A Witchy Inheritance

Chapter 1

Prologue

"I don't know how to take care of a cat," I exclaimed, probably louder than strictly necessary.

Ms. Ferns, my late aunt's attorney sighed, not for the first time, in response. "I don't know what to tell you Erin. Your aunt’s will leaves you Cicero, all his belongings, most of her library, which as I'm sure you remember is expansive. As well as a tiny sum that will make it easier for you to care for Cicero. It was her wishes that you take care of him until, as she puts it, it is his time to leave this place. I need you to actually take ownership of him as well as sign for the funds either today or tomorrow. Everything else is being packed up and will be shipped to your house so you won't have to trouble yourself with that. I have to sign off that these things are in your possession. What you choose to do with the cat after that is completely up to you."

Even though Ms. Ferns was saying that I could just simply put Cicero up for adoption her tone discouraged it. Not that she needed to do that. I know I would never just throw away a cat, especially one that my aunt loved and cherished so much. Cicero was like a third child to her.

Letting out a breath I resigned myself to being a new cat Mom. "All right Ms. ferns. I can swing by after my shift at the library today. Is five-thirty going to be too late?"

"No, not at all. I will stick around and I happen to have Cicero here with me. I am sure he will be grateful to finally be going to his forever home."

The relief in the older woman's voice made me suspicious. It was as if she was relieved to be getting rid of the cat. I didn't remember Cicero being a particularly difficult cat but maybe he was always on good behavior with my aunt.

"Great," I muttered to myself.

"What was that Ms. Charm?" The old lawyer asked through the phone.

"Nothing. Just mentally rearranging my schedule."

"Very good, I shall see you this evening."

With that we hung up and I blinked out into the small library. Normally I wouldn't dare take a phone call while I was still out in the library proper. However, there were no patrons here. And it was just me and old Mrs. Dobbs on staff today. Mrs. Dobbs was on her smoke break, so I didn't feel bad about taking a phone call. I would've hung up if someone had come in, obviously. But I felt safe, since the last time I'd seen anyone was two hours ago. It worried me. The Ivy Valley library had been seeing declining attendance numbers for months now, mainly during the day. The evenings and weekends saw way more people, but most residents were getting eBooks and putting reservations online. I'd already heard rumors of budget cuts and I was the latest hire, even though I had been here a year and a half. Now I was going to be responsible for a cat.

"I hope you know what you are doing Aunt Cadence. I can barely take care of myself, let alone a pet." Letting out a huff, I grabbed the bin of returned books I'd been checking in when the phone call came in and moved around the counter to get them re-shelved