Page 26 of Witchful Thinking

Callie waved weakly while Ursula rushed out of the store.

She whipped her head toward Lucy. “She’s been replaced with an evil twin.”

“Callie. You can’t be serious.”

“If she’s not an evil twin, then she’s a changeling! Don’t be fooled by the fae! There’s no way Ursula would willingly have mango in a cake. Think about it. We have to find that book.”

“You just said just go—”

“I know what I said,” Callie interrupted with a frantic hand wave. “We can’t let her plan this wedding, sprung out on magic. That’s no good for anyone. Let’s make a plan to talk to her soon.”

“What about Alex?” Lucy asked.

Callie gave her a saucy look. “You’re going to sashay over there and tell that merman to show his tail.”

“Callie,” Lucy warned once again. It seemed her upcoming college life was making her sister go a little wild.

“I’m playing. Ask him to the wedding. He can either say yes or no,” Callie said. She scratched her cheek in thought, then frowned. “He might feel a little odd eating seafood.”

Lucy groaned, not trusting herself to use words. If she was going to ask her new neighbor for a favor, then she was going to appeal to his stomach. One could catch flies with honey, but how did you catch a merman?

Chapter Nine

Alex looked at his house. His house. His cottage. This storybook-looking cottage, with overgrown honeysuckle bushes flanking the blue front door and a stone path that wound its way from the door to the sidewalk. He glared at the bugs and butterflies that fluttered by in the sunshine. Whimsical jerks, he thought, shaking his head as he walked up the stone path. Even his scales itched to photograph this place, despite the fact that he didn’t want to be here. A sense of reluctant awe came over him. This place was, for lack of a better term, picture-perfect. Alex, inspired by his encounter with Lucy, decided to give the cottage a chance. He couldn’t walk away without seeing it, especially after the flicker of interest he’d seen in her eyes when he’d told her he owned this place. Alex could only avoid the whole house problem for so long. Mom kept texting asking questions about the cottage that left him fumbling for answers. By Thursday afternoon, he couldn’t avoid his house any longer. It was time that he faced this problem. Besides, what was the point of paying for a hotel when he had a place to stay? He’d miss the room service, but it was time to see this gift.

As he surveyed the cottage, Alex reflected on his breakfast meeting with Horatio at Mimi’s Diner earlier that morning. He had picked at his pancakes while Horatio talked to him. Chocolate-chip pancakes couldn’t fix his mood as he learned about his new digs. His so-called home sweet home was a hot mess, emotionally speaking.

“I know how Mom and Pop got the place for so cheap. No one wants it. It’s jinxed,” Horatio said, sitting in their diner booth.

“You mean it’s cursed.”

“No. A jinx brings someone bad luck. A curse invokes a supernatural power to bring harm to a person or place,” Horatio corrected without missing a beat.

“Don’t tell me how you know that.” Alex sighed. Keeping track of all this magic was exhausting.

“Listen, I’ve renovated enough houses and homes in the Grove. I have to know the difference. Family curses and ghosts will drive down your property value in an instant,” Horatio said. “I’m glad you’re still here. I thought you’d run out of town by now.”

Alex shrugged. He had nowhere to go, a merman without a place to rest his tail. His apartment with Nahla was gone. The truth was that his family didn’t even know that he had been engaged. Horatio didn’t feel comfortable using social media save for a business page he updated once every six months. Mom and Pop thought a digital footprint was the name of his favorite band. The life he posted and shared online was gone as if someone hit the refresh button on his entire life.

“I have to settle this issue first,” Alex said simply. “Let’s swing by the cottage. Maybe we can grab some sea salt to cleanse everything just in case.”

Horatio sighed. “I can’t do today. I have a job in the West Grove.”

“Really?” Alex asked curiously. The West Grove, the spookier neighborhood in Freya Grove, was known for the more gothic beings and creatures who went bump in the night. Alex had known a few goblins and ghouls in high school who called West Grove home.

“Yes. Vampires need remodeling services, too,” Horatio said. “I’ll come over next week to inspect everything. If you’re serious about selling the house, I can get you a spot on the Open House New Jersey Tour.”

“Okay.” Alex leaned back.

“Hear me out,” Horatio said. “The cottage will be placed on a list. People from all over the state will get a chance to visit and put in their offer.”

Alex rubbed his jaw. “Does it work?”

“Last year, every single house was sold. If you’re looking to sell, this is the best way to do it.”

“Tell me what I need to do.”

“Have the cottage ready by August,” Horatio said. “I’ll personally get you on the list.”