Charms and Chocolate Chips: A Magical Bakery Mystery Read Free

laughed.
    My aunt held up a finger, swallowed again, and said, “Now, what would be the best magical amendments for each filling?”
    It was part honest question and part quiz. As Lucy put it, being hereditary hedgewitches meant we were “pure magic in the kitchen,” and while the other spellbook club members taught me other aspects of magic, my aunt was my mentor when it came to kitchen and garden magic. Most of our “special ingredients” were simply herbs and spices, but we gave them a little extra bewitching boost. Lucy was great at recognizing what people needed—a little clarity here, a bit of love there, perhaps some protection from outside influences—and gently pushed them toward the baked goods we created that would help.
    “Well, let’s see,” I said. “Orange already increases both physical and mental energy, and hazelnut is good for . . . creativity?” I looked to Lucy for confirmation. She looked pleased and nodded. I continued. “And of course chocolate is already awesome. But what if we added cayenne pepper for a little kick, both in the flavor department and for inner strength and cheer. It’s good protection during flu season, too.”
    Lucy clasped her hands and beamed at me. “Cayenne pepper—just a hint! That’s delightful! I’ll get some right now.”
    Suddenly I realized I hadn’t heard the shriek of the espresso machine or customers conversing for quite some time. Craning my head around the big refrigerator, I saw Ben counting our receipts.
    He looked up and smiled at me. “Just running the register tape.”
    I glanced at the big clock on the wall. It was a little after five. The Honeybee was closed.
    “Oh, no. Lucy, I’m so sorry. I have to go. In fact I’m already late for my volunteer work at Georgia Wild.” I looked helplessly at the mess strewn on the counter. “Could you . . . Do you mind?”
    My aunt pressed her lips together.
    “I’ll come in early, make it up to you. In fact, let me just put the food away, and I’ll clean up the rest in the morning.” I grabbed a paper bag to load with day-old leftovers to take with me.
    She stopped me with a hand on my arm. “Katie, stop it. I don’t mind cleaning up. I’m just worried about you.”
    “Worried about me? Why?”
    “You’re running yourself ragged,” she said. “It’s like you’ve got a second full-time job at Georgia Wild.”
    My jaw slackened in surprise. “Only evenings—and only for a couple of hours tonight since everyone’s coming over for Imbolc. It was Mimsey who introduced me to Wren, after all.” Wren Knowles was the devoted biologist who worked full-time for the environmental nonprofit. She was also the granddaughter of the oldest member of the spellbook club, Mimsey Carmichael.
    “I doubt she intended for you to volunteer there every spare minute—I bet Declan just loves that—and for what? To front-load karma?”
    Shaking my head, I turned toward the office. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Luce. I would think you’d approve of my volunteering to help the environment. We’re green witches, for heaven’s sake.” Lucy’s reference to Declan bothered me more than I liked to admit. Just the other night he’d complained that he saw me less now than he did before we were a steady item.
    Steady
. Did twenty-nine-year-olds even go steady?
    Behind me my aunt said, “You know very well what I’m talking about. Volunteering for something you believe in is wonderful, but I’m not sure it’s for the right reason. I think you might be doing it out of fear.”
    “Am not,” I muttered from the office doorway. Looking over my shoulder, I saw her watching me with wise eyes.
    “Ever hear the story of the man who learned death was coming for him, so he went to another town? And who did he meet there but Death himself. You can’t escape destiny, Katie.”
    “Come on, Mungo,” I said, picking him up from the club chair where he held court during the days he accompanied me to