your dinner until I agree to let you fix me…”

  I could tell that he was about to go off, but just then, Hollie showed up at their table with their food. She placed Rebecca’s plate down gently in front of her and practically dropped Paul’s in front of him.

  “I’m so sorry,” she said. “My hand slipped.”

  Hollie sounded genuine, but the look on Paul’s face told me he didn’t entirely believe that. Something passed between them, but it happened so fast, I couldn’t pin down what it was. There was something negative between them. I could feel it.

  “Is there anything else I can get for you?” Hollie asked.

  “No,” Rebecca said before her husband could utter a word. It was obvious she wanted Hollie to leave so they could continue their discussion. I didn’t think Rebecca noticed what had passed between her husband and the waitress because she’d been studying her manicure.

  “Okay, then. I’ll be back in a couple of minutes to check on your satisfaction with the meal.”

  “Thank you,” Rebecca said and then dismissed Hollie with a wave.

  “Kinsley,” Thorn said and pulled my attention away from the couple at the next table.

  “Oh, sorry,” I said. “They’re just…”

  “That won’t be us,” Thorn said.

  “Well, I’m not a shrink. So there’s that,” I said with a chuckle.

  Before Thorn could respond, Paul made a loud sound. It was something between a sigh and a growl.

  “This linguini is overcooked,” he snarled.

  “I’m sure it’s…” Rebecca began to speak, but Paul cut her off.

  “No, Rebecca. Don’t tell me it’s fine. It’s overcooked. It’s practically mush,” he snapped.

  His wife twirled some of her pasta around her fork and took a bite. “Mine is excellent.”

  “It would be,” he said and offered her a tight smile.

  Paul raised his hand and flagged Hollie down. When she saw the look of displeasure on his face, she hurried across the restaurant to attend to him.

  When she arrived at their table, Hollie opened her mouth to speak, but Paul cut her off. “This pasta is mush. It’s disgusting,” he practically spat. “I just wanted to have a nice dinner with my wife, and I can’t even have that.”

  “I’m sorry about the pasta,” Hollie went to pick up the plate, but Paul grabbed the other side and tugged back. The action threw Hollie off balance a little, but she caught and composed herself. “I’m sorry about the trouble.” Hollie looked at Rebecca when she said that part.

  “It’s ridiculous to have to deal with issues like this in a restaurant like Bella Vita. I’d expect it at some low-rent chain restaurant, but not here.”

  “Paul, you’re getting really upset. Maybe we should dial it back a notch. Let’s let the waitress do her job,” Rebecca said.

  “Yes, Paul. Please let me do my job.” Both Paul and Rebecca winced when Hollie used Paul’s first name. She knew him from outside of the restaurant. It was obvious at that point that they were familiar. But, why?

  Rebecca’s face told me that she was wondering the same thing. Paul’s eyes flicked between his wife and the waitress.

  “I can take this back to the kitchen and fix the issue right away.” Hollie was immediately back to the role of the friendly, helpful waitress.

  But it was too late. There was already a storm brewing in Rebecca’s eyes. I could see the wheels turning in her head. A light of realization went on inside her mind, but at the same time, her expression darkened.

  “What is this, Paul?” She demanded. “What don’t I know?”

  “Oh, jeez,” Paul said and rubbed the back of his neck. “Don’t start, Rebecca. Just don’t even start this. You’re supposed to be some brilliant shrink, so don’t start playing stupid now. You know…”

  But Rebecca cut him off. “Don’t you dare call me stupid!” she said and shot up from her chair.

  By that time, Hollie had the plate and had already begun her retreat toward the kitchen. Sensing that things were about to get tense, Thorn stood up.

  “Sheriff, no need to interrupt your dinner. I’ll be going,” Rebecca said and began to walk quickly to the door.

  “Rebecca!” Paul called after his wife, but she left. He didn’t follow her out either.

  Much to my surprise, Paul sank back into his chair and took a drink of his wine. He appeared to have no intention of leaving.

  A minute later, everyone in the restaurant had stopped staring at him. They’d all gone back to their own company and meals.

