Thrusting her hands into the pockets of her polka-dot apron, Lorraine prepared to give me the rundown on today’s baked goods. As was our habit, I’d then spend about ten minutes prevaricating over whether I wanted the apple tart or the eggnog-cream doughnut. Thankfully Lorraine was as good a sport about the whole thing as Soraya at The Scoop, who very patiently allowed me to sample all sixteen flavours each and every time. Apparently, my indecision was known to all.
‘How’re we feeling after last night’s festivities?’ Lorraine asked, clearly clocking that I’d had a somewhat decadent night. Hadn’t we all. And honestly, it had been restrained compared with what we’d got up to in our teens.
In fact, I’d even managed to check in with my boss before heading off to bed. He’d sent over a pithy vintage article about croquet and had teasingly asked me to rustle up something while I was away. He’d be lucky to receive anything other than a write-up on the annual Sandy Balls beach soccer game I always covered, but I said I’d think about it. Emphasis onthink.
‘I have that boozy tiramisu if you’re after hair of the dog,’ Lorraine added with a wink. ‘So, what about that burst of magic, hmm? Right when Finn Tucker was playing.’
She raised an eyebrow, and I made a show of digging around in my purse for my phone so that I could pay.
‘Weird, huh?’ I said, not wanting to repeat Lara’s theory thatI’dbeen behind it all. That our shared emotions had coalesced into a blast of magic, like when a phone signal breaks into a car radio, making that strange electrical stutter. A theory, which, all right, I shared. Mostly shared. About seventy-five per cent shared.
‘But like you said last night, magic can get strange this time of year,’ I added. ‘And I’m pretty sure there were a few competing spells floating around.’
Lorraine chuckled. ‘I did cast the odd sneaky one to help keep some of the teens standing upright. No boozy tiramisu for them today, let me tell you.’
‘All right, I’m sold on the boozy tiramisu,’ I said. ‘Or the fairy cakes. Ooh, or the pumpkin bread.’
Shaking her head, Lorraine reached for her tongs. ‘I’m going to make an executive decision, since I own the place and all. You can have all three. Just so long as you take back a bouquet of flowers for Rosie and Amelia.’
‘Deal,’ I said, relieved.
She gave me a knowing look. ‘I’ll pick the bouquet.’
‘Deal again,’ I said, with a laugh as I took the box she offered me. ‘Am I that bad?’
‘It’s fine to be indecisive about the small things,’ said Lorraine, as I paid for my order and stuffed a bill in her glass pumpkin tip jar. ‘It’s the big things that you really want to know your heart on.’
‘Like chocolate or vanilla?’ joked Lara, who’d just come through the door, looking dishevelled in a deliberate kind of way. ‘Pinot grigio or pinot noir?’
‘I believe the answer to both of those is: both,’ I said. I hefted the box. Plenty there to keep us busy while I grilled her about this Jack situation. ‘I have our pastry situation sorted. And two cardamom-spice lattes in the works.’
‘Can I do extra, extra whipped cream?’ Lara gave Lorraine her signature batted-lash look, sparking a chuckle.
‘You know I keep extra on hand for when you visit, love.’
Lorraine shook up the canister and pointed the nozzle at Lara’s drink, but to no avail.
‘Must be blocked,’ she muttered, shaking the bottle again. When that didn’t work, she snapped her fingers over it, trying to use her magic to work the blockage free. A demented squirt of half liquid, half cream sprayed everywhere. We all squealed.
‘Weird,’ said Lorraine. ‘I must be feeling the aftereffects of Rosie’s punch. My magic’s all off. How are you feeling, Molly?’
‘All right, I think,’ I said. ‘Although I haven’t really used magic today. All right, maybe a little bit for my hangover.’
Lorraine tipped out Lara’s drink and started brewing another. ‘Let me start over. Sorry about that, Lara.’
I bit my lip as Lorraine poured another latte, but everything seemed to proceed without issue. Even the whipped cream, which this time poured out in a Leaning Tower of Pisa-worthy dollop.
‘Phew,’ said Lorraine. ‘I was worried I’d have to close up shop for the day. Or hire a helper, which sounds worse, honestly. I know it’s hard to believe, but I don’t play well with others. It’s better when it’s just me and my magic.’ Lorraine waggled her fingers, which crackled softly.
‘Spoken just like Mom,’ I said, grinning.
‘I’m honestly impressed she lets your dad take over the business for three full weeks a year,’ said Lara, taking the drink Lorraine passed across the counter.
‘I think he just sends lots of “let’s circle back” emails. It’s probably good for business. Creates a sense of scarcity.’
Lara chuckled. ‘I’ll have to try that. Train my clients into behaving.’
‘Oh, if only that were possible. Here, let me grab those flowers.’ Lorraine hurried off to the flower displays at the front of the shop, picking a bouquet of zinnias that she delicately set atop the box of pastries I was carrying.
