It was a closet, and in its deep recesses were shelves with stacks and stacks of sweaters and sweatshirts. Hanging from the racks were t-shirts and blouses in different shades and lengths. Dozens of skirts and dresses hung in their own section of the closet, and a rack in the back held over twenty different pairs of designer jeans. The side wall was reserved for shoes, with at least thirty pairs, ranging from tennis shoes to flip-flops to conservative heels, each perched in its own unique holder.
Whose stuff is this? I wondered with the slightest bit of envy. It was all so beautiful, and for someone to just leave it behind as if they didn’t care at all… I’d never owned clothes that weren’t discounted or bought second-hand. The best outfits I wore were ones I’d sewn together myself.
Then I remembered how Ana had said something about indulging in ‘quite a bit of shopping’ for me –
No way. Of course not. She couldn’t possibly have meant…
Silently, I chided myself for even entertaining the notion she’d bought all of these amazing clothes and shoes just for me. They were someone else’s, obviously. This was a ‘guest house’ after all.
I closed the closet doors and returned to my duffel bag, sadly aware that my short time here in this fantasy-land was already messing with my common sense.
*****
Ana’s dining room table was covered with more food than I’d ever seen in one place in my life, even though only three of us were eating. It looked like something straight out of a magazine, and everything tasted even better than it looked.
After stuffing ourselves far more than was probably healthy, Ana suggested we step into the other room for some after-dinner tea. She promised it would aid in digestion and guarantee a solid night’s sleep. I knew my body wouldn’t need any help in the falling asleep department. My father—who scoffed at tea and thought it was only for silly old English ladies—surprised me by actually accepting her offer.
We walked into the adjoining parlor and sat down – me on an overstuffed pillow on the floor, my father on a black leather loveseat, and Ana on a plush, high-backed maroon chair that reminded me of a throne. Ana had said Henri would serve the tea shortly. I hadn’t seen him during our dinner, but I got the distinct feeling he’d been nearby the entire time in case Ana needed anything.
I stifled several yawns and fantasized about the tub waiting for me back in my room. Ana and Dad made small talk about the weather and local hardware stores, while I gazed around the room admiring the art on the wall. All priceless pieces, no doubt.
Ana had given us a brief tour of the downstairs when we arrived for dinner, and I was still in awe at how beautiful the inside of her house was. Almost like a museum, but far more warm and inviting. One could easily get lost in the multitude of rooms and hallways, and I’d definitely need a map to get around. She told us to make ourselves at home, but still, I was afraid to touch anything. I was even afraid to breathe the wrong way.
Henri finally entered with the pot of freshly-made tea. I swallowed another yawn and sipped the sweet brew quickly.
“You must be exhausted, dear, after your long day,” Ana said to me. “If you don’t mind, I need to speak with your father for a few minutes. It’ll bore you to tears, so if you want to go home and get some rest, I understand.” She smiled again, and her kind eyes twinkled.
“Thanks, I think I will,” I said, struggling to my feet. I grinned at her and Dad. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” When I leaned over to give him a quick hug, I was relieved to feel he’d relaxed substantially since earlier in the truck. He felt almost happy.
“G’night, Callie. Enjoy yer vacation while it lasts. Gotta get ya back in school right quick.”
Great. Thanks, Dad. Way to ruin a perfectly nice evening. Of course I knew I’d have to go back to school eventually—unfortunately— but why couldn’t he let me savor this moment of peace without the thought of that lurking in the future?
“Calista, dear,” Ana said, “Perhaps you wouldn’t mind stopping by here tomorrow sometime? I can show you some of the more interesting aspects of the house, and we can tour the gardens. How does that sound?”
“Sure…sounds great. What time?”
“Whenever you want. I’ll be here all day. Just come in through the kitchen door. It’s always unlocked.”
“All right, I’ll do that. ’Night.” I surprised myself by leaning forward to give Ana a quick hug.
But I pulled away quickly, shocked by what I’d just felt hiding beneath her sweet and loving exterior.
