Tyler turned to Aunt Pearl. His mouth turned up ever so slightly into a smile. “We agree for once.”
“You finally did your job, Sheriff,” Aunt Pearl said. “I guess there’s hope for you yet.”
Tyler smirked. “Thanks for the compliment, Pearl.”
“Oh…one more thing. I’ve got something to give you, Sheriff.” Aunt Pearl fumbled around in her pocket and pulled out a large brass key. “It’s a key to the city. Thanks for your hard work.”
“Wow…Pearl, thanks.” Tyler frowned. “Isn’t this an honor normally bestowed by the mayor?”
Aunt Pearl snorted. “You think he runs the show? Nah, he’s only a figurehead. Nothing happens in this town without my stamp of approval.”
Tyler laughed. “I’m just glad to have solved Richard’s murder and gotten two killers off the streets.”
Aunt Pearl scowled. “Don’t take all the credit, Sheriff. You couldn’t have done it without Cen and me. We cracked the case.”
“We did?” It was the first time Aunt Pearl had given me credit for anything. It was a backhanded compliment, but I’d take it.
Dusk was falling as I stood outside the Witching Post. I shivered in the cool breeze, wishing I had worn my jacket. I watched Jose and Desiree being led away, each into one of the two waiting Shady Creek police cars. First Jose was seated and buckled into one of the patrol cars. He glared at us from the backseat as he was quickly driven out of the lot and down our winding driveway.
A uniformed officer held a protective hand over Desiree’s head as he guided her into the back of the second police car. It scared me to think that an innocent man had been so easily framed for murder. Thankfully Richard’s killers were caught and would soon face justice.
I was also relieved that the wine festival was over for another year. There was so much over the top drama each year, although maybe now with Desiree gone, it could return to just being a fun, small town event again.
In spite of everything that had happened, the wine festival had continued on, business as usual, except for the judging fiasco. Many venders had even reported higher sales than in previous years.
Richard’s absence had proven that he wasn’t indispensable after all.
And Desiree wouldn’t compete in wine contests again for a very long time.
I exhaled and felt all of today’s tension finally leave my body. It had been an incredibly busy day—and a tragic one. Nothing had gone according to plan.
The day didn’t feel quite complete yet. Something gnawed at my subconsciousness. Wasn’t there was something else that was supposed to happen today?
Ah, yes. Tyler’s surprise.
Obviously, those plans wouldn’t go ahead now. While the crime had been solved and the perpetrators caught, the case wouldn’t end yet. There were charges to be brought, paperwork to complete, and interviews to be held. Tyler would be heading over to Shady Creek to tie up any loose ends soon. I probably wouldn’t even see him for a day or two.
My surprise would have to wait.
I glanced over at Antonio, who stood alongside Trina, holding her hand.
Were the two of them still under the effects of Aunt Pearl’s spell, or was it really true love?
Aunt Pearl tugged at my arm and whispered, “Some spells aren’t meant to be broken, Cen. Don’t even try.”
Chapter 30
It was a brisk, sunny morning when I arrived at the Inn. Mom was waiting outside for me by the front steps.
She had asked that I come over immediately because she needed urgent help. She was usually quite self-sufficient, so I had dropped what I was doing and rushed home to assist her.
“Why are you all dressed up?” I eyed her up and down suspiciously.
“I am not dressed up,” she said. “These are just some old gardening clothes.”
I shook my head. “Nobody gardens in linen. Definitely not in white linen.”
She dismissed me with a wave of her hand. “Who cares? I’ll garden in linen if I want to. Anyway, it doesn’t matter what I’m wearing. Hurry up or we’ll be too late.”
“Too late for what?”
She didn’t answer but gripped my hand tighter. She pulled me with surprising strength along the walkway toward the side of the house.
Mom never wore skirts and hardly ever wore makeup. She looked like she was dressed for a party, though I didn’t recall us making plans to go anywhere. “Uh…we can’t be too late for that thing in the garden that I need help with.”
By now she was practically dragging me. I walked faster so she would stop yanking my arm.
Mom practically ran the inn on her own. There wasn’t a lot she delegated, so I was curious about my assigned task. Plants died under my watch, and I couldn’t tell a perennial from an annual from a weed. Why on earth a witch with a green thumb needed my help was a mystery.
I studied Mom’s attire more closely as we walked along the stone path that bordered the front of the house. Her white linen shirt and beige linen skirt were designer pieces. Aside from being completely unsuitable for the grime and grit of gardening, they were expensive. On her feet were beige open-toed sandals with a floral motif.
Cute, summery shoes that I had never seen before.
She had obviously bought them recently because we shared the same shoe size, and I had never seen them on any of my occasional closet raids. I was immediately suspicious.
“What exactly do you want me to do?”
“You’ll see soon enough.” Mom quickened her pace.
As we passed the parking lot, I spotted Brayden’s sports car in one of the corner spots. It was crookedly parked, taking up two spots in typical thoughtless Brayden fashion. My shoulders slumped at the thought of seeing my self-absorbed ex-fiancée. Brayden—who as mayor was also Tyler’s boss—had no reason to be here. We avoided each other as much as possible so he must have
