“You can hate me all you want, Twila, but you still have to wear a bra.” Aunt Tillie sat on one of the lawn chairs on the back patio, her arms crossed over her chest. She looked to be in her early forties if I had to guess, and Twila looked to be in her late teens or early twenties. Her hair was still flame red, but it was longer than I’d ever seen it. It looked wild.
“I don’t need a bra,” Twila argued. “No one wears bras with a tube top.”
“That’s because tube tops should be illegal,” Tillie said.
“They’re the style,” Twila huffed, tapping her foot on the patio. “I don’t see why you always have to be so difficult. I’m not doing anything wrong.”
“You’re not doing anything right either,” Tillie said. “You’re a pain in the ass. That’s what you are. That’s what you all are.”
“It feels good to be loved,” Marnie said, breezing out the back door. She was dressed in a waitress uniform from the diner. They still had those uniforms – which was freaky. “I have work and then I’ll be home.”
“That’s good,” Tillie said. “See, Twila, Marnie is going to work. She’s earning money. She’s holding down a job. Why can’t you be more like Marnie?”
“That’s not what you said last night when you caught her crawling in through the upstairs window after her date with Warren,” Twila snapped.
I bit my lip to keep from laughing and glanced at Landon. He was clearly enjoying the show, too.
“Yes, well, I wouldn’t worry about Warren,” Tillie said. “He won’t be a problem from here on out.”
Marnie narrowed her eyes. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that Warren is going to come down with a case of leprosy if he doesn’t keep his hands to himself,” Tillie replied, refusing to mince words. “The first body part falling off will be his favorite one. After that, you’re not going to have any reason to spend time with him. He’ll be useless to you.”
“You’re so gross,” Marnie complained. “Do you have to say things like that?”
“You’re twenty years old, Marnie,” Tillie countered. “It’s time you learned there’s such a thing as good men and bad men. Warren is not a good man.”
“Who is a good man?” Marnie challenged.
“Well, for starters, your uncle is a good man,” Tillie said, beaming at Calvin as he stepped through the sliding glass door and delivered a glass of lemonade to her. “Isn’t that right, Calvin?”
“That’s definitely right,” Calvin said, puffing out his chest as he settled in the chair next to Tillie. “I’m the best man in the world.”
I wanted to laugh out loud. He reminded me of Landon, although Landon was shorter and better built. He still had a congenial spirit that made me wish I could've known him better – or at all.
“Well, that doesn’t really work for me,” Marnie said. “Uncle Calvin is already married. I can’t marry him if he’s already taken. You told me there was a name for girls who went after other people’s husbands.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s Willa,” Tillie said, causing Marnie to snort. “Why can’t you pick another boy? Warren will cause you nothing but heartache.”
“You say that about everyone I date,” Marnie said. “I’m starting to think you’re a man hater.”
“That’s not true,” Tillie scoffed. “I like this man.” She jerked her thumb in Calvin’s direction.
“Yes, but they broke the mold when they made him,” Marnie said, dropping a kiss on Calvin’s cheek and waving at Tillie. “I will be home late.”
“Your shift ends at ten,” Tillie said. “I expect you home fifteen minutes after that.”
Marnie made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat. “I’m an adult. I don’t need you calling the restaurant and checking up on my shifts.”
“I just want to make sure there won’t be any necking between the time it takes you to leave the restaurant and get home,” Tillie said. “That Warren has wandering hands. I heard it through the grapevine.”
“Oh, whatever,” Marnie grumbled. “By the way, no one says ‘necking’ any longer. Using that word makes you sound old.”
“Using my foot on Warren’s behind is going to make me feel young,” Tillie replied. “I’ll come looking if you’re late … and you won’t like it.”
“I need to find a place of my own,” Marnie lamented as she hopped down the sidewalk leading away from the house.
“Now that she’s gone, can we go back to focusing on me?” Twila whined. “Teddy is going to pick me up for the festival in five minutes. He’s bringing a friend for Winnie, by the way. His name is Jack. We’re going to double date.”
