Four Charming Spells

Book 4: Kitchen Witch Mysteries

by Lynn Cahoon

Genres: Amateur Sleuth; Culinary Cozy Mysteries

Synopsis

In this spellbinding continuation of the Kitchen Witch Mystery series by New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon, witchcraft trainee Mia Malone summons tasty dishes and unearthly murder suspects . . .



Before Mia Malone can sip tea at Time for a Cuppa, the charming new shop in Magic Springs, Idaho, her life changes course in downright supernatural ways. First her blossoming catering business and cooking school get a boost with the addition of an enchanting cake decorator. Then she catches the attention of the tea shop owner herself, local coven member Mahogany Medford, who's set on immersing Mia in a twisted mystery that appears all but unsolvable without a special kind of help . . .



Still reeling from the recent loss of her mother and believing there was more to the abrupt death, Mahogany urges Mia to cast light on the truth. But old secrets might come back to haunt her in an investigation that demands conjuring up phantoms from the past on the property of Mia's Morsels. Now, wearing Gran’s protective stone and empowered by a circle of trusted confidants, Mia must reveal who—or what—killed Ms. Medford as another deadly surprise brews!

Release date: March 28, 2023

Publisher: Kensington Books

Print pages: 288

Sample

The Lodge in Magic Springs was the go-to place for most of the town’s events. Weddings, anniversary celebrations, birthday parties, the meeting rooms in the historic lodge had seen it all. But today, Mia Malone and her crew from Mia’s Morsels, the new catering, cooking school, dinner delivery, and now event planning business, was catering a more solemn event. Theresa Ann Holly’s funeral had been at ten this morning graveside; now the coven was holding a wake to celebrate the life and the passing of one of their members. James, the catering director over at the Lodge, had sent the coven social committee to Mia when the Lodge had already been booked for a large celebrity wedding this weekend.

Mia appreciated the referral, but the coven’s requirements for the food were a little odd, even for Magic Springs. And they’d asked for a discount because Theresa didn’t have family to pitch in for the expense. As she watched another box of champagne being brought out from the kitchen, Mia hoped the discounted rate would at least cover her costs. Next time, she’d build in the extra charges for the coven’s special requirements plus some extra before she took off the discount.

“You look like you’re ready for this to be over.” Christina Adams stood next to Mia and watched the group. “I have to say, for a coven event, it’s pretty mild.”

“What were you expecting? A lot of chanting and spell casting?” Mia watched as a man who’d been watching his phone for the last twenty minutes raised his hands in a cheer. “That one’s too busy watching the baseball game.”

“I thought I heard him mumbling about a bad ump call.” Christina chuckled. “All the food’s out and the last trays are being passed around. The food around the floral arrangement hasn’t been touched. Is there a reason?”

Mia nodded, looking at the expensive caviar and cheeses sitting on the table. “That table is for the deceased coven members. Apparently, it’s tradition for the newly departed to put on a feast not only for the ones she left behind but the ones who went before. It’s bad luck to eat from that table.”

Christina’s eyes widened. “Like the you’ll-die kind of bad luck, or the general seven years’ curse?”

Mia laughed, keeping the sound low. “I believe it’s the general seven years’ kind. But you’d have to ask Grans. I don’t know a lot of the rules, especially around the funeral traditions. I wish she would have warned me before I said yes to catering this thing.”

“I would have thought that Mary Alice would be here. We didn’t do the ghost table for Adele’s party, or maybe I’ve just forgotten it? It’s been a while.” Adele had been a friend of Grans’s who had passed on a few years earlier. She’d also been Mia’s Morsels’s first catering client. They’d planned a birthday party for her but turned it into a wake when Adele was found dead. Christina glanced around the room and pointed out one of the guests. “That woman looks like she swallowed the canary, as my mom would say. Isn’t it rude to be happy at a funeral?”

“Not quite an appropriate emotion, that’s for sure.” Mia smiled as she saw Abigail Majors crossing the room toward them. Abigail and her husband had started Majors Grocery in Magic Springs many years before. Now, the store was run by their son, Trent, who also happened to be Mia’s boyfriend. “Abigail, so good to see a friendly face.”

“Yeah, these things can be intense,” Abigail gave them both a hug. Christina was dating Levi, another one of Abigail’s sons. “I’m really glad I wasn’t part of the planning for this event, even though I’m excited to be part of the Mia’s Morsels team. Ginny Willis can be a bit of a stickler for tradition. I see she made you do an ancestors table. I thought that went out of style fifty years ago.”

