A Very Witchy Yuletide

by D. Lieber

  “Aren’t I always?” his mom said with a grin. She stepped in front of him, placing her chilled hands on either side of his face. “You are beautiful, my boy. And I know you will find someone worthy of you. I feel it.”

  “Is this the mom or the witch talking?”

  “Both.”

  The threatening torrent retreated a little at his mother’s assurances.

  “Okay, but let’s get inside. It’s freezing out here,” she urged.

  He chuckled. “I’ll make you some tea,” he promised as they headed back toward the lodge.

  Chapter 11

  Evergreen sat at the dining room table, her tablet propped up before her in its detachable keyboard. Everyone else had gone about their after-lunch business.

  Evergreen bit her lip as her heart squeezed in anxiety. The little envelope icon on her screen showed that she had one unread email. She inhaled deeply and held it, tapping on the icon with her fingertip.

  Her eyes scanned the form letter. We regret to inform you… she knew the rest. She let the breath go, her stomach dropping as though the air had been holding it up. She buried her face in her crossed arms on the table before her, pushing the tablet away with her elbows.

  “Are you going to send me your résumé?” Sawyer asked, his voice coming from the doorway in front of her.

  She rolled her head to the side, not bothering to even lift it. “Why does it matter? It’s not like it’s going to help. No one wants to hire me anyway,” she said miserably.

  His voice grew louder as he came closer. “It’s tough out there, but I’ve never known you to give up so easily. Me giving it the once over certainly won’t hurt. Will it?”

  She was too despondent to argue with him. “Do what you want. It’s on the home screen.” She slid the tablet farther from her on the table. She didn’t look up but heard him pull it toward him as he sat beside her.

  He didn’t speak again for a while, and she just used the silence to wallow, her slow breaths loud in her ears as she breathed into the space created by her folded arms.

  “Can I ask you something?” he said finally.

  “What?” She still didn’t look up.

  “You’re GPA is amazing. You’re probably going to graduate with honors. You’ve done multiple internships, and you even did work-study in your university library archives. But what do you want to do when you graduate? What sort of jobs are you applying for?”

  Evergreen slowly raised her head and rested her chin in her hands. “What I want and what I’m qualified for are two different things,” she said. “I’ve been applying for pretty much any job that will take a B.A. in history.”

  Sawyer frowned. “What do you want to do?”

  Evergreen sighed. “It doesn’t matter. I would have to go to school for a lot longer. I’m already way too far in debt with student loans as it is. I can’t go for a higher degree.”

  His voice was tinged with concern. “You didn’t get any scholarships?”

  “I got a few small ones. But I went out of state my first year, and there weren’t many scholarships for transfer students.”

  “Yeah,” he agreed. “But say you can do whatever you want. What would it be?”

  There was a heavy pause before she answered. “If I didn’t have to worry about paying for school, I’d go on to get my PhD and become a museum curator.”

  “Okay, but not everyone at a museum needs a PhD, right? Couldn’t you get an entry level position and get a higher degree part time?”

  “What do you think I’ve been trying to do?” she snapped.

  “Well, you didn’t list that among the things you’ve been trying,” Sawyer said softly, and Evergreen felt bad for having taken her frustration out on him.

  “I’m sorry.” She sighed. “I’m just really worried. I only have one semester left, and six months later, they’re going to come after me for these student loans.”

  “I understand,” he said. “Let me do some research, okay? I will get back to you.”

  “Thanks,” she murmured.

  “Have you pulled some cards for advice?” he asked.

  Evergreen dropped her head in a slow nod. “Yeah, but I think I’m too emotionally charged to read myself properly on this one. So I’m not getting a clear feel from them.”

  “Have you had anyone else read you?”

  She shook her head. “No, most of the people in the Pagan Student Association at my school have been super busy and stressed about their own stuff. I don’t want to bother them.”

  “I could cast some runes for you if you want.”

