A Very Witchy Yuletide

by D. Lieber

  Cassandra kissed her son’s head. “I think that gifts that come from the heart are the best kind, and you have a very big heart, my boy.”

  Sol turned back toward his coloring book. “I have to hurry,” he told his mom. “I don’t have a lot of time before Yule.”

  Evergreen sniffed hard, wiping her eyes on her long sleeve. Cassandra is doing such a good job raising Sparkler, she thought. Then, she leaned over on her mom, resting her head on Ria’s shoulder. Ria wrapped an arm around Evergreen and kissed her temple. Evergreen wasn’t really the touchy-feely sort. She liked to maintain her personal space. But when she wanted physical contact, she needed it like a wound that needs pressure.

  It wasn’t long after that Cassandra told Sol it was time for bed. He complained, of course, saying he had a lot of work to do for the people at the shelter.

  “You have enough time to work on your presents tomorrow,” Cassandra assured.

  “Can I say goodnight first?”

  Cassandra nodded.

  Sol crossed the room to Wes and gave him a hug. Then, he hugged Sawyer, then Tara, then Evergreen, and finally Ria. He went back to Wes and hugged him again. When he returned to Sawyer for another hug, Sawyer chuckled at the boy, the sound rich and sweet.

  “That’s enough,” Cassandra said, her voice barely holding in a laugh. “You’ll see everyone tomorrow.”

  “Just one more,” Sol negotiated.

  “Okay.”

  Sol gave another hug to Tara, Ria, and Evergreen.

  “Goodnight, Sparkler,” Evergreen murmured as the boy’s head rested on her chest. “Sweet dreams.”

  “Goodnight, Eeva. I hope you have good dreams, too.”

  As Cassandra led her son upstairs, quiet laughter traveled through those he’d left behind.

  It wasn’t long until Evergreen’s eyes were heavy, and her hands slowed in her knitting.

  “Why don’t you go up to bed, sweetheart?” Ria suggested as Evergreen leaned more heavily against her.

  “I’m not tired,” Evergreen lied.

  “We all know you’re not a night person,” her father pointed out. “You never have been.”

  “You barely made it through our esbat rituals,” Tara agreed.

  “I’m an adult now. I’ve changed,” Evergreen argued.

  “There’s nothing wrong with being a morning person, Eeva,” Sawyer said. “They say it’s much healthier actually.”

  Evergreen frowned, knowing she couldn’t really make a good case. “I think I’m going to go to bed,” she said as if it was her idea all along.

  “Goodnight,” Sawyer said, his voice sounding suspiciously like he was smirking.

  Chapter 14

  When Sawyer entered the common room the next morning, he found Eeva sitting cross-legged on the floor, leaning her elbows on the table with the television set, her face a foot and a half from the screen. Muir lay curled up in her lap, sleeping. She glanced over at him only long enough to see who had entered.

  “Good morning,” he mumbled, his voice still graveled from sleep.

  “Morning,” she responded automatically, not taking her eyes from the screen. “No one else is up yet. Feel free to make yourself some coffee.”

  “Can I get you anything while I’m in the kitchen?” he offered.

  “No, I’m good. Thanks.”

  Sawyer went to the kitchen and started the coffee pot, breathing deep as he scooped the grounds into the filter basket.

  With a fresh cup in his hand, he returned to the living room and placed his mug on the table.

  Eeva glanced over her shoulder as he sat on the couch. “Do you need me to move?” she asked. “Can you see around me?”

  “You’re fine. I can see,” he answered.

  Sawyer watched as Margaret Sullavan insulted Jimmy Stewart without mercy, a copy of Tolstoy and a red carnation on the café table between them.

  Sawyer smiled to himself. He’d seen the film many times before, every Yule since he was fourteen, since his mother joined the coven. It was Eeva’s favorite holiday movie.

  “You’re not still calling this a holiday movie. Are you?” he teased.

  “If Die Hard counts as a holiday movie then so does this,” she countered primly.

  He agreed with her, but he took a little pleasure in getting under her skin. “Whatever you say.”

