A Witch in Time

I
t’s a double wedding
, and you’re invited! In fact, Enid Ash wants to invite everyone—including the ghost of Hephaestus Hallow, who can’t leave the general store he’s haunting. She’ll have to figure out a spell to move his spirit to Castle Hallow for the festivities. But Hephaestus isn’t cooperative, and the magic goes awry. Enid finds herself in the Spirit World, and she’ll have to work with a centuries-old ghost to get back to the living world in time for the weddings…

E
nid Ash juggled
a heavy tray laden with mugs of mead and plates of Nana Winterblossom’s special crescent moon pastries. She turned to back her way through the swinging kitchen door and then took measured steps along the hallway as she eyed the overfull drinks. Skirting the bottom of the stairway, she looked upward into the darkness of the second floor, wondering whether Gemma and their houseguest might already have escaped the gathering. The two tended to lock themselves away from everyone when Fox visited. Of course, Gemma tended to spend a lot of time alone with her computers on a normal day so she shouldn’t begrudge her sister the company. Thinking of the couple together just caused her to feel a pang of envy.

None of that now. You’re happy for her.

The soft autumn breeze filtering in through the open front door cooled her overheated flesh. She felt overdressed in her usual colorful clothing: a flowing long-sleeved orange blouse, filmy layered black skirt, and thigh-high socks striped in both colors

She looked up as she passed through the doorway into the living room. Lying on the hearth across the way she saw what looked like a living, breathing, bearskin rug. A slight smile curved her lips as Bronson’s tail gave a quick thump against the stone. The St. Bernard showed no other signs of life. He might be useless as a familiar, but she and Gemma both loved the big fur ball.

A few people lounged around in the comfortable padded sofas and chairs. No one seemed quite ready to end the evening yet as they recovered from the exertions of the ritual they’d just completed.

She leaned down and held out the tray. The clunky orange bangles dangling off her wrists clanked at her movement. “Would you care for a mead, Caedmon?”

The young man looked up at her with a tired smile. “Love one, thanks,” he said in the slow drawl she imagined him copying from surfer dudes on some sunny beach down in California. He blew a long lock of red hair out of his eye and gave a slight hiccup as he took up one of the hammered silver tankards. “This is awesome stuff. Sweet and delicious.” He winked. “Just like you.” Caedmon’s biceps flexed as he hefted the heavy mug to his lips and took a long swig.

She ignored his flirtatious comment. Everyone in the village knew Caedmon and Orianna Westerly were a couple now. Enid felt another unwelcome pang of loneliness as she thought about how everyone in her age group seemed to be paired with someone.

Everyone but Enid.

“Best mead anywhere. Made from Leif farm honey.” She turned and held the tray out again. “How about you, Garrett? Mead and moon cakes?”

“Thanks.” Garrett winked at Caedmon as he took a drink and dessert.

Enid wondered whether the two young men might have something up their sleeves. Newcomers to the village, they didn’t yet realize the members of the coven abhorred secrecy. The residents of Secret Hallow knew everything about everyone else.

When she offered Maddock Leif the tray he shook his head, nodding at the sleeping figure of lying in his arms. She’d seen his son, Keene, running around the yard with the other witchlings while their elders participated in the celebration. The kids loved staying up later than normal so they enjoyed the esbat as much as the adults. They also loved to see the other kids, though most of them spent their days together at the Ash Academy.

Caedmon and Garrett were now speaking together in low voices. The two seemed to have gotten over their mutual dislike of each other.

Maddock smiled in response to the questioning brow she raised at him.

Enid didn’t enjoy the feeling of being left out. Secrecy in a group setting seemed rude to her. Enid felt the two should go off and find a quiet corner if they wanted privacy. Of course, a quiet corner could be hard to find in such a small and close-knit community.

The cool evening air chilled her overheated body as she stepped out onto the wide front porch. She’d forgotten to grab her hat and shawl before leaving house; they hung on a hook just behind the front door, next to Gemma’s, so she could easily turn back and get them. Yet taking the time to set down the heavy tray seemed like too much trouble right now. As a good hostess, she needed to be sure all her guests received refreshment in a reasonable amount of time.

Enid paused to take a breath of the smoky air. Several people sat warming their hands around the dying bonfire in the circle of stone set in the middle of the front yard. Others, including Gemma and Fox, leaned against the picket fence near the street.

