The Potion Commotion, page 10
part #1 of The Happy Blendings Witch Cozy Mystery Series
The Goodsprings Brewery is the closest thing Goodsprings has to a bar. It’s a cozy spot, even though it’s always busy, with plenty of conversation nooks and perpetual noise from the patrons...the perfect place to be if you don’t want to be overheard.
The Gallagher twins were waiting for us when we arrived, conversing in low voices with their heads together. Ethan flinched when Tessa slid into the booth beside him.
“Don’t worry,” she teased. “I was kidding about the frog thing. You’d make a much better ferret.”
Ethan laughed weakly and hid his face in his drink.
“Sorry if we seem a bit jumpy,” Ada said. “We’re...coming to terms with this new reality.”
“So are we,” I admitted. “The coven has been a secret since the founding of the town. We’re not used to outsiders knowing our business.”
“What do we do?” Ada asked. “Pretend we don’t know?”
“Nah,” I said. “We'll make it work.”
“It shouldn’t be too hard,” Tessa added. “We did just solve a murder together.”
“Yes,” Ethan conceded. “But what does that look like on our end? Does Lily just escape justice? Is Amelia Windermere’s death going to go on record as an unsolved case?”
“This is part of being in-the-know,” I told him. “You have to figure these things out. Sometimes we have to bend the truth a bit to make things work. We avoid it whenever possible, but...”
“You’re not really in a book club, are you?” Ada said suddenly. Tessa, Mara, and I burst out laughing.
“I knew it!” Ada said, shaking her head. “There was something fishy about that.”
With that, we began talking a little more like friends and less like a group of people suddenly thrown together through a series of mildly traumatic events. We had a round of drinks (courtesy of Tessa, as promised) and discussed the events of the day from each of our perspectives.
We explained to the Gallaghers how we knew they were in trouble, recounting the scene in my living room.
“That reminds me,” I said. “What were those letters you found? That’s what set Lily off, right?”
“Oh, yeah.” Ada sighed. “She didn't want us taking those. Luckily, I had them bagged up quick so they survived the water damage and we got them to the station as soon as we got back.”
“They were from Ronald Williams,” Ethan explained. “The originals we had didn’t tell the full story. It seemed Lily had made it so we only found those that made Mr. Williams look bad. They had later correspondences and he apologized for his threats, though he always maintained that he thought Amelia had done something to spoil his land.”
“And he was right,” Tessa said darkly. “Amelia was using her water magic to secure properties she wanted. It was why we were arguing with her that night.”
“I see,” Ada said. “That’s...pretty terrible of her.”
“Yes, exactly!” Tessa cried. “That’s not at all how we do things, just so you know.”
“We keep it classy,” Mara added. “No magic that harms anyone...and certainly no black magic.”
“Black magic?” Ethan asked, “Is that what Lily did?”
“Maybe,” I said. “But what you saw was just plain ol’ water magic. We did notice some signs of black magic at the Manor, though. Which leads me to an important order of business...”
“...We’re going to need that safe,” Tessa said. “The one Lily refused to open. That thing is chock-full of black magic. We need to destroy it.”
“I’ll see what we can do,” Ada promised. “So we found the letters and the safe...and that’s when things started going sideways. You all got there pretty soon after.”
“Yeah,” Ethan frowned. “How did you get there so fast?”
“We flew,” Tessa said matter-of-factly.
“Flew?”
“On brooms,” I clarified, “Which...we also left at the Manor. So if I could get those back...?”
“I’ll add it to the list,” Ada sighed. “Tell me about these flying brooms.”
Mara’s scouting, it seemed, may have saved our lives. By flying into the anti-magic ward around Windermere Manor, she disturbed it long enough to allow Tessa and I to fly right through before it reset.
Tessa and I finished recounting the story of how we stormed Windermere Manor and rescued the detectives—complete with sound effects by Tessa—and were rewarded with a toast from the twins.
“I missed all the good stuff,” Mara complained, sipping her beer with a scowl.
“You get to kick the next evil witch’s butt, I promise.” Tessa said.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Ada said. “I don’t want to do any of that again. Ever. That was exhausting.”