  Evergreen met Sawyer’s eyes. It took a lot of concentration for her to maintain eye contact what with her eyes’ natural tendency to wander. But she stared at him. Why? Why does he want to help? she wondered. He hasn’t been involved with anything in my life for almost five years. He left for college and dropped off the face of the Earth. No texts, calls, messages, nothing. Now he wants to cast runes on my behalf?

  Whatever she thought she’d find in his gaze, she didn’t. There was just Sawyer, his expression open and friendly, quite unlike the reserved introvert she remembered, unlike the boy full of shy kindness.

  “You’re different,” she stated.

  He didn’t look away from her gaze. “I am,” he agreed. “But not where it counts.”

  Evergreen tilted her head at this assertion. What does that mean? she wondered.

  “Eeva,” Sawyer started, his tone gentle but strong. “I know we were never very…close. I mean, we were around each other a lot, but we didn’t much confide in each other. Still, I always thought of us as friends. Didn’t you?”

  “Friends…” Evergreen murmured. The word left a bitter taste in her mouth, and her heart sank in a feeling she recognized all too well despite the lapsed time. “Yeah,” she agreed softly.

  “I’m sorry if you thought I was teasing you this morning. I really didn’t mean to make you feel that way. It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. I’d like it if we could get along, catch up and everything. Maybe we could get to know each other again?”

  Evergreen could hear the fragile hope in his tone, and she couldn’t bring herself to crush it. “Sure, Sawyer. I’d like that,” she said.

  And as Sawyer smiled, his furrowed brow smoothing out in relief at her answer, Evergreen repeated to herself not to let him in. She could be polite, cordial even, but she could not afford to let him back into her heart. We won’t be here that long, she thought. I can manage until we go our separate ways again.

  Chapter 12

  Sawyer rose from the table. “Let’s go,” he said.

  Eeva’s eyebrows scrunched together. “What?”

  “I’m going to pull some runes for you. You never know, there could be good news, advice even.”

  Eeva bit her lip indecisively.

  “Come on,” he urged gently. “What’s it going to hurt?”

  With a heavy sigh, Eeva rose from the table. Sawyer beamed a smile.

  “My runes are in my bag. The meditation room should be quiet enough for a runecast.”

  He led the way, and she followed. The moment they crossed the threshold to the meditation room, the temperature dropped perceptively.

  “Oof, it’s cold in here,” Eeva said. “I’m going to set up the heater.”

  As she executed her task, Sawyer went to his suitcase and pulled out a red suede, drawstring bag. Then, he settled cross-legged in the middle of the room. After pulling a white, cotton cloth from the bag, he spread it out on the floor before him. Eeva sat opposite him.

  “It’s been a while since I’ve studied runes,” she admitted.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll explain all the meanings as we go. Ready?” Sawyer looked up, meeting Eeva’s eyes.

  She nodded.

  “First let’s take a few cleansing breaths to center ourselves.”

  Sawyer closed his eyes and breathed slowly in through his nose and out through his mouth. As he breathed deep again, his muscles r
elaxed, and his heart slowed. On the third breath, goosebumps raised on his arms, and he shivered once. He was ready. In his mind’s eye, Sawyer visualized a bright green glow emanating from his chest and engulfing him and Eeva in an orb of light. With another deep breath, he opened his eyes and met Eeva’s steady gaze.

  Holding the bag above the white cloth, Sawyer shook it vigorously a few times. “Pick three,” he instructed.

  Eeva reached into the bag he offered and laid out her choices on the cloth between them. Sawyer put the bag aside and leaned forward.

  “Past, present, future,” he said, pointing to each of the runes in turn. “In the past position, you have Ansuz, Odin’s rune. Ansuz is a rune that represents communication. But here it’s reversed. It could mean that you have received unwanted messages, like your rejection letters. Or it could symbolize miscommunication or misunderstood messages.”

  Sawyer looked up and met Eeva’s eyes. She nodded her understanding.

  “In the present, you have Kenaz, the torch. This is a rune of illumination and clarity. It is sudden enlightenment and understanding. In regards to your previous rune, I’d say that whatever misunderstanding happened in the past, it will be cleared up. It can also sometimes mean an offer, like a job. In any case, this is your present. So, if it hasn’t happened already, it’s going to happen very soon.”

