Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered by Kerry Barrett

always deserved – not a loser witch with unruly hair and a problem with commitment like me.
    I gave him his tea and he handed over the money.
    ‘Oh there’s no need,’ I began but he waved me away.
    ‘Thank you,’ he said in an uber-polite fashion. ‘See you around.’
    He turned and left. I watched him go, wondering if things would always be odd between us. Probably. If I’d been in his position, I wouldn’t want to forgive and forget either.
    I was startled out of my reverie by a group of hikers who arrived to pick up a packed lunch. Nell sorted it out with impressive speed and sent them on their way with a cheery wave.
    As the door shut behind them, I looked at her.
    ‘That was the most customers I’ve seen in here since I came back,’ I said.
    She sat down on one of the sofas by the window.
    ‘I know,’ she said. ‘Things are not good.’
    ‘Do you know why?’
    ‘I’ve got an idea,’ she said, watching me closely. ‘Do you know why?’
    ‘I’ve got an idea,’ I said.
    We stared at each other for a minute. I didn’t know if she knew the truth about Mum, Suky and Eva and I cursed myself for not thinking to check with Mum before I’d startedmy shift.
    Nell looked around her. I didn’t know why she bothered; the café was deserted.
    ‘Promise you won’t say anything to Suky?’
    I nodded.
    ‘I think she made some mistakes,’ Nell said. Her pretty face was grave. ‘I think she gave out some tonics that didn’t work and now I think some people are talking.’
    It was so exactly what Suky had said that I almost gasped.
    ‘People?’ I said.
    ‘I think it’s the Housewives’ Guild,’ she whispered, even though there was no one around to hear her. ‘Millicent Fry and her cronies.’
    ‘The one with the hat?’ I was whispering too.
    Nell nodded. She pushed her sleeves up and I caught a glimpse of some silvery white scars on her forearms. She saw me look and pulled her jumper down again.
    ‘I saw Millicent snogging the face off her husband a few weeks ago,’ she said. ‘It was disgusting. And like completely not what she does. I reckon Suky totally had a hand in that.’
    I gulped, not sure whether to fess up on Suky’s behalf.
    ‘Even if Suky didn’t make Millicent fruity, she’s definitely involved,’ Nell continued. ‘She loves a drama. Other people’s misfortunes are her lifeblood.’
    I raised my eyebrows. That sounded a bit over the top to me.
    ‘I know her daughter, Imogen,’ Nell explained.
    ‘Are you friends?’
    ‘Have you seen Mean Girls ?’
    ‘Ah,’ I understood. ‘Is Imogen one of the Plastics at your school?’
    ‘Totally,’ Nell said. ‘She’s poisonous. And I reckon her mum is just as bad.’
    ‘Maybe,’ I said. I made a mental note to watch out for this Millicent and to see if I could find out anything about the Housewives’ Guild. Could those harmless middle-aged women really be the cause of the café’s troubles?
    Funnily enough, after such a gloomy chat with Nell, the café got a bit busier. There were afew groups of walkers wanting lunch, along with some tourists and two elderly women who told me they were on a painting holiday. I told them all about Eva’s husband, Allan, and proudly sent them off in the direction of his studio to have a look at his work.

Chapter 17
    Later in the afternoon, the bell jingled and Brent came in.
    He strode up to the counter and flashed me his blinding smile.
    ‘Esme!’ he said. ‘I was hoping to see you – how is Suky? Will she be needing a lift tomorrow?’
    Like before, his over-exuberance made me feel sulky and sullen, but I knew he was doing us a big favour, so I plastered a smile on.
    ‘Her cold isn’t as bad as we thought,’ I said. ‘So she should be fine to go again tomorrow – if you don’t mind.’
    Nell appeared at my elbow, her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. I looked at her suspiciously. Did she have a crush on the handsome Yank?
    ‘That’s very kind of you,’ she said. ‘Isn’t