by Ellen Dugan
Afterwards we went inside, and I worked up a seasonal display on my mantle. While Duncan poured us a glass of wine and put a snack together, I moved the family photos to an end table and grouped them all together. I made a base out of the orange garland of fall leaves, and I set the decorative Jack-o’-lantern at the center and turned it on. It flickered away with a realistic glow. I tucked the rustic picks in, and their twiggy sprays and black leaves popped against the rusty orange silk leaves of the garland. Finally, I arranged a few of the mercury glass candle holders at either end of the mantle.
“That looks good,” he said, carrying out a plate of sliced apples and cheese. He had a box of crackers tucked under his arm as he stopped to admire it.
“It’s not as elaborate as the manor’s Halloween mantle display, but it’s a start,” I said.
“I like those little twig thingies with the black leaves,” Duncan said, and set the plate on the ottoman.
“Me too.” I smiled over my shoulder at him. “This is the first time I’ve decorated for a holiday in my very own home.”
Duncan held up a glass of wine. “Well then, let’s celebrate.”
I accepted the wine and went to snuggle on the sectional with him. We found a classic movie and watched Hocus Pocus. Duncan, it ended up, was a bigger fan of old Halloween movies than I was. He spent the night with me on Friday, even though I warned him that Saturday was my yard work day and I’d be up early. He simply told me he’d had a change of clothes in his truck and that he’d be happy to help with the yard.
On Saturday morning I rolled out of bed early, put on my grubby clothes, and he was right behind me. When he offered to cut the grass, I let him, as it wasn’t a favorite chore of mine. I tackled the gardens and spent a productive hour pulling weeds, pruning back spent flowers and watering the mums I’d added a few weeks before. The large container at the bottom of my steps was done for the season, so I pulled out the faded flowers and wondered where I could get a big, fat chrysanthemum to fill up that pot. As soon as we were through with the yard work, he nudged me towards his truck, and took me to the McBriar’s farm on the outskirts of town.
It was a Halloween fan and fall gardener’s dream of a set up. There were hundreds of healthy mums blooming away in a rainbow of colors, bundles of cornstalks, a hay bale maze, scarecrows that talked to the kids, and rides out to the field to pick your own pumpkin. Rustic tables were filled with ornamental corn, gourds, and of course, pumpkins. Pumpkins were everywhere. Whatever size or shape you could want. I saw white, orange, and green pumpkins, warty or smooth, big and small.
I had to suppress a happy squeal. The set-up reminded me of the little Halloween display my father and I would set up every year at his nursery. The place was packed and business was booming.
The prices were fair, but I needed to save up for that new washer and dryer, so I bought only a few mini pumpkins to decorate inside the house, one gorgeous scarlet colored mum with blooms that were starting to open, and two bundles of cornstalks to add to my front yard’s decorations. Duncan chose a half dozen nice pumpkins and lined them up on the counter. He also filled up a basket with grapefruit sized and mini decorative pumpkins in white, orange and a striped variety.
“That’s a lot of pumpkins there, Quinn.” I put my debit card away and accepted my receipt. “You going to talk Thomas into decorating the mansion for Halloween, or something?”
“Maybe,” Duncan grinned. “But most of these are for you. For Halloween night and the trick-or-treaters.
“You don’t have to do that,” I began.
“I know.” Duncan grinned at me. “That’s what makes it fun.”
By the time we were finished I had tucked that red mum into the empty pot at the base of my steps. There were two large pumpkins on my porch and bundles of corn stalks attached to either side of my front door.
Luna sat on my hearth beside the biggest pumpkin that Duncan had bought and sniffed it. A variety of mini pumpkins in white and orange had been added to my mantle in the living room as well, and I stepped back to check the beefed up display.
“Looks good,” Duncan said.
“It does.” I pressed a hand to my stomach when it began to growl. “What time is it?’ I’m starving.”
Duncan checked his watch. “It’s one o’clock.”
I went into the kitchen and checked the contents of the fridge. I smiled. “I could make us some meatloaf sandwiches for lunch.”
Duncan’s head snapped up.
“Does that sound good?” I asked casually. “I seem to recall you being particularly enthusiastic the other day when I served it.”
“Are you trying to seduce me with meatloaf?”
“Maybe.” I fluttered at him. “Is it working?”
“Woman, make me a sandwich,” Duncan said seriously. “And I’ll show you some enthusiasm.”
“Well in that case...” I pulled the covered meatloaf out and set the plate on the counter. “I’ll make you two.”
CHAPTER TEN
The days of October flew by. Before I knew it we were only a few days away from Halloween—the sabbat of Samhain, and I realized with a start that Duncan and I had been seeing each other for almost three weeks.
He still came over for dinner most nights. Sometimes Duncan spent the night and others he didn’t. It came as a shock to me one day to notice some of his clothes were hanging in my closet, and that there was a second toothbrush in my bathroom.
I had only walked in the door from work, barely set my purse on the couch, when there was a knock on my door. Duncan, I thought. I stepped up on the landing and eagerly yanked the door open. “Hey there handsome—”
Thomas Drake stood in the dusky light with an envelope in one hand and a pleasant smile on his face. “Autumn.”
