The Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery Box Set Books 1 to 7 Read online

  “He definitely responds to you, Carrie. If you ask what his wife was called, I might be able to sense the answer.”

  The woman nodded and took a breath.

  “Utric. I think you miss your beautiful wife. Tell me her name. What was she called, please? We are trying very hard to help you. What was your warrior wife called?”

  “Say it again,” Merle asked and Carrie repeated the request. This time Merle called out to say thank you for the answer in her head.

  “Racksha,” Merle said and opened her eyes. “Racksha.”

  “That is wonderful, Utric,” Carrie said. “Racksha must have loved you very much.”

  Declan held up a hand and then dropped it.

  “She was there for split second and then faded away again.”

  15

  “She was there?” Katie asked. “Can you say what she was like?” Declan shook his head.

  “It was too fast to take in, but there was a brief outline. It was female and then it was gone.”

  “We might reach her, though, eventually,” Merle said thoughtfully. “Do you think Utric knew she was there? There was no sense of anything like that.”

  “At least we know why the wind was blowing when I was on the wall,” Karla said.

  “If we want it to continue, everyone will have to wear a wooly hat,” Mikey joked.

  “Tell you what,” Rula added, “I was only six feet off the ground, but you are all welcome to clinging on to a mountainside by your fingertips.”

  “I think we have probably done enough tonight, folks,” Merle told them.

  “If we think about what happened, maybe we will come up with what to do next,” Magda suggested to the group.

  “Apologies for not coming to the café before,” Carrie said to Magda. “It is absolutely lovely.”

  Magda smiled and told her that she had missed out. “The old building had ghostly memories. You would have loved it.”

  “I have loved tonight. I watch on television, but being in on an investigation is marvelous.”

  “We’ll give you a call when we start again,” Merle joined in. “It was really useful to have you connecting like that.”

  Carrie gave a little shiver of excitement and said her goodbyes. The two girls left at the same time, while the others agreed to talk the next day. Magda looked around the gleaming kitchen before locking the door.

  “I am lucky,” she said and took Sam’s hand.

  He told her that he and Declan were taking four other men to construct the tree house the next day.

  “I won’t manage another get-together for three nights.”

  “It might be a good idea to leave a little space anyway,” she replied as they climbed into the car. “I am going to try and get some time with Rula to look for dresses as well.” As they drove along, she had another thought. “Could you bring the piece of Scottish wood back that we left beside the mountain?”

  “I thought you wanted to be rid of it,” he said.

  “It should really be with Utric, I think.”

  Back at home, they found the cats sleepy but awake enough to look for treats, had a snack themselves and settled to watch some late-night television. Crystal suddenly stretched, strolled over to the coffee table, and knocked the book onto the floor.

  “Little madam,” Magda grumbled, but as Sam bent to pick it up, he noticed that it was once again open to the page with the picture of the longboat. He put the book back on the table and called for Crystal. He tapped the book with his finger.

  “Do you suppose it would work again?” he asked. “Crystal. The book is here.” The cat almost shrugged her shoulders in an exasperated sort of way, gave him a glowering look, and knocked the book onto the floor with one swipe. She stalked back to the couch in disgust.

  “Look.” Sam pointed at the floor, and the page that was visible had a picture of a longboat.

  “Well, I never,” Magda exclaimed. “Maybe it does mean something.”

  She tucked the book safely away and put it out of her mind.

  “How long will it take to build the tree house?” she asked, and he said that he hoped two days, but it might run to three.

  “Declan has spent two days making the structure in the workshop. It’s in two parts. We fix the bottom half and then put on the top. The stairs are in two parts as well, and the men will construct the walkway through the tree canopy on-site.”

  “Those are two lucky boys, with a dad who is making a surprise like that for them.”

  Sam grinned and said even grown-up boys liked a tree house or somewhere to escape and pretend they were out on the old frontier.

  “Except that this one has access to 5G coverage, and if they want to, they can sit in the tree house and play computer games,” he added.

  “Well, while you are building this fantasy structure, I’ll attempt to make orange liqueur, violet cream and rose fondant centers.”

  “Don’t suppose there is a pecan marzipan around,” Sam mused, and she went to find some.

  He told her that the next day would be an early start and said he might be late getting back.

  “We might keep going with the daylight,” he added. “I’ll go and retrieve the wood for Utric.” He kissed her good night and went off to his own house, reflecting that it would be easier altogether once they were married.

  The next morning Magda decided to start earlier than normal as well and had already made the violet creams when the others arrived to start the day. Katie had brought some framed prints, and Rula set them out on display.

  “We need more of Declan’s sculptured pieces,” she said. “They sold easily and they looked just that bit different.”

  “I’ll text him later,” Magda said. “They are building the tree house and plan on working while there is daylight.” Everything seemed to be under control and the stock was building up nicely. Magda asked Katie if she could manage so that she and Rula could go shopping for dresses for the wedding.

  “Not a problem,” Katie said. “I’ll serve the customers and leave the truffle making until tomorrow.”