  “And the future?” Eeva asked, pointing to the last rune she had laid out.

  “Wunjo.” Sawyer looked up from the runes, meeting Eeva’s gaze once more. “Joy,” he said simply.

  Light crept into Eeva’s eyes. “Really?” she asked, her voice only just above a whisper.

  Sawyer nodded.

  Eeva placed a palm on her chest and sighed, closing her eyes as she did so. “Thank the gods.”

  “You’re going to be just fine, Eeva,” Sawyer reassured.

  She met his gaze and smiled softly. “Thank you, Sawyer.”

  His heart thumped hard in his chest. That smile, that tender look in her eyes, that was for him. He knew that was for him.

  “You’re welcome,” he whispered, unable to get enough air to say it properly.

  “Did you make these?” Eeva asked, staring down at the runes.

  Sawyer nodded. “Yes, I made them from a fallen branch of ash. I sawed it into discs and used a wood burner to carve the runes into them.”

  “They’re beautiful,” she said, reaching out and caressing Wunjo.

  Sawyer’s chest swelled. “Thank you,” he murmured.

  “You always were good with your hands,” Eeva said. “You even built all the sets for the drama club, didn’t you? I remember the one you built for the mermaid’s lagoon when we did Peter Pan. It was really good.”

  She noticed that? Sawyer thought. I mean, she obviously knew I was set crew, but I didn’t think she paid that close attention.

  “Thanks,” he said. “I had to make sure I did a good job on that one. You were one of the mermaids. I didn’t want to ruin your scene.”

  “Oh man, those mermaid outfits were awful! I could barely walk in that tail.”

  The image of Eeva in a seashell bikini top and shimmering blue mermaid tail rose in Sawyer’s mind.

  “Well, it looked good,” he said honestly.

  Eeva’s sharp eyes flicked to his face. “Maybe,” she said.

  Sawyer remembered how she had fawned over Sean Ferguson. And Sean had loved every second of it. Sawyer had even overheard him during dress rehearsal talking about what he’d like to do to her with the actor who had played Captain Hook. Would Eeva have been into a guy like that? he wondered. She never had a boyfriend in high school, so she must not have been. Sean didn’t seem the type to be shy about his interest. Sawyer had known that her giggles and squeals at Sean on stage were only part of the script, but that hadn’t stopped his chest from hurting at the sight.

  “You were a pretty convincing actress,” he said.

  “You think so? I don’t know. I was never very good at nuanced parts. That’s why I always tried out for the outrageous characters.”

  “Did you…stay in contact with any of the people from drama club?” he asked, trying to sound offhand. He didn’t remember seeing any posts on her social media about hanging out with them, but that didn’t mean it didn’t happen. He tried to remember the names of the guys she had listed on her page as being in a relationship with. Tyler, Dean, and Marty, though Marty hadn’t lasted more than a few weeks.

  Eeva frowned. “Not really. I didn’t really stay in contact with anyone from high school. I was ready to move on with my life. Start fresh.”

  Sawyer’s heart squeezed, and his gaze dropped with his stomach. That includes you, Sawyer, he thought, finishing the rest of her unsaid statement.

  “A-and you?” she asked.

  Sawyer looked up at her.

  “Do you still talk to people from high school?” Her voice was steady and unconcerned, but her eyebrows were bunched together as if his answer mattered very much to her.

  “Not really. I get the odd message on social media every now and then, but everyone is doing their own thing. Plus, I went pretty far away for college.”

  Eeva nodded slowly.

  “But I’m glad to be here now,” he added. “Eeva, I never intended—”

  “Here you two are,” Cassandra interrupted, opening the door to the meditation room. Her eyes found the runes on the floor between them. “Oh, am I interrupting a reading?” She sucked in air through her teeth. “Sorry,” she whispered, dipping her head.

  “Don’t worry. We were already finished,” Eeva said.