Fern Westerly ran past with her hands stretched out before her. The red and gold leaves on a nearby tree rustled in the slight breeze created by the child.

“That’s enough for tonight. Time to settle down.” Orianna gave her daughter a stern look before turning to the woman seated next to her. “She may be learning control at school, but none of us are true elementals. I’m afraid we can’t teach her as well as we should.”

Her companion smiled. “Don’t worry so much. She’ll be fine.” Rowan’s free hand stroked the downy tuft of hair poking out of a sling wrap. Her other hand cradled the baby to her chest. “We’re teaching her finesse. She’s come a long way already.”

“What can I do?” Fern plopped down on the step beneath the two women. “I’m bored now.”

Orianna put a finger to her lips and nodded over at Rowan. “Shh…you’ll wake Siobhan.”

“Babies are boring. They never do anything.” Fern dug her toes into the rich damp soil of the flowerbed wiggled them. The dirt filtered through her toes and got stuck under her nails.

Sliding down beside her daughter, Orianna squeezed her tight. “Just you wait. Someday soon she’ll be running around with you and the other kids.” She rubbed a cheek against Fern’s tousled hair. “You were once a baby, too, you know.”

Fern continued to dig her feet into the dirt. “How long is someday?”

The women chuckled at the innocent question.

Enid remembered all-too-well the childhood feeling of time dragging on forever. School days never seemed to end. Holidays and celebrations took too long to arrive. Summer break lasted an eternity. Now, with everything going on in her adult life, the days, months, and years rushed past with breathtaking speed.

Fern jumped to her feet and glared down at her mother. “Don’t laugh.” She turned and stormed off with her head held high.

“Enjoy your little one, Rowan.” Orianna looked up at her companions. “Children become much more interesting once they start talking and having opinions. They become individuals before you realize what’s happened.”

Rowan rubbed her eyes. “I’d enjoy this time a lot more if I could get some sleep.”

The realization she’d just been standing around watching everyone instead of passing out refreshments washed over Enid. Now her arms trembled with the exertion of holding her burden for so long. She set the tray on a nearby table and sat down next to Rowan. A sliver from the rough step caught in her skirt and she shifted to free herself. “Is she still teething? I thought she’d just gotten a couple new ones.” She leaned close enough to be able to see Siobhan’s sleeping face: the soft fan of lashes against her chubby cheeks, tiny nose, and perfect lips.

“The way she’s chewing on things, she’s teething for sure,” said Rowan. “She’ll never stop.”

“Feels that way sometimes,” said Orianna as she looked over to where her daughter now sat in the dirt, drawing pictures with a stick. She sighed and rubbed her eyes. “Fern should start losing her baby teeth soon and then the process will start all over again.”

The screen door creaked open and the porch trembled with the weight of heavy footsteps. A moment later, a male hand rested atop Rowan’s head.

“All right, love?” Garrett smiled down at his partner and their sleeping daughter. “D’you want me to take her so you can have a break?”

Rowan adjusted the sling. “When she wakes up, I’ll hand her over.”

“She’ll be awake all night if we let her nap too long.” Garrett crouched next to Rowan.

Taking his hand, she nuzzled her cheek against his palm. “If only she’d sleep through, I’d be happy to wake her now. The problem is she doesn’t. So I’d like to enjoy the peace and quiet while I can, if you don’t mind.”

“Whatever you want, love,” said Garrett. He leaned over and placed a kiss on Rowan’s brow.

The steps groaned as Caedmon stepped down next to Orianna. He looked at her with such love in his eyes that Enid felt like she were invading the couple’s privacy. Yet she couldn’t look away. Both Orianna and Caedmon shared hair of a similar shade of red, along with the accompanying freckles, so they made a striking couple. His darker skin and brown eyes showed off her pale complexion and vivid green eyes to advantage. They could be cover models for a romance novel.

She turned her attention to the other couple. Both Rowan and Garrett shared brown hair and eyes, a similar body type, and a penchant for wearing relaxed clothing. Though she often wore sweatshirts and jeans, Rowan had taken to wearing Garrett’s button-down flannel shirts in order to allow Siobhan easy feeding access. They didn’t look quite as striking as their friends. Yet they, too, seemed to be head-over-heels in love with each other.