“I thought she was making it up when she told me it was mandatory. Of course, that was after I’d finalized the bid and we’d signed the contract. Believe me, I’ll be jacking up the prices of any coven event I do in the future. This one isn’t turning out to be very profitable.” Mia nodded to the woman Christina had pointed out. “Do you know who our Sally Sunshine is over at that table?”

“Karen Elliot?” Abigail stifled a laugh. “I’ve never heard anyone call Karen happy.”

“Well, she looks happy today. Did she know Theresa?” Mia was taking an instant dislike to the woman who was now watching the other mourners with interest.

“Not that I know of. Theresa was kind of a hermit. She didn’t attend coven events. Or have any family to speak of. That’s the reason Ginny had to step in and do the wake. Most of the time, the family takes care of this send-off. I’m sure Ginny was doing everything by the book, just in case she’s questioned about it. She’s had some issues as the social chair.” Abigail waved at a man over by the fireplace. “I’m being summoned. I’ll see you next week, right?”

“I’m looking forward to finalizing your contract with Mia’s Morsels. For a lot of reasons, not just your heavenly cakes.” Mia watched as Abigail moved across the room, greeting people as she passed the tables.

“Abigail knows a lot of people in Magic Springs, at least around the coven. That should bring in more business when she joins the team. Hey, who’s that?” Christina pointed out a man standing by the door to the room. “He looks like he’s ready to sprint as soon as anyone notices him.”

“Or he’s waiting so he’s not the first one to leave.” Mia shook her head. “I have no clue who he is. Of course, there’s lot of people here I don’t know. Bethanie Miller, your bestie, is over by the bar, getting another glass of wine.”

“Bethanie and I aren’t quite friends anymore. Not since she pulled that last stunt with Levi. I don’t know if she was jealous of me having a boyfriend or of me being with Levi, but either way, I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life. I can get that at home. Not our place—I mean my mom’s house.” Christina looked up at Mia. “Are you ready for tomorrow?”

“Moving your stuff or talking to your mom?” Mia knew Mother Adams wasn’t the friendliest person, even to her only daughter.

“Talking to Mom. And maybe an appearance from Isaac. I heard from him last night. He wanted to verify what time we’d be at the house to get my things. You’d think I was moving out of a hotel or an apartment the way they’re treating me, not my childhood home.” Christina blinked, and Mia realized she was on the verge of crying.

“They’ll figure out how to deal with you having a brain sooner or later.” Mia gave her a hug. “Let’s go check out what we need to do to clean up in the kitchen. I’m tired of watching these people eat and ignore the fact this woman died. I don’t think anyone is here to mourn; it feels like a mandatory meeting.”

Christina nodded and headed toward the staff-only door, but Mia felt a hand on her arm and she turned to see Mahogany Medford standing next to her. “Christina, I’ll be there in a moment.”

“Sorry to bother you. I know you’re working, but I just wanted to talk to you about Theresa’s death.” Mahogany took in the room as she spoke. “It’s just like Mom.”

“I know it must remind you of your mother’s wake. It hasn’t been very long since you had to do this yourself.” Mia felt bad for the woman. She’d come home to bury her mom, but there were some questions on how Mrs. Medford had died. “Did the coven help with the wake for your mother?”

Mahogany shook her head. “Mrs. Willis, she said since I came back, I was responsible for the funeral planning. And the costs. Mom had some savings, so it wasn’t a hardship, but Mrs. Willis seemed really put out that I even existed. The first time I called her, she hung up on me.”

“That’s weird.” Mia watched as Ginny Willis stood and went over to get another glass of wine. At least the woman hadn’t talked Mia into including an open bar in the contract. Besides the two cases of champagne, the alcohol costs were on the attendees. “She’s been pretty involved in setting up this wake. Maybe she had a lot of the work done for your mom’s event too.”

“Maybe. That sounds like the woman. Once she realized I was the next of kin, she sent me a list of what needed to be included in this send-off. The way she talked about the wake, it was more like a welcoming party than a traditional funeral.” Mahogany took a tissue out of her bag. “Have you learned anything about my mom’s death yet?”

Mia shook her head. “My grandmother, Mary Alice Carpenter, is working on finding a spell that could have masked your mom’s true age. She was planning on being here, but she came down with a cold or something. She didn’t want to spread it around.”

“Well, come by the house on Wednesday and we can talk some more. I know you have things to do here.” Mahogany paused and pointed to the man at the door. “I wonder why Jerimiah’s here.”

“You know him?” It was the same man Christina had pointed out earlier, who was ready to bolt at any minute.

Mahogany nodded. “He was at my mom’s wake. He said he knew her from when she lived in Twin. He leads a small coven there.”

“Maybe he’s just here as a courtesy, then.” Mia relaxed a little about the man. “Intercoven relationships are very important to keep connections, especially because there are so few of us around Idaho.”