“Does Winnie know you’re setting her up with a guy?” Calvin asked.
“She will when Teddy picks me up,” Twila said. “She’ll be fine. She needs to date more. She’s too serious with all those cooking classes she keeps taking.”
“That’s because she’s the only one of you lot without her head in the clouds,” Tillie said. “That’s why she’s my favorite.”
“You didn’t say that when you caught her stealing your wine the other night,” Twila argued.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a tattletale?” Tillie pressed. “No one likes a tattletale.”
“I am not a tattletale!” Twila crossed her arms over her chest, causing Tillie to zero in on her chest.
“You’re not leaving this house without a bra,” Tillie said. “I’m not kidding around. That shirt is indecent.”
“How many times do I have to tell you that it’s the style?” Twila asked through gritted teeth.
Tillie shrugged. “Listen, I don’t care if you want to parade those mosquito bites across town and let everyone see them. As long as you live under my roof, you’re going to wear a bra.”
“Oh, Tillie,” Calvin moaned, slapping his hand over his eyes. “Why did you have to say that?”
“It’s the truth,” Tillie snapped. “She has these tiny little things that almost no one notices, but she still has to wear a bra. People will think she’s loose otherwise.”
“People already think I’m loose because they heard we dance naked under the full moon,” Twila said. “You need to stop spreading that rumor, by the way. It embarrasses me.”
“Who said it’s a rumor?” Tillie asked. “Maybe your uncle and I like to get crazy sometimes. Did you ever think of that?”
Well that was a sobering thought. Did the naked dancing originate as a couple's activity between Aunt Tillie and Uncle Calvin? Holy … wow! I don’t even know what to think about that. My world just tilted.
“I am so grossed out,” Twila said, flouncing toward the house. “I’m going to put a bra on, but only because I don’t have time to argue with you. One of these days I’m going to get my own place and walk around braless all the time.”
“We’re all waiting for that marvelous day,” Tillie deadpanned.
Tillie and Calvin lapsed into companionable silence after Twila’s dramatic announcement, seemingly happy to be together without interacting. I was just about to prod Landon to move around to the other side of the house so I could catch a glimpse of Mom when a figure moved in behind us.
“What are you guys looking at?”
I jumped at the voice and Landon instinctively pushed me behind him in an effort to protect me. I frowned when I saw the young man standing in front of us. His hair was blondish, his jaw square and his eyes were bright as they met mine. I recognized him right away.
“Holy crap!”
“I’m Jack,” the man said, extending his hand. “You must be Winnie. I’m looking forward to spending the evening with you … even more so now that I’ve seen you. Teddy said you were a looker, but I didn’t believe it until right now.”
My mouth dropped open. I knew Jack. Of course I knew him. He was my father. Wait … did my father just hit on me? I think I might die. “I’m not Winnie,” I squeaked out as Landon marginally relaxed. “I’m … Bay.”
“That
’s a nice name,” Jack said, his smile never faltering. “Do you live here, too?”
“Kind of,” I hedged, shooting Landon a panicked look. For his part, my boyfriend appeared to be enjoying the new show, although he refused to let go of my hand in case the memories shifted.
“Well, maybe I should go out with you instead,” Jack offered, winking. “I like you.”
Wait a second … . “Aren’t I too old for you?”
“That’s what you’re worried about?” Landon asked, arching a challenging eyebrow. “I’d be more worried about the potential babies with webbed toes.”
“Do not make me throw up,” I warned.
“What’s going on?” Jack asked, confused. “Why are you guys hiding in the bushes?”
“Because … Aunt Tillie doesn’t like it when we bring boys home,” I lied. What? What he didn’t know couldn’t hurt him. Plus, this isn’t real anyway. I was having trouble seeing that, the more the lines blurred, though. “I decided to meet my boyfriend out here privately. You should probably go up to the house and collect your date. I already have a date.”
“Are you sure?” Jack asked, squaring his shoulders as he looked Landon up and down. “I think you could do better.”
His insistence on flirting made my skin crawl. “I’m definitely sure.”
