Pumpkin Spice & Poltergeist (Maple Hollow #1)

Harlow here, hurt, because of me.

The café had been shut for repairs . . . and lack of staff, considering Juniper had poisoned both Miller sisters. Wyatt had become an absolute watchdog. I could hear him doting upon Willow upstairs even as I held vigil beside Harlow’s bed. The werewolf refused to let Willow get out of bed for anything, and I knew for certain what she was to him—far more than just a friend or even a crush. It was so much clearer now that Willow was injured.

It turned out that Willow had ingested a small amount of the poisoned fish—the same one that had killed Lou. I assumed that had been intentional on Juniper’s part. When Willow had been given a strong antidote, it had only taken her a few hours to start demanding Wyatt give her some space again.

Willow was more stubborn than any human woman I knew, and Wyatt was doing his damnedest to take the brunt of it. If only he’d tell her that he couldn’t just leave her, especially so close to the full moon.

But Harlow . . .

Harlow had slept for the last twenty-four hours, and I hadn’t moved from the chair since.

A light rap on the bedroom door sounded, and Iris peeked her head inside. “Any changes?”

I shook my head, my heart cracking all over again. This was my fault, my responsibility.

“She rolled over before,” I croaked, my voice shredded from lack of sleep and tears.

Iris tried to feign a smile. “That’s promising.” There wasn’t much conviction in her tone. She opened the door and placed a small glass vial beside Harlow’s bed. “Healing tonic. I tried a new recipe. Maybe this one will help revive her.”

I scrubbed a hand down my face. “Or maybe that poison will keep her asleep until she withers away.”

Our magic wasn’t working. Never in my life had I felt so helpless. I was so desperate, I’d even called in a human doctor to help, but she’d just said it was a waiting game.

Iris nudged me to get up. “Let me sit with her for a little while.”

I didn’t budge. “I don’t want to leave her. Not until she wakes.”

“When’s the last time you peed?” Iris put her hands on her hips. “You’re asking for a UTI, you know that?”

I let out a half-hearted laugh. “I don’t need you mothering me right now.”

“Of course you do,” Iris said, tugging me to a stand. I didn’t have the energy to fight her. “Besides, I think there’s someone else who needs you right now.”

I looked up to see Lou peeking her head in. My shoulders drooped as I sighed. “Okay, fine. Two minutes and I’m coming right back. Call me if she moves.”

Iris saluted me. “Will do.”

I followed Lou to the front of the café, where half the town had set to work fixing the damage. It was a sight to see. Billy was painting the trim. Agnes was repairing the witch’s broom coatrack. Dougall was tightening the screws on the barstools. Even Rudy and his wife were decorating the windows with the pumpkins Harlow and I had picked only a few days earlier.

My heart twinged anew. It was beautiful seeing the town come together like this. Despite this supposed alliance, despite the friction between the paranormal and human, Willow and Harlow were ours. They belonged to us—to Maple Hollow—and we would get Witch’s Brew Café back to its former glory in no time.

A dozen heads turned toward me as I wandered out.

“Anything?” Billy asked hopefully. The group muttered their agreement.

I shook my head. “Not yet.”

They all looked a little deflated at that but turned their energy back to their work.

“I’m just saying goodbye to this one.” I hooked my thumb at Lou, and everyone whined and grumbled. Lou was visible to everyone now, and she offered them a sad, little smile at their protestations.

“Do you have to go, Lou?” Rudy asked. “It’s been kind of nice having you around again.”

“Yeah,” Billy added. “I know Maple Hollow could sure use a resident ghoul if you’re interested in the job.”

“Sorry, Billy,” she said. “It’s time for me to move on.”

He nodded. “We’ll miss you, kid.”