I Put a Spell on You (10 page)

“Will do,” I said. I waved at her as she reached the door. “Sleep well!”

Chapter 13

After Louise had gone, I went to work and spent most of the day avoiding Xander. I didn’t for one minute think he was behind the hate campaign but I did think I might let something slip about his conversation with Esme earlier, and he’d twig that I’d been listening in.

I did, however, have a few sessions of spiritual counselling booked in – sessions I’d promised Xander he could sit in on – so I couldn’t avoid him forever.

The final session of the day was a woman who’d been overlooked for a promotion at work.

“I thought at first it was just I wasn’t good enough,” she explained. “Then I discovered the woman who got the job is having an affair with the manager. No wonder he promoted her and not me.”

I tapped my pen on my thigh.

“I wish I could say I’d never seen this before, but I can’t,” I said. “The way I see it is there are two ways you can go.”

She nodded eagerly.

“Either you need to get yourself noticed by someone higher up – your manager’s manager – and leapfrog into a better role.”

I paused.

“Or, you need their affair to be discovered.”

She thought for a while.

“What would you do?” she asked. Clients often asked what I’d do in their situation and I was happy to advise them.

“I’d do the first one,” I said. “It’s always best to keep these things just about yourself.”

“What would you do?” she turned to Xander and he flashed her a cheeky smile.

“I’d do the second one,” he said. “Why should they get away with it?”

“It’s risky,” I warned. “You need to know there’s nothing that could come back on you. No secrets you’re keeping that could be revealed.”

“There’s nothing,” she promised. “I’m an open book.”

I got her to sign our standard disclaimer anyway – I wasn’t risking a lawsuit along with everything else – and wrote her the charm.

“It might take a while,” I said. “Sometimes the secret will have been discovered but the person who knows won’t spill the beans at first.”

She took the charm from me and grinned at Xander.

“Thanks so much,” she said as she left.

“Erm, correct me if I’m wrong, but I just did the work there, didn’t I?” I said, as I shut the therapy room door behind her. “Do I not get a thank you?”

“I’m sure she meant to say thanks,” Xander assured me. “She was probably just a bit overwhelmed.”

Or a bit dazzled by Xander, I thought, but I didn’t say anything. I had an inkling his solo sessions were going to be very successful indeed.

At home later, I asked Esme whether she’d seen him recently, wondering if she’d tell me the truth.

“I saw him earlier,” she said. “We had coffee.”

“How was he?” I asked. “With you, I mean.”

“He was a bit flirty,” she admitted. “I asked him to back off a bit.”

I was pleased she’d told me.

“Did he back off?” I asked.

“He did,” she said. “And then I was disappointed.”

We were in the kitchen and she picked the kettle up and started to fill it.

“Tea?” she asked. I nodded.

“I know he’s handsome and everything,” she said. “But that’s not just it. There’s just something weird that happens to me when he’s around. It’s like a physical reaction.”

I was intrigued.

“Like how?” I said. “Like you fancy him?”

Esme shook her head.

“No, like a reaction,” she said again. “Like an allergy. But the opposite of an allergy. Like he’s a magnet and I’m made of metal.”

“So you do fancy him?”

Esme sloshed milk into two mugs in frustration.

“No,” she said. “Well, yes, but it’s not just that.”

We heard the front door open.

“Anyway, I’m concentrating on Jamie now,” she said quickly. “He’s the man I’m marrying. I’m going to tell him about giving Xander the lessons – it’s better if it’s all out in the open – it proves there’s nothing to hide.”

She handed me my tea, just as Jamie came into the kitchen.

“Hello, ladies,” he said, kissing Esme. “Good day?”

“Oh not bad,” Esme said. “You’re back late.”

“Bloody patients,” he said. “You know what it’s like, H.”

I grinned. Jamie always joked that we should go into business together – him healing the physical ailments and me the spiritual.

“Did Xander sit in on your sessions today?” Esme said, casually.

“He did,” I said. “He was okay, except I’m not sure he’ll always do things the way I’d do them.”

I told them about the woman who’d missed out on the promotion.

“Have you both eaten?” Jamie asked, going to the fridge and peering in. “That’s the thing about being a mentor, though, Harry. You’ve got to let your padwan make his own mistake.”