“Oh, sorry,” I said, blinking in surprise at seeing the elegant man on my front porch. “I thought you were Duncan.”
He inclined his silvered head slightly. “I have some information regarding our search. Do you have a moment?”
“Sure,” I tugged on the collar of my deep green blouse and stepped back, allowing him to enter the bungalow.
Thomas Drake, my family’s one time arch nemesis, bad-ass magician and all around scary powerful dude, stepped down from the landing and into my living room. “Well,” he said. “This is charming.” He walked towards the sectional sofa and took a seat.
I tried not to react to his unexpected compliment or the sincere tone. “Thank you.”
“Duncan has been talking about your renovations.” Thomas sat back and made himself at home.
I was so not showing him the new bathroom, I thought, and struggled not to laugh nervously. I was saved from making a polite reply as Luna raced into the room and leapt for the top of the ottoman. The cat sat in the middle of it and stared at Thomas. “That’s Luna,” I said, and took a seat at the opposite end of the sectional.
“This is the poor, scraggly little stray you rescued.”
I snapped my head around, even though his tone had been matter-of-fact, the words had me reconsidering him. “Yes, I rescued her.”
Thomas studied the cat as she considered him. “She appears very healthy and happy now.” He held out his fingers and Luna rubbed against his hand.
“Oh,” I said, completely thrown off guard by him as he scratched Luna behind the ears. I made an effort and pulled myself back on track. “You said you had some information?”
Thomas sighed. “Yes, I do and I’m sorry to say that not all of it is happy news.”
“Tell me.”
He sat back. “We’ve found Patricia Vance Sutton, she had lived in a small town in Louisiana.”
“Had?”
Thomas ran a shaky hand through his salt and pepper hair. “Yes, unfortunately, Patricia passed away last year.”
The man was visibly upset, and I didn’t think, I simply reacted. I scooted closer to him and laid my hand on top of his, offering comfort. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Drake.”
He
allowed my touch and studied our hands for a moment. “Thomas,” he corrected. “I asked you to call me Thomas.”
“Thomas.” I cleared my throat. “Were you able to track down any surviving children?”
“Patricia had only one child, a daughter that was born in 1989.”
“I see.” I slid my hand back to the lap of my own gray slacks. “Were you able to locate her?”
“Yes, her name is Magnolia Parrish, and I have spoken to her on the phone.”
Magnolia? I thought. That’s a hell of a name.
As if he’d heard my inner monologue, Thomas continued. “The young woman goes by Maggie, and she has a four year old daughter, Willow.”
“How did she take the news of her birth family searching for her?”
“She was surprised at my call. But fortunately, her mother knew something of her heritage, and had shared that with Maggie.”
“That’s helpful.” I nodded. “Duncan and I figured it was an open adoption since there were all those photos of Patricia and Irene together.”
“Agreed.” Thomas rubbed a hand over his chin. “Still, I had a feeling. A sort of psychic impression...that Patricia’s child needed my help, and I was correct.”
My stomach muscles tightened. “Is she okay?”
“Apparently my cousin’s death left many medical bills. From what our private investigator found out, Patricia’s daughter is recently divorced, selling off her mother’s house, and fighting a custody battle, all at the same time.” Thomas shook his head. “It’s not a coincidence that we happened to locate her now, while she’s struggling to keep her child.”
His words caused the room to fall away from me and without warning, a vision sprang to life...
A dark haired woman stood on the sidewalk in front of a blue house with a little girl in her arms. She faced off with an angry man, and held her ground. She didn’t move at all while the police hauled the rumpled, swearing man away. She looked tough as nails, even while the little one cowered in her arms...
“Autumn,” Thomas called my name sharply.
I came back to the here and now. “Sorry, took a little side trip for a moment.” I shook my head clear of the clairvoyant vision. I felt my fingers being given a supportive squeeze. He was holding my hand.
“What did you see?” Thomas asked.
I quickly explained what I’d seen. “I’m betting that was Maggie...but you know what? I think I’ve seen this woman in a vision before. Hard to be sure though.”
“Take what you need.” He covered my hand with his other.
The contact with Thomas Drake sharpened my focus. As his magick spilled into me, I sucked in a deep breath. My back went straight and with a startling clarity, I remembered the details of the vision I’d had the day that I’d walked past the Drake mansion. “I had a precognitive vision a while ago.” I heard myself say. “That’s where I’ve seen the woman before.”
“Take your time,” Thomas said softly.
“I saw a dark haired woman, and a little girl who was wearing white shoes and a blue dress.” I bore down, trying to push for details. “The little girl had brown hair and was running up the sidewalk to the stone cottage.”
“The cottage on the Drake estate?” Thomas asked.
I nodded. “The magnolia trees were in bloom, and pink tulips were everywhere. The mother had pansy-blue eyes, and she called the little girl, Sugar pie. They both had Southern accents.”
Thomas let go of my hand, and the influx of his energy stopped immediately. “Impressive.”
I took off my glasses and rubbed the bridge of my nose. “Wow, that was intense.”
“Do you need anything?” He sounded almost paternal.
“Nope.” I slipped my glasses back on.
