Pies and Potions Read Online Free Page B

or the other.
    Rory leaned over and kissed me softly on the lips, lingering for just a moment and making my heart go pitty-pat.
    “I’m looking forward to seeing you tonight. I have to tell you, Elly, every time I come into this café I feel better and better. Are you using magic on me?” He chuckled.
    My stomach turned as I chuckled nervously along with him. “Magic? Of course not. I promised I’d never do magic on you.”
    See, I’d already broken that promise. Okay, technically it was Grandma Imelda who had given him the magic, but still. I hadn’t stopped her and I’d baked the cake. I was a rat. A big fat one. My mouth had stopped working. I tried to speak, but nothing came out. I should have just explained the spell to Rory right then and there. He’d understand. Maybe. Or maybe not.
    “Thank you for the cake. It was delicious. Are you sure you won’t let me pay for it?”
    He asked every time. I shook my head. “No way.”
    “You can’t do business by giving me free food.”
    I waved off his statement.
    Rory playfully touched the tip of my nose with his index finger, then turned and moved toward the entrance. When he reached the door, he looked over his shoulder and winked. I watched as he moved down the sidewalk and out of sight. Whew. So far, so good. Keep a positive attitude, I reminded myself. Nothing had happened instantly, so that was always a bonus. Maybe this magic spell would be just fine. I shook off the bad feeling lodged in the pit of my stomach.

Chapter Four
    Grandma Imelda had been pretending not to eavesdrop as she placed the menus back in the slot. “Don’t look so worried, dear, he’ll be fine.” Grandma Imelda patted my hand. “This isn’t like the spell before. Nothing can go wrong.”
    Had she met me? Of course things could go wrong. They could always go wrong. I could look at things and they’d go wrong.
    “But I said I’d never perform magic on him. I just broke that promise.”
    “Well, you didn’t, I did.” She brushed hair away from my face. “Now don’t you worry your pretty little head any more. We have customers to take care of.” She motioned for me to get to work. “You go take the rest of the orders while I get started with the food.”
    I grabbed my pad of paper and pencil. “Fine, but as soon as Mary Jane gets here, you are not to do any more work. You’re retired, remember? And no arguments, either.”
    She brushed me off with a wave of her hand. She had never followed my commands, I didn’t know why I continued to try and give them. After I took the orders, I walked in the kitchen to find Grandma Imelda already working on eggs and bacon.
    “Why can’t we add the potions to the orders this morning?” I asked.
    “It’s not time just yet, we need to wait a bit,” she said as she grabbed the spatula.
    I’d never been the patient type.
    I frowned. “What are we waiting for?”
    “Orders from the Organization. They tell us when it’s time.” She shrugged. “But I have no idea what is taking them so long. They usually have everything arranged by now. They’ve made some internal changes and haven’t worked out the kinks just yet, I guess.”
    As she cracked more eggs and moved them around the grill, I said, “Imelda, I can’t believe you gave Rory the potion. What were you thinking?”
    “Well, I can’t believe you called me Imelda.” She didn’t look up from the grill.
    I snorted. “Fine. Grandma, I can’t believe you gave him the potion. You know how nervous I am.”
    “He needs the spell just like everyone. He’s a part of this town now, isn’t he?” She shoved slices of bread into the toaster.
    “Yes, but why does he need the potion? Did you see the smile on his face? Rory seems happy, if you ask me. And I’d like to think I have a little something to do with that.” I winked.
    “Oh, I’m sure you had a little something to do with it. That man is positively smitten.”
    Heat rose to my cheeks. “He really is a great guy. I