“Padwan?” I said, confused.

“It’s from
Star Wars
,” Esme said. She pushed Jamie out of the way and got some eggs out of the fridge.

“Scrambled?” she said. He kissed her on the cheek and sat at the table with me.

“Yes please,” he said. I looked at her suspiciously. She never made Jamie’s dinner when he was home late.

Sure enough, with her back to her fiancé, she cracked the eggs into the pan, and stirred them vigorously.

“Talking of Xander,” she said. “I’ve actually given him a couple of magic lessons. You know, helping him so he can help Harry.”

“Nice one,” Jamie said. “Well done, Ez.”

“Esme’s so busy though, she might not have time to do much more,” I said. “You’ve got that trial coming up, haven’t you? And there’s the wedding to plan.”

Esme spread butter on Jamie’s toast and dumped the eggs on top.

“It’s fine,” she said. “I’ve got time.”

“Thanks,” Jamie said as she put the plate down in front of him. “I think it’s great, you working together. Your mums would be pleased.”

“We’re not really working together,” I began. But Esme interrupted me.

“Oh they’ll be thrilled,” she said. “I’ll tell Mum tomorrow.”

I gave up.

“I saw Louise today too,” I said. “She said she was going to ring you about next week.”

“Oh yeah,” Jamie shovelled some egg into his mouth and swallowed. “I spoke to her actually.”

“You spoke to her?” Esme sounded surprised.

“I wanted to arrange meeting up.”

“Just you and her?”

Jamie shovelled more egg.

“Maybe. Why?”

“Don’t you think it’s a bit inappropriate for an engaged man to be going on dates with another woman? Finished?”

Esme stood up and whisked Jamie’s plate away just as he took his last mouthful. He looked amused as she clunked it into the sink.

“Inappropriate?” he said. “Are you jealous?”

His amusement seemed to annoy Esme more. I wondered if it was worth mentioning that I was pretty sure Louise was gay. I exchanged a glance with Jamie and opened my mouth to tell Ez, but she was still ranting.

“I’m not jealous,” she said, opening the fridge and getting out the open bottle of wine. She reached into the cupboard and got one glass out – just one.

“I trust you completely. I’m just not sure about Louise’s intentions.” Esme opened the bottle and watched in dismay as a dribble trickled into her glass.

“I can assure you, Lou’s intentions are entirely honourable.” Jamie’s blue eyes flashed with laughter.

“Fine,” Esme barked at him. “Good. I’m going across the road to buy some more wine.”

As the front door slammed shut, Jamie and I laughed.

“She’s gay, right?” I said. “Louise?”

“I think so,” he said. “She’s never told me directly, and we never really talked about relationships and stuff at university, but I think so.”

I smiled at him.

“Are you interested?” he said.

“No,” I lied. “She’s just being really helpful with all the stuff going on at the spa.”

“Great,” he said. “I’m glad someone’s helping you. Don’t neglect yourself, will you? You’re very pale. Maybe you should go to bed – get some rest.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” I admitted. “But don’t worry about me – I’ve got lots of support. You and Esme, Louise and Xander.”

I paused, wondering if I should carry on.

“Xander’s tricky,” I told Jamie. “I adore him but I’m not sure he’s got the same sort of morals as the rest of us.”

“What are you saying?” he said, his brow furrowed.

“I’m not sure,” I said. “I don’t think Ez would ever, ever, cheat on you, but Xander’s not used to people saying no to him.”

Jamie looked cross.

“It just might be worth spending some time with Esme,” I said. “I know you’re busy with work and rugby and whatever, but just spend time with her.”

“Don’t tell me how to run my relationship,” he said. “Don’t tell me how to do anything.”

I knew I’d done the wrong thing.

“Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to interfere. I’m going to bed.”

Jamie stood up and opened the dishwasher. He didn’t look round at me.

“Goodnight,” he said.

Chapter 14

If I walked any slower I’d be going backwards.

‘Come on, Harry,’ I told myself as I paused to fish my umbrella out of my bag and spent far longer than was necessary putting it up. I was on my way to Star’s funeral and I was dreading it.

It was three weeks since she’d died, and two weeks since the Iron Maiden incident.

