My aunt’s eyes darted side to side. “You’re right. I never even thought of that. There’s no telling what she might get up to.” She looked back at me. “But darling, this is your first time going back to the bookstore. I’m worried about you.”

“I will be fine.” I patted her hand.

Izzy’s face crumpled with sympathy. I knew she meant well, but I hated that look. “I know you’ll be fine, but I just don’t understand why it is you insist on doing all the most difficult things on your own.”

“It really won’t be that difficult,” I said. “I’m just going to the bookstore. That’s all.” We both knew it wasn’t quite that simple though.

“No. I don’t like it. Nora is the one who will be fine. I really think you’re underestimating how difficult this will be.”

“Izzy. Stop,” I said with a laugh. “You’re making far too big a deal out of this. And you heard Nora last night. Remember that one idea she came up with? The one where the killer would lose a body part for every hour that passed without a confession?”

“She would never do that,” Izzy said quickly, but the corners of her eyes creased with worry. “Besides, I’m fairly certain that spell doesn’t exist.”

“Right. Sure. As long as you’re fairly certain.”

My aunt swatted my hand. “You’re terrible, you know that?”

“I know,” I said quite seriously, but I couldn’t stop myself from smiling.

Izzy reached forward to adjust the scarf around my neck. “Your grandmother was so talented with her needlework magic. This scarf is always the perfect shade.”

My smile deepened. It was true. The color and texture of the scarf changed subtly with my moods, my outfit, my complexion. It was delicate magic, and one that could only be performed with love.

Izzy dropped her hands and sighed. “If you’re sure you’ll be all right.”

“For the last time, I will be fine.”

“Then I’d better head back home. So help me, if your aunt so much as has her cauldron out.” She pressed her lips together and shook her head, making her blond curls shudder.

“You’d better get going.”

Izzy cast one more concerned look in my direction, then left. I watched her bustle away before I turned to go on alone.

It was such a cheerful fall morning to be in town. The lampposts were decorated with wreaths and cornstalks, and the variety store had its cart set up outside, laden with harvest pies and tarts. The air even held a whiff of woodsmoke coming from someone’s chimney.

It was a perfect day. Or at least as close to perfect as it could be.

As I turned onto Main Street, I found myself overwhelmed with the familiar sites. So much of my life had changed in the past year and a half, but everything here looked exactly the same. Like no time had passed at all.

Furry Tales Pet Shop was looking as cute as ever with all its colorfully packaged treats in the window. They specialized in re-homing rescue animals. The store’s name was a play on words to highlight the fact that every pet had a story. Adam and I had been planning on getting a dog.