  It looked as though Thorn was ready to say something to me when the chef emerged from the kitchen. Wylie Romano walked over to Paul’s table with Hollie in tow. She placed the plate of fresh pasta on the table and then scurried away to attend to her other tables.

  Wylie apologized to Paul and promised to fire the kitchen staff who had dared to serve mushy pasta in his restaurant. Paul assured him that wasn’t necessary, and the two men chatted for a few minutes. When Wylie left the table to go back to the kitchen, Paul was smiling again. He sat and ate his new plate of pasta contentedly despite his wife’s absence.

  I looked over at Hollie, who wiped one of her eyes with the back of her hand. I c
ould have sworn she was crying.

  “Well, that’s better,” Thorn said.

  “For everyone but Hollie,” I responded.

  “You think she’s okay?” Thorn’s brows knitted together with concern.

  “Yeah. I bet it’s just stress. None of our business anyway,” I said.

  “Since when?” Thorn asked with a laugh.

  “I’m serious. It’s not my business, so I will stay out of it,” I said. “I’m here for you tonight.”

  “This isn’t going how I planned,” Thorn said, looking suddenly anxious.

  “What do you mean?” I asked. “We’re out to dinner. I’m sure we’re going to have a nice meal.”

  “I came here for more than just the pasta,” Thorn said.

  He stood up and stuck his hand into his pocket.

  “Oh my gawd, it’s happening!” a woman cried out from a few tables away.

  I looked over and saw Reggie and Viv in a booth. They’d been scooted over close enough to the wall that I hadn’t noticed them before. They pulled out their phones and aimed them at us.

  “Way to play it cool, guys,” Thorn groused, but then he turned back to me and smiled.

  And then he dropped to one knee.

  “I should have done this right before,” he said.

  That was when I noticed what he’d reached into his pocket for moments ago. It was a small, black velvet box.

  “What is going on?” I asked.

  “Kinsley Skeenbauer, you are the light and love of my life. You are the sun, moon, and stars in my sky. I hope you don’t mind that I don’t have many more flowery words for you. I just can’t think of too many that are good enough to describe the way I feel about you. I try, but they are inadequate. Nothing in this world compares to you. I’m hoping that you will do me the honor of becoming my wife,” he said and opened the little box. “Will you marry me, Kinsley?”

  The ring inside was a blue diamond solitaire. I didn’t know much about diamonds, but I knew blue was one of the rarest colors. It was an unusual and amazing ring. Something he had picked out because he knew I’d love an unconventional ring.

  For a moment, I was speechless.

  “Kinsley?” Thorn sounded concerned. He probably thought I was going to be sick again or perhaps turn him down. The truth was that I was just overwhelmed.

  Slowly, I began to nod my head yes.

  “Yes, you’re okay?” he asked, still on his knee with the ring held out hopefully in front of him.

  “Yes, I’ll marry you,” I said.

  And the restaurant erupted into thunderous applause. Viv and Reggie rushed over to the table. Both of them gave me a quick hug and a peck on the cheek.

  “We’ll be leaving you guys to it,” Viv said. “Thorn just wanted us to get the proposal on video.”

  “Call me,” Reggie said.

  Thorn slipped the ring on my finger and pulled me into his arms. “I’m so glad you said yes,” he said before kissing me.

  The applause died down, and people quickly went back to their meals again. I bet no one who came to Bella Vita that evening knew they were going to get dinner and two shows.

  Thorn and I both sat back down at the table, and I couldn’t stop staring at the ring. I’d never seen a blue diamond in person before. It was like looking into the depths of the ocean on a cloudy day. When I did peel my eyes away from it to look at Thorn, he beamed with happiness and pride.

  “It’s a blue diamond,” he confirmed. “It’s not a sapphire.”

  “I can tell,” I said. “It’s beautiful, Thorn. It’s amazing. You didn’t have to get something so… expensive?”

  “Don’t worry about that,” Thorn said. “And yes, I did have to get something so… rare and unique. It had to be the best for you, and for our baby. I will always provide the very best for you and our baby.”