“That’s probably it.” Mahogany waved at another woman across the room. “I’ve got to go mingle. Maybe I can find out something about Mom’s death while I’m at it.”

Mia watched Mahogany disappear into the crowd. People were starting to leave and the mysterious Jerimiah had now left as well. This must have been just a courtesy visit, then. She turned back to the kitchen to escape the room. It wasn’t a feeling of sadness that Mia felt permeating the crowd; it was worse. It was a feeling of indifference. Like Theresa’s death wasn’t affecting any of them. Except for maybe Mahogany, and that was just because she’d lost her mother so recently.

Theresa Ann Holly was being sent off to another life today. And it seemed like no one in this life even cared. If Mahogany Medford hadn’t come home to bury her mother, she would have been sent off with a lifeless event like this. It wasn’t fair, but Mia could only control one thing today, and that was the food at the wake.

Everything else wasn’t on her list.

As Mia watched out the passenger-side window, Trent Majors drove the van through Boise and toward the foothills. Mia loved this part of Boise. The area between the Boise River and the Foothills just seemed cozy. The houses were all bright and shiny, but that might have been the sunlight coming from the way too blue sky that day. Flowers bloomed in beds around the houses. And the weather was what her mom would call soft. Just warm enough to go without a jacket, but not blazing hot like the temperature got in August.

The Adams family home was near the foothills that curved around the upscale North Boise neighborhood. If you kept going up Harrison, the street they were currently on, they would end up at Bogus Basin, the one ski resort within thirty minutes of the capital city. Harrison was one of the old neighborhoods where the original Boise founders had built homes away from the city center and their work. Now they were too close to the growing city for comfort, still the old Boise families kept their homes while the new rich who moved from California built mini-mansions in the small towns surrounding the city. If Boise had families with old money, this area and the houses on Warm Springs Avenue was where you’d find it.

Trent and Mia were following a small moving van. Trent’s brother, Levi Majors, was driving the van and Christina served as the navigator. A few weeks ago, Christina had been asked by her mother to collect her belongings from the family home because she wasn’t living there. They were in Boise to help Christina fulfill her mother’s request. And to hopefully keep the woman from making Christina cry.

Mia hated Mother Adams. Not just because the woman had been a thorn in Mia’s side when she was engaged to Isaac, the favored son. No, Mother Adams had proven her inability to even pretend to be a nice person with her treatment of her only daughter, Christina. The girl had been told she wasn’t worthy for way too long. And this demand just put the nail in the coffin as far as Mia went.

“You’re quiet,” Trent commented, turning down the stereo. “Is this going to be a problem?”

“You mean am I going to tell Mother Adams what a horrible person she is and curse her to having bad hair days for the rest of her life?” Mia watched a woman pushing a baby stroller down the sidewalk. Her husband—or Mia assumed it was her husband—had a goldendoodle on a leash next to her. The perfect Boise family.

“Something like that. I’m not sure there is a bad hair day curse, at least not in our family grimoire.” He chuckled as he stopped at a crosswalk so the family Mia had been watching could cross the street.

“I’m sure the Miller family has one. You can’t tell me that Bethanie Miller went through high school and college without using the spell at least once. You know the girl doesn’t like anyone to outshine her.” Mia pointed ahead of them. “The house is on the right in the middle of the next block. We should be able to pull in the front driveway. It does a half circle and then kicks back onto the road. Easy in, easy out.”

“Seriously, you’re okay with seeing Christina’s mom, right?” Trent let his foot off the brake and slowly eased to where the moving van was already turning into the driveway. “You have a history with Isaac.”

“History. And she probably held a party the day after I broke off the engagement. I wasn’t good enough for her perfect boy. And now I know that he wasn’t good enough for me.” She took Trent’s hand and squeezed it. “I like my new man so much more. Although if she’s cruel to Christina, I might have a few choice words for the old bat.”

“You’re always sticking up for the underdog.” Trent followed the van and parked a few feet behind it, giving them room to fill the back with the boxes and furniture they were retrieving. “One of the reasons I love you. Let’s go get this done so we can get out of here. I’d rather not get in a fight with your ex-boyfriend.”

“Just don’t react to anything he says. Isaac can be a little bit of a pill. I’m sure he’s not happy to have to monitor Christina’s moving out process.” Mia smiled as she got out of the van and met up with Christina. “We might as well bring boxes in with us on the first run. You know this is going to be hard.”

“I can do it.” Christina put her arm around Mia and gave her a hug. “I’ve got my friends by my side. I can do anything.”

They grabbed several boxes, as did Trent and Levi, and then they moved toward the front door. It flew open before they reached it.

