Cadenbury Town Does Halloween (Cadenbury Town #7)

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

I ’m opening the bookshop myself this morning. Pa is coming in later and Alfred will be in around lunchtime as it’s his day to cover the evening meetings.

“Morning shop,” I say happily as I walk in. It’s crazy but I swear the shop smiles when I say, ‘morning’ or ‘night’ when I’m opening or closing.

I turn the lights on and walk to the counter, put my bag underneath and smile as I look around. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine this life. I thought I was destined to work in an office for the whole of my working life. The best thing I ever did was throw a latte in my manager’s face and get fired. I mean, if that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t be a true witch, I wouldn’t have met the love of my life, have lots of brothers, and live in this amazing town. And the best part, I get to work with my Pa every day.

I’m pulled from my thoughts when the door opens, and Callum comes bouncing in.

“Morning, Ernest,” he says happily, making a detour over to me.

“Hey, Callum. You look extra happy today.” Since Callum has been with Clarence, he is always smiling.

“I am. I seriously can’t believe that Clarence loves me as much as I love him. I also have my brother and niece in my life and I have friends.”

“Believe it, my friend, our lives are awesome. Plus, the Halloween House building starts today.”

Callum grins. “I can’t wait to see it.”

“Me either. You know you can come and help set it up, right?” I tell him.

“Really? I’d like that. Now I need to get everything sorted, I’ll bring you a latte when everything is set up.”

“You’re my new favourite, Callum.”

Callum laughs. “I promise not to tell Clarence.”

I burst out laughing. “Yeah, best not.”

I’m kept busy this morning, helping customers and chatting to anyone who comes in. I pause a few times as I feel weird, but it’s nothing serious I hope, so I ignore the feeling and carry on.

My Pa comes in just before his shift starts. He’s scowling which is never a good sign.

“Pa, what’s wrong?” I ask in concern.

“What’s wrong, you ask? Let me tell you what’s wrong. I’m divorcing your Ma,” he tells me, walking up to the counter.

“Sure you are.” The day Pa divorces Ma is the day I do actually cut them both out of my life. “What did Ma do?”

“Your Ma decided to practice her magic. As you know she currently has Constance’s spell book. Your Ma decided to pick a spell and have a go.”

I laugh. Ma has an issue with spells, she can do basic things but nothing complicated. “What happened?”

“I have no idea what was supposed to happen, but you know that scene in Bedknobs and Broomsticks where the clothes all come alive and start dancing? That happened.”

I burst out laughing at the image of my parents dancing with their clothes.

“You can laugh, it wasn’t funny. Your Ma tried to stop the spell and the furniture started dancing.”

I hold my side I’m laughing so hard. I see my Pa’s lips twitching. “OMG, stop please,” I wheeze out.

“We had to phone Mollyanne in the end. She came over and put everything to rights. Your Ma is now banned from trying Constance’s spells unless someone magical is with her,” finally he laughs. “I don’t think I have ever seen Molly laugh so hard. I got pictures and videos of everything. I’ll show you first and then send them to you and Temp.”

“Why didn’t you phone me? I would have come and helped,” I say, wiping my eyes.

“And brought everyone with you. Your Ma didn’t want everyone laughing at her. Here look,” he says, taking his phone out of his pocket and clicking through it before handing it to me.

I laugh as I flick through the photos and video, but now I have an idea. We could have a flying clothes room in Halloween House. “You need to show this to Adhan. We need this in a room at the Halloween House.”

“I’ll show him when he comes in later.”

“I’m not sure he’ll be in today. They’re all out at the farm, starting to get everything ready.”

My Pa laughs and shakes his head. “He’ll be in. No matter where he is or how busy he is, he always makes the time to see you. I’m going to get coffee and cake. I’ll bring you something back, and send these to you and Temp,” he says, plucking his phone out of my hand and heading for the tearoom.

I sigh happily, he’s right, Adhan always makes time to come and see me. I pull my phone out and message my Ma.

I’m disappointed in you Ma.

I hit send and wait for her reply. A moment later I get a message from Temp.

I love your mum.

I laugh, everyone loves my Ma.

Can you believe she didn’t call me last night to help as she thought I would bring you all with me and we would laugh at her?

I hit send, and while I’m waiting for his reply and as there is no one near the counter, I scroll through the town chat.

This was a totally ingenious idea I had, of getting the whole town connected. It saves time sending newsletters out and now everyone is up on all the gossip. We have the large town one, but a lot of smaller ones. My latest one is the Cadenbury Drama Society. Not long ago they had a meeting in the tearoom. I told them my idea of the town putting on Wicked and they loved the idea, they voted me in then and there as the new Chairperson and now Clay Dempsey is helping me write the script.

I’m pulled from my thoughts when my phone pings and I see I have a reply from Temp.

We would have totally laughed.

There is another ping, this time from my Ma.

I’ve been disappointed in you for years. It was time I shared the feeling.

I snort and send a message back.

Love you too Ma x

“Are you annoying your Ma?” Pa asks, walking in carrying a large mug of hopefully latte for me, but no cake.

“Always. Plus, I got a message from Temp, laughing at Ma,” I reply, taking my mug from Pa. I’ve just taken a happy sip when the door opens and Sal, Justice and Alfred come walking in, laughing as they do.

“You all look happy,” Pa says, smiling their way.

“We were talking about Jodie and what happened last night,” Alfred says.

“She told you?” I ask in surprise.

“Molly did. She came into Shattered Glass to see how your mum was after last night and told us all about it,” Sal says.

“But have you seen the pictures and the video?” Pa asks.

“There’s a video?” Alfred asks, practically bouncing.

“There is. Come into the tearoom and I’ll show you. Ernest can cover things,” and with that Pa whisks everyone away to show them said pictures and videos. I shake my head as he leaves me to cover things.