  She shushed him as if she didn’t know what was going to happen. “Just because you don’t want to watch doesn’t mean I don’t.”

  He hadn’t said he didn’t want to watch it. I wonder what she’d say if she knew I’ve watched it every year since I saw her last, he thought. She probably wouldn’t believe me.

  As the movie continued on, Sawyer paid little attention to it. He was too busy watching Eeva’s reactions. Her eyes sparkled with laughter at William Tracy’s antics, and she giggled freely. So long had it been since he’d seen such carefree joy in her. His chest warmed at the sight. Could I ever be a source of easy happiness for her? he wondered.

  Eeva grinned, her cheeks pink with restrained delight as Jimmy Stewart finally put the red carnation in his buttonhole. She laughed as he pulled up his pant legs and sighed contentedly as he bent down to kiss the heroine.

  “Kissing seems so different in old movies. Don’t you think?” she commented as the screen declared that it was the end. “I don’t know. Somehow, it’s more passionate in a way. Less sexual but more passionate. I wonder why it feels that way.”

  Sawyer tilted his head in thought. “I read once that there were rules and conventions back then about how long actors could kiss at a time. I think it was only three seconds. That would mean they would have to pack in all the passion that would later be able to build slowly into just three seconds. Maybe that’s why.”

  Eeva nodded. “That makes sense. Interesting. I wonder what other kinds of rules they had.” She pulled out her phone to answer the question for herself.

  Sawyer followed her lead, using the time to track down some ideas he had about her job problem.

  “Wow, listen to this. There were rules against cursing and certain dance moves. They couldn’t show interracial couples. They couldn’t even talk about sexual diseases.”

  “You’re surprised?” he asked, looking over his phone at her.

  “I mean, yes and no. This code was in effect until 1967, and how can they put restrictions on art? Where is the freedom of speech?”

  “Come on, you’ve been Pagan your whole life. You think there is really freedom of religion and speech in this country?”

  Eeva frowned, the light in her eyes dimming a little. “Yeah…you’re right,” she murmured. “Even if they say there is, it doesn’t make it true effectively. I guess I never stop being surprised by it. The narrative is so different from the reality. They fill your head full of promises and high ideals, and so I’m just a little taken aback when I’m faced with how it really is. They tell us that we are the freest country. The land of opportunity. But that really only applies when you’re the right gender, the right color, worship the right god, love the right person.”

  Sawyer didn’t like the uncharacteristic hopelessness in her voice. “But it’s like you said yesterday. We have to keep fighting. That’s just how it is if we want to survive. And maybe, maybe one day we can be as free as they keep telling us we are.”

  She smiled sadly, curling around the purring cat in her lap. “Maybe,” she murmured.

  “On a side note, I think I found something that might help you with your career goals.”

  She tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

  “Have you heard of a museum certificate?”

  “No.”

  “It’s a certificate that seems to help people break into the museum field. It’s only like sixteen credits to get, and you may have some of them already. You might have to go to school for an extra semester, two tops if the classes don’t line up right. And it requires an internship. I’m sure the college has museums it partners with so students can complete th
eir requirements. I even found some people on forums saying that their internships landed them full time positions. Some said the museums are paying for them to go on with their studies, too.”

  “What? Really? I wonder if my university offers it.”

  Sawyer grinned. “I already looked. It does. Here, I’ll text you the link.”

  Chapter 15

  Evergreen hadn’t realized just how far into hopelessness she had fallen, just how bad her anxiety had gotten until Sawyer had pointed out a direction. She would have to do more research of course. But the knot in her stomach had loosened, and her breathing came easy.

  She looked over at Sawyer as he stood beside her at the kitchen island. He was helping Sol measure out the shortening for the suet they were making. Sawyer scooped it into the measuring cup Sol tried to hold steady.

  “That’s it,” Sawyer said with a smile, dumping the contents into a saucepan.

  “Now what?” Sol asked.

  “Now for the nut butter. We need three-fourths of a cup. Can you tell me what measuring cup we should use?”