“It was,” Mara agreed. “Though I have to say...y’all seem to be taking this whole thing really well. For folks who just found out about witchcraft and all that.”
Ada shrugged. “We’ve seen worse.”
“Most definitely,” Ethan added. “With all the weirdos and whack jobs we’ve seen in our careers...it’s kind of a relief that it’s just witches this time. I know that sounds weird, but as long as you're on our side, we'll roll with it.”
“It feels...okay somehow,” Ada mused. “Like this is just another day on the job...Goodsprings style.”
“Speaking of jobs,” Ethan said. “We should get going. We’ve got an early morning...and a lot of paperwork to figure out.”
They each polished off the dregs of their beers and stood up to go. As Ada was putting on her jacket I noticed her give Ethan a pointed look. He shook his head and made to leave, but she caught his arm and jerked her head back toward the table we were sitting at. He shook her off and turned back around suddenly.
“Hey, Miss Smith?” he asked.
“Hmm?” Tessa, mid-drink, peered up at him over the rim of her glass.
“What do you think about letting me buy you a cup of coffee? As...thanks. You know, for saving our lives.”
“Oh,” Tessa put down her drink. “Oh...sure. Yeah.”
“Great,” Ethan grinned. “Friday, after closing?”
“Sure. Sure, yeah, that sounds good.”
“See you then!” Ethan and Ada waved goodbye and ducked under the brewery’s roll-up door and out onto Main Street.
We watched them walk down the lamp lit sidewalk until they disappeared into the darkness. Mara turned back to look at Tessa, her face serious.
“You had better let us have some say in the bridesmaid's dresses.”
I burst out laughing while Tessa flushed a vivid shade of scarlet.
“Don’t even start!” she warned Mara, which made both of us howl with laughter.
We teased Tessa until last call, at which point we ordered one final round of the brewery’s summer specialty...a gold-toned wheat beer that they brewed with peels from my own Valentine oranges. We clinked our glasses together and took a sip.
“What a week,” I said.
“I’m done with excitement for the year,” said Tessa. “And it isn’t even Harvest Festival yet.”
“Oh my goodness, Harvest Festival!” Mara groaned, putting her face in her hands, “What are we going to do about Harvest Festival?”
“We’ll have to find a water-witch,” I said. “No water-witch, no Lammas ritual, no good winter.”
“Maybe we can have Allie check those witch forums,” Tessa suggested. “Perhaps there’s one out there who’s just dying to relocate to rural Georgia.”
“That’s a good idea,” Mara said. “And I’ll ask Mom. She can check with her connections from some of the other covens in the area.”
“I’ll check with The Otter King,” I said. “He seemed familiar with water-witches. Maybe he has a recommendation. Might as well begin a rapport, seeing as he intends on sticking around here.”
“Evenin, ladies.” A familiar voice made me look up and I saw Phineas Lichen standing over our table, tipping his hat.
“Good evening, Mr. Lichen,” I said. “How are you enjoying your night?”
“Fine, fine,” he said. “Though that darned bird has gone and run off somewhere around here. If any of you see Chuckles, give me a holler, wontcha?”
“Speakin of feathered friends.” Mr. Lichen dropped his voice and leaned in to address Mara. “Are you feelin’ well, Miss Gale? Heard you took a tumble earlier.”
“Oh, I’m alright,” Mara said quickly. “We were just talking about a, um, bike ride we went on today. By the lake.”
“Of course, of course,” Mr. Lichen nodded. “Lovely trail out there. But sometimes, you know, when you fall like that...it don’t hurt that much at first...then you find out durin’ the next few days that things ain’t workin’ right.”
“You’re very sweet to worry, Mr. Lichen,” Mara smiled up at him, “but I’m fine...really!”
“Alright, alright,” he chuckled. “I’ll leave you be. Forgive me, I do worry.” He wandered off, calling for Chuckles.
“That was weird.” Tessa said.
“Pretty normal for him, actually.” I said. “Hey y’all, it’s late...we should be going. I need to get to the shop early tomorrow. I’ve got a new recipe to prepare.”
“Oooh,” Mara cooed. “Can I get a sneak peek? What’s it called?”
