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I do not think she can hear me. But Ophelia is on her way back. Just speak truthfully.

‘If you’ve started talking to cats like they can reply, Ophelia must have really rubbed off on you.’

It was now or never. ‘Well, that’s the thing. She can, and they sometimes do. Talk back, that is. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. This really, truly is a magical shop, and magic really, truly does exist.’

‘What are you talking about?’

An ear-piercing wolf-whistle made her jump and spin round. ‘He’s talking about me, sugar lips.’

Mia glanced at the pumpkin then rolled her eyes. ‘Haha, very funny. You cued up some more recordings. Well done though… I didn’t even see you move to trigger it. I guess the truth tea has worn off.’

‘Take a look.’

‘Yeah, come play with me, sweet cheeks. You can candy my corn any day.’

‘I thought we were having a serious conversation.’ She frowned.

‘What’s up, baby? You don’t need to be scared of me. I don’t bite. Unless you’re into that type of thing.’

‘Seriously, this isn’t funny any more, Aiden. Stop it please.’

‘I wish I could.’

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake!’ She stormed across the shop and grabbed the offending pumpkin.

‘Oh yeah, baby. You can grab my stalk. Just like that!’

‘Knock it off,’ Aiden warned. ‘Or I’m roasting you and making pumpkin soup.’

The lid was clearly giving Mia more trouble than she’d expected. ‘Did you glue these in?’

Aiden shook his head. ‘Nope. They just don’t like to leave when they find one they like.’

‘Leave? They, who?’

‘They, me.’ The pumpkin vibrated in her hands – laughing – and she slowly turned it over. Something very, very strange was going on. She watched in growing shock as the gourd’s glowing grin morphed and changed, then it winked at her. ‘Boo!’

The pumpkin shattered on the floor and Mia backed away as… something… swirled in the air around her, cold and heavy and definitely more than mere imagination. It glowed and flickered before zooming away, leaving her standing in a pile of pumpkin guts. Dark pumpkin guts. Where were the fairy lights that kept flickering and glowing different colours? Now more curious than anything else, Mia nudged at the mess with her toe.

And the more she stared at the pieces on the floor, the more things started to come together, the thought tickling the edge of her mind. When she met Aiden’s gaze she felt like the world suddenly made sense at the same time as it tilted beneath her feet. It was like the moment she put on her glasses in the morning, and the world came into focus for the first time that day.

Everything looked the same but felt different. It wasn’t anything she could understand or explain, but she knew – right down to her bones – that everything he’d said was true. The knowledge settled over her like a comforting blanket.

When she met his gaze, she gasped at the rush of… something… that hit her. It was like when he’d done reiki on her – only a hundred times more intense.

‘It’s you, isn’t it? The magic…’ The word was strange. ‘It’s coming from you.’

‘Not exactly…’

They both turned at the door’s chimes.

‘It’s you too!’ Mia gasped at Ophelia, who grinned broadly.

‘I told you we needed to come home, Katie. Look who just woke up!’

‘Finally!’ Katie rushed over to hug her friend.

‘So, let’s see if I have this all straight,’ Mia said over another pot of tea. ‘Magic is real. Mist, and a lot of the animals around here, can talk to people – just not me.’