“Right. The residents elected her and two others to replace Mayor Manley’s cronies. I was elated when the town elected them along with Jessica Devine. The council will get so much done now. I haven’t attended meetings since the elections, so I didn’t recognize her. Did you know John Erickson, the other new member, is married to Audrey’s best friend from grad school?”
Jeff’s eyebrows lift. “No. I knew his wife’s first name was Courtney, but I haven’t met her. Are you sure it’s the same woman?”
“Oh, yeah. She just passed you on the way out of the store. I’m surprised you didn’t recognize her.”
His eyes dart toward the door. “Now that you mention it, she looked familiar. But she appeared older. A far cry from the teenage demeanor she had in grad school.”
“Do you think she knows what happened to Audrey?” I ask, biting my lip.
“How could she?” Jeff stuffs his hoodie behind the counter.
“None of the Bearsden Coven witches would have told her, but other covens were at the Delaware Pagan Conference.”
“True. Did she say anything to you about her?”
“No. Nothing. I shouldn’t have brought it up. Sorry.”
“It’s all right, Gwyn.” He lowers his head. “We can’t change the past. You can sweep it under the rug, but the history is still there.”
“I wonder if the new councilman knows his wife is a witch? I understand Mayor Devine hasn’t divulged the secrets of the Seelie Fae children and the portal in the Celestial Gardens to them.”
“Probably not. It’s my understanding they aren’t in the knowing. Courtney must not be practicing witchcraft.”
But I sensed her magic was flourishing. “She said she wasn’t interested in returning to the coven. You may be right.”
“It’s been nice chatting, but I’ve procrastinated long enough. I need to help Shane price tag the new shipments before I take over for you at the cash register.”
“Thank you for letting me leave early. Derek had to fill in for one of his trainers. Ronnie didn’t want to attend her birthing class alone.”
“I’m so excited for her. I hope to have a family one day, too.”
“Is it too soon to ask if you’re seeing anyone new?”
“You’re such a mom, Gwyn, and thank you for asking. I wish my aunt had cared enough to poke her nose into my love life. I’ve been dating the new instructor in the Celtic Studies department.”
“Oh. Dr. Lewis. That’s inviting a built-in family. She has a two-year-old. Are you sure you’re ready for that?”
“I am, but he’s a handful. She’s so worn out most of the time. I wish I could help her more, but we’re taking it slow. Both of us are recovering from traumatic relationships.”
That’s for sure. When your last love turns out to be a Celtic vampirish ghoul, you’re likely to approach the next relationship with iron gloves.
“Nothing wrong with taking it slow. I’d be in a different boat if I’d done that before.” But I love the ship I sailed on.
“Give a shout if I lose track of time.”
Jeff rushes to the back to help Shane while I ring up the DUB students’ Halloween costumes. I’m happy my young boss is dating again, but is an older widow with a child the best choice?
Ronnie dances around the room, ringlets of crimson hair bouncing on her shoulders, and I rub her back with a tennis ball during pauses. I expected we’d be sitting on the floor, huffing and blowing.
“This is not what I was expecting,” I say. “When I was pregnant with Tyler, I did breathing exercises while focusing on an object. Richard came with me reluctantly.”
She frowns. “I imagine. Derek hated missing this class. He’s so into it. But Jamal has a terrible fever, and Derek preferred not canceling the training sessions.”
“I was so excited you asked me. This is fun.”
The instructor signals us to dance around the room again and come to another pause. I roll the tennis ball up and down her back.
“Oh, yeah. Right there,” Ronnie says, moaning. “It’s almost as good as sex.”
“Wish I could remember.” I laugh and rub the ball deeply into her muscle. “All this pain will be worth it. Take it from an old mom.”
“I know, and I can’t wait.” She exhales, and worry contorts her face. “Gwyn, did you have nightmares about being a terrible mother?”
“Of course. What new mom doesn’t? I used to wake in the middle of the night sure I was going to screw him up.”
Her signature cackle erupts. “I shouldn’t stress over it then. Tyler turned out wonderful. He’s become a powerful ancestral witch, too. The coven just approved his level three witch status. You must be so proud of him.”
“I’m proud of everything Tyler’s accomplished.”
“You’re a fabulous mother. I hope I’m half as successful as you.”
We finish with the last exercise and pack up to leave, exiting into the cool October air. The wind has disappeared, thankfully. As we stroll down Main Street, I admire my friend’s glowing, heart-shaped face dotted with freckles, her rounded belly. Only two months left before the baby witch arrives. What a blessing for her.
“Why don’t we walk to the Celestial Gardens?” Ronnie asks. “I’ve not been there in a long time since everyone took turns covering my shifts with the Seelie Fae. They won’t come out until way after dark, but I’d like to get a few more steps in today. My OB says I need it for circulation in my legs. Do you mind eating dinner late?”
“No, I can use the exercise, too. Between classes, finishing up the grimoire database, searching for a portal-closing spell, and now trying to search for lore that identifies the being in that vision I had in June, I’m lucky to get a decent night’s sleep.”