“You heard her,” Landon said, planting his free hand in the middle of Jack’s chest to make sure he kept his distance. “She has a boyfriend. She doesn’t need another one.” He had a tempestuous relationship with my father in our time. Now that he was facing off with him over my romantic future – ugh, I can’t believe I just thought that – things looked as if they were about to turn ugly.
“There’s no need to get territorial,” Jack said, holding up his hands in a placating manner. “I saw you guys in the bushes. There’s no reason to go crazy.”
“What’s going on over here?”
I jumped when I heard Calvin’s voice, snapping my head in his direction. “Um … .”
“We were just taking a walk and this guy came by making problems,” Landon said. “I think you should send him away.”
“If I do that, Bay might never be born,” Calvin pointed out, causing Landon to suck in a breath.
“Oh. I didn’t think of that. Wait, this isn’t real,” Landon argued. “We can’t change the past because it’s already happened. We’re not time traveling.”
“Am I missing something here?” Jack asked, obviously confused.
“Not yet,” Calvin said, pointing toward the back porch where Mom and Twila stood. “Your date is that way.”
“Oh, wow,” Jack said. “She’s even prettier than this one.”
“That’s good,” I said. “Hey!”
“Do you really want to argue with him on that?” Landon asked, rolling his eyes. “He shouldn’t find you attractive. It’s … perverted.”
“And we all know you’re the pervert,” Calvin said, winking to let Landon know he was joking. “Hurry up, Jack. Your time here is limited. You should make the best of it.”
“I don’t know what that means,” Jack said.
“It means you need to hurry,” Calvin said. “I need to talk to these two alone, and I’m running out of time.”
Jack didn’t need to be told twice. He scurried off in Twila and Mom’s direction as Calvin fixed me with a sad look.
“Things are going to shift soon,” Calvin said, causing Landon to squeeze my hand tighter. “Don’t worry, Landon, you can’t get separated here. You’re already joined.”
“By Aunt Tillie’s mind, right?” I asked.
“By your hearts,” Calvin replied. “You’ll be fine. The next memory, though, won’t be fine. If you have a chance to get through to Tillie, that’s going to be one of the easier memories to get her in.”
“Why is that?” Landon asked.
Calvin pressed his lips together and I knew the answer before he uttered a word. “Because he’s going to die in the next one,” I supplied.
“I am,” Calvin confirmed, patting my head. “I wish I could’ve known you girls in life. I have a feeling I watch you in death, though. Take care of Tillie in the next one. It will be … rough.”
“Goodbye,” I said, tears pricking my eyes as the colors swirled and flash.
“It’s never goodbye, Bay,” Calvin called out. I couldn’t see him, but I could feel him. “It’s until we meet again.”
Love is not only possible, it’s probable if you open your heart. You can’t find love if you don’t risk yourself. Of course, if the guy turns out to be a turd, we can fix that, too. It’s one thing to open yourself up, and you should be proud of the effort it takes. It’s another thing to pick a turd. Do you want to pick a turd? If you do, be prepared to step on it. Things get messy when the heart is involved.
– Aunt Tillie to Bay, Clove and Thistle when the topic of boys arises
Nine
This time when we landed I knew without doubt that Aunt Tillie was controlling it.
“Are we in a … coffin?” Landon asked, gritting his teeth as he wrapped his arm around my waist and glanced up. “Son of a … !”
“Shh.” I pushed my hand over his mouth to silence him, and glanced around. We were in the Walkerville funeral parlor. I recognized the shag carpeting – which was still in the parlor – but the rest of the room was largely different. “Help me out.”
“Oh, gee, I never would’ve thought about doing that,” Landon said, grunting as he hoisted me up. “I thought we could stay in here and cuddle.”
“Don’t give me attitude right now,” I said, wiping the corner of my eye and frowning. Why was I on the verge of crying? Yes, Uncle Calvin’s death was sad. I’d never really met him, though. Sure, he whispered in my ear to get me to do things a few times when I was younger, but that was hardly a relationship.
“Are you crying?” Landon was incredulous.
