The Seventh Witch (22 page)

Two days later I walked into Ethan’s hospital room to say good-bye. Sitting by the door were two large plastic sacks containing his belongings. Seeing them, I felt a tinge of unhappiness—Ethan would be going home to his family, back to the life he knew. For a long time he’d popped in and out of my life with some regularity. But now he had a long road of recovery ahead of him. He wouldn’t have time to worry about my latest scrape. Or have the time to come to my rescue. The thought of him
not
being there bothered me.

Hearing my footsteps, Ethan turned his attention toward me. “Hey, slick, I hear you’re taking a trip,” I said with forced brightness.

“Yeah, back to Minnesota.” He winced as he shifted uneasily in the bed.

Crossing quickly to the side of his bed, I pulled a chair close. “Are you in pain?”

“I’m okay,” he replied, resting his head back on the pillow while his eyes drifted shut for a moment. “They’ve got me pretty doped up right now.”

I started to rise. “Well…” I hesitated. “Maybe now’s not a good time…I just wanted to stop by to say good-bye and—”

He opened his eyes and a smile flitted across his face.

“Jensen,” he said, cutting me off. “Don’t worry about it. I’m doing fine. Six months from now I’ll be as good as new.”

Right, I thought, sinking back down into the chair. After the surgery, the doctors had explained to his boss and me what they’d had to do. He had more plates and screws in his leg than the Frankenstein monster, and I knew he faced several months, maybe even a year, of rehab if he were to get the full use of his leg back.

I felt the tears gather in my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Ethan. This is my fault.” Swallowing hard, I blinked quickly. “You were hurt saving us.”

Cocking his head, he smiled again. “Didn’t I tell you that there’s just something about you that makes me want to play the white knight?” he teased. His voice suddenly grew serious. “I have a dangerous job, Jensen, there’s always a risk. The important thing…the good guys won this time.”

“Thanks to you.”

“You helped,” he said with a wink. “Ahh, I’ve been lying here thinking…and…” He paused. “Rochester isn’t that far from Summerset…about a four hour drive, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “That sounds about right.”

“Well, you know, I’m going to be pretty bored, lying around, not doing anything except rehab…” He plucked at the edge of the blanket covering his legs. “It would be nice to have visitors.”

“Are you inviting me to Minnesota?” I asked with a grin.

He returned my grin and held out his hand. “Yeah.”

Without hesitation, I rose and crossed the short space between the chair and the bed. I placed my hand in his. In spite of his injuries, the drugs, his grip was firm as he pulled me down to sit on the edge of the bed. Neither of us spoke for a moment as his thumb traced a lazy pattern across my knuckles. With each stroke, I felt a charge race up my arm and feed a little bubble of happiness growing inside my heart.

“Mom would love to meet you,” he said, breaking the silence. “She’ll be so proud that I brought home a
real
witch,” he finished with a laugh.

“That’s not exactly the normal reaction,” I replied with a shake of my head.

Ethan chuckled. “The words ‘normal’ and ‘Mom’ usually don’t occur in the same sentence.” He gave my hand a tug, bringing me closer, and staring into my eyes, his voice grew husky. “I’d really like you to come to Rochester. Will you?”

Everything that Ethan had done for me, for my family, flitted through my mind, but it wasn’t just gratitude that I felt. This guy was a real life hero. How could a girl resist someone like that? I let the bubble of happiness show on my face as I leaned closer. “I’d like that.”

Then without thinking, without worrying, without wondering if I was doing the right thing, I bent down and pressed my mouth to his.

I felt more than heard the groan that came from deep in his throat as his hands moved up to my shoulders and squeezed. All the want and need that being with Ethan seemed to cause came rushing to the surface, and my lips parted.

A sharp rap on the door suddenly ended the kiss, and looking over my shoulder, I saw a nurse standing just inside the doorway. A blush crept up my neck and into my face while Ethan’s laugh echoed in the small room.

Noticing the wheelchair that the nurse had brought with her, I turned my attention back to Ethan. “Looks like your ride’s here,” I commented, feeling suddenly shy. “I’d better get going.”

I began to rise, but Ethan’s hand on my shoulder stopped me.

“I’ll see you in Minnesota,” he said firmly.

With a bob of my head, I gave him a quick kiss and stood. Smiling at the nurse, I crossed the room, heading for the door. I’d just stepped into the hallway when I heard the nurse’s voice.

“Was that your girlfriend, Mr. Clement?”