  “I can help with that,” I said.

  “Let me at least have the illusion I can take care of you, Kinsley,” Thorn said with a good-natured chuckle.

  “You can,” I said. “And you do. I love you for it.”

  Thorn didn’t get the chance to respond. All of a sudden, Paul at the next table practically jumped out of his chair. He looked red-faced and angry as he stormed off to the restroom. I figured after the fight with his wife, Thorn’s proposal had annoyed him.

  I didn’t pay much attention after his retreat to the restrooms because our food came. I’d ordered linguine with olive oil, garlic, and a heavy sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Thorn had opted for a New York strip steak and a side of spaghetti with pesto. Our waitress brought out a little dish of sundried tomatoes for me to add to my pasta if I wanted them. I didn’t think I did until I tasted one. After that, I dumped them all on my plate.

  We were nearly done with our meal when I felt nature’s call. “I’m going to use the lady’s room before we go,” I said.

  “Okay, I’ll flag down the waitress and pay the check,” Thorn said as I stood up.

  I gave him a smile and then bolted for the restrooms. As I walked into the women’s room, I noticed that the door to the men’s restroom was slightly ajar, but I had to go too bad to stop and think about it. The little peanut must have liked dinner because they were doing the trampoline on my bladder.

  Once I was done and washed my hands, I hurried back out of the bathroom. When I did, I ran right into a tall, older gentleman who didn’t appear to have seen me.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled even though I was pretty sure he’d run into me.

  “Oh, my gosh. I’m so sorry, ma’am. I’ve got to call for help,” he said with a dazed, far-off expression.

  “Are you okay, sir?” I asked, hoping that he wasn’t having a heart attack. “Do you need medical help?”

  “Not me…”

  “Who then? What’s going on? My boy… my fiancé is the sheriff. He’s out there. How can we help?”

  “There’s a man in the restroom. He’s dead.”

  Chapter Three

  I darted past the elderly gentleman and right into the men’s room. There was a chance whoever it was wasn’t really dead, and that meant I could save them.

  Inside the restroom, I almost tripped over Paul sprawled out on the floor. He was on his stomach with his head turned to the side. His hands were out in front of him, and it almost looked like he was trying to crawl the rest of the way to the sinks.

  His eyes were glassy and open. I tried not to focus on his thousand-yard stare. It was worse than the man I’d run into outside of the restrooms because Paul was gone. He had just a bit of red at the corner of his mouth.

  He was dead.

  Or was he?

  “We need help in here!” I called out as loud as I could.

  I dropped to my knees and rolled Paul over. It took all of my strength plus a little magic to do it. He was dead weight for sure.

  To everyone else, probably even medical professionals, Paul was dead. His lips were blue, and he had no pulse, but I splayed my hands across his chest.

  I closed my eyes and began my search. I just needed to find the tiniest spark of life in him. If it was possible that I’d caught him before the light went out entirely, then I could stoke that fire. It was necromancy if I caught him after he crossed over.

  And then I found it. The light in his brain hadn’t gone out entirely yet. He was about to cross, but I got him beforehand.

  “No, you don’t,” I said and used my power to light that spark inside of him up.

  I wasn’t able to heal him as much as I wanted before the first person came stumbling through the bathroom door. I’d hoped it would be Thorn, but it was a stranger.

  While I’d healed him as much as I could, he still needed a hospital. “Did you call 911?” I asked the person who’d come in.

  “Someone out there did. Is he alive?” the man with red hair and a navy blue sports coat asked.

  “He is. He’s breathing. I brought him back,” I said. “I mean, I did CPR and he’s back.”

  “Do you think
it was a heart attack?” the man asked.

  It was then that I realized he was writing something down in a little notebook. He was taking notes on our conversation.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, but even then I had one hand on Paul’s chest. I tried to heal him a bit more, and I made sure he didn’t get worse again.

  “Name’s Dorian Black. I’m with the Coventry Gazette,” he said and mimed tipping an invisible hat to me.