Isaac Adams stepped out onto the landing. He wore a suit that screamed high end and he glared at Christina. “What on earth are you doing?”

“Isaac, we talked about this. Mom asked me to come move my stuff out. She knows I’m coming.” Christina started up the stairs. “By the way, it’s great to see you too. I’ve been fine, thanks for asking.”

“I know you’re moving things out today. That’s why I’m here. Mother asked me to help.” Isaac pointed to the vehicles. “Why didn’t you come up the alley to the servants’ entrance?”

Christina narrowed her eyes at her brother. “Because I’m not a servant! I used to live here, just like you. And how on earth are you supposed to help wearing that suit? Or are you sure you’re just here to make sure I don’t take the silverware?”

Isaac’s face flushed red as Christina revealed what must have been the real reason his mother had asked him to supervise the move. “Don’t be silly. I came directly from the office. I just haven’t had time to change yet.”

“So you have another outfit to change into from your closet in your room that you haven’t lived in for what, ten, twenty years? And yet I’ve been gone for less than two years and I’m being kicked out.” Christina’s eyes were shiny, but she held it together. “Never mind, I’m not here to argue. I just want my stuff. I’m taking my bedroom furniture with me, so you probably should call Mom to make sure she knows. I’d hate to be arrested on my way out of town for stealing.”

“Christina, it’s not like that . . .” Isaac started, but his sister didn’t wait for an answer. She went through the front door.

Mia hurried after her, as did Trent and Levi. “Nice to see you again, Isaac. I see you haven’t changed a bit. Still your mom’s errand boy.”

“Mia and others,” Isaac sighed as he held the door open for the group, “welcome to the Adams family home. I’ll change and be right with you to help move the furniture.”

A woman stood near the stairs and Mia heard her call out to Christina, but Christina didn’t stop. That must be the new fiancée. Mia nodded to the woman and hurried after Christina. It was better not to engage with the enemy. She called to Trent and Levi. “Her room’s on the second floor; follow me.”

When they were all standing around in the bedroom, Mia went over to where Christina was trying to put together a box. She handed her some tape and held the box straight so Christina could secure the bottom. “I thought that went well.”

Christina finally looked up at her and started laughing. She turned the box over and moved to her dresser. “I should have realized Mom would put Isaac on guard duty. Let’s make boxes and get the dressers emptied so Trent and Levi can get the furniture out of here.”

They worked in silence for a bit, then Levi opened the doors to Christina’s closet. “Seriously? Who has this many clothes?”

“I do.” Christina laughed. “And I’m taking all of them. With the events Mia has us lined up for the next six months, I’m going to need some party dresses.”

“Well, I’ll go down and get more boxes as well as a dolly,” Trent offered. Then he pointed to the desk chair. “Levi, pick that up and come with me. This is going to take several trips and I want us to be as efficient as possible.”

“The elevator is in the first alcove on the right.” Christina smiled as she saw the relief on the men’s faces. “Seriously, you thought you were going to have to move this down those stairs?”

A voice came from the doorway. Isaac stood there in a polo shirt and what looked like new jeans. “The larger pieces, like the bed and dresser, we can use the larger, staff elevator at the end of the hall. I have men ready to help if you can show us how you want the van packed.”

“That would be useful.” Trent nodded, glancing at Christina. “The dresser’s ready, as is the bed. We’ll put those in first. If someone could clear out the desk and the vanity now, we’ll get those pieces in the second trip. And the bookcase. I’d like to get all the furniture in the van, then we can stack boxes.”

“Whatever.” Christina grabbed a box and headed to the desk.

Mia followed but stopped at the bookcase. “Thanks for helping, Isaac.”

“I asked Mother not to do this, but you know how she can be.” He glanced at Christina, who had her earbuds in and was pretending to listen to music. “She thought threatening this would bring her home.”

“Christina has her own mind. And she’s safe with me, you don’t have to worry. She’s an amazing party planner. And not a bad chef.” Mia smiled over at the girl, who was trying hard to ignore everything that was going on around her. “I’m not going to let anything bad happen to her, I promise.”

He nodded. “Thanks, Mia. I could always count on you to keep Christina’s best interests in mind, even after we split up.”

“I care for her too,” Mia said, watching Christina pack the items without looking at what she was putting in the box.

Isaac stared at Mia for a long minute, and just as it was beginning to become uncomfortable, he turned and grabbed a box. “We’d better get this done. Mother is having a dinner party tonight and the staff will be needed to set up the dining room.”

The four of them decided to stop at Jake’s for an early dinner before driving back to Magic Springs. Gathered around the table, the group looked exhausted. Mia set down her menu. “Alternate plan suggestion: Should we grab a couple of hotel rooms for the n. . .