Spells and Scones Read Online Free PDF Page B

side of it. His furry brow was wrinkled in a frown.
    I bent and rubbed his head. He glanced up at me, then back at the door.
    â€œWhat’s up with him?” Declan asked.
    At the other end of the table, Lucy was watching the dog, too, and flicked a concerned glance my way.
    I straightened. “I’m not sure.”
    â€œLooks like she’s about done,” Ben said as two youngcouples exited the bookstore. The line in front of Dr. Dana had dwindled to three stragglers, and the piles of her books had all but disappeared. “Let’s start cleaning up.”
    Together, we dove in. Lucy packed up the remaining pastries, and Declan loaded them into a plastic bin. Ben started breaking down the folding table, and I went out to police any paper plates and cups that careless patrons had left lying around.
    Dr. Dana finished and rose. Her husband, who had stopped hovering behind her and now sat on a folding chair with a spy novel, began gathering his belongings. Croft hurried over to the author, and I heard him ask if she’d mind signing some of the stock he still had in the store.
    â€œI’d be delighted,” she said with a gracious air.
    â€œI have another case in the back room.” Croft smiled a rare smile. Sales must have been good after all.
    Dr. Dana followed the bookstore owner as he wended his way through to the back room. Moments later he returned to the register to help the last two customers. They paid up and left. As they exited I heard them chatting about the unexpected excitement that evening.
    Nate Dobbs had returned to his seat and opened his book again. Dr. Dana’s sister, Phoebe, sank onto the chair next to him. He gave her a sympathetic look.
    Ignoring it, she took a deep breath and stood again. “I’m going to see if I can find a closer parking space so Dana won’t have to walk so far on those silly heels.”
    Nate stood. “I’ll come with you.” The look he directed around the room was rueful. “I could use the fresh air.”
    I stifled a smile.
    She shrugged. “Suit yourself.” Her lack of enthusiasm was palpable.
    I turned away to pick up a stray plate.
    Margie passed by me with her signed book under her arm and a grin on her face. “Hi, Katie! Wasn’t she wonderful? She must have talked with me for five whole minutes!”
    â€œGlad you enjoyed your night out,” I said, and gave her a hug made awkward by my full hands.
    She grabbed one of the few remaining volumes by the psychologist—this one an earlier advice book about raising children:
How to Do Kids Right
. “I’m getting this one, too. She probably has all kinds of good ideas for how to deal with the JJs. I bet I can still get her to sign it, too.” Before I could respond, Margie headed toward the back of the store, where Dr. Dana was signing Croft’s extra stock.
    Huh. Just as I’d always thought of Margie and Redding as having a great marriage, I’d been in awe of the ease and wisdom she displayed as a mother. Why on earth would Margie need advice on either front?
    I dumped the detritus I’d collected into the trash bag Declan held out for me; then he put a lid on the tub of leftovers. He’d promised to drop them at the homeless shelter after we were done. Lucy had already folded the tablecloth and put it in a bag to take home and wash, and Ben had tucked the table against the wall for the rental company to pick up the next morning. I was tired as all get-out and wanted nothing more than to go home and relax on my back patio with a light, late supper and my boyfriend. Our conversation that evening was bound to be interesting.
    A scream echoed from the back room, and my chin jerked up. Mungo started barking, loud and urgent, and took off like a shot toward the sound.
    I wasn’t far behind him, and Declan was right on my heels.
    We barreled through the open door, nearly knocking Margie over. I caught myself on the