Not wanting to betray my horrible realization to either of them, I took a small step back and flashed a phony smile. “Thanks again for dinner—it was the best I’ve ever had.” Ana’s eyes narrowed, but she gave me a small smile in return.
The walk back to the cottage took only a few minutes, and the tiny lanterns alongside the cobblestone path lit my way. Once home, I abandoned my earlier promise to myself about taking a bubble bath. I was way too exhausted. Definitely tomorrow, I vowed.
I dug out my old nightshirt from my bag and quickly changed. When I crawled into the feather top bed and felt the luxurious silk float around my body and my head sink into the fluffy down pillows, my body was instantly relieved. But my mind was not.
Despite the unimaginable splendor of my new digs, and feeling my father happier than I ever remembered him being, I was more worried than I’d ever been.
What was Ana up to??
I tried to dissect my feelings, but it wasn’t like my ability to read and absorb other’s emotions was an exact science. All I knew was how it made me feel when it happened. When I hugged Ana, yes, I felt genuine caring from her. But I also felt she was hiding a secret…a very big and terrible secret. This whole thing…her contacting Dad from out of the blue and offering him a job as her resident handyman…the whole thing was a ruse of some sort. She wasn’t interested in Dad at all.
She was only interested in me.
Chapter 3. Nicholas
I’m floating over dark waters, toward the twinkling lights. I don’t know where I am, but I know where I’m going...I just know. I fly to the tall trees of silver and gold…a grove. It’s nighttime, but not dark – so many brilliant stars shine brightly above me. I move toward the opening in the middle of the trees. Flowers and bushes are everywhere, lit with a surreal phosphorescent glow of unusual and vivid colors I’ve never seen in nature. Tiny white lights dance around me, forming a circle.
I’m not alone... something…someone is with me...over there...
I rush toward the glow of the soft, warm, inviting essence. It welcomes me and holds me in a loving embrace. Sheer bliss courses my veins; an indescribable euphoria flows through my soul as I feel bigger…stronger than ever before.
Where am I? Is this heaven?
**
My eyes opened, and for the briefest moment I forgot where I was. I reached for my glasses and let my eyes adjust to my new surroundings.
Right. Fairytale world.
But why did I feel so weird? My mind was struggling to recall something important…something lost in my waking moments. A strange tingle danced in my stomach. Nervousness? Anticipation? But those were feelings I recognized. This was something else entirely.
I started to wave my hand to open the drapes across the room, but stopped my arm mid-swish. I wasn’t going to do that anymore. To be normal I must act normal.
I forced myself out of the comfortable bed, and when I pulled open the curtains the room shimmered under the soft glow of morning. The aquamarine sky was clear and the ocean calm, with only the slightest hint of white foam rolling onto the shore. I opened the sliding glass door and stepped onto the cobblestone patio. Breathing deeply, I inhaled the sweet-salty taste of the ocean’s mist.
What a perfect way to begin the day.
I stared out at the view for several minutes, trying to convince myself I wasn’t actually on another planet, then wandered into the kitchen. Dad was already gone, so I had the place to myself. I still felt like a stra
nger in a foreign land as I admired my beautiful new home...even more so when I opened up the pantry to see it fully stocked with food. I couldn’t remember ever opening a pantry or refrigerator that wasn’t almost completely bare, save for a few essentials. And always the same very basic things. In here, there were foods I'd never even heard of before.
I finished eating a croissant with strawberry jam—something I quickly decided was my new favorite food—and went back to my room to get ready to see Ana.
I didn’t know why, but I just had to peek in the closet once again—the clothes in there were just so pretty and so new-looking. It wouldn’t hurt anything to try a few things on just for fun, would it? No one would ever have to know.
Feeling slightly naughty, I pulled out several long sundresses in various shades of pastels and laid them on my bed. One by one I put them on, admiring the way the silky material softly flowed, and how feminine my body looked under the simple, clean lines of the slim-fitting bodices. The dresses couldn’t have fit better if they’d been hand-made just for me. I twirled around to watch the skirt billow around me. This must be how it feels to be a princess.
