Chapter One

Pushing through the front door of Sugar Spells Bakery, Olivia Ayala glanced up at the clock that hung behind the counter. The scent of coffee and sugar washed over her. 8:29. One minute to spare. She took her time getting here this morning, enjoying the mild chill and feeling of magic that always seemed to permeate the air this time of year. Fall was definitely on the way, and she wanted to enjoy her favorite weather while it lasted.

Because soon it would be winter. Winter meant icy sidewalks, and ice was never kind to the uncoordinated.

"There you are. I thought you might be late for once," Jill said from behind the counter as Olivia came around and dropped her bag off.

"There's always tomorrow," she said, grabbing hold of her favorite apron from the hook on the wall. It was bright purple and covered in pumpkins and black witch’s hats. A Mother’s Day present from Daniel last year, his way of making a joke at his mother’s expense. For a nine-year-old, her son could be hilarious.

Because Olivia was a witch. One who used magic and created spells and recorded them in a book. If she had to compare herself to those witches in books and on TV, the closest thing she could think of was Winnie from Hocus Pocus. Except she was a good witch.

And this town was a kind of haven for people like her. A place where she and all the other witches could learn and practice their magic freely and safely. And in return for that, she and her fellow witches were charged with protecting the magic that flowed through the town.

She tied the apron snuggly around her waist and turned to survey the bakery.

Almost every table was full this morning. Parents grabbing a coffee after seeing their kids off to school and gearing up for the workday ahead. The same table of older gentlemen who were here every morning drinking their weight in coffee and swapping war stories.

She breathed in the scent of vanilla and cinnamon that mingled with the slightly chilled air that flowed through the door as customers came and went. It was almost impossible for her to feel anything other than happiness when she was here. The bakery was a home away from home, and she had worked hard to get the cozy and welcoming vibe in here exactly right. A few tables took up the main space, with a comfortable couch near the big front window. Near the back were the counter and cases for donuts and other pastries. The walls were painted bright white with pink and yellow accents.

“I’ve known you for ten years,” Jill said. “I could probably count the number of times you’ve been late to anything on one hand."

Olivia rolled her eyes at the look on her friend’s face. Her dark green eyes twinkled. She wasn’t wrong. Olivia hated being late. And Jill loved teasing her about it.

Jill was her oldest friend. And for a long time, her only friend. In the past, she had tried to make other friends. Other kids in her foster homes, kids at school. And when she was older, coworkers and other moms who had kids Daniel’s age. But she could never get too close. It was tough to make friends when she could never really be herself. And the fact that she was a witch wasn’t exactly the kind of thing she could tell just anyone.

Jill added more muffins to the case. “So, how was Daniel feeling about going back to school today?”

“He actually seemed excited. Fourth grade is apparently a very big year for him. His excitement surprises me every year. I feel like most nine-year-olds want summer to last forever.”

“Give him a week,” Jill said with a laugh. “I’m sure the excitement will wear off.”

She returned the laugh. “You’re probably right. I’m definitely excited. You know how much I love Fall. Cozy sweaters, cute boots. I even started sorting through my clothes last night. And don’t even get me started on the food.”

Colder weather meant soups and pot roast and tamales. And drinks like apple cider and hot chocolate. As a baker, she loved creating treats that went with the seasons: pumpkin pie, cider donuts, cookies with orange frosting, and her favorite Mexican treats like pan dulce and tres leches cake and Mexican hot chocolate. She wasn’t a fan of the popular flavors like pumpkin spice and peppermint, though.

Jill grinned. “Yeah, Liv, I know. We all know how much you love the cold weather. September first , like clockwork, you start yammering on about hot chocolate and tamales and soup. But as soon as it snows …” Jill trailed off, giving her a pointed look.

She pursed her lips. No one appreciated a good chicken noodle soup like she did. And no one had a greater disdain for snow and ice than she did. " Did I miss anything so far?" she asked, scanning the customers again currently sitting in the shop and then leaned down to scan the cases—one side for magic-infused goodies and one side without.

This town may have been home to magic and witches, but not everyone wanted or needed magical baked goods. So, even though the bakery was called Sugar Spells, they always had a good selection of just regular old baked goods. Still delicious, of course.

One case was filled with cookies and muffins of various kinds. Another held a few select cakes and pies that tended to be made to order. The last case held all kinds of donuts. Those were most popular in the mornings, for obvious reasons. No one could resist one of her old-fashioned, glazed donuts.

Sugar Spells Bakery was her other baby. And she was very proud of it.

“Nothing major. Simon came in with a headache, so I added a hint of mint and willow bark to his usual tea. Mostly just coffee and donuts so far. Oh, and the Jensen’s were looking a little tense, so I pushed those brownies of yours on them. I think we’re going to need another batch of those soon. Nothing inspires a little honesty or makes someone open to forgiveness like those brownies."

“I’m aware. I did create the recipe and the spell myself. Along with quite a few others.”

