by Amy Boyles
This is where it got tricky. “But in order to do that, to get that knowledge, I have to give something of myself to it.”
Stone didn’t ask what. He simply listened.
I threaded my fingers through my hair. Boy, did it feel oily. “I hand over my life. Everyone who uses it has to relinquish the same thing. Summoning the book’s power sucks away part of my lifespan. When I was younger, I didn’t care. My job was to get rid of vampires. But now I have Gabby to think about. I can’t shorten my life and not affect hers. I can help you some with this, but I won’t risk the safety of my daughter. I want to be here for her. Watch her grow up.”
Stone studied me. His steady gaze made my heart pound, yet at the same time I found comfort in him. I wanted to curl up in his lap and nuzzle the hollow of his neck. Let his strong arms fold around me.
The feelings were so intense I felt guilty because of Dex.
That was silly. Dex is dead. He would want me to move on.
Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling of betrayal.
Stone smoothed his palms down his thighs. “You realize that by not doing anything, you could be hurting your daughter worse.”
A pang of truth pierced my heart. He was right. What if my inaction put my daughter in harm’s way?
“I never know how much life it’s going to take. Unless of course, I knew ahead of time I needed every bit of power the book had—that would mean my immediate death.”
Stone nodded slowly. “I understand your fears.”
“But you think I’m wrong.”
He spoke quietly. “It’s not for me to judge whether you’re right or wrong. My only goal is to stop what’s about to happen.”
“But we don’t know what that is,” Vordrid said.
“There are other ways of finding out,” I said. “Investigate if Justin died by a vampire and track down the killer. Whoever it was will either be the leader, or they’ll take us to him or her.”
Vordrid rattled. “Good idea, Andie.”
Stone nodded. “That’s a decent first step.”
The angel left a few minutes later.
“What time is Dot coming in the morning?” I said to Vordrid.
“Seven o’clock. That gives you plenty of time to instruct her on the list of phone numbers magnetized to your refrigerator.”
“Very funny.” I flipped off the kitchen light and crossed to the door. As I double-checked all the locks, the hairs on the back of my neck rose to attention. I peered through the window but didn’t see anything.
I might not’ve been able to see a person, but I could feel their gaze burning into me. I gripped the edge of the pane and ground my teeth.
Whoever it was, they didn’t show themselves. They wouldn’t be coming after me tonight. But that still didn’t stop me from pulling Gabby’s crib into my room and sleeping with one eye half open.
“She’s here, Andie! Dot’s arriving.”
I finished my homemade mocha—yes, I’d made another one for myself that morning, and yes, I’d skipped the ice cream, but no, I wished I hadn’t. I crossed to the curtains and pulled them back. My gaze swept up and down Cedar. “I don’t see her.”
Vordrid sailed over and landed on the back of the couch. “You’re not looking in the right direction.”
“What are you talking about? I’m looking down the street.”
“Dot said she wanted to make an entrance to mark her first official day as nanny.”
I slapped a hand on my forehead. “Great. Where’s she going to come from?”
“The sky.”
“The what?”
“The sky, Andie. Where all good babysitters come from. Everyone knows that.”
I unchained and yanked open the door. “Everyone does not know that. I don’t know that.”
“Pretty sure it’s in the handbook,” Vordrid whispered.
“Very funny.”
I stepped onto the creaking boards of my porch and glanced toward the sky.
My jaw fell open.
Sailing overhead in the stratosphere, or whatever—basically like an air streamer without the stream or the metal—sat Dot atop a giant goose.
I couldn’t make this up if I tried.
She wore dazzlingly bright orange from head to foot, which made the white of the goose stand out even more against the blue sky.
I listened, waiting for Missy Burke to ride down the street screaming that Mother Goose had arrived to proclaim the end of the world in nursery rhymes.
Hey, stranger things could happen. Like a woman riding fowl, perhaps.
I watched as the goose soared straight down. The bird landed in a flutter of downy feathers that could’ve beaten up a tornado on my front porch. Luckily that didn’t happen. What did occur was that Dot, in all her pink-haired glory, had smeared green eyeshadow over her blue eyes and wore an orange shirt, a tangerine-colored knee-length jacket and peach pants. She slid off the back of the bird onto my floorboards.
“Thank you, Chester,” she said, patting the goose’s back. “I’ll call you when I need you again. But from what I hear, I won’t be going anywhere for a long time.”
Chester beat his wings against his chest and rose into the sky, sailing back the way he came.
Dot adjusted her shiny black purse on her shoulder and studied me. “Andie, last I looked, hell hadn’t frozen over. But my guess is that for Vordrid to have contacted me, it must be close.”
I crossed one arm over the other. “Ha-ha. Very funny.”
“So Gabby’s got the gift, huh? Well, let’s get crackin’ and get her schooled.”
I splayed my arms out. “Wait. Just hold on one minute. First of all, are you kidding? Coming in riding a goose? The entire town probably saw that.”
She patted my cheek in a patronizing sort of way. “Of course they didn’t, dear. I spelled myself to make sure only magical beings could see me. Makes it easier. That way I don’t have to explain myself to the FTC.”
