Witch and Famous (Witch Way Librarian Mysteries, #3)

by Angela M. Sanders

“What to Expect When You’re Expecting, upstairs in Health.” Her jaw dropped. “How did you know? We haven’t told anyone yet.”

The town must suspect something

and painting the interior a custom-blended shade of peach to complement Daphne’s famous complexion.

Interesting

The smack of Roz’s palm on Lyndon’s face resounded across the yard. “I never want to see you again,” she yelled. She turned toward the makeshift dance floor. The music continued, but the dancers stood, mouths gaping. “As for you, Daphne Morris, I’ll see you again for sure. In hell.”

I couldn’t say my heart had exploded into chrysanthemum-petaled fireworks or that I’d heard a chorus of angelic sopranos, but something in me had deepened and unwound. This, it seemed to say. This.

Since then, I’d patiently waited for my feelings to fade for lack of encouragement. They hadn’t. I’d be thinking I was doing all right, getting over him, when he’d do something as simple as reach for a pen and I’d think, “That forearm. What a wonderful forearm.”

“It might be important.” I was too late. Before I could reach her, she was pouring the cocktail into the potted palm next to her. “Whoops,” she said.

Wtf biatch

I had a client at eight o’clock. A new one.

Who?

She hesitated, then said, “She didn’t tell me. I can’t say anything specific, except that I don’t think she’d kill Daphne. The opposite, in fact. I think you have it all wrong. But I will tell you she was eager to be somewhere and kept checking her phone for the time.”

Gibbous smiled. “It’s what I was born to do. Create beauty. No—that’s wrong. Each of us is already beautiful. What I do is bring it to the surface, help each person be more of themself.

They supported me. I think they were simply glad to see me interested in something more legitimate than breaking into other students’ lockers.”

Deep in his work, he made a noncommittal noise and reached for a tube of concealer. I hoped he wasn’t going to cake it on.

HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S S DOING

“This,” he said, “is who you are. I’ve brought it to the surface and it’s beautiful.”

Gibbous held out his hand. I took it and rose. Too bad I had no idea what I looked like.

The crowd fell silent. Finally, Orson spoke. “What happened to your face?” In the disaster, I’d forgotten about Gibbous’s makeover. “No changing the subject. You guys need to clear out.” “I like it,” Mona said. “Your eyes really pop.” “Nice job with the hair,” the woman with the mint-green wool added. “Can’t be easy to control those curls.”

I also stole a few glances at myself in the gilt-framed mirrors here and there on the library’s walls. Gibbous was a genius. I’d feared he’d try to transform me into a glamour queen, but somehow he’d managed to make me look more like myself. My eyes were bluer, my skin glowed. The hairstyle he’d pulled together so quickly suited me. It was unstudied, but lovely.

Rodney emerged from the bathroom with a lacy bra clasped in his mouth. He deposited it at my feet and jumped into my lap. I tossed the bra back through the door and made a mental note to upgrade my lingerie.

For the first time, Sam turned toward me. He opened his mouth to talk, seemed to think better of what he was going to say. He stared at me for two full seconds and frowned faintly before I remembered Gibbous’s work, which I complemented with a natural blush.

Rodney leaped onto the table next to me and let out a mournful yowl. I shut the kitchen door and bolted it.

I had magic.

Nuuuuuu

I closed the grimoire. Yes, I could make Sam love me. But I wouldn’t.

“That sounds nice.” Maybe he’d have more information for me, I thought. That’s why I said yes. It had nothing to do with those eyes.

Oh snap!

She claims Daphne invited her to the farmhouse for a cocktail, but when she arrived, no one was there to let her in. She waited in the garden for a few minutes, then returned to her campsite.”

But she doesnt drink??

“I know all about that. And you might want to question what people tell you.” Sam turned toward the atrium. “Thanks.” “Wait,” I said. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Just that not everything you hear is necessarily the truth. Be careful. That’s all.” “You mean, about Leo?” “Have a good day, Josie.”

What?

“Something’s not right about her. She has an unhealthy interest in herself. Nature created something rare in her, like the peacock, and she’s forgotten that other people have lives, too. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s lonely.”

“Oh my,” she said. My binoculars tilted to the farmhouse’s front window. Daphne was in Sam’s arms, her head pressed against his chest. My vision clouded and buzzing filled my ears. A meteor seemed to explode in my heart. A loud fizz set Ruth Littlewood back on her knees. She yanked her phone from her rear pocket. It was still smoking. “What the heck?”

Oh no

Gibbous

NuH-uh

Rodney now put a paw into the kitten’s box and gently nudged her. He licked the kitten’s face and back, and my heart swelled with pride. He might be a stinker sometimes, but he could be a real sweetheart, too.

“Sam,” Daphne said, honey in her voice. She wore a peach silk bathrobe too loosely tied over her bust, and her un-Gibboused hair had a sexy tousle. “It’s so nice to see you.”

In a few quick steps, Roz was at Buffy and Thor’s beverage station. She ripped the bowl of lemon and lime chunks from Thor’s arms and stormed to Daphne’s side. “Here’s sour for you.” She upturned the bowl over the movie star’s head.

Yeeeessss

In the kitchen’s harsh light, I knew what I was doing was wrong. My parents’ marriage wasn’t perfect, but its strength came from the decisions they made together and the support they gave each other. Maybe passion had driven them together years ago, but it was something stronger, something woven of ongoing commitment, which had built them the sort of partnership I wanted for myself.

Roz had been wrong—and right. Maybe love was somewhat random at the beginning. Maybe two people had to see each other as possibilities, and Sam didn’t see me as one. The potion might open Sam’s eyes to me, but it couldn’t make him give me the kind of relationship I wanted. He had to want to be with me because of who I am. If not, well, it was his loss. I’d find a man who would.

I pushed the tiny booze bottle to the back of the counter, and I went upstairs to text Leo.

Duuuude, whos going to get it??

The sky was a banner of blue, a blue that artists struggle to paint but never get quite right.

“Think of facts, not what you want to believe,” Girl Detective said. “It’s too easy to treat assumptions as facts.

When I reopened them, the detectives had vanished.

This concept was so cool!

His bond was for real.

Sigh

He was protecting Daphne. Or he simply couldn’t take his eyes off her. “You don’t have to stare like that,” I whispered. I couldn’t resist. Without taking his eyes from Daphne, he said, “Look who’s talking.” “What do you mean?” “A certain cameraman seems to be getting a lot of attention.” I snorted. “Says Mr. ‘Wait, I’ll walk you home.’”

From the doorway, Leo stared, mouth open in disbelief. He’d seen it all.

“Sam,” Daphne said and raised her arms to him. He didn’t even give her a glance. “Josie,” he said. “Are you okay?” I looked up at him and managed a faint smile. I would be okay now.

I reached out and scratched his ears. “I sure love a happy ending. Don’t you?” From somewhere inside the library, a book rumbled like thunder.