Free 5 A Charming Magic by Tonya Kappes

an Aleuromancy spiritualist. She found answers and messages baked in dough.
    “I’m sorry.” She reached over like Faith had done and grabbed my hands. She rubbed them. Not one bit comforting me. It made me feel worse.
    “Go on,” I encouraged her. “I know there is a message. Good or bad, throw it on me.”
    There wasn’t much more I was going to be able to take.
    “I’m not sure what the real message is, but every time I made one of those damn hearts, it would crack right down the middle.”
    “I saw the crack but thought it was a reject cupcake.” I groaned and tried to rub out the ache pulsating through my chest. “How do you know it was about me?”
    “You aren’t going to put me in jail are you?” Raven referred to Rule Number One—spiritualists cannot read other spiritualists.
    “Are you kidding?” I drew back with my hands planted on my chest. “My life, Oscar, my future is relying on your message.”
    “I don’t know about all of that, but I do know that it doesn’t involve Oscar,” her voice trailed off.
    “What do you mean?” There wasn’t any other guy I was interested in…ever.
    “Clearly it was about you and your shop, but someone who is heavily involved with Petunia.” Raven peered over my shoulder. Faith was behind the counter waving her over. The line had grown twice the size since I had gotten there. “I’ve gotta go.”
    Raven jumped up.
    “Oh! I can do the bridal shower treats,” she said over the crowd. “It was in the dough.” She lifted her hands in the air.

 
     
    Chapter Eight
     
    In the dough.
    That didn’t make me feel any better. Granted I didn’t know a ton about Petunia, but I did know a few things. And one of those things was Arabella Paxton. She was new and she already proved to dislike me, not to mention she was trying to get her hooks in Petunia and Gerald’s wedding.
    “June,” Gerald tipped his hat when I walked past The Gathering Grove on my way back to A Charming Cure. He was outside serving tea to the customers sitting at the wrought iron tables underneath the store’s awning. “Petunia said to tell you that she was going to have to meet you after work. There was a line of customers outside of Glorybee and she was sure someone was going to adopt Clyde.”
    “Oh darn,” I quipped. “I was really hoping to get some items crossed off your wedding list.”
    “About that.” Gerald rubbed his hands over his mustache and twirled the end on one side. “You have been an awful good sport about all of this.”
    “Oh,” I brushed it off even though my heart was breaking like the little heart on the cupcakes I had just gulped down in my time of sorrow. Suddenly my stomach felt sick. “I’m super happy for you and the village. A strong power couple.”
    “I know you told Oscar about all of this.” He waved his hand in the air referring to the magic that lies in Whispering Falls. “I understand he is taking it very well.”
    I nodded. “He is. Eloise is doing a great job showing him pictures of his past with his family.” I crossed my fingers and held them up in the air. “I’m truly grateful to have been able to keep the best friend I have known all my life. That’s enough for me.”
    Disconcerted, Gerald crossed his arms and pointedly looked away.
    “What?” I asked. There was definitely something he was keeping from me.
    Suddenly he straightened up. Ahem , he cleared his throat , “ Nothing.”
    I followed his gaze. Arabella stood on the steps of her shop pretending to adjust the flowers on the mannequin skirt.
    “Have you met our newest shop owner?” It was a perfect time to question him about me seeing them standing in the street earlier—much earlier than when he had proposed to Petunia.
    “Petunia informs me she is a nice woman.” Gerald tipped his top hat, hiding his eyes from the sudden burst of sun shooting from the sky.
    “I saw the two of you talking earlier. Do you know her from somewhere?”
    “No.” He gave me a