In the ruckus, Uncle Oswald had disappeared into the back of the shop – no doubt hightailing it out to his gleaming green Beetle, the way he’d done last year when a student journalist had asked one too many pressing questions about the provenance of the moon-charged water he’d been selling on a subscription basis online (no refunds).
Bonnie reached for Effie’s hand. She marvelled as she felt their magic twine together, coursing up through their arms and creating a warmth that connected them, always, for ever. They were sisters, and nothing would come between that. Not jealousy. Not their different ways of seeing the world. And certainly not someguy.
Beneath her cat’s-eye glasses, Effie’s eyes glowed with the hues of an unearthly sunset. Bonnie’s contact lenses felt dry, and she knew her own eyes were doing the same.
Damn, the Chalmers sisters could be impressive when they wanted to be.
Bonnie squeezed her sister’s hand. Effie squeezed right back.
‘Let’s get him,’ said Bonnie.
With Theo trailing nervously – and looking appropriately awestruck – behind them, they strode through the back of the shop and out into the misty night. Clouds gathered around them, deepening from white to pink to purple, then bursting open in an outpouring of magical rain that travelled upwards somehow. Up from the homes and businesses of the town and away into the night. Sparks of purple, gold and green flickered, creating brilliant new stars in the hidden sky. The puddles on the cobblestone alleyway steamed.
Uncle Oswald was in his vintage car, hunched over the steering wheel as he turned the ignition key over and over. The car clicked and ticked as the engine strained to start.
‘Sorry,’ called Bonnie. ‘Magic and motors are a bad mix. It’s a domestic charm thing. Do you want me to bring out the magic carpet you’ve got sitting in the shop?’
Uncle Oswald made a noise of strangled anguish that was up there on the list of the best sounds Bonnie had ever heard.
Finally, he clambered out of the car, dragging a suitcase with him. He always had one pre-packed, ostensibly because of potential disasters, but now Bonnie was seeing the real reason.
Effie clicked her fingers, tipping the suitcase sideways so that it burst open into a particularly oily puddle.
‘You think you’ve won,’ snapped Uncle Oswald, scrambling to shove his sodden clothes back into the misbehaving suitcase. ‘But just wait until you hear from my attorney!’
‘Oh no,’ said Bonnie, with faux despair, ‘a sternly worded letter! Whatever shall we do!’
‘My dad can help with that side of things,’ whispered Theo. ‘If you need it. Which...I’m not sure you do.’
Abandoning the suitcase, Uncle Oswald tossed a few items of clothing over his shoulder, then grabbed an e-scooter that a tourist had dumped by the side of the road and zoomed off into the night, his torn scarf whipping behind him. Ah, what a damp, pitiful figure he cut.
‘Well, this calls for a cocktail,’ said Bonnie, blowing on her fingernails to cool them off. They smoked lightly from the ribbons of magic that had coursed through them. ‘Hex-free, I promise.’
Effie hesitated, but only for a second. ‘That sounds magical, sis.’
Bonnie’s grin was as bright as the path the moon was cutting through the clouds. ‘Well then. Let’s go make some memories.’
Chapter 37
SOMETHING CHARMING THIS WAY COMES
Effie
Cleansed at last of the spell, The Silver Slipper was back to being the cheerful gathering spot where Effie had first met Theo. Knots of gaudily dressed tourists sipped away on beers and cocktails in every colour but purple, and couples curled up on the cosy outdoor seats. A group of older women from the romance book club nursed generous pours of rosé while they compared scandalous book covers around one of the firepits, and an academic from the college marked essays on a candle-topped table.
The skies had cleared, creating a vast velvety blanket overhead, and the rows and rows of string lights knotted around the huge wisteria and draped over the perimeter shrubs lent a magical air to the space, setting the colourful plants and bright couch cushions aglow.
It was the first time Effie had truly seen the bar – truly, properly seen it and all the work Bonnie had put in.
‘You’ve done a really great job with this place, sis,’ Effie said. And she meant every word.
‘Thanks, Eff,’ said Bonnie, tapping her wrist against her sister’s so that their shared magic sparkled softly. ‘That means a ton coming from you.’
Leading Effie and Theo up the pathway through the patio area, Bonnie shoved open the bar’s main door with a confidence that for once didn’t make Effie jealous.
Inside was just as busy as outside had been – and just as cosy. Effie was relieved to see that the townsfolk had returned to their usual selves, and that everyone had pitched in to clean up the mess from earlier. Although poor Alana was looking a tad the worse for wear and was taking a breather on a stool towards the back of the room. And Hannah was frantically scrolling through emails on her phone as she stress-ate a cookie.
‘No idea what happened,’ said Bobby, who was mopping up a particularly purple patch of fur. ‘A rabid raccoon is my best guess.’
