“How old are you, Charlie?”
She wiped her mouth on the back of her coat sleeve. “Aren’t you s’posed to know stuff like that? Santa Claus would know.”
Clever little hooligan, I thought. She appeared to be Kindergarten age, possibly first grade. That made her six maybe? “Well I was double checking my records.” I got another cake pop and held it just out of reach. “So, the Sugarplum fairy thinks you’re six years old.”
Her eyes lit up. “I’ll be six pretty soon!” She reached out and snatched the cakepop so quickly that I could only be impressed. She demolished that too.
“Tell you what Charlie,” I said, easing back for the store phone. I’m going to call a friend of mine and see if she can help find your Daddy.”
“Can I have another sugarplum?”
“You bet.” I grabbed the last two purple sprinkled cakepops and handed them to her. I dialed the police station and waited for the operator to pick up. I explained to the operator how I had found the girl. I relayed what I knew about her: name, age, and how she was dressed.
“Can I get down?” Charlie wanted to know.
I tucked the phone under my ear and helped her down off the high countertop. “Stay inside, okay?” I said.
“I will.” She grinned and flashed a missing front tooth. “It’s pretty in here.”
“She doesn’t seem afraid,” I said. “I’m betting she wandered off from her parents.” The operator told me she had a unit responding and chuckled hearing Charlie’s bright chatter in the background.
“I’ll let Officer Bishop know the child is safe and entertained,” she said. “Try and keep the child inside until the officer arrives.”
“I’ll watch for Lexie.” I thanked the operator and hung up. Lexie Proctor-Bishop was a friend, and the mother of two young children. She was also a fellow Witch. I felt better knowing Lexie would be the one to help the girl find her parents.
“Purple and pink Christmas trees!” Charlie sounded slightly shocked as she stood in front of the sugarplum candy trees. “I’ve never seen pink and purple trees before.” Suddenly, she spotted the flowers. “You have flowers inside!” She raced to the glass fronted cooler. “Flowers in the winter time.” She pressed her face against the glass. “You must be magick.”
“Truer words...” I chuckled and found myself thoroughly entertained by my surprise guest.
A few moments later a police car zipped up in front of the shop, red and blue lights flashing. While Charlie chattered on, counting the poinsettias on the sales floor, Lexie climbed out of her cruiser, and a silver haired man jumped out of the back seat.
The father. I realized. He was rushing into the shop ahead of Lexie. “Charlotte!” He called. Despite his distress, the man’s face was striking, and somehow...familiar.
Charlie saw him and ran straight for me instead of her father. “Hey!” I laughed as she grabbed ahold and hung on tight. “Charlie, it’s going to be okay. He’s not mad.”
“Charlotte Leigh!” The father’s voice was sharp and angry. “I’ve never been so frightened in my entire life! I’ve been everywhere—”
“Hey, ratchet that down,” I said, wrapping an arm around the girl’s shoulders.
The father’s lecture stopped mid-sentence. He scowled when our eyes met.
“Easy, Dad.” Lexie Proctor-Bishop smoothly stepped forward. “Let me handle this,” she said and knelt down at Charlie’s level. “Charlotte, My name is Lexie.”
Charlie peeped around my leg. “Hi,” she said softly. “Are you a police lady?” She reached out and touched the collar of Lexie’s uniform.
“I sure am,” Lexie said.
“Am I in trouble?” Charlie asked.
Lexie smiled. “Listen kiddo, your dad’s been really worried. When he couldn’t find you he called the police.”
“He did?” Charlie sounded awed but not afraid.
“Yes he did.” Lexie nodded. “We’ve been searching for you for the last few hours. You scared him pretty good.” Lexie stared hard over her shoulder at the father. “But he’s not angry at you.”
“He’s not?” Charlie’s voice was hesitant.
The father knelt down too, and held out his arms. “No baby, I’m not mad.” His voice was softer. “I’m sorry that I shouted. I was scared when I couldn’t find you.”
At her father’s words the girl ran across the room and flung herself into his arms. I saw tears in his eyes as he picked her up. Without another word, he walked straight out the door with the girl.
“Thanks Violet.” Lexie gave my arm a friendly squeeze. “I’ll go take the Bell family home.”
“Bell?” I felt a tingling at the base of my neck and I blinked. “The girl’s last name is Bell?”
“Yup.” Lexie opened the door. “See you.” She gave a wave and left.
I gazed numbly out the window as the handsome man held his daughter and waited for Lexie to open the car door. I automatically locked the shop’s door as father and daughter got in the squad car. The man leaned over, put a seatbelt on his child, and pulled her close to his side. There was something about his gesture that had my belly flipping first in reaction, and then with old memories.
“Oh my goddess,” I whispered, and my heart began to beat faster in my chest.
He’s changed. I thought, studying the man intently. His hair has turned mostly to silver...that’s why I hadn’t recognized him. I stood there and continued to gawk out the window at the man who I’d never gotten over, even though he’d broken my heart seven years ago.
My ex, Matthew Bell, was back in William’s Ford.
CHAPTER TWO
The following morning, I was downstairs in the flower shop before sun up. We had a Saturday evening wedding, and words couldn’t describe how grateful I was for the distraction of the holiday weekend wedding flowers. Anything that would keep my mind off of Matthew Bell and his child was a good thing.
Plus, I reminded myself, my friend Autumn Bishop was scheduled