Yeah…A pretend princess. One wearing someone else’s clothes and living in someone else’s fabulous house.
I’d take what I could get.
Still wearing the pale pink dress, the one I thought looked the best with my tan skin and light brown hair, I reluctantly returned the other dresses to their rightful places. As I did, I noticed something I’d missed before—a folded piece of paper on one of the dressers. It had my name on it.
I opened it up, and was sure I was hallucinating.
Dear Calista,
I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve provided a few things for you to wear, as I was unsure if you would have a wardrobe suitable for your new climate. If there is anything else you need, please do not hesitate to ask. This wardrobe is by no means complete, just a small start to get you through. I hope you enjoy wearing these clothes as much as I enjoyed selecting them for you.
Love,
A.
P.S. I cannot wait to see you in one of the sundresses…I know you will look lovely!
P.P.S. Don’t worry about your father…he is okay with this.
She’d added a little winky smiley face after the last sentence. I read and re-read the tiny cursive script a dozen times, particularly surprised by her last sentence. My father was a very proud man and would never take handouts from strangers, especially someone we’d just met. And these clothes must've cost a fortune! How’d she get him to agree?
Well, however she did it, I didn’t care. I just stared at my unexpected treasure, and didn’t even feel stupid when my eyes welled up with tears. This was like sixteen years of Christmases and birthdays all rolled into one.
*****
I skipped up the cobblestone path toward Ana’s, smiling to myself and admiring the way my golden strappy sandals glinted in the sunlight. I was halfway to the house when Dad’s caution sounded in my mind.
School’s startin’ … enjoy yer vacation...
With a heavy sigh, I stopped and glanced over my shoulder at the turquoise water. Ana’s house tour would have to wait a bit. There was something else I absolutely needed to do first. I changed course and headed down a long grassy knoll, past flower beds planted in geometric designs.
A light breeze gently rustled the trees, and squawking seagulls circled near the shore, hoping to eye some prey. The beach was empty, which seemed strange for such a warm, sunny day. But I didn’t mind. I liked the privacy and wanted to be alone with my thoughts for a while—maybe try and figure out why I’d gotten that weird feeling from Ana and what it meant. Maybe I’d read her wrong. It was possible…it’s not like I was a hundred percent accurate all the time. Perhaps my emotion meter was off last night. Everything she’d said and done so far had been nothing but wonderful.
I brushed off any worries and made my way through the white sand to the ocean. Slipping off my sandals, I lifted the hem of my sundress so it wouldn’t get wet and let the cool water rush up around my ankles. I’d been to the marshes and swamps before, but they were nothing like this. This water was so clear and clean...little pebbles glistened like crushed diamonds…sea shells lay scattered around in a rainbow of colors…
From below, the mansion looked even more imposing than from on top of the hill. It easily filled the entire bluff, and the multitude of windows facing toward the coast made me feel as if dozens of large, curious eyes were staring down at me. There were other houses along the ocean’s cliff, and they were all magnificent. But none nearly as grand as Ana’s.
How is she so rich? Just who is this woman? And what does she want with me?
The sound of barking disrupted my thoughts as a large black dog scampered into the water. My heart stood still, and then skipped a beat as I realized it was the same one from last night.
I scanned the area and saw him, several hundred feet away near the base of the cliff. Again, he was staring in my direction, and again, the strange tingles burned my skin.
Embarrassed, I turned and began strolling the other way. But within a few moments the dog was alongside me, barking excitedly.
“Max! Leave her alone! C’mere boy!” A short whistle and Max obediently bounded away. I turned to see his owner headed toward me.
I was right; he was tall. His baggy sweats and loose fitting t-shirt were draped casually over his broad, athletic frame. From a distance, I’d thought he was older—in his twenties or thirties, perhaps—because he moved with the kind of secure confidence that teenage boys don’t usually have. But when he got closer, I decided he was more about my age…maybe a few years older.