  Rula and Magda left her with Josh and Rita and tidied themselves up for a trip to look at dresses.

  “Plum for the bridesmaid would match your hair,” Katie called after them and they waved to her and left.

  “Good point,” Magda said, “With pink and purple flowers, it would all tone in nicely. What do you think?”

  “Sounds good, but you never know what they have until you look around.”

  The two friends walked purposefully to the one store in town that they knew was the best for these occasions. Magda took a breath.

  “This is a big step,” she said and opened the door. The ladies inside took over, and after a few simple questions, produced one dress after another for the bride.

  “Let’s look after the bride first,” the sales lady suggested, and Rula sat back to enjoy the show. Magda was not prepared for the shock that she felt when she first looked at herself in a wedding dress. Suddenly it was very real, and she was actually going to walk down the aisle and agree to marry Sam Barnes. The flutter in her insides made her feel a little weak at the knees.

  The lady who had helped her into the confection of lace had seen this so many times in the past.

  “It’s always a great surprise when you see yourself in this situation for the first time. Give it a twirl and show your friend.”

  “Thanks,” Magda answered and exited the changing room to show Rula, who had somehow acquired a glass of white wine. The glass stopped halfway to her mouth and she gasped.

  “Magda, you look sensational.”

  “But it’s a bit too fussy,” Magda suggested.

  “Maybe,” Rula agreed. “Bring on the next one.” After four more dresses, Magda looked at the fifth one and the sales lady knew that this was the one. She had seen the look many times before.

  The dress was smooth and fitted, apart from a crossover at the waist and a swirl at the hem. It was not strapless or revealing
, and in fact, ran right up to a mandarin neckline. The long sleeves swirled like the hemline, and the waistline was encrusted with diamante. It was both demure and striking at the same time.

  Rula actually gasped.

  “Oh, Magda,” she said and started to cry. Magda nodded.

  “This is the one.”

  “It is exactly right,” the lady agreed and moved them along to bridesmaid dresses. They told her about blending the color to match Magda’s hair, and a series of pinks, plums, and purples were held out on hangers. Rula tried on three as Magda was given a glass of bubbly. Then the fourth dress, they both knew, was what they had in mind. It was not just the plum color, but it contrasted two different materials, and in the patterned part, the plum came through beautifully.

  Again, it was not too revealing yet showed off Rula’s slim figure. Magda put on the wedding dress again and the sales lady took photographs for her records.

  “Decision?” Rula asked.

  “Decision,” Magda nodded. “We’ll take these two but leave them here for now.” The saleswoman provided a sample of the bridesmaid dress material so that they could choose flowers and other things needed for the day. They paid, thanked her, and hotfooted it to the nearest coffee shop.

  “Oh, Rula. It really is happening,” Magda said.

  “And you will be a knockout,” Rula said. “I still feel like crying.” They looked at the material and decided to make a day of it and see what the florist offered. The man in the flower shop was overjoyed to have a wedding to plan and produced a series of designs on paper and on computer. They held up the material and asked his advice.

  “Pinks, plums, and lime green,” he said decisively, and right on the spot whipped together a hand-tied bouquet from the colors he suggested. “The lime is the key to showing off the rest of the design,” he added and handed Magda the brightly colored arranged flowers.

  “Beautiful,” Magda agreed. “I love it.”

  “And a smaller version in the same colors for your bridesmaid,” he suggested and quickly made a smaller and neater version for Rula.

  “Wonderful,” Rula said and took the posy.

  “Out of interest and your eye for color,” Magda said, “what would you suggest the men would wear?”

  “Hmm,” he said. “Pale-colored suits and dark-plum shirts. He suggested a boutique they all knew and told the girls that the men could also get plum-colored shoes to finish the picture.

  Magda ordered the bouquets and other flowers she needed for the wedding, and then the two girls headed back to the café. Katie was keen to hear the details, and when sworn to secrecy, got to see the photos that they had taken of each other.

  “Gorgeous,” she said. “Oh, it will be wonderful. You and Sam are meant for each other.”

  “Since childhood,” Rula added dryly, “just took them a long time to find out.”

  “Branston will love dressing up,” Magda laughed. “I am not so sure about Sam and Declan.

  “It seems like reality now that we have chosen the dresses. Michele says that we should choose a menu with a little bit of choice for everyone. We can do that and ask the chapel about flowers there as well.”

  “Branston says that you should have a fancy stagecoach and horses to take you to the chapel and the restaurant,” Rula added.

  “I’ll see what Sam thinks about that one,” Magda smiled. Then her cell phone rang. “I mentioned your name and you called me,” she said into the phone.

  “Have I done something wrong?” Sam asked in a joking voice.

  “Well, not yet, but you might argue about a light suit and plum colored shoes.”

  “Did you choose a dress then?” he asked, and she told him that the dress was fabulous but he was not allowed to see it.

  “I’ve got the wood from the mountain and we are starting back home now. We should finish tomorrow. It has gone really well.”

  “I’ll pick up some steaks on the way home,” she said. “Love ya.”

  “Love ya right back, Mags,” he said and hung up before she could complain about being called Mags.

