Spells A La Carte (Mystic Cafe Series Book 3) by Rose Pressey Page A

the gate with ease. I released a sigh of relief and hurried through the open gate. I didn’t bother to close it behind me. That would take too much time. At least we could see the car from this spot. We ran across the lawn and reached the street. I didn’t want to look back, but I knew I had to take a quick peek. When I glanced over my shoulder, I spotted Meredith standing at the front door, watching us. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at me. So much for not getting caught. She wasn’t coming after us, but I had a feeling she had something much more sinister planned.
    We slipped into the car.
    “Oh, there she is.” Grandma Imelda had just spotted Meredith.
    “I think it’s safe to say that she knows we were in her house.”
    Mary Jane started the car and pulled away from the curb. Meredith’s stare was focused on us the whole time. As we drove away, I stopped looking over at her. It was just too awkward.
    “What do you think she’ll do?” Mary Jane asked.
    “I don’t know, but I have a feeling that it won’t be good,” I said.
    “She can’t prove we were in the house and we didn’t take anything,” Grandma Imelda said.
    Grandma Imelda always had a way of making me feel better. She was right. Meredith didn’t know for sure that we were in her house. It would be her word against ours.
    My cell rang, making me jump. I was a little on edge. I pulled the phone from my pocket, hoping that it would be Rory. I wasn’t expecting the call to be from Tom. There was no way I was going to answer his call right now.
    “Aren’t you going to answer the call?” Grandma Imelda said.
    I touched the screen and dismissed the call so that it would go to my voicemail.
    “It wasn’t Meredith, was it?” Mary Jane asked as she steered the car.
    “It’s not Meredith, but it’s almost as bad.”
    Mary Jane frowned. “Who was it?”
    “Tom Owenton.”
    “Oh, no,” Grandma Imelda said.
    “Do you think he knows?” Mary Jane asked as she stopped at a red light.
    “Oh, he knows,” Grandma Imelda said.
    So much for making me feel better. “I bet Meredith called him right away,” I said.
    “You’re probably right,” Mary Jane said.
    “Why didn’t you answer it?” Grandma Imelda asked.
    “There is no way I want to talk with him right now,” I said.
    “You will have to answer sooner or later,” Mary Jane said.
    “True, but I don’t have to right now. I just need time to think of what to say.”
    “I suppose there’s not much we can say,” Mary Jane added.
    “We’ll tell him the truth,” Grandma Imelda said.
    I glanced back at her. “What? No, we can’t do that.”
    “We have to. What other choice do we have?” she said.
    Sadly, I knew she was right. But at least now I could tell Tom about the books.
    “Wait. I don’t know for sure that was why he was calling. I bet he was just checking in.”
    Mary Jane quirked an eyebrow. “Yeah, that’s it.”
    We arrived back at the café without further incident. I had expected Meredith to possibly follow us. Even if she hadn’t followed us now, she’d probably be by soon enough to ask what we were up to. I knew I’d get a visit from Tom soon. I wished I could just hide, but Grandma Imelda needed my help. Plus, running from problems was never the answer. We hurried up to the café. It was as if we were just waiting for something bad to happen. I hated being on edge like that, but it couldn’t be avoided right now.

Chapter 16
     
    Mary Jane was sitting at the counter.
    I stood on the other side of the counter in front of her. “I have an idea.”
    She quirked an eyebrow. “I hope this doesn’t involve sneaking in to anyplace.”
    I waved my hand. “No, nothing like that. It’s just that I think Rory might need pie.”
    “You want to give Rory a spell?” she asked.
    I grabbed a towel and wiped off the counter even though it didn’t need it. “I think it might help him. And it couldn’t hurt, right?” She grimaced. “Well… okay, as long as