Chapter 1
“Do you think you could panic once we’re inside? I’m hungry.”
Parker Ross winced as she realized she had been making her friend wait. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t noticed how long she had been standing by the car door, not moving. She hurriedly grabbed her purse and mumbled an apology as she walked toward the entrance to their favorite diner.
As Parker approached, Posie Pagano reached out to place a comforting hand on Parker’s shoulder.
“You know that this isn’t the real thing, right?” Posie reminded her. “We’re just going to practice what you’re going to say and enjoy some waffles.”
“I might be too nervous to eat.”
“Then order something I’d like, and I’ll have seconds,” Posie teased.
Parker rolled her eyes, but she was glad that Posie was making light of the situation. It helped remind Parker that the upcoming interview was not as dire as her nerves were leading her to believe.
As they walked into the Willow Creek Diner, Parker caught a glimpse of their reflection in the large mirror behind the counter. Despite being the same age, they certainly looked like opposites. Posie’s hair was still the same tawny blonde it had always been and was pulled back into an unassuming bun, while Parker had opted to allow the silver streaks in her long dark hair to remain and made no move to tie back her wild mane of curls. Posie was already several inches taller than her friend but wore a pair of kitten heels with her pink sweater and gray slacks. Parker wore a comfortable pair of sandals with a flowing patterned tunic. The only jewelry that Posie wore was her wedding band, while Parker wore an ornate necklace with multiple stones. She started to rub it nervously as they were directed to their table for brunch.
If they thought about it, some aspects of their lives were very different as well. Posie had stayed happily in the same career in her hometown for most of her life, providing helpful advice to high school students as a guidance counselor. She was married and had three sons. The youngest was now in college.
Parker had moved around a lot in her twenties, building her journalism career before eventually settling in Willow Creek. She had recently switched her career trajectory, which was both exciting and terrifying. She now had an online business selling jewelry that she designed.
Parker’s family was small and getting smaller as her divorce became finalized. She had one adult daughter who lived in town and a soon-to-be ex-husband who was the mayor.
Despite their differences, there were many things that the two women had in common. They valued each other’s friendship greatly, loved their quaint small town of Willow Creek, and… they were witches!
“It’s not so much that I’m nervous about talking to the bank manager about a loan,” Parker admitted after they were seated at a booth. “It’s that I hate being in this situation. I knew that switching careers, especially to start my own business, would have its challenges. However, I wasn’t expecting to get divorced when I made the change.”
“I know it’s very difficult,” Posie said, ignoring her menu to focus on her friend’s troubles.
“I hate that Harold and I are still fighting over who is entitled to what.” Parker crumpled her napkin angrily. “It’s not fair that I can’t access my money for my business to advertise my new creations properly. I hate that I need to beg a banker to grant me funds to do it.”
“You should let me turn him into a frog.”
Parker burst out laughing, releasing her tight grip on the ruined napkin. If they could execute such a spell and turn her slimy ex into an amphibian, it would certainly be tempting. However, their magic was never so direct.
“But seriously,” Posie said, “I know you’ll be great when interviewing for the loan. You were always wonderful with interviews when you were a journalist, and your jewelry is beautiful as well as a sound investment that the bank should grant. We’ll practice your pitch so you feel more confident, but I already know that you’ll be successful.”
Parker smiled. “Thank you. You always know what to say to make me feel better. I’ve been so nervous that I made this talisman for good fortune.”
The jewelry that Parker designed was partially for aesthetics and partially to utilize stones and crystals for their magical abilities. She had always had an affinity for crystals and found that they amplified her powers. When she had decided to leave journalism and do something creative, it seemed like the perfect endeavor.
The talismans didn’t work as well for non-witches, but the wearer might still feel a small boost of good luck or the chance for romance. Even if the mortal wearer felt nothing, they would look lovely in the charming jewelry.
Parker never advertised the jewelry’s potential magical abilities. She and Posie were very secretive about their witchcraft, only letting a select few know about their powers. They hadn’t even told their children, planning to do so only if they also showed signs of magic.
“What can I get for you today?” Don Silver, the owner of the Willow Creek Diner, asked as he walked up to their table. He always had a smile on his face when he greeted the diner’s regulars, and today was no exception.
“I would like the waffles with your delicious chef-made whipped cream,” said Posie.
“I think I’ll just have a coffee,” said Parker.
“She’s nervous about a meeting on Monday,” Posie explained. “Why don’t you bring us a second set of waffles? I’ll bring them home if she doesn’t eat them.”
“If you’re looking for a second item to try, why don’t you have our newest pie? It’s a blueberry passionfruit.”
“I’m not an expert on pies, but I’ve never heard of that combination before,” said Parker.
Don grinned and gestured toward the chef working in the kitchen. “Jacques and I came up with it. It’s part of my newest plan to attract more business.”
