by Iris Kincaid
Joel Chaplin also got more visitors than any other inmate ever had or ever would. Almost every former student would stop by if they were ever in the vicinity of his prison. And every spring, the current crop of reunion attendees would arrange a bus field trip to take anyone out who wanted to say hello to Mr. Chaplin. He knew that would guarantee him another steady twenty years of visitation.
On any given Saturday, he was in high spirits because he knew that his favorite weekly visitor was coming. He sat in the guestroom and smiled with deep contentment as he greeted her. “Salve magister.”
*****
Eventually, Wesley Gorman was able to uncover Regina’s original marriage certificate – the one she had before her husband’s death and the question of whose marriage was legitimate had caused her to doctor up the dates on a fake copy.
Wesley wanted to kick himself for not investigating the matter earlier. His mother’s illness need not have progressed so far. But they were quickly awarded their share of Regina’s estate, and his mother soon began responding well to her new treatments.
*****
Erin kept up regular weekly visits to the nursing home, even when Mia was out of town. It was such a relief to Mrs. Garland to know that someone could hear and respond to her thoughts. And soon, as quietly as possible, Erin extended that same assistance to several other patients and their families.
She also spent a fair amount of time with Sherry, who was no longer thinking of suicide. The grief support group was a great assistance to her. But so was talking to Erin—talking through the grief, having someone who could see her, care about her.
It was so mutually satisfying, and something Erin’s new abilities made her so good at, that it was a logical career reinvention to psychologist and therapist. She fast developed a reputation in town as someone would never let patients get away with lying to her or lying to themselves. She knew exactly what was going on with them, and they could cut through the small talk and say what was really on their minds.
*****
Orlando knew that he himself had no mind reading talent. Still, when Erin projected her thoughts into his head, he often liked to pretend that it was his doing. Some clueless onlookers who observed them eating a dinner in complete silence might have concluded that they were a long-married couple who no longer had anything to say to one another. Au contraire.
“Did you pick up everything we needed at the drugstore?” Erin wondered.
“Everything but the condoms,” Orlando confessed.
“Won’t we be needing those? They serve a pretty important purpose, you know. Unless you’re interested in having a baby anytime soon.”
“I would love to have a baby with you!”
Talk about cutting through the chitchat!
All of life’s past difficulties and uncertainties had melted away. Erin was filled with optimism, giddiness, and gratitude, in equal measures. She had finally landed on the life of her dreams. And she envied no one.
*****
Watching Martine Cadet dance at her own wedding reception was an especially poignant moment for those who knew that she was once confined to a wheelchair. Her husband, Morgan Beaumont, was a striking figure, a bearded Greek god in a tux. At least, that’s how Martine would describe him.
In addition to enjoying the company of Morgan’s seafaring family and her own uncle Pierre, Martine would never have dreamt of having a wedding without her new witch family.
Delphine’s commoner beau was a maître d’ who lived in Atlantic City – a Zorba the Greek lookalike. It was a pleasure for all of Delphine’s new young friends to finally meet him. But they had all been warned that he was completely unaware that he’d been dating a witch for the past fifteen years. His sixty-eight-year-old heart might not be able to withstand that kind of shock!
Dr. Svenson and his wife Melody were also there. But Erin had also hoped to see her new friend Ruby there as well.
“Where’s Ruby?”
Apparently, she was running extremely late, as she’d just had to attend an aunt’s hundredth birthday party in upstate New York and got stuck in thick traffic driving back. But she promised that she absolutely would make the reception.
Of course, what’s a party without at least one wedding crasher or two?
“The answer is at hand. I can feel it,” Lilith mused.
Delphine admonished, “This is not a day for justice or vengeance or otherworldly concerns. It is a day of celebration for one of our very own, and you must allow them that much. I hope you are starting to take some interest in their happiness and wellbeing.”
“Fiona asked if an army was being assembled. I hate to credit her, but that may turn out to be a brilliant scheme. None of them could match me. But together—if they banded together, much could be accomplished.”
Erin was happily getting to know Gillian and Margo and a whole bunch of other very interesting women. And she was happy to show off her special fellow. He and Dr. Svenson were especially pleased to have another medical professional around to talk shop with.
But doctors are never completely off duty. Dr. Svenson took a call and excused himself from the group. When he came back, he was pale and shaken.
“I must go to the hospital immediately. There is a serious emergency that I must tend to. But, please, everyone, stay here and have a wonderful time. This is a beautiful occasion, and you are all so dear to me.”
His wife walked with him to the door, where they exchanged a few brief words. When Melody returned to the group, she was also shaken and fighting back tears. But obviously, the doctor had asked her not to share whatever bad news was happening.
“You must listen to Harold. Please try to enjoy yourselves. This is Martine’s special day.”
Speaking of whom, the lovely bride herself was headed in their direction.
“Everyone having a good time?” she asked blissfully.
Everyone nodded emphatically. It really was a near-perfect gathering.
But then Martine’s head swiveled around as she searched the crowd, and she shook her head in irritation.
“Where’s Ruby?”
Melody’s resolve had reached its breaking point. She burst into long, loud sobs.
Where was Ruby, indeed?
**********
Notes from the Author
Aren’t you a little bit worried about Ruby?
Don’t you want to know who killed Lilith Hazelwood?
There’s only one way to find out. Check out the final book in The One Part Witch Series, The Witch’s Mind – coming in July 2018.
Want to know when new releases are out? Sign up for the Iris Kincaid Witch Watch right here: https://www.subscribepage.com/g3o3u2_copy3
Hope you enjoyed The Witch's Empathy. If you have time, think about leaving a brief review over at Amazon. They really help out authors a lot. Thanks!!
If you’d like to drop me a line, you can contact me at: [email protected]
Iris Kincaid
