Page 27 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part Two

As he set the big jar in my lap, I said, “Well, what shall it be?” I pretended to look around. “Here’s one that tastes like bacon.”

The two dogs began jumping like toy breeds, all four feet leaving the floor.

“Wow,” Evie said to Esme. “We should sell tickets for this.”

After treating the dogs to the point of questionable nutrition practice, I handed the canister back to Keir and turned to the tea Olivia had set in front of me.

“Liv,” I began, “I love you and your tea. Please forgive me, but I’m dying for an Americano.”

Liv shook her head, removed the tea, but did not look offended. Evie, on the other hand, was visibly delighted to be the only person in the room who could give me that particular comfort. No one noticed exactly where the Starbucks Venti-sized cup came from, but there it was sitting in front of me with a sleeve and a stopper just the way I like it.

She got my special smile, the one reserved for expressing proudest mother ever. “Thank you, Evie.”

“Mom…” It sounded like there was more to that thought, but Evie’s voice just stopped working properly after that first word.

“We’re all very glad to have you back where you belong. Bright eyed and all that,” said Lochlan.

I smiled at the kindness and the taste of my coffee before teasing Lochlan. “You were worried about Samhain Court, weren’t you?”

His smile was replaced by an expression of guilt. “Well… That just means I’m doubly happy.”

I chuckled. “Of course.” It seemed like the time to spill. So, I said, “You’re never going to believe this.” Everyone sat in rapt silence waiting for my big revelation. “Jeffgot me out!” The reaction was lukewarm if that. Everybody had sat back in their chairs and resumed enjoyment of out-of-this-world pistachio muffins. “What? Are you saying youknew?”

“Well, yes,” Keir said.

As it turned out, I was the one who was astonished.

“We sent him,” Esme said. “And obviously he was successful. As for where he is now, he’s attempting to capture the villain who held you in that state.”

I didn’t know where to begin. Should I start with, how did pub Jeff become my savior? Or what if he doesn’t find…? I decided on both.

“How is Jeff involved and who is it he’s trying to find?”

“Medusa,” everyone said at once.

“It’s a secret,” Esme said.

“One that can’t get out. Because I promised,” Esme said it with a solemnity that promised catastrophe to anyone who divulged the secret.

“Okay. What is it?” I didn’t have any trouble pressing because I’m pretty good at keeping things to myself when I want to.

“Jeff is a legendary Lorcan hunter. He chooses to live the life he lives for his own reasons, but he shouldn’t be judged by his cover,” she said.

I mulled that over for a few seconds. It was kind of a lot to take in. But there was an elephant size question that was prompted by this information.

“So,” I ventured, “if he doesn’t find her, I could end up there again? Not that I couldn’t get out,” I rushed to say. “He showed me how.”

Esme decided to answer. “I don’t think you’ll need a failsafe. Jeff is quite capable, Rita.”

“He also has the help of another friend of yours,” Lochlan said.

“Who?” I asked.

“Bulent, the gargoyle chieftain.”

It seemed the surprises were endless. “How in the world…?”

I gave Keir a look that said he’d better tell me everything. No more pussy footing.

Without hesitation, he answered, “He said he heard about your trouble from a friend of a distant cousin. Somebody you call J.D.”OMG, I thought.How did my Jersey Devil find out?“The gargoyle said he owed you a favor because of what you did for his nephew. So, he’s helping Jeff out.”

I stopped for a deep breath. “Sometime soon, when I’m not so tired, I want to hear every detail.”

“We want to hear as much about your ordeal as you feel like sharing,” Evie said, having found her voice.

I thought about how I would describe the experience and decided that it wouldn’t do me or them any good to relive it. “You know,” I said, “if you don’t mind too much, I’d rather bask in the warmth of the fire and the company and enjoy this Americano with these incredibly yummy pistachio muffins.” I was finishing that sentence as I watched Olivia set a platter of hot muffins in front of me. “Liv, I can’t imagine having ever lived without you. Look everybody. She’s made enough for me and you, too. Please have a muffin and tell me the most boring and ordinary things you can think of.”

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