Page 34 of Last Witch Attempt
“No. Why?”
“I want to know who I should be on the lookout for. Landon and Chief Terry are at the medical examiner’s office with Steve and Spencer. Landon will let me know what’s going on with them.”
“You’re as worried about him as you are your friends,” Mom surmised.
“It’s one thing for him to accept being married to a witch. Now the others will be casting judgement. I don’t want things turning difficult for him.”
“Landon is not the type of man who will let that stuff bother him. It will be fine.”
I hoped she was right. On a sigh, I glanced around. “Where’s Aunt Tillie?”
“Off somewhere being angry,” Twila replied. “She claims we’re persecuting her.”
“She said she wasn’t at the Dandridge last night,” Marnie added. “Like Clove doesn’t know what she looks like.”
“I hope she doesn’t do something weird.” I made a tsking noise. “That’s the last thing I need.”
“You can’t control Aunt Tillie.” Mom was matter of fact. “Trust me, I’ve tried. The more you try to control her, the more out of control she gets.”
“I’m just supposed to let her run around town with a crazy doll clown and do nothing? Sooner or later, she’s going to do something weird.”
“We’re Winchesters, dear,” Mom replied blandly. “We live our lives in the stratosphere of weird.”
“Ugh.” I looked at the cake again and nodded. “Make sure it’s a good dinner tonight. I think I’m going to want to eat three servings.”
Mom laughed. “You’ll be fine. You worry too much, Bay. Everything will work out.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because the alternative isn’t acceptable … and history tells me that it will work out,” Mom said simply. “It will be fine. Take a breath and believe in the process. It has worked out for us so far.”
What would happen if it didn’t, though? There was always a first time for everything. “Do me a favor and tell Aunt Tillie about the arachnids when you see her. I want her to be careful. Also, try to get her to kick that clown to the curb. I hate having that thing around.”
“She knows the clown bugs us,” Twila said. “She’ll die before she gets rid of him.”
“Just warn her. Be careful with Winchester and Peg going outside too. I don’t want them being attacked.”
“We’ll take care of them,” Mom promised. “Truthfully, though, I think you’ll see your great-aunt before we do.”
I frowned. “Yeah, that’s not what I want.”
Mom shrugged. “I can’t control her. Good luck getting her to toe whatever line you plan on drawing in the sand.”
“Yeah, it’s going to be a crap day.”
I WAS ON ALERT WHEN PARKING INThe Whistler’s lot. Aunt Tillie was nowhere in sight. I scanned Main Street three times just to be certain. I was gratified to see that Mrs. Little’s shop was open. I could see her behind the counter as she talked to two of her friends. She seemed happy enough.
The Whistler was quiet when I unlocked the door. The faint sound of a television could be heard down by the kitchenette. That was where I would find Viola. Rather than head straight to her, I went to my office and checked emails and messages. Finding nothing that needed immediate attention, I went to the kitchenette.
Viola was in her usual spot, sitting in a chair and watching some sort of reality program.
“I don’t understand why anyone would date this guy.” She gestured toward an attractive man with dark hair on the screen. “Sure, he’s hot, but he’s a total sociopath.”
“I don’t know who he is,” I replied.
“Tom Sandoval. He likes to cheat on his girlfriends and play victim when he gets caught.” Viola flicked her eyes to me. “He’s the opposite of your handsome husband … although they do kind of look alike.”
I frowned at the guy on the screen. “I don’t think he looks anything like Landon. He has a pornstache.”