A soft chuckle followed her question.

“I’m working on it.”

Finally ready to celebrate Great-Aunt Mary’s 100th birthday, the old farmhouse had bustled with activity all morning as everyone hurried about. With a clipboard and list in hand, Mom took over organizing everything that needed to be carted down to Lydia’s. She reminded me of a general marshaling her troops right before a big battle, and not wanting to be one of the troops, I slipped back to the bedroom to change.

Crossing to the dresser, I pulled open the top drawer and was surprised to see all my undies neatly folded with a fresh sprig of lavender lying on top of them.

How sweet, I thought picking up the lavender and inhaling deeply. Aunt Dot left me a present.

I went to the bedroom door and popped my head around the corner. “Thanks for the lavender, Aunt Dot,” I called out.

She appeared in the doorway of her bedroom. “What was that?” she asked, holding a comb paused in midair.

“Thank you for straightening out my clothes and for the lavender,” I repeated.

“I wasn’t in your room.”

“Somebody was and they left this.” I held out the sprig.

“Thank the stars,” she said with a huge smile. “He’s forgiven you.”

“Who’s forgiven me?” I asked, my voice perplexed.

“Our Nisse.” She raked the comb through her thin hair. “He appreciates everything you’ve done for the family and the lavender is a peace offering.”

As she ducked back into her bedroom, I thought I heard her mutter something about an extra pat of butter on the grits.

If I had thought the dinner Lydia served the first day we were there was something, Great-Aunt Mary’s birthday put
it to shame. I think everyone in the valley had turned out. I even saw young Cecilia Kavanagh studiously avoiding Billy Parnell. And he was doing the same to her.

Everyone wore a smile that day. There was a lightness of spirit, not only within my family, but the whole valley. All the Dorans were safely locked away. Cousin Lydia had heard through the grapevine that Sharon’s snarky uncle had cut a deal with the district attorney and the Feds. In order to get his own sentence for the manufacturing and sale of illegal drugs reduced, he agreed to testify against Sharon. All her dirty deeds would be revealed at her trial, and the ensuing scandal would keep the gossip mill running for months. Yup, I thought with a nod of satisfaction, Sharon Doran would be spending a long time behind bars.

After the DEA had released the clearing as a crime scene, Abby and I went to the Seven Sisters one last time. Together we’d lit the torch and watched as Sharon’s shack of poisons burned completely to the ground. The cousins that Great-Aunt Mary had given the task of clearing the kudzu away from the standing stones looked at us as if we were crazy, but we didn’t care. It gave them just one more story to tell about their nutty Northern relatives. And when I’d looked back at the proud stones, I hoped that by next spring it would look as it had in my first dream.

Carrying a plate laden with food, I wandered over to where Abby and Tink sat. This would be my last chance to enjoy all the wonderful Southern food that I’d grown fond of, and I intended to make the most of it.

As I joined them, I noticed how much younger Abby looked now than she had on the day she showed me the outcrop. The stress and the strain I’d seen had vanished.

“Hey, I’ve got a question,” Tink said waving a chicken leg at us. “Did either of you see the man at the Seven Sisters?”

“You mean the sheriff’s deputies?” I asked, balancing my plate on my knees. “Of course we saw them.”

She shook her head, her ponytail flying. “No, not them
…the old guy. He had some kind of feathers in his hair. He was the one who stopped Sharon from shooting you.”

The shaman who’d once blessed his people. He had helped us reclaim their land.

Tink wasn’t finished with her revelations. “I saw a woman, too, Abby. She stood right behind you.” She hopped to her feet when one of the younger cousins called to her. “I think it was your mom.”

The tone of voice she used made it sound as if it were the most common thing in the world to spot people who’d been dead for years.

I closed my eyes and shook my head as Abby chuckled. Placing her hand on my arm, she smiled. “She’s going to be fine,” she said with pride. “She’s accepting her gift.” Abby turned to face me. “You’re doing a good job with her.”

“Thanks,” I replied, and shoveled a forkful of mashed potatoes and gravy into my mouth.

She rose to her feet. “It’s almost time for the cake. I’m going to go help Lydia.”

I nodded, unable to speak with my cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk’s.

Her chair didn’t stay vacated long. A minute later Elsie shuffled over and took the chair next to me.

I swallowed and looked at her in surprise. “Elsie, it’s nice to see you here.”