“Has business been slow?” Parker asked, looking around the room.
About half the tables were full in the retro-looking diner, and some to-go orders were sitting on the counter. It didn’t look like there was a lack of customers, though it was a Saturday morning, so that might not reflect the rest of the week’s traffic.
Don’s smile faltered slightly. “It has been a hard year. You remember the flooding issue we had a few months ago?”
“Of course we do!” Posie exclaimed. “We couldn’t come to our usual Saturday brunch or just drop into our favorite diner for three weeks.”
“The flood really took a toll on our finances, both with the repairs and being closed for so long. I’m still trying to recoup the losses, but I think some of my new plans will work. My current one is all about pie. Customers love pie, and it’s a staple at diners. So, why not expand the options? I’m trying more exotic flavors, like this blueberry passionfruit one that we’ve just started serving. I hope that customers will keep coming back to try them all.”
“We’ll each get a slice,” Posie said.
“It sounds so good that I’ll be able to eat mine, even with my nerves,” said Parker.
“I’m very grateful for customers like you,” Don said. “It’s the people that make a place special.”
“We couldn’t agree more,” said Posie. “We love visiting you and your daughter here as much as we love the fantastic food.”
“I’m not sure Diana loves being here as much as I do,” Don admitted. “It seems unlikely she’ll want to take over the family business when I’m eventually ready to retire. I wish she loved this place and this town as much as I do, but I’m thankful that she’s here. She’s such a big help, especially when I find myself chatting away with friends instead of putting in their orders! Why don’t I put those in now? We can talk more after you have the food you came in for.”
Don walked toward the kitchen.
Posie frowned and started playing with her spoon. “I don’t think you need my empathic abilities to tell that he’s hurting and worried.”
She had an innate ability to tell how others were feeling, but it was an imperfect power, and she couldn’t always decipher it. In crowds, she couldn’t determine which person was feeling what. Also, if someone was skilled at masking their emotions, they might be able to hide their true feelings from her.
Sometimes, when a person had a very strong emotion, it affected Posie’s mood. To counter this, she tried to be as cheerful as possible whenever she had control. But right now, like Parker, she felt sad for their friend and his diner.
“I wish we could do something,” Parker said. “I’m not in a great financial spot myself, but I could still try to eat here more often to support the place.”
“Maybe there’s something else we could do?” Posie said conspiratorially.
“You could ask your sons to order food here. They always eat a lot.”
“That’s very true, and I will, but there’s something else we can do too.”
“What?”
Posie glanced around to make sure the coast was clear and no one was eavesdropping on their conversation.
“We could cast a spell,” she whispered.
Parker’s eyes widened. They tried to be very careful about spell-casting because of how often it could go wrong. Multiple times, a spell played out differently than they had intended because of their wording. It was not something to be taken lightly or done on a whim.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Posie said, “but this isn’t being reckless or spontaneous. This is us trying to help a friend. Don’t you think if we’re careful, we could do something? I would be devastated if this place closed.”
“I would be too,” Parker admitted grudgingly. “I suppose we can try to do something to boost Don and the diner’s luck.”
“Now you’re talking!”
“And if we’re focused on that, it means I don’t need to think about the bank loan this morning and can enjoy my waffles and pie.”
Posie shook her head at this notion but grinned, thinking about how they might be able to save the diner. They didn’t have any candles or herbs with them, so they would have to focus extra hard on the words they chose.
“I could use one of the stones from my good fortune talisman,” Parker suggested. “Unless you think that would entangle the diner and my loan interview.”
“I don’t think that could happen. Good fortune is good fortune! Let’s try it.”
It took them a while to figure out how to word their spell so that it was specific and there would be little room for misinterpretation. When they finished, they joined hands, holding Parker’s crystal between them on the table, and began to chant quietly.
“Help the Willow Creek Diner in this, its time of need.
Bring them new customers that they can feed.
Help Don and his daughter so they don’t have to cry.
May they have lots of success with all their new pie!”
They had just stopped chanting when Don brought over their food. Posie quickly picked up her fork and tried a bite of the new pie.
“This is delicious!” she exclaimed. “And you know what? I think this is going to be the key to saving the diner. Everything is going to work out.”
At that moment, the door swung open. A red-headed wealthy-looking woman stormed to the center of the diner, her expensive shoes clanging on the tiled floor.
“Is this where the blueberry passionfruit pie is being made? Is this the only diner where you can get it?” she called out, attracting everyone’s attention.
“That’s right,” Don said, walking over to her. “I can’t promise it doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world, but we’re the only diner in Willow Creek serving it. My chef and I created it together as part of our new pie initiative.”
“I think the spell is working!” Posie whispered excitedly to her friend. “How many pies do you think she’s going to order?”
However, the red-headed woman did not place an order for pies. Instead, she pointed a red fingernail directly at Don and screamed, “Thief! Burglar!”
