Cadenbury Town Does Halloween (Cadenbury Town #7)

Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

I look around at the mess and have to laugh, thank goodness we’re outside.

I had the best idea today; that we should all carve pumpkins, then we can line the path to the front door with them. I magicked up a marquee, tables, space heaters and everything we needed and surprised everyone when dinner was finished.

Sly, Ebby and the boys are with us, as are my parents, Emily, Clarence and Callum. Connie is sat wrapped up in her bouncy chair, watching and smiling.

All the witches amongst us are banned from using magic for this, it has to be carved properly. I’ve also made it a timed challenge. Half an hour tops!

I internally shake my head. I honestly never realised how messy it was scooping out the insides of a pumpkin. Everyone is having fun carving. I was nice and magicked up templates that we could use if we wanted, which a few of us did especially me.

We’re all laughing and joking as we carve our pumpkins. Mine is simple, just two eyes, a nose and a mouth, but honestly, it’s all I can manage, and I finish first and watch the others.

Mine didn’t even take fifteen minutes, including scooping out the insides.

“Sixteen minutes left,” I tell everyone.

“No, it’s not long enough,” Ben gripes out.

Everyone laughs and starts cutting quicker.

I grab my phone, as it’s the timer, and magic up a mat, and flop down next to Connie. I magic my hands clean and look at her.

“Having fun Princess?” I ask picking her up. I make sure the blanket is still around her and sit her on my lap, so she can watch everyone and holding her little gloved hands, wave them around and make her giggle.

“Less than ten minutes,” I announce.

“I’m finished,” Enoch says, turning his pumpkin round so the carving faces me.

It’s a lot like mine, but better. “Nice Enoch.”

“I’m done,” Nora says, turning hers to show me.

“Nice Nora,” she carved a cat face. She did most of it by herself, which is impressive with her broken arm. I did see Cam help her a few times, but I’m sure no one minded, I know I didn’t.

One by one everyone finishes and turns them all to face me. Ben is the last to finish, with one second to spare.

“Just in time Ben,” I tell him, grinning.

“Let’s see them all,” Nora says, walking around the table. “Wow,” she exclaims.

Everyone comes to look. I stand up, still holding Connie.

Some of the carvings look like works of art. With town scenes, wolves, dragons, cats. They are all amazing.

“Who gets to pick the winner?” Xander asks.

“Connie can,” I say, turning her to look at me. “Now Princess, we need to pick a winner. I’ll walk you past all the pumpkins and you point to the one you like the best.”

I walk slowly showing her all the masterpieces and explaining them to her, and she really looks like she is thinking about it. I walk her back along the line and she holds her little hand out at one.

“And Grandpops is the winner,” I say. “Good choice, Princess.”

Pa gets congratulations from everyone. His pumpkin really is amazing. He carved the bookshop. I have no idea how, but he has some skills.

Pa takes Connie out of my arms. “Thank you, Princess,” he says, blowing a raspberry on her cheek.

She laughs and pats his cheek.

“Let’s set these pumpkins up along the path and put fake candles in them. Sly, Ebby, are you and the boys taking yours to your house?” Adhan asks.

“Yes, we totally are,” Xander says before his brothers can.

“In that case, one of you can carry mine to the front,” Pa says.

“And mine,” I add.

“Once done, we have hot cider, hot chocolate or coffee inside,” Emily tells everyone.

It doesn’t take long to get the pumpkins situated and for me to tidy the garden, which I do with magic and then follow everyone into the kitchen to warm up and have a hot chocolate, stuffed full of cream and marshmallows. Yummy.