  Sol hummed, staring at the assembled cups. “That one.” He pointed to the smallest.

  “That’s right! Good job,” Sawyer praised. “All right, you got the nut butter?”

  Sol took the jar from the counter and tried the lid, his little elbows stuck out to the sides as he grunted. “It won’t open,” he complained. “I need help.”

  “No problem, my friend. I got your back.” Sawyer took the jar from him and opened it without effort.

  Then, he handed it back to Sol, helping him measure out the right amount into the pan.

  Evergreen smiled at the pair, her chest warming at their exchange.

  “How’s your part coming, Eeva?” Sawyer asked. He turned toward her, his amber eyes finding hers.

  Her heart jumped, and she could feel the blush raising in her cheeks, telling the tale of her spying. She looked down at the gathered ingredients she still had to assemble into her mixing bowl. “Almost finished,” she lied, even though he could clearly see she hadn’t put anything in the bowl.

  “Okay then,” he answered. She could hear the smile in his voice, but she didn’t look over to confirm.

  “What do we do next?” Sol asked.

  “Next, we wash your hands.” Sawyer picked up the boy and carried him over to the sink.

  Evergreen quickly measured out the birdseed, oats, and cornmeal as the faucet ran behind her.

  “I like your pentacle necklace,” Sol told Sawyer as the man returned the boy to his step stool.

  “Thank you.”

  “Where did you get it?”

  “Nowhere special. Just online.”

  “Oh. Well it’s really nice.”

  “I tell you what, since you like it, why don’t you have it?” Sawyer pulled the black-corded silver pentacle over his head and put it around the child’s neck.

  Sol looked down at the pendant, which hung to his sternum, then looked up at Sawyer, beaming. “Thank you, Sawyer.”

  “You’re welcome. Hey, can you tell me what the five points of the pentacle represent?”

  “Oh sure, that’s easy,” the boy replied proudly. “Earth, air, fire, water, and spirit.”

  “You sure are smart. You obviously pay attention to all the things your mama teaches you.”

  Sawyer held out his fist, and Sol bumped it with his considerably smaller one.

  “Okay, let’s melt this and add the dry ingredients,” Sawyer said, taking the saucepan and the mixing bowl to the stove.

  A while later as Evergreen spooned the hot mixture into a silicone ice cube tray, her mother entered the kitchen.

  “Hey, would you two mind going into town when you’re done? I thought I had enough bottles for the shampoo, but I miscounted. Eeva, you know what kind I use. Sawyer, would you mind driving her?”

  “Not at all,” Sawyer responded.

  “Can I go too, Aunt Ria?” Sol asked.

  “Not this time, Sparkler. It’s nap time for you.”

  The boy groaned but didn’t argue.

  I guess it can’t be helped, Evergreen thought. “Sure, Mom,” she agreed.

  “Great. Thanks,” Ria said.

  As Evergreen slid into the passenger seat of Sawyer’s car, she became overly aware of how close he was. His presence was heavy and insistent, and she couldn’t escape his scent all around her.

  “Do you mind if I put on some music?” she murmured.

  “Go ahead.”

  Evergreen pressed the button, and the dulcet tones of Loreena McKennitt emanated from the speakers. She grinned. “Your mom pick this?”

  “Hey, I like her too,” he defended. Then, he chuckled. “But yeah, she’s my mom’s favorite. If you want to change it, there are CDs in the center console.”

  “Let’s see what you have,” Evergreen said, pulling out the discs more for something to do than to actually change the music. She flipped through. Blackmore’s Night, Celtic Women, Led Zeppelin, Evergreen read the artists in her mind. Oh, this was always his favorite, she thought, pulling the CD from its sleeve. She removed Loreena McKennitt and popped in the new disc, navigating to number four.

  As the upbeat melody filled the car, Evergreen glanced at Sawyer. When he smiled over at her, her heart danced with the music of “Tanz mit mir.”

  “You remembered?”

  She lowered her face, suddenly self-conscious that she had brought attention to her past weakness for him. “Well…you know, it was hard to forget. You played it so often. I mean, you even took German in high school to be able to understand their lyrics.”

