Page 80 of Impractical Magic

“No worries,” Scarlett said with a smile. “We’re not the witches you’re looking for.”

“Shut up,” Delilah whispered.

The hostess gave Scarlett a quizzical look, then clearly decided she didn’t want to pursue this inquiry any further. “Plates and utensils are against the left-hand wall. Enjoy.”

“You always make that joke,” said Delilah, annoyed. “Every time I use that spell, you make that joke. And it’s never funny.”

“Au contraire, it’s always funny,” Scarlett demurred. “Pretty sure George Lucas stole the idea for the Force from our kind. We may as well get a few chuckles out of it.”

“Hush,” Delilah said. “Focus. Do you see Max anywhere?”

Scarlett’s head swiveled left and right. “Uhh, he’s around here somewhere; we saw him come in. Look, you can’t expect me to play Sherlock on an empty stomach. C’mon, just a quick bite . . . please? You go for the savory; I’ll hit the sweets. We reconvene at the prime rib mountain in two minutes.”

Delilah rolled her eyes. “All right, all right . . . but the second we see him—”

“We’re following. Absolutely.”

When their trays were piled high with every manner of carbohydrate imaginable, the sisters found an empty table in the corner. “So . . .” Scarlett said as they dug in, “is Mandy Patinkin gonna be our new daddy?”

Delilah rolled her eyes. “Will you let it go, Scar?”

“Well, I’m just saying—”

“Papa’s been gone ten years! Mama has a right to a life.”

“Really?” Scarlett shot back. “Because clearly she wouldn’t say the same about you.”

Delilah stared at her sister. “What is that jab supposed to mean?”

“It’s not a jab, Del, it’s an observation.” Scarlett shoveled a forkful of fettuccine carbonara into her mouth. “She keeps you locked behind that desk 24/7. When are you gonna get out and see the world? Maybe even have a relationship?”

“A relationship?” Her eyebrows ascended toward the gilt ceiling. “What, like you and Nate Williams? Yeah, I’ll pass on that mess, thanks.”

“Well . . .” Scarlett blushed. “Yeah. Okay. I’m not offering myself as an example.”

“The two of you really are amazing. Ten years apart, and now you’re right back in that will they or won’t they nonsense from when you were teenagers. If I remember correctly, you both finally concluded yes, you would, and then—”

“And then we couldn’t. Because of Papa.”

“Well, Papa’s long gone now.” Delilah stabbed a piece of prime rib with her fork. “Seems to me the statute of limitations has run out on that excuse.”

Scarlett set down her fork and glared. “It’s not an excuse, Del. The situation has changed. I have a new life now. And I don’t think Nate fits.”

“Then tell him that! Let him go. Let Polly have him—she’s certainly made her interest clear.”

Ugh, Nate with Polly, Scarlett thought. Don’t think I could bear that. But at the same time, she knew in her heart that Delilah was right.

“I suppose you have a point.” She sighed. “I should tell him there’s no chance.” It’s not fair to him, she thought. All this back-and-forth, all this kidding ourselves that we have some sort of future. I claim to be Nate’s friend—if I’m truly his friend, I should act like it. “Okay. When we get back, I’m going to tell him we have to stop all that dumb flirting. I’m letting him go, full stop.”

“You should!”

“I will!”

“You better.”

“God, Del, I just said I’d tell him, jeez! It’s done. It has to be done. Because once the grove is repaired, I’m headed out west, period.”

“Out west,” Delilah repeated the words like they tasted of sulfur. “I still don’t understand what you get out of the Normie Life. What’s the point? I mean, don’t you miss magic?”