Linda’s flush intensified. Ange kicked my ankle.
I sighed. “What do you need?”
“More of yourMidlife Magictea. I’ll pay you.” She picked up the coat and fumbled a credit card out of a hidden picket in the satin lining.
“There’s no need for that. If you want to repay me, donate money to the animal rescue, or another good cause.” That way I was sure I didn’t violate the “thou shalt not profit of your powers” rule but instead contributed to the community. Plus, it gave me moral superiority.
She leant so close that I shrank back. “Tonight?”
“I’ve got to prepare the mixture. Tomorrow’s the earliest I can do.”
Her hands clenched and unclenched.
I felt an unexpected surge of pity. “I’ll have it ready by 10am. Where’s your husband? I haven’t seen him.”
“We’re going out for dinner. He had to finish an online meeting with a gemstone merchant overseas, so I said I’ll be here.”
I took her coat of the chair and handed it to Harper, to hang it up, and said to Linda, “Why don’t you sit here, while you wait?”
As I’d counted on, Ange caught my drift. She also urged Linda to take a seat and moved herself, so she shielded Linda from sight.
Ms. Vine, Jimmy, Sam, and Nick came toward us too. I had to hurry. Tuning out the noise, I went deep into my mind and conjured up the image of Linda, in a summer breeze on a wildflower meadow. The grass was cool under Linda’s feet and the gentle wind lowered the temperature to a blissful degree. The flowers perfumed the air and she stood there, arms spread wide …
I came back to the room, only to see Linda fling her arms in happy abandon. I corrected my mental image before she hit anyone. My spellwork apparently needed a bit of fine-tuning.
Despite that, Cosmo would have been proud of me if he’d observed the change in Linda. The red sheen had become a pink glow, the hands were relaxed, and her lips curled up at the corners in a genuine manner.
“I must have been overdoing it. Sitting down really helps,” she said.
“And a cold drink.” Ange poured her a glass of iced water.
Ms. Vine, who’d secured the table next to us that had become free while I was chatting with Linda, divided her attention between us and Jimmy. She gave me a tiny nod, as if to approve my use of magic for menopausal relief.
Sam took a place between his dad and me.
“You don’t have to fuss,” Jimmy told him.
“Nobody’s fussing, Dad.”
Jimmy harrumphed. “Then what’s the doctor doing, taking my pulse every two minutes instead of dancing with his lovely wife?” His grin took the sting out of his words.
Nick promptly let go of Jimmy’s wrist. “I wish all my patients were half as healthy as you.” He pulled Ange to her feet.
After Jimmy and Ms. Vine’s performance, Reina had started a playlist on the jukebox. I’d barely registered the music before, nor the small dance floor created by pushing tables to one side.
Ange gave in.
Linda still had a half-smile on her lips. I was wondering if I should add another spell, in case her husband wondered if she was on drugs.
Jimmy nudged his son. “You should be dancing too.”
“Maybe later, once we’ve gotten a few things cleared up.”
To me and Reina he said, “Dad’s considering giving up his house and moving into the retirement home.”
I gaped. “Why would you do that? Nick just said you’re in great shape.”
Jimmy stroked my hand with his. Apart from age spots on his skin and gnarly joints, it could have belonged to a much younger man.