Things had kind of fallen into a new kind of routine. Xander had taken over some spiritual counselling sessions and, as I had predicted, was doing brilliantly. In fact, I was doing just as many sessions as before and he was doing the same – so we’d doubled our turnover in that bit of the business already. Clients were requesting him, booking in for longer sessions and a few women had started coming every day. Every. Day.

Esme was doing her best to stay away from him, but he’d talked her into having a few more lessons. She wouldn’t discuss it with me, though, not since Jamie told her what I’d said. She was furious.

Louise had been busy at work – being a detective in central Edinburgh meant she had no down time really. But she’d been ringing or emailing me every day to check things were okay. We were spending longer and longer communicating every day and I was really beginning to like her a lot. I was hoping to meet up with her, but it felt inappropriate to suggest dinner or drinks when we’d met in such a horrible way.

Star’s mum had called last week to tell me the funeral was today.

“It would mean so much to us if you could make it,” she’d said. Esme had planned to come with me – she’d put her irritation with me aside to offer and I’d been so grateful. But then the trial she’d been preparing for had been brought forward, so she was in court today instead. I’d thought about asking Xander to come, but he’d offered to hold the fort at the spa. The success of his sessions had made him really proud and he was even more invested in the future of the business. Just yesterday, he’d brought up buying into the spa again, and I’d put him off, again, telling him I had to think about it. He’d looked a bit disgruntled and I’d remembered Louise’s warnings about employees with a grudge, then dismissed it straight away as he’d hugged me and told me not to worry about anything, he’d look after things all day.

So here I was trudging down to the main road, on my way to the crematorium. I’d barely slept last night thinking about Star and worrying about what today would bring, but I knew I had to suck it up. She had been my employee and I owed it to her to pay my last respects. But that didn’t mean I was in a hurry.

Angling my brolly against the freezing rain, I walked to the end of the road. Ahead of me, a row of taxis stood waiting, their orange lights shining like beacons through the dreich morning. To my right, three miserable people stood at the bus stop. A taxi would get me to the crematorium in ten minutes. I crossed the road, dodging the traffic, and walked to the bus stop.

I hadn’t been on a bus for years. Actually, years. Edinburgh was small enough, and our flat central enough, for me to walk most places. And the unpredictable nature of buses meant they grated on my need for control. Esme, of course, used them all the time. And as far as I knew, she didn’t even use magic to make them come when she wanted. Me, I didn’t even know how much it cost to travel by bus. I peered at the posters on the wall of the shelter, which were no use whatsoever, and at the other passengers. They all seemed to be clutching bus passes. Turning away from them, I waved my left hand over right palm. Coins appeared in my hand – a shocking amount of them. Was it really £1.40 just to go down the road? I was sure it was about 50p the last time I’d been on a bus. Oh well. It would be worth it to delay the journey a bit longer… Ah, and there was the bus. Typical.

And of course the traffic was light and of course the bus zoomed down the main road and arrived at Warriston in no time at all.

I got off the bus, feeling slightly dirty, and walked along the road towards the crematorium. It was busy, with cars streaming into the car park. I almost gasped when I turned into the gate and saw about a hundred people – maybe more – milling about outside the chapel. Star had obviously been very popular. There were lots of women, about my own age, crying. Most of them were wearing too much make-up. I stood back as the hearse arrived and averted my eyes from the coffin. Star’s mum and dad, looking grim-faced and tight-lipped, got out of the car along with a younger man – her brother I guessed. From a distance I saw Fiona, who looked pale and drawn. I waved to her across the crowd and she nodded to me. Star’s parents walked into the chapel and the crowd followed. I hung back, not wanting to intrude, then followed and slipped into a seat at the back.

It was a nice service, as far as funerals went, I supposed. Star’s brother told some stories about when she was young. When he sat back down his parents both hugged him and his dad kept his arms round his shoulders. For a second I envied him his normal, stable family with two parents who loved him, then caught myself – he had just lost his sister, I reminded myself. Imagine if Esme died? I’d be lost without her, however much she got on my wick.

Another friend, a woman who looked spookily like Star, did a reading in a quivery voice. Fiona cried through the whole thing, a tissue clutched in her hand. Then the curtain moved as the coffin dropped down, sending a shiver up my spine, and that was it. Star was gone. It was all very respectful. Just as you’d expect, really.