“Hey there,” he said, flashing a brilliant white smile. “Sorry ‘bout that. Max gets excited when he sees a pretty girl.”
Every vital organ in my body froze instantly. He was, undoubtedly, the most remarkably handsome boy I had ever seen in my life. Any time, any place.
Somewhere in the deep recesses of my brain it probably registered that his thick, dark hair looked charmingly messy in the soft breeze. That his full lips, parted in a half-smile, revealed a set of straight, movie-star teeth, and that his deeply tanned skin was so smooth it had probably never seen the slightest blemish. But I couldn’t dwell on that now.
I was trapped in his eyes. Eyes I could get lost in for eternity. Bright, crystal clear ice-green eyes…eyes that searched mine and caused my stomach to jump into my throat.
“Um…what?” I croaked.
“I’ve never seen you around here before…you visiting someone?” he asked, scrutinizing me.
I scrambled to make the proper words come out of my mouth. “No.” I turned and started to walk away...the exact opposite of what I really wanted to do at that moment.
He laughed and came up beside me. “Hey, what’s your big hurry? He doesn’t bite. Promise.” His eyes twinkled under their lush lashes and he glanced around. “I’m just kind of surprised to see anyone down here…usually it’s just me and Max.” He leaned over and patted his companion affectionately.
“Well, yeah…sorry…” Why am I apologizing? Get it together, Calista. He’s just a guy. I took a deep breath and tried again.
“I just moved here.” I pointed in the direction of the manor. “Yesterday, actually. I hadn’t really had a chance to look around yet. I wanted to feel the ocean.” I glanced down at the water running over my toes. “It’s my first time,” I added under my breath.
“No kidding, first time at the beach? Where are you from?”
“A small town in Louisiana by the Mississippi border…before that a small town in Tennessee.” I couldn’t look at him any more and started walking again, slowly, concentrating on the tiny shells imbedded in the sand. I knew my proclivity for blushing when I was embarrassed or overly excited was giving me away right now. And the thought of that made me feel even more embarrassed, and my face flushed hotter.
“Ah…I thought I heard a southern accent. It’s cute,” h
e said. My heart thumped deafeningly in my ears.
“Thanks….well, I gotta go,” I mumbled, torn between wanting to stay there with him forever, and sprinting away as fast as I possibly could.
“What’s the big rush?” I glanced up and saw his brilliant smile that matched the sparkle in his eyes. “You didn’t even tell me your name.”
“You didn’t ask.”
“I’m asking now.”
I braced myself and looked him straight in the eyes. “I’m Calista McCoy.”
“Calista…” His mouth rolled over my name, and I loved the way it sounded coming from his lips. “…It’s very nice to meet you, Calista McCoy. My name is Nicholas Mancini,” the beautiful boy said.
“Hi.”
He smiled again, ignoring my less-than-friendly tone. “You moved up there?” he asked, motioning toward the bluff. “I didn’t know anyone was living there but some crazy old recluse. ’Course I’ve not really been around here much myself lately.”
“Yeah…my dad just started working for the woman who lives there,” I said, slightly miffed at his description of Ana.
“Cool. I live in the grey one over there,” he said, pointing four houses over. “Well, actually, my mom lives there. I’m just visiting. I mostly live in New York with my dad.”
“Oh.”
He laughed again. “Okay then. Well, I just wanted to say ‘hi’. I’ll let you go if you have somewhere you really need to be…”
I could’ve kicked myself. Here he was trying to be friendly, and I was coming across like an uptight idiot. I wished I’d been prepared for this moment – thought of something to say. Anything.
But my mind was blank. I had no natural ability for small talk. I was so used to being ignored by people, and had never had a boy talk to me like this before. Like he was actually interested in anything I might say. Suddenly, I felt like everything I said and did was wrong. And my skin hadn’t stopped prickling since I laid eyes on him. But now that he was closer, the tingling had reached far into my gut and into my chest.
Witchy, Witchy (Spellbound Trilogy #1) Page 2
