Where had the magic been then? Why hadn’t the special talent the Chalmers women shared been able to save her? Why had Mom accepted so easily the words of doctors and the hand of fate? Oswald had hinted that there might have been another path, and maybe he’d been right. They should have at least tried.
Bonnie clenched her fists, the purple sparkle of her magic crackling around her wrists.
Seeing Bonnie’s anguished, empty hands, Effie passed her one of the small wildflower bouquets arranged in the effusive style of Flora from A Pocket Full of Posies.
‘Here, I brought two.’
Of course she’d brought two. Ofcourseshe’d assumed that Bonnie would arrive empty-handed.
Bonnie wanted to snap at her sister that she hadn’t forgotten. She’d meant to stop off for a bouquet of her own but fate and circumstance were conspiring against her today. But she didn’t want to fight with her sister in front of Mom’s resting place. She didn’t need dark energy polluting the beautiful willow tree and the serene space it offered.
‘Thanks,’ Bonnie said, trying to keep her voice level. Maybe Effie was just looking out for her.
‘They had a buy one, get one free,’ said Effie. ‘I figured Mom wouldn’t mind.’
Bonnie frowned. ‘I’m surprised Sabine isn’t here yet. She said she was coming.’
Effie checked her watch. She still pointedly wore one, even in a world where cell phones existed. An analogue watch as well, as though she was making a statement about otherpeople’s ability to read analogue time. ‘Sabine’s never late. She’s early, even by my standards.’
As much as it pained Bonnie to admit, Effie had a point. Like Hannah, Sabine was chronically, frustratingly early. She was the kind of person who’d show up fifteen minutes early to a coffee date, or who’d get Taylor Swift tickets within seconds, or who’d be at the front of the line at The Golden Hour Bakery when they announced a new pastry.
‘Maybe she got into an accident with one of those scooters in the square,’ said Bonnie. ‘Traffic’s chaotic today.’
Effie cocked her head. ‘That’s oddly specific. Maybe it just slipped her mind.’
‘I doubt it. I saw her the other day at the bar. We talked about it then.’
‘Ah, of course, at the bar,’ said Effie stiffly. She adjusted her glasses, then added, ‘I would’ve stopped by to see her if I’d known.’
Effie, wanting to come to the bar? Had she been bopped on the head?
Bonnie fiddled with the bouquet Effie had given her, thinking it could do with a touch more colour and character. ‘I thought you hated the bar.’
‘Obviously it’s not my preferred scene. But I’m not entirely a hermit. I’m perfectly willing to stop by if it means seeing someone I care about. Like Sabine.’
‘Well, I’ll let you know next time. Promise.’
‘All right,’ said Effie, even though saying so seemed like it hurt.
‘You should come to the next Trivia Night, perhaps,’ offered Bonnie, trying to assuage her guilt. ‘It’s not far off. And someone needs to keep Winston and Gerald in their place. I mentioned it to Tessa the other day, actually. I’m surprised she didn’t pass it along.’
Effie frowned. ‘Tessa came by as well?’
Hmm. Interesting that Tessa hadn’t mentioned it to Effie. Bonnie had thought they shared everything.
‘She was looking cute,’ offered Bonnie. ‘I think she was meeting someone, but she was a bit coy about it.’
She waited to see whether Effie would dish any gossip, but of course not.
‘Speaking of meeting someone,’ muttered Effie, a look of disdain flitting over her face. Not that this look wassodifferent from her usual expression. ‘Look who it is.’
Uncle Oswald’s cane clacked as he came up, in full fusty magician-wannabe regalia, clutching a fistful of lilies in his free hand. Mom had always warned about lilies, which were deadly to cats and had an energy that scared her.
‘Well, if it isn’t my magical nieces,’ Uncle Oswald said, adjusting his waistcoat and straightening his paisley bow tie. ‘You’re both looking beautiful as usual. Even on such a sad day as this.’ He didn’t seem especially sorrowful, for he immediately added, ‘I went by your bar, Bonnie, but that new bartender of yours told me you were down here. How about we head back up together when we’re done showing our respects to my loving sister?’
‘Um, sure,’ said Bonnie, feeling suddenly off-kilter. Was he checking up on her? And if so, why?
‘Which reminds me,’ went on Oswald, ‘her loopy friend from the hotel – Sabine, that’s it – stopped into the shop the other day. She shopped up quite the storm as well. Excellent job on that, Bonnie.’
