“I would love to do that for Sven. He’s been so nice to me since I arrived here. I just don’t know how.”
“And I don’t know how to tell you to go about doing that, just that when I saw you at Nifty Thrifty and I knew you’d come this way, I had to relay that information to you. My sight doesn’t always give me a warning.”
“Well, it does help. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the best in my studies.”
Mona made a face. “Studies? Uh, witches don’t need studies. Maybe in Tallowfield, but not a natural witch, and you, my friend, are a natural witch.”
A warm feeling spread through her. Her whole life, she’d been told she was such a disaster at everything that she felt worthless much of the time. It was nice to be told that she wasn’t, especially by another witch.
“Also, I have the perfect dress for your date,” Mona announced, breaking through her thoughts.
“What?”
“I carry a small selection of vintage consignment clothing. I’m very weird, but I have the perfect dress for you. It’s a deep emerald-green wiggle dress, and it will hug those amazing curves and drive Magnus crazy.” Mona went into the back and Mercedes followed. There was a little boutique of vintage clothing in a room that was decked out like a jungle. Mona rifled through a rack and pulled out the dress. “Here it is.”
“It’s gorgeous,” Mercedes said. “Do you have a place to try it on?”
“Nope. I know it’ll fit you.” Mona tapped the side of head with her cherry-red fingernails, the plastic bangles rattling on her arm. “I’ve seen it. Think of me as a fairy godmother.”
Mercedes took the dress. “Wow.”
“Here are the shoes and it’s eighty for the whole outfit.”
“That sounds like a deal.” Mercedes pulled out cash, handing it to Mona. “I would say you saw me coming, but you already told me that.”
Mona grinned. “When you see Margaid, tell her I have a wedding dress just for her.”
Mercedes laughed. “I will.”
Mona went to the main door, unlocked it and turned her sign from closed to open. As she did that, one of the washers made a whirring noise.
“Oh, calm down, Lord of the Rinse, customers are on their way.” Mona rolled her eyes. “Appliances, I tell you.”
“Thank you, Mona.”
Mona gave her an air-kiss. “You’re welcome. I’m glad I was able to convey that information to you. Just relax and have fun tonight. You were destined to be here in Harmony Glen. You’re safe, and a lot of wrongs will be righted. Trust in yourself.”
Mercedes grinned. “I will.”
She slipped outside as a couple of young trolls walked past her with laundry bags and entered The Clothes Spin.
Mercedes let out a sigh and then quickly made her way back to Hetty’s. She was excited to put on her dress, but she really didn’t know how she was going to help Sven and Flo, though what Mona said made sense. She knew her family history was dark, but Mona telling her that she belonged here and that a lot of wrongs would be righted made her feel better.
It helped her relax and just look forward to the do-over date with Magnus.
Hetty helpedMercedes with her hair, and then it was time for the date. Her pulse was racing as she took the familiar walk through Harmony Glen. A small shawl borrowed from Hetty was wrapped around her to keep the autumn chill off her bare arms. It was twilight, so there was a bit of light still, but the streetlightshad come on. As she approached Pleasant Street, something drew her attention to the watchtower and the widow’s walk on the top of Room With a Tomb.
Her heart sank as she saw Sven leaning over the railing, totally oblivious to her, staring out over the lake. She could almost feel the sadness coming from him. Below him, waiting in the wings, was Flo, hovering there in her beautiful flapper dress, watching him with her own sad longing.
I wish I could help him.
Sven turned and floated back into the dead-and-breakfast. Flo followed. Mercedes took a deep breath and approached the front entrance, ringing the doorbell. Magnus opened the door and her breath caught in her throat. She was used to seeing him in his chef’s clothes, or casual denim and a V-neck t-shirt. Tonight it was different. He had a on nice dress shirt, the cuffs rolled up, baring his muscular forearms. His pants were dark and tailored, and his shoes weren’t the clunky boots that he usually wore.
His hair was brushed back and plaited and he smelled incredible. Like pine mixed with something else.
“Hi,” she said breathlessly.
His red eyes ran over her, making her blood heat, and she could feel the blush creeping up her chest into her cheeks.