  “Oh, okay. Good. Well, dinner is ready,” Cassandra informed.

  Eeva rose from the floor. “Okay. I’m coming.” Then, she left.

  Cassandra tilted her head at Sawyer in a question.

  “Yeah, me too. Let me just clean these up first.”

  Sawyer picked up the three runes from the white cloth and dropped them into their bag. As he folded the cloth, Cassandra pointed to the floor beside him.

  “You dropped one,” she told him. Then, she made her exit as well.

  “Huh, it must have jumped out while I was shaking the bag,” Sawyer muttered to the empty room.

  Flipping the rune over in his hand, his breath caught in his throat as an X burned into the wood clarified the runecast.

  “Gebo,” he whispered. “Gift. The rune of union and partnership… The herald of love.”

  Chapter 13

  Evergreen slipped another stitch from the left needle to the right. It had been a while since she’d knit. And though it came back to her without much effort, she’d decided to start small with a washcloth rather than daring the double pointed needles for a hat or mittens.

  Ria and Tara sat on either side of her on the couch, her mother just pulling the top of a knitted hat tight as Tara made a topper pom. Seated on the floor at the coffee table, Sawyer patiently took the finished works and weaved the ends in with a yarn needle. Beside him, Sol colored in his Little Pagans coloring book, his fist clutching a green crayon.

  On the floor, Wes had laid out the blue fabric they had gotten at the craft store. He was attempting to cut it into small, even squares, but Muir and Larkspur were giving him trouble by laying on it in turns.

  “Tea break,” Cassandra announced, entering the living room with a tea service tray. Sawyer moved the projects from the coffee table so she had somewhere to place the tray.

  “Smells good,” Evergreen said, placing her knitting beside her and moving her sore wrists in slow circles.

  Cassandra poured each of the adults a cup before offering the cream and sugar. Lastly, she sat beside Sol on the floor, placing a cup of milk before him.

  “Mom,” Sol started, calling for Cassandra’s attention with a very serious tone.

  “Sol,” Cassandra acknowledged, turning to him with an equally serious voice.

  “Sawyer told me I should ask you about Santa,” Sol said.

  Cassandra turned to Sawyer, but she was too f
ar away for Evergreen to see her expression.

  “We saw Santa outside the craft store today, and Sol said the kids at school were teasing him because he didn’t know some of the stories about him,” Evergreen explained.

  “Sol, honey, why didn’t you tell me about the kids at school?” his mother asked, concerned.

  “You have a lot to worry about,” Sol murmured. “I didn’t want to bother you.”

  Cassandra reached out and stroked her son’s hair. “Sol, you could never be a bother to me. I always want you to tell me your problems. It makes me sad when you don’t confide in me, sweetheart.”

  “I don’t want to make you sad, Mama. I will tell you from now on. I promise,” Sol vowed.

  “Good. So, you want to know more about Santa?”

  The boy nodded.

  “Do you remember a few years ago when you saw Santa at the mall, and you asked about him?”

  “Yes, you told me he was a giving spirit.”

  Cassandra smiled. “That’s right. Santa is very special. He is a spirit of kindness and generosity, and he is particularly invoked this time of year. So, people give each other gifts in his name or perform acts of kindness. Just like what we’re doing now. We’re making gift baskets for the women and children at the shelter. That’s the kind thing to do when they need help.” She explained the same way they had been taught as children.

  “But what about the flying deer?”

  “Every spirit has a backstory. You know that. Some chariots are pulled by cats, some peacocks, some horses. Santa’s is pulled by reindeer.”

  “My friends said that only good kids get toys from Santa,” Sol said.

  “Well that’s not true at all. You know that toys cost money. What if a family doesn’t have enough money to get their children presents? That doesn’t mean that poor children are bad. Does it?” Cassandra asked.

  “No,” Sol agreed, following her logic. “But…” He hesitated, his voice uncertain as he worked through his thoughts. “But we should be kind to everyone, right? I want to invoke Santa, too. I’m going to color pictures and put them in the baskets. Do you think they would like that?”