Garrett straightened to his full height while clapping his hands for attention. “Excuse me!” He stepped up onto the porch and looked out over the coven as he clapped again. “May I please have your attention everyone?”

Several people got up, brushing grass and leaves off their clothing. The kids ran to the bottom of the steps and plopped down in a semi-circle as all the adults meandered over.

Caedmon moved to stand next to Garrett.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Garrett didn’t respond to Rowan’s question. “I have something to ask.”

“Me, too,” said Caedmon.

“What on earth are you two doing?” Orianna spoke in a low tone as she glanced at Rowan.

Rowan shrugged.

Enid got up and headed down into the crowd.

The screen door creaked open again and Maddock appeared with the sleeping Keene in his arms. He stepped scanned the crowd until he found Kimberly and then moved around the couples on the porch to join her.

Garrett helped Rowan to her feet.

Smiling at Orianna, Caedmon held out a hand.

Orianna looked around at the others as color crept into her pale cheeks. After a moment’s hesitation she got up and went to Caedmon.

The two women were place back-to-back. The men nodded at each other and then each of them dropped to one knee while holding the hand of their significant other. They looked as though they’d practiced until they were able to make the movement in unison. The effect turned out to be quite striking.

Enid’s heart fluttered as a slight gasp of anticipation went up from the group.

This looked like a…

Both men spoke as one. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

The bright goddess moon shone her silvery light on them as the seconds ticked on, the scene taking on the almost surreal tone of a movie scene. The two men stared at the women with wide, apprehensive eyes, before casting nervous glances at each other.

She felt a creeping sense of embarrassment as time passed. Why would either of the men have thought proposing this way would be a good idea?

In her perfect scenario, Enid and her faceless suitor would picnic on the beach on a night much like this one. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks would disguise the words of love they’d exchange. They could be private and alone as they shared their first embrace as an official couple. Once they agreed to wed, the couple would then stroll back to the coven to make the big announcement.

Rowan recovered first. “The honor is mine.” The tone of her voice emphasized the truth in her words. “Yes, I will marry you.”

Garrett stood and pulled Rowan into his arms. The embrace woke little Siobhan, who gave a gurgle of displeasure as the couple shared a laughing kiss. After a moment, Garrett stood back and put an arm around Rowan’s shoulder, both of them stepping to one side to look toward the other couple.

Orianna stared over at Garrett, Rowan, and Siobhan for several seconds before looking back down at the man still kneeling at her feet. From where she stood, Enid could make out the glisten of tears in the other woman’s eyes as she raised a trembling hand to her lips. She nodded.

Jumping up, Caedmon lifted Orianna off her feet and swung her in a circle.

“What about me?” Fern ran up the steps. “Mama?” Her voice sounded small and hesitant.

Keeping one arm around each other, Caedmon and Orianna reached out to the little girl. Fern allowed herself to be pulled into the adults’ mutual embrace. “Spin me!” As the trio turned circles, the child’s laughter rang out, breaking the spell over the rest of the group.

The babble of voices raised into a swell of joyous sound as almost everyone fought to offer their congratulations. Enid saw that Maddock, Kimberly, and the slumbering Keene remained huddled together off to one side of the crowd. Gemma and Fox stood arm-in-arm toward the back of the group, Gemma’s head on Fox’s shoulder.

Adora Glenn leaned against a tree trunk in the far corner of the yard, watching with her normal stern look, her arms crossed over her chest. Though the other woman might look like she were about to curse everyone present, her gruff exterior hid a sensitive heart. Enid knew from long experience that Adora didn’t feel comfortable showing emotion. She preferred to keep to herself - as much as running the local coffee shop allowed. Catching Enid’s eye, Adora gave a broad wink before leaving the yard to disappear into the night.

So much joy filled the night air that nature joined in as well. Kimberly’s eagle familiar screeched overhead. Nana’s owl issued a soft hoot from her perch in nearby tree. Even Bronson emerged from the house to join the scrum of people assembled on the front porch. Everyone and everything in Secret Hallow celebrated the happy couples’ wonderful news.

“Out of the way. Let me through. Move, I say.” Nana Winterblossom pushed her way into the middle of the group. “Congratulations, granddaughter.” She hugged Rowan tight before turning grab Garrett. “And grandson. Welcome to the family.”