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friend with them.

CHLOE—BACK IN SUGAR MAPLE
     
    We all stood in the doorway of Sticks & Strings and watched as Bunny and Fran drove away.
    “She didn’t wave back,” Janice noted as I flipped the Open sign to Closed. “That’s not good.”
    “You think?” The baby kicked and I placed my hands against my belly. “Luke’s going to be fielding calls from every MacKenzie between here and Seattle.”
    “I’d put a spell on her,” Janice said. “Make the two of them forget what happened here.”
    “If I was going to put a spell on them, I would’ve done it while she was here.”
    “Send a reverse thought probe with an ionizer,” Lynette suggested. “Works like a charm within a two-hundred-yard radius.”
    “I’m better at scattershots,” I said. “I can’t seem to get the hang of thought probes.”
    “That’s because you’re pregnant,” Janice said. “The hormones screw with your concentration.”
    “You’re not pregnant,” I said to her. “Why don’t you do it?”
    Janice had been magick from the day she was born. Wiping out a few memories was as easy as brushing her teeth.
    “You know I’d do anything for you, Chloe.”
    “Then you’d better hurry.”
    “You didn’t let me finish,” she said. “I’d do anything for you, but I can’t do that.”
    “It’s not like we’d be doing anything terrible to them. I mean, so they find out tomorrow that I’m pregnant. That isn’t going to change the course of human events, is it?”
    “Don’t go all Star Trek on me,” Janice said and everyone laughed. “I’m not worried about the course of human events.” Dynamic, self-assured Janice Meany was looking downright sheepish as she whispered in my ear, “Elspeth has me on spellfast while I’m under her tutelage. She says abstinence will heighten my abilities. I’m forbidden to cast spells or charms or enchantments until the new moon.”
    I groaned. “You actually listen to what that awful creature has to say?”
    “When it comes to skills, she’s actually pretty amazing,” Janice said, looking even more sheepish than before, if possible.
    “She’s the most annoying creature I’ve ever met.”
    “No argument there,” Janice said, “but trust me when I say she’s a walking Book of Spells.”
    I allowed myself a minor eye roll. “Then maybe I should ask Elspeth to put a spell on Bunny MacKenzie.”
    Now that got everyone’s attention.
    “You don’t want to put a spell on your mother-in-law,” Rosie from Assisted Living said sternly. Rosie was a world-class eavesdropper. “You end as you begin. Remember that.”
    “She’s not my mother-in-law,” I reminded the vampire retiree.
    “She’s your baby’s grandma,” Rosie said, dentures clicking madly inside her mouth.
    “Listen to Rosie,” Midge Stallworth chirped. “She knows.”
    Rosie was right. Midge was right. They were all right. I had to declare Bunny a no-spells zone and stick to my guns.
    This was between Luke and his mother and I was going to stay so far out of it I might as well be in Bermuda.
    “Look at this place,” I said with a groan. “It looks like an army marched through.” I began gathering up empty cups and crumpled napkins.
    “You go sit down, honey,” Lilith said. “We’ll all pitch in and have it done in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”
    “Of course we will,” Renate said. “Many hands make light work.”
    “Enough with the clichés!” Janice pleaded. “You’re making my ears bleed.”
    Everyone ignored her.
    “Luke should know you never hang up on your mother,” Midge Stallworth trilled as she went in search of a broom and dustpan. “No matter how old you are, you have to listen to your mother.”
    I loved mother talk. These days I soaked up every word.
    “Amen,” Renate Weaver said, suddenly shrinking down to her natural Fae size. “I blueflamed Bettina last week and she claimed the pixel resolution was weak, but I wasn’t buying that hogwash.” Blueflame was our