His brows were lowered and he seemed to be on the verge of leaping to his feet. “Are you absolutely sure?”
I smiled. “I’m fine actually. I feel great.”
“You should know that I’m on my way to Louisiana to offer Maggie my assistance.”
“Is there anything else I can do?” I asked him. “I mean, Maggie and her daughter are Bishops too.”
“Here’s her email address.” He handed me a thick envelope. “Perhaps you could reach out.”
“Alright.” I accepted the envelope.
Thomas stood and began making his way to the door. He reached for the handle and paused. “If I may offer some advice. The opportunity for love and acceptance isn’t something that presents itself very often. I let it go once, because I was afraid of what others would say, and it’s something I regret every day of my life.”
“You and Gwen?” I asked.
“Yes, but today I’m speaking of you and my nephew. Duncan loves you.”
I felt my cheeks flush red. “He’s told me.”
“And you? Do you love him in return?” Thomas asked bluntly.
“Well, I—”
“If you are worried about such a thing yourself, about whether or not you’d have the Drake family’s approval...let me assure you that you and Duncan have our complete support.”
I folded my hands, and did my best not to fidget under his intense scrutiny. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Do that.” Thomas opened the screen door and raised his hand to someone outside. “Perfect timing,” he said. “I’ll be in touch as soon as I have more information. I’m headed to the airport now.”
“Thank you for dropping by, Thomas,” I said, following him out to the porch. I figured he was gesturing to a cab, but instead a huge white delivery truck from the local home improvement store pulled in my driveway.
“Don’t argue,” Thomas said as the orange outdoor lights clicked on.
I frowned at him, confused. “Don’t argue about what?”
“You’ll see.” He walked casually down the steps, and across the lawn to where his car was parked.
A deliveryman approached me with a clipboard. “Autumn Bishop?”
“Yes?” I asked, feeling like I’d fallen down the rabbit hole.
“We’re here to deliver and install your new washer and dryer.”
“What?” I could almost feel my eyes bugging out of my head.
The man grinned at me. “You’re supposed to open the envelope, Ma’am.”
I tore open the envelope and discovered the receipts for a washer and dryer that had been paid in full, appliance warranties, and a business card of Thomas Drake’s. On the back was written Maggie Parrish’s name, email address, and a brief note from Thomas. It read: Don’t argue. It’s a gift, and the very least I can do after what you’ve done for my family.
Stunned, I simply stood there as Thomas Drake’s car eased away from the curb. He lifted his hand, and then to my complete shock gave the car horn a friendly beep-beep.
“He bought me a new washer and dryer,” I said slowly. “Oh my god.”
“That was nice,” the deliveryman replied.
“Yes it was,” I answered distractedly. I stared at his car as it cruised down the street. That was an incredibly generous gesture. Unsure of what to do, I hesitated while the deliveryman stood there waiting. To refuse the gift would be ungracious, but I didn’t want to be beholden to Thomas Drake. Even though I really needed the appliances...
“Ma’am?”
I jolted out of my thoughts and considered the man with the clipboard. Shaking my head at the realization that I had just been politely steamrolled by Thomas Drake, I sighed, and showed the deliveryman the way to the basement.
When Duncan arrived a half hour later, the men were hooking up the new dryer vent hose. I was sitting at the top of the basement steps trying to stay out of the way and reading the information about the new energy efficient appliances. Luna perched beside me, keeping a suspicious eye on the noisy strangers that had invaded her territory.
“Autumn?” Duncan called.
“In the basement!” I called back.
“Hey.” He came down the steps, sat on the riser above me. “You decided to get a
new washer and dryer?”
I tipped my head back for a kiss. “Your uncle was here,” I said wryly.
Duncan lifted his mouth from mine. “Huh?”
I handed him the business card and waited for his reaction. Duncan’s whole expression softened when he read the message.
“It was very generous,” I admitted.
“Yes it was.” Duncan handed me back the card. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of him.”
“He totally steamrolled me. In a suave, sneaky sort of way.” I sighed. “Not sure how I feel about that.”
Duncan chuckled. “So are you two keeping an eye on the installation?”
“I was reading up on the appliances.” I waved the paperwork.
Duncan eyeballed them from the steps. “They’re very similar to the models you have been considering.”
“Yeah.” I gave him a bland stare. “I wonder how someone would have known which ones I’d been saving up for?”
Luna abandoned me for her second favorite person and climbed over to Duncan. “Hmmm.” Duncan scratched the cat under her chin. “That’s so weird. Almost like magick.”
I sighed again. “You told him.”
“He only wanted to help.”
I stood, held out a hand, and waited for him to stand. “Let’s figure out what to have for dinner.”
We went back upstairs, and I noticed that the cookbook was out of the cupboard and lying open on the counter. “Duncan, did you take the cookbook down?”
“No.” He stopped beside me and tipped his head. “It was on the counter when I got here, but not opened. I was going to ask you about it, but got sidetracked with the new appliances.”
I eased closer to the book. “Thankful Turkey Tetrazzini,” I read the title of the recipe.
“Maybe Irene is reminding you to be thankful for the new appliances.”
“Oh, come on!” I raised an eyebrow.