“I … .” I choked back a sob.
“Oh, geez,” Landon said, hopping out of the casket and pulling me in for a hug. “Don’t cry. I’ll stop complaining. I promise.”
“I have no idea why I’m so upset,” I admitted, burying my face in Landon’s chest.
“It’s because he’s a good man,” Landon said. “Or … well … he was a good man. Sweetie, you have to remember that all of this happened a long time ago. It’s not really happening now, no matter what you’re feeling in the moment.”
“I know that,” I said, a tear sliding down my cheek. “It’s just … he was so kind and sweet.”
Landon exhaled heavily and wiped the tear from my cheek as he kissed my forehead. “This is really too much for anyone to bear,” he said. “I can see now why Aunt Tillie is hiding. She’s probably crying, too. It’s probably harder for her, though.”
“She’s the one directing the memories, though,” I pointed out. “If she really wants to stay here, why is she spending time on the sad memories? It would seem to me she’d be happier dwelling on the good ones.”
“There is no happiness without sadness, Bay,” Landon said. “You don’t know how to embrace the good until you survive the bad. It is what it is.”
“That was almost poetic.”
“Don’t tell anyone,” Landon said, rocking me as he tightened his arms around my back. “Besides, Aunt Tillie has a lot of good memories. Not everyone is in them together, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“She has good memories with Ginger, but Calvin isn’t in all of them,” Landon explained. “She has good memories with your mother and aunts, but Calvin isn’t in all of those either. What about the good memories with you girls? You can’t tell me that she doesn’t enjoy torturing you. Calvin definitely has nothing to do with those memories.
“There are all different kinds of happiness, Bay,” he continued. “Some of that happiness springs from sadness. Everyone Aunt Tillie loves doesn’t exist in the same memory. She can’t have her perfect world.”
I wiped the last tear from my cheek and pulled
away so I could study Landon’s face. “She could have close to it,” I argued. “She could go back to when Grandma Ginger and Calvin were still alive. She could live in that world forever. She doesn’t need us.”
“I sometimes don’t think you see the world through properly focused lenses where Aunt Tillie is concerned,” Landon said. “Sure, she likes messing with you. She loves arguing with Thistle. She even likes calling Clove a kvetch.
“She still loves you, though,” he said. “She would die for you. Her world isn’t complete without all of you.”
“I think you’re being schmaltzy.”
“Maybe seeing how everyone in this family rallies around each other in a time of crisis is making me schmaltzy,” Landon suggested. “I’m fine with being schmaltzy. In fact, I embrace it. This is going to be a tough memory to get through. Can you pull yourself together?”
“I’m together.”
“Then don’t cry,” Landon said, trailing his index finger down my cheek. “I can’t stand it when you cry. I would put up with eighty temper tantrums and wrestling matches with Thistle instead of seeing you cry. I don’t like it.”
I leaned in for another quick hug. “I got lucky when I found you.”
“Oh, sweetie, you’ve got that mixed up in your head,” Landon said. “I got lucky when I found you. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Oh, well, now I want to kiss you,” I said, smirking.
“Good,” Landon said, cupping my chin and offering me a soft kiss. “I definitely prefer that to crying.”
“Ugh. You two are as sickeningly sweet in my mind as you are in real life.”
I jolted at the sound of Aunt Tillie’s voice, swiveling quickly to find her standing next to me. She wore a somber black dress, suggesting she was one of the mourners filing into the room. She was my Aunt Tillie. I knew that, but she was still dressed for the occasion.
“Why are you here?” I asked, reaching out to touch her arm. She felt real, even though I knew only our minds were interacting. “Wake up.”
“Bay, I know this is hard for you to understand, but I don’t want to wake up,” Aunt Tillie said, frowning as a sobbing Mom, Marnie and Twila walked to the front row of chairs and sat. They flanked the younger Aunt Tillie, all grasping hands, and openly wept. I couldn’t remember ever seeing Aunt Tillie cry. “I want to be here.”
Once Upon a Witch: A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fantasy Books 1-3 Page 26