  16

  “I think it will be two nights before we can all meet again to try and contact Utric,” Magda said to the others. They agreed that would be fine with them. Magda asked if Rula would go and ask Mikey if he was free then, and said that she would call Branston. “Sam will see Declan.”

  “What about Karla, Jeanette, and her auntie?” Rula asked as she set off for the camping shop.

  “It would be good to have a couple of normal days,” Magda added. “Although, we will have to see about the menu for the wedding.”

  “Sam, Declan and Branston will have to go to the boutique together,” Katie remarked. “Will you go as well?”

  “Hmm, not sure,” Magda answered. “They might be better as all men together. I might just give them the material and let the store advise them.”

  “And that lets you chicken out,” Katie laughed and closed the chiller on the last batch of truffles. “We are about up to date with stock again.”

  “I’ll do cheesecakes tomorrow,” Magda said, and Rula came back to say Mikey had called Karla and she would get in touch with Jeanette and Carrie. The girls locked up and fastened the wrought iron gate to the main street. Rula went back into the camping shop and Katie looked at Magda. They just smiled and parted company.

  Magda had bought steaks on the way home and sang a little song as she worked in the kitchen. The cats seemed very contented and she took the chance to look at the photo of herself in the wedding dress.

  “I’ll have to wear my hair tied up; it spoils the dress if it’s hanging down over my shoulders,” she thought and closed the screen on her phone as she heard Sam come through the door. He dropped his briefcase on the floor and came straight over to wrap her in a hug.

  “It’s a long day when I don’t see you,” he said into her hair.

  “I chose the dress though,” she answered.

  “And?” he asked.

  “It made me want to cry, it was so beautiful. Rula did actually cry. We are a couple of soppy romantics.”

  “I like that,” he said, and she piled steak and potatoes onto two plates. They carried them into the living room and didn’t speak at all for a few minutes.

  “I needed that, thanks,” Sam told her. “Is there cheesecake as well?”

  “You are getting far too used to being spoiled,” she told him but went to get the cheesecake anyway. When she came back, he had his cell phone out and asked if she wanted to see the tree house.

  “It is finished outside. We will finish the inside and the walkway tomorrow.” He put the phone on the table and took the cheesecake. “First things first.”

  Crystal stretched and left her fleecy bed. She strolled over to the table and knocked the cell phone onto the floor, and then she went calmly back to her comfy bed.

  “Bad Crystal,” Magda told the cat, who ignored the remark entirely but looked at Sam. He retrieved the cell phone and looked at the screen.

  “Well she got the photo that I was looking for anyway,” he said and added that he had the piece of wood that had come from Scotland. Crystal came back over beside him and nudged the phone.

  “What is it?” he asked and looked at the screen. He looked, glanced up at Magda and then stared back at the picture.

  “Not something strange, I hope,” Magda remarked, and he handed her the phone. The tree house was what took her eye immediately because it looked absolutely wonderful.

  “You and Declan have excelled yourselves. That looks like something that has grown as part of the forest. A magic forest.”

  “Yes, I am pleased with it. You cannot see the staircase up or the walkway,” he paused. “The piece of wood is lying against the trunk of the tree.”

  Magda gave him a slightly puzzled look and then looked at the screen again. She was about to be complimentary about the construction when she took a breath and looked up and then back again.

  “What do you see?”
Sam asked. Magda made another close inspection of the photo, and when she looked up, she said there was a slight shadow that could be feminine. He nodded.

  “We saw the same thing, then.”

  “And how did that darn cat know that?” Magda asked but went and picked up Crystal to give her a cuddle. “Are you prepared to send the photo to the others? The tree house is a secret.”

  “Merle needs to see it and Rula, Declan, and Katie are fine.” He sent off the photo and Magda added that no doubt Mikey would see it as soon as Rula had it. They lay back on the couch and waited for a reaction. Merle was first as they thought she would be.

  “What did you two see on this?” she cried immediately. Sam answered then put her on speakerphone.

  “You first,” Sam said.

  Branston’s voice sounded in the background to say there was a figure of some sort beside the tree trunk.

  “Agreed,” Merle added.

  “Male or female?” Magda asked, and Merle said that it was definitely female.

  “Crystal knocked the cell phone onto the floor to that picture showing the piece of wood from Scotland leaning against the tree.”

  “When are we meeting?” Merle asked, “because we should have the wood there as well.”

  “Not tomorrow night but the one after, if that is okay with you,” Magda joined in, and Merle said that was fine by her.

  “One other thing,” Magda said, “Branston, Sam, and Declan have to get to the outfitters to get clothes for the wedding. I have material from the bridesmaid dress to match up colors.”

  “What color?” Branston asked.

  “What color do you think, cousin? Plum. Oh and pink too!”

  “Oh, Lord,” Sam groaned, but Branston said that he would enjoy it.

  They agreed to find a time to meet up for the clothes when they were all together at the séance. Merle said that she would study this photo in the meantime.

  After they had finished the call, Magda reminded Sam that they had to choose the menus as well.