That was one of her favorite things to do with her magic, add spells to her sweet creations. It was often the easiest way to give someone a spell they wanted or needed. And it was fun to see the kinds of things she could come up with.

It provided a good distraction from the snooze fest that was her own love life. And on the days when she found herself frustrated by her Cerebral Palsy, a disability that sometimes made everyday life very difficult, it helped to know that there were some things magic could help.

Jill laughed. “That’s what’s so funny to me. You’re basically a master at creating these recipes for helping with people’s relationships. Want some openness and honesty? Have a brownie. Need a little courage to ask out your crush? Try these cupcakes. But you absolutely refuse to entertain the idea of having your own relationship.”

“I like helping people. There’s nothing wrong with that. And I do more than just help people with their relationships,” she said around a yawn.

“I know that. And I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with helpingpeople. I’m just saying, would it kill you to give love a chance?”

She sighed, shaking her head. “Oh? So now I’m supposed to fall in love? I thought we were talking about relationships?”

Jill grimaced “Okay, I guess I got a little carried away there. How about some good, old-fashioned, hot sex then? That’s what you need. I mean, really, Liv. When's the last time you got laid?"

Her eyes flew up to Jill's, and she fought against the urge to shush her friend. She wasn’t exactly being quiet. But that would only rile Jill up further. She tried out her best withering stare and hoped that would prompt a laugh and a change of subject. Unfortunately, Jill was like a dog with a bone.

"You know all you have to do is say the word, and I can get one of Malcolm's friends to take you on a date. They always ask about you. Heck, all the single men in this town ask about you."

She rolled her eyes. They had some variation of this conversation every other week. If it weren’t for the fact that Jill was her very best friend and business partner, she probably would have told her to shove it a long time ago. But Jill only pushed because she cared, and so Olivia kept putting up with it. That didn’t mean she had to like it, though.

"Well, they can ask all they want, but your answer better be 'she's not interested, thanks.’ You know how I feel about blind dates or any kind of date, for that matter. I just don’t have the time. Between taking care of Daniel and running this place, it’s just not a priority.”

She hadn’t been on a real date in years. She had the occasional hook-up in the past. But everything always ended before long. There was no one she could be open and honest with. And she already had trust issues thanks to her Cerebral Palsy and the problems it caused in her past. Add being a witch to that, and the idea of trying to maintain any kind of romantic relationship was exhausting.

Besides, the last thing she needed was another one of Jill's setups. She meant well. But she was terrible at choosing partners for other people. How she managed to find her husband, Olivia would never understand.

The last time she had tried to set Olivia up was almost a year ago now. And it all went horribly wrong because the guy had believed Jill's jokes about how desperate she was.

Her friends had talked her into giving the guy a chance. A friend of a friend of Malcolm’s. She had arranged a sitter for Daniel. She geared up for the inevitable conversation that would occur when he noticed how she walked differently. She had done her hair and her makeup. She had even bought a new outfit. All for the guy to show up and say to her, “That outfit looks so hot on you. Bet it’s even hotter off you.” The whole thing was mortifying.

And Jill was still making it up to her in the form of a free dinner whenever Olivia asked.

Jill scoffed. “I did not say date. I said sex. You do remember what sex is, don’t you?”

She groaned. “Yes, I remember what sex is.”

If Jill was going to keep talking at her, she was going to do some actual work. They had an order come in late yesterday for two dozen lemon cupcakes for a retirement party tonight. The customer had also asked for a calming spell to be added to the recipe. Apparently, this retirement was a source of contention.

“Okay, good! So, am I making a call or not?”

Ignoring Jill, Olivia headed to the back and pulled out the ingredients for the first batch of cupcakes, setting everything on the stainless-steel countertop. Flour, sugar, butter, eggs. She added a couple of lemons and a sprig of lavender for the calming effect. Making cupcakes was something she could do in her sleep. She did not have to focus until she measured the final ingredients, so she let her muscle memory take over, sifting and stirring, her favorite wooden spoon bouncing off the side of the stainless-steel bowl.

“Come on, Liv. Please,” Jill whined from behind her.

“No, Jill. No sex. No dates. No random guys. None of Malcolm’s friends. No relationship. Nothing. Those things only lead to trouble, and I’m not interested.”

“Fine, fine,” Jill muttered, her face forming a full-on pout. The woman was used to getting her way. “But someday, Liv, someday you will meet someone who will make you change your mind.”

“In this town? Not likely. I’ve known everyone here for years. So, if someone hasn’t caught my eye by now, I doubt they ever will.”

What she didn’t say to Jill, what she couldn’t say, was that she hoped that was true.

She had a wonderfullife here, a place where she could truly be herself. Her son was happy and healthy. And even though she had a disability that sometimes made life hard, living here, owning her own business, made life things easier.

But secretly. Quietly. In the deepest part of her heart, she wished she had someone to share it all with. And maybe someday, she would be brave enough to admit that out loud.