“It’s named after a truly awe-inspiring feat Tessa pulled off today,” I said. “It’s called the Melonfall.”
Tessa roared with laughter.
“I don’t get it,” Mara frowned.
“I’ll give you a free one and the full story when you stop by tomorrow,” I told her, standing up. The other two followed suit and we made our way out of the brewery and into the muggy summer night. The gloom that had kept the night sky muddy for the last few weeks had finally cleared, revealing a sky full of winking stars. We walked up Main Street together, passing by the dark windows of Happy Blendings.
“Now that we’ve solved the crime,” Tessa said, “are you going to do it, Sam?”
“Do what?” I asked sleepily, still watching the stars.
“What Ada said,” she nudged my shoulder. “About unplugging the blender and becoming a full-time crime fighter.”
“Nah,” I said, waving her off, “part-time is enough.”
Don’t miss the next book in the Happy Blendings Cozy Witch Mystery Series:
A Pumpkin Potion Explosion
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Catalog of Books
Lilith Blackward Cozy Witch Mystery Series
What the Hex
Hex to the No
To Hex or Not to Hex
CALAMITY CORNERS COZY Witch Mystery Series
Calm Before the Witch Storm
The Witch is in the Details
Better the Witch You Know
A Witch Axe to Grind
TRIPLET WITCH SISTERS Mystery Series
Two’s Company, Three’s a Coven
Resting Witch Face
Bewitched and Bewildered
Triple Toil and Trouble
WITCH DETECTIVE SERIES
Payback’s a Witch
Come Witch or High Water
Witch Boots on the Ground
THE WITCH SISTERS OF Stillwater
Hoodoo and Just Desserts
A Shade of Murder
That Ol’ Black Magic
A Whole Lotta Witchin Goin On
The Beast Cometh
Secrets and Sorcery
THE LUCKY DILL DELI Mystery Series
A Yuletide Wallop
Haunted Homicide
The Leprechaun’s Loot
THE SINISTER CASE SERIES
Mirror, Mirror Murder Them All
A Wicked Enchantment
A Scorching Spell
THE GRUMPY CHICKEN Irish Pub Series
A Frosty Mug of Murder
Treachery on Tap
A Highball and a Low Blow
Cursed With a Twist
A Whiskey Sour Wipeout
OLD SCHOOL DINER COZY Mysteries
Murder at Stake
Murder Well Done
A Side Order of Deception
Murder, Basted and Barbecued
Murder Ala Mode
The Candy Cane Killer
The Blue Plate Slayer
THE CURIOSITY SHOP Cozy Mysteries
The Curious Case of the Cursed Spectacles
The Curious Case of the Cursed Dice
The Curious Case of the Cursed Dagger
The Curious Case of the Cursed Looking Glass
The Curious Case of the Cursed Crucible
WITCHY WOMEN OF COVEN Grove Series
THE WITCHING ON THE Wall
A Witching Well of Magic
Witching the Night Away
Witching There’s Another Way
Witching Your Life Away
Witching You Wouldn’t Go
Witching for a Miracle
TEASEN & PLEASEN HAIR Salon Series
A Hair Raising Blowout
Wash, Rinse, Die
Holiday Hooligans
Color Me Dead
False Nails & Tall Tales
CAESAR’S CREEK SERIES
A FROZEN SCOOP OF MURDER
Death by Chocolate Sundae
Soft Serve Secrets
Ice Cream You Scream
Double Dip Dilemma
Melted Memories
Triple Dip Debacle
Whipped Wedding Woes
A Sprinkle of Tropical Trouble
A Drizzle of Deception
SWEET HOME MYSTERY Series
Creamed at the Coffee Cabana
A Caffeinated Crunch
A Frothy Fiasco
Punked by the Pumpkin
Peppermint Pandemonium
Expresso Messo
A Cuppa Cruise Conundrum
The Brewing Bride
WHISPERING PINES MYSTERY Series
A Sinister Slice of Murder
Sanctum of Shadows
Curse of the Bloodstone Arrow
Fright Night at the Haunted Inn
Constance Barker, The Potion Commotion