  “I did,” he agreed. “And I still remember them.” He reached forward and turned up the volume, singing loudly, his voice pleasant and energetic.

  Evergreen bobbed her head and tapped her foot to the beat, letting the music carry away the awkwardness she’d felt since getting into the car.

  Though they didn’t have to get very many bottles from the craft store, it took them quite a while as the place was packed with people just picking something up during their lunch breaks. Without any verbal agreement, they avoided the cashier they had the previous day.

  As they finally returned to the fresh air and headed for the car, Sawyer said, “Gods, that took forever.”

  “I know. I’m starving.”

  “Me too. Hey, do you want to get something to eat? I haven’t had Mediterranean Smoothie since I went off to college.”

  Evergreen hesitated. “I mean, my dad should be making lunch.”

  “You don’t understand,” he said seriously. “Now, I have the expectation of Violet Rave in my mouth. It won’t go away until it’s satisfied. Please, Eeva. I’ll buy you lunch,” he ended with a plea.

  “Pff,” Evergreen chuckled. “I mean, I’m not stupid. Who would say no to free lunch?”

  “Yes!” Sawyer exclaimed, holding the ending S with a hiss.

  “You’re going to regret making this offer,” she warned. “I’m not shy when it comes to eating.”

  “It’ll be worth it for the Violet Rave.”

  Mediterranean Smoothie was just starting to calm down after the lunch rush, the few empty tables being wiped down by bussers. After they took a seat, the waitress appeared and handed them their menus.

  “Can I get you started with anything to drink?” she asked in a chipper tone.

  “I’ll have the Violet Rave,” Sawyer told her.

  Evergreen squinted at the menu.

  “You know you’ll make yourself go blind holding the menu that close,” the waitress joked.

  Evergreen took a slow, deep breath. “Too late,” she muttered.

  The waitress paused for a moment, unsure what she meant.

  “I have to hold it this close. I’m legally blind, and I can’t read it if I don’t,” Evergreen said patiently as if the waitress deserved an explanation.

  “Oh my god. I’m so sorry,” the waitress gasped. “I didn’t know. I mean, you don’t look blind.”

&
nbsp; Evergreen let that one go. No good would come from explaining to the woman just how rude of a comment that was. Sure, she might understand that blindness could be caused by so many things. But she clearly didn’t get that blindness didn’t have a look. And really, she didn’t want to make the woman any more uncomfortable by pointing out that she’d just insulted the entire blind community, especially when she clearly had thought she was giving Evergreen a compliment.

  “I’ll have a mango smoothie, please,” Evergreen said, ignoring the comment altogether.

  As the waitress walked away to fill their orders, Evergreen rubbed her eyes, having had to strain them to read the too small print.

  “You all right?” Sawyer asked.

  “Yeah, fine. Thanks.”

  “Is there—”

  “Oh my goodness, Sawyer Collins. Is that you?”

  Sawyer turned as a chic African American woman entered the restaurant.

  “Lay-Lay?” his voice raised in confused delight. He rose from his seat and went to hug the woman. “Wow, it has been so long. How are you?”

  “Oh, I’m just out here being my fabulous self as always.”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t have expected anything less.”

  “But look at you all tall and handsome. I see you grew into those lanky arms after all. And you even have a girl with you. Oh, is that Evergreen Pendre?”

  “Oh, sorry, yeah.”

  The pair walked the few steps to the table.

  “Eeva, you remember Allaya, right?”

  Evergreen dipped her head, forcing a smile as her stomach dropped. Do I remember your best friend and high school crush? How could I forget? she thought.

  “Of course. I’m glad to see you again, Allaya. How are you doing?”

  “Wonderful. Graduated last year and opened an interior design business.”

  “That’s great,” Eeva said. “I mean, you designed all the sets for drama club, and you were so good at it.”

  Allaya smiled. “Thank you.”

  “Lay-Lay, are you meeting someone here? Do you want to join us for lunch?” Sawyer asked. “You don’t mind. Right, Eeva?”