Prelude to a Witch, Amanda Lee [ebook reader web txt] 📗

As if on cue, Aunt Tillie zoomed by again, Peg’s hooves echoing on the floor as she chased her.

Snort. Snort.

“So, the leggings are still on,” Landon confirmed. “I guess Aunt Tillie isn’t taking the threat seriously.”

“It’ll bubble over once we all sit down to dinner together.”

“Hey, we’ve had some quiet dinners. We’re due for some fun.” He leaned in and kissed my temple. “You seem tired. We could order pizza and go home if that appeals to you more.”

“I kind of want tacos.”

“They are delightful.”

“How did your search go?”

“We found absolutely nothing. The state police brought in dogs and an evidence team for the house. We have nothing but a dead teenager.”

“And three other teenagers who might be considered suspicious.”

“I can’t really share that information with the state police. Marcus’s attack went down as an accident in the books and Amelia’s disappearance was recorded as ‘teenage misadventure.’” He used the appropriate air quotes. “I can’t tell them the truth.”

“No.” I rubbed my chin. “We have to figure out how it all fits together.”

“Any ideas?”

“No.”

“Have you seen Hannah?” He looked to the hallway when Aunt Tillie sped by again. “She added her cape.”

Snort. Snort.

I laughed. “She’s been steadily adding components. She didn’t start out with the hat or the shoes. She was barefoot. Mom insisted that if she was going to terrorize the house she wear shoes so she wouldn’t accidentally slide off and break a hip.”

“Good plan.”

“Yes, it’s delightful.” I stretched my arms over my head. “Hannah showed up here a few hours ago.”

Surprise lit Landon’s handsome features. “What did she say?”

“She stopped in to visit me, mentioned that you were different from the way you used to be when you guys were involved, and then went on her merry way.”

“I am different.”

“Were you not a bacon glutton back then?”

“Oh, I was always a bacon glutton. Back then I was a bacon glutton boy. Now I’m a man who embraces his bacon gluttony.”

He was so serious I had to tilt my head to study him. “You’ve been a man as long as I’ve known you.”

“Not really. Back on that first case, I was giddy about being undercover. I took my job seriously but didn’t consider the ramifications for anybody else. Then you came out of that maze, white as a sheet, and I felt this ... tug.”

“That sounds serious.”

His lips curved. “It was. The tug I felt was for you. I didn’t like that you were unhappy. I didn’t like that you were afraid. Er, well, at least I thought you were afraid. I didn’t realize you had magic backing you up. I thought you were some poor, demure flower who needed me to protect her.”

“And how long did that last?”

He shrugged. “Probably until I saw your entire family wearing matching track suits in a cornfield.”

“Hey, Clove, Thistle and I were not wearing those track suits.”

“In my memory you were because that makes it funnier.”

“It didn’t end funny. You got shot.”

“I survived. That’s when I started thinking hard. That’s when I started growing up.”

“What did you think about?”

“The prettiest woman in the world.”

“Am I supposed to believe that’s me?”

“Yup. I fell in love with you right away, Bay. I might not have realized it, but you changed me right from the start. Hannah isn’t wrong about that. Even if she is still harboring a crush on me, I couldn’t become a man for her. You were the only one who could make that happen.”

I considered telling him about Adrian. Ultimately, I decided that was Hannah’s business. If Landon got puffed up thinking that Hannah still had a crush on him, there was no harm in it. He might’ve been a man, but he still liked his ego stroked.

“Well, I happen to love the man you’ve become.” I pressed a kiss to his cheek. “He might be a glutton, but he’s loyal, funny and gives the best proposals in the world.”

“Don’t forget sexy.”

“You’re definitely sexy.”

WE GATHERED IN the dining room for dinner thirty minutes later. Hannah joined us, her smile broad and pleasant, seemingly delighted by the food on the table.

“I love Mexican food,” she enthused. “This looks amazing.” Her smile slipped when she saw Marnie walk out of the kitchen with a plate piled high with liver and onions.

“Don’t worry.” Marnie’s smile was evil when it landed on Aunt Tillie. “Only one person will be eating this tonight.”

Aunt Tillie’s gaze was dark as it landed on Marnie. “I’m not eating that.”

“Then give me the leggings,” Mom instructed in her harshest voice.

“No. They’re my leggings.”

“Well, this is my Mexican feast,” Mom shot back. “I get to decide who eats what, and you get liver this evening.”

“I don’t like liver.”

“Tough.” Mom watched as Marnie slid the plate in front of Aunt Tillie and then folded her arms across her chest, practically daring Aunt Tillie to reach for a taco.

Rather than acknowledge my mother’s power over her, Aunt Tillie shifted her attention to me. “Can you believe this?”

I held her gaze for a moment and then reached for a burrito. “I’m going to stay out of this one.”

“That’s wise,” Mom intoned, her gaze never leaving Aunt Tillie. “Eat it.”

Landon was taken aback as he sat next to me. “Wow. That’s an evil face. I’ve never seen her make that expression before.”

“That’s her ‘You’re going to do what I say whether you like it or not’ face,” I offered.

“No, I’ve seen that face. It’s frightening, but this is way worse.”

“She has two of those faces,” Chief Terry volunteered as he settled next to me. “One is vastly more terrifying.”

“Have you seen this one before?” Landon appeared to be mesmerized by my mother. “I mean ... if I had to see that face when I was trying to sleep I’d have nightmares.”

“Thank you, Landon,” Mom hissed.

“You’re welcome.”

“Eat your burrito, Landon,” Mom ordered.

“Yes, ma’am.” Landon shuddered and then smiled at me. “I hope you didn’t inherit that face,” he whispered.

“Why? Will that make you want to call off the wedding?” I asked.

“Nothing will make me want