“I don’t even have a passport.”
Paul nearly dropped the empty glass he held. “Howis that possible?”
“Never got around to it.”
Paul put the glass in the sink. “You’ve never wanted to leave this little town? I would suffocate.”
Tessa narrowed her eyes. “First of all, I have leftthis little town. I went to college in Louisiana, and I’ve traveled to a few other states. Second, you just got here. You don’t know anything about Mystic Water. It’s a great place to grow up and—”
Paul held up his hands in self-defense. “I don’t mean to disrespect the town. I only meant that Ihaveto see the world. Aren’t you curious? Don’t you want to know what else is out there?”
“Sometimes . . . but I like it here. It’s safe and normal and predictable.” She walked to the window in the living room and peered down at the garden.At least it used to be.With the exception of the special gift from Anna’s grandmother, the rest of life in Mystic Water was fairly ordinary.Tessa had taken one great risk so far, and that had caused devastation in the bakery. She hadn’t been interested in taking risks since. Which was also why her lists were so important. She didn’t make any decision without triple-checking it was the right one. But there were times when she was curious about life outside of Mystic Water. “Is that why you decided to become a travel writer?”
“One of the reasons. What are you doing tonight? You want to go to dinner with us?”
Tessa shook her head. “Spend some time with your folks. Try the lasagna at Milo’s. It’s amazing. I have home fries and eggs in the fridge.”
What Tessa really wanted to do was test a hypothesis. Crazy Kate hinted that thyme had a connection to predicting the weather, and hadn’t Tessa been able tofeelthe fact that it wouldn’t rain the day everyone dressed in raincoats and carried umbrellas?
“I know a wicked recipe for spicy scrambled eggs. I’ll write it down for you,” Paul said. He found a notepad in one of the kitchen drawers and scribbled instructions for her. “I’m assuming you’re not much of a cook based on the way you tried to poison me with pancakes, but this recipe is foolproof.”
“I wasnottrying to poison you,” Tessa argued. But when she saw Paul’s lips twitch into a grin, she added, “But that’s not a bad idea.”
“I’ll see you after dinner then?” Paul asked.
Tessa exhaled. “Unless I find a home in the next couple of hours, I’m afraid so.”
As soon as Paul left, Tessa pulled out her notebook and found her most recent list. Beside the number six, she wrote,Should I stay in the apartment with Paul?Beside the question, she jotted down her own thoughts. She wrote,Would it be so bad? He’s cute, but he’s leaving tomorrow.She added a frowny face and then scratched through it. “Don’t be absurd, Tessa. He’sleaving. It doesn’t matter if you stay over tonight or not. Tomorrow the apartment will be all yours.”
She texted both Anna and Lily.
Tessa:Harry and Cecilia’s son Paul is in town for one more day and needs to stay in the apartment where I am staying. Should I stay with him? I need lodging. I need help. I need advice.
Anna:I stayed in the old apartment with Eli, and everything worked out just fine.
Lily:Is he cute?
Tessa:Leading-man handsome.
Lily:My vote is yes. You could use a decent fling.
Tessa snorted. Who said Paul was decent?But he is, isn’t he?
Tessa plucked thyme leaves from the cuttings she’d taken from Cecilia’s garden. She sprinkled the herb over the home fries and then microwaved them. Using a heart-shaped magnet, she stuck Paul’s recipe for spicy scrambled eggs to the refrigerator. Jars of spices, along with a poorly cut onion and two diced jalapeños, littered the countertop.
Tessa wiped at her watery eyes and yelped. “It burns!” She leaned over the kitchen sink and splashed cold water onto her face. She caught her reflection in the window glass. Wet hair plastered to the side of her face, and her mascara smeared, making her look like a weeping clown. “Tessa, you’re a mess.” She looked over at Huck Finn blinking at her in his plastic container. “Don’t judge me, Huck. It’s been a rough couple of days.”
Less than ten minutes later, Tessa sat curled on the couch with a bowl of spicy scrambled eggs piled on top of her thyme-covered home fries. A quick assessment of her present state had her shaking her head.
“Cons,” she said aloud to herself. “I have no home, I’ve lost Honeysuckle Hollow to Fat Betty’s, and I’m testing a hypothesis offered to me by the town nut. Oh, and I think I’m starting to believe that Cecilia’s garden might be magical.”
Tessa scooped eggs onto her fork and speared a potato wedge. Her eyes widened as soon as the spices hit her tongue. When she swallowed, the fiery seasoning set her throat on fire.
“Water,” she croaked, reaching for her glass. She gulped half the water, but the burning didn’t subside. “Not bad if I want dragon breath.” She pushed the eggs to the side of the bowl and exposed the home fries. “Pros,” she continued. “I have a car to drive, I have a job, and I’m sharing an apartment with a guy who’s cute but mysterious.” She looked over at the wall map and pointed her fork at the mint plant as though it were part of the conversation. “You’re right. I should add that to the cons list. Mysterious men aren’t likely agoodthing.”
By the time Tessa finished her home fries, the burning in her throat and mouth had reduced to a mild tingling sensation, and half her tongue was numb. She reached forGuests of Honeysuckle Hollowon the coffee table, balanced the bowl on her thighs, and opened the book. As she stared at a page, the words appeared cloudy as though a fine mist shrouded the pages. She blinked a few times, but still the words looked smeared and half concealed. Tessa put down the book and rubbed her eyes. When she opened them, the whole room was swallowed in a haze that reminded Tessa of stepping out of a hot shower into lingering steam as thick as fog.Fog. The word pulsed in her mind like a strobe light.
Her eyes darted to the bowl of cold, rubbery eggs. Flecks of thyme stuck to the porcelain interior. “Is this because of you?” she whispered to the leftover herb.