“Humph,” she said as her attention wandered over to where Great-Aunt Mary sat. “That woman always was full of surprises. She came by yesterday with Dot and apologized for not believing me about Annie.” She fixed her watery eyes on me. “Never thought I’d live long enough to see the day Mary apologized for anything.”

I reached out and patted her hand. “That’s good you’ve made peace with her. I’m glad.”

“Are you coming back someday?”

“Oh probably, Tink thinks the world of the Aunts, so I want to maintain her connection with them.”

Elsie gave her head a firm nod. “Good. I’d like to see you again. You’ll be sure and stop by,” she gave me a sly look, “for dinner.”

I laughed. “That I will, Elsie. I promise.”

She leaned back in her chair. “Yes, sirree, you remind me a lot of…”

Uh-oh, here it comes. I’m going to be told I’m just like Great-Aunt Mary.

“…Annie,” she finished.

I felt my plate start to slide and I made a grab for it. “Annie? Really? But I don’t look a thing like her.”

“Not on the outside, but you surely do on the inside. She never backed away from a fight either. You have the same spirit.”

I leaned over and laid a hand on her wrist. “That’s one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received. Thank you.”

“You’re like her in other ways, too.” She pursed her lips. “Her talent didn’t come easy to her either when she was young, regardless of how Mary might tell it.”

“It didn’t?”

“No. When Annie was a girl, she always wished she was ‘normal.’” Elsie chuckled softly. “Whatever that is. She spent most of her early years fighting her nature.” She slid a glance my way. “Sound familiar?”

“A little,” I admitted reluctantly.

“But once she got over that, her life just fell into place.” Elsie paused to watch Abby and Lydia slowly crossing the yard, carrying a cake blazing with one hundred candles over to where Great-Aunt Mary sat, surrounded by kin. “Those were good years,” she continued with a half smile. “She met a man who understood how special she was and treated her as such.”

“They had quite a love story, didn’t they?” I asked a little wistfully.

“They sure did,” she nodded empathically, “but it wasn’t all Robert. Annie was brave enough to risk her heart for a man like him. Not everyone has the courage to do that.” I
watched as her gaze focused on Great-Aunt Mary blowing out her candles.

I turned my attention to Great-Aunt Mary, too. Tink stood on her left with her hand resting on Great-Aunt Mary’s shoulder. She wore a big smile and her lavender eyes danced. Mom stood next to Tink with her arm carelessly draped over Tink’s shoulder. Her attention wasn’t on Great-Aunt Mary but on Tink, and I could see the pride written on her face as she gazed at my daughter.

Aunt Dot was on Great-Aunt Mary’s right, taking the scene in with her sharp old eyes. As the last of the hundred candles sputtered and flickered out, she bobbed her head with satisfaction as if to say,
Well, we’ve made it this far.
I felt a grin tug at my lips while the crowd erupted with applause.

The grin became a smile of pure happiness as I studied the little group gathered under the big elm tree. Great-Aunt Mary, Aunt Dot, Tink, Cousin Lydia, Abby…all with their own unique talents…all witches. Standing, I held out my hand to Elsie and helped her to her feet. Together we crossed the sun-dappled yard to join
my
family.

Writing the Ophelia and Abby mystery series has been a ride of a lifetime, and has given me the opportunity to meet and work wiht some amazing people. This book is no exception.

My agent, Stacey Glick—without your faith in the series, the past five years would have never happened! More thanks than I can express for your guidance and for all your hard work! I’m so glad that your’re in my corner!

My editors, Emily Krump and Wendy Lee—Emily, you made what could have been a difficult transition easy! Thanks for your insight! And Wendy, though we only worked together a short time, I really appreciate your input on this Book!

Sharon Robinson and Lydia Wiley—my Southern ladies and private tour guides! I thank you not only for all your help, but also your friendship! I hope you approve of your characters! (Sharon, I tried to do just as you asked, but it was hard!)

Sallie, Lisa, and Oreon—thank you so much for your kindness, your hospitality, and the information you shared with me!

Joanna Campbell Slan—once again J., you held my hand through the whole process and listened to all my angst! I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you!

June and Paul Steinbach—my go-to people for everything to do with medicine, murder, and mayhem! Thanks for helping me get it right! (And if anything
is
wrong…it’s my fault!)

To all the readers of the series—you have no idea how much your kind words mean to me! Your emails help get me through the day!

And of course, my family and friends. What can I say but thanks for putting up with me, especially when I’m facing a deadline! Love you all!