“You mean the FAA—Federal Aviation Administration.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Yes, dear. That’s the one. Whoever they are, they don’t matter to me, anyway. I’m a witch. I answer to a different power.”
I quirked a brow. “And what power is that?”
She squeezed my cheeks. “Why, I answer to my own authority. That and, of course, the supernatural tribunal.”
“Right,” I said, pulling out of her unnecessarily hard grasp. “Because they find out when you do things like bribe gargoyles to pretend-attack your great-niece.”
Dot brushed past me. “Don’t hold grudges, dear. It’s not attractive in a young woman like yourself.” She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “But anyway, I need to see Gabby.” She grabbed the screen door and yanked it open.
Vordrid greeted her. “It’s so good to see you, Dot. A few days is too long.”
“I agree. I need to be here, with my magical people, not stuck in a swamp looking for roots and herbs. I need to stock up on magical herbs and such, but swamps are such mucky, depressing places.”
“I’m sure you made friends with an alligator,” I joked.
Dot smiled. “Why, I did. I’d love to tell you about it some time.”
I rolled my eyes. I just—I didn’t want to ask about the swamp. There was no telling what kind of story I would get. In case you hadn’t figured it out, my great-aunt Dot’s main goal in life was to pester me to death.
At least that’s what I told myself.
Dot clasped her hands together. Her gold rings clanked, and her bracelets tinkled. She wore large hoop earrings and for once wasn’t dressed like a geriatric feather boa. I had to say, it was an improvement.
“Vordrid told me about the babysitter. Gabby froze her? Did she explain why?”
I tapped my toe. “Yeah, because two-year-olds are perfectly capable of explaining complex emotions.” I shook my head. “No, of course not. When I asked, all she said was that she wanted a cookie. So no, I have no clue why she froze the babysitter.�
��
Dot pressed a finger to her mouth. “Hmm. Very interesting. And Vordrid, you didn’t see anything, right?”
“I didn’t sense anything wrong.”
Dot shrugged. “Well then, it doesn’t matter. Let’s get Gabby so that I can start training her in the craft.”
Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. “She’s a little young for training. We’re still in Pull-Ups. I just need you to watch her. ”
Dot showed herself through the house. She spoke to me over one shoulder. “It is never too young to start, dear. Besides, she’s gotten her powers. You need to start molding them so that she understands what it means to use them.”
“She’s only two.”
Dot walked into Gabby’s bedroom. “And soon she’ll be three and then four. I told you that comet wasn’t normal.”
I sighed. “This again.”
Dot wagged a finger. “While it’s not unprecedented that her powers should come in at such an early age, she must still be taught.”
“Aunty Dot,” Gabby said, toddling over to give her a hug.
Dot threw me a triumphant look. I ignored it.
Dot hugged Gabby. “Mmmm hmmm. My precious little girl. I’m going to be taking care of you. Would you like that?”
Gabby looked at me. “Mommy go to work?”
I nodded.
Gabby’s bottom lip poked out, and tears filled her eyes.
“Now, don’t cry.” Dot waved a finger at a stuffed bear sitting in a small rocking chair. The bear rose and started dancing.
“Is that the rumba?” I said.
“The tango,” Dot said, smiling. “Children hate the rumba. They all prefer the tango.”
“Of course they do.”
But it proved to be true. Gabby started laughing with glee. She giggled with such splendor it warmed my heart, and I realized I felt perfectly at ease with Dot watching my child.
At least for one day.
My phone started ringing from my back pocket. I stepped from the room and fished it out. Kate’s name flashed.
“Hey, you surviving okay?” I said.
Kate paused. “Why? Am I not supposed to be?”
I laughed. “Of course you are. I’m just kidding. I’m only surprised you haven’t already called me this morning.”
“Well, I am in a little bit of a panic. Listen, I’m running late and it’s my turn to pick up the muffins for the breakfast meeting.”
“Do you need me to do it?” I said.
“Do you mind?” she said in her most high-pitched apologetic voice.
“Of course not. I’ll get them and come on in. See you in a bit.”
“Great, then you can tell me all about that hunky Stone guy. I want to know all the dirt on him—and I mean every single speck. Don’t leave anything out.”
I shook my head. My best friend seriously wanted to live vicariously through me. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“Then make something up. With a body like that, you’ve got to have something you can tell me.”
“Sure. I’ll make something up.”
“Thank you. And make sure it’s hot and steamy. I need it.”
I laughed as I thumbed off the phone. I grabbed my purse from the chair and flung it over my shoulder. I headed back to Gabby’s bedroom. Dot sat on the rocker with my little girl on her knee.
“Wow, you two are regular chums,” I said.
“I think we’re more special than fish,” Dot said. “Aren’t we, Gabby?”
Why me? “I wasn’t referring to fish. I was calling you friends.”
Dot smoothed down Gabby’s frizzed curls. “Well, of course we’re friends. We’re witches. We’re the best of everything.”
“Great,” I said, “because I’ve got to run. If you have any questions, Vordrid can help you. Listen, Dot, we never discussed pay.”
Dot blinked at me. “I’ll think of a way you can pay me. For now, don’t worry about it.”
Not sure I liked the sound of that. “Anyway, will you be coming by goose every day? I’d like to know just so I can mentally prepare myself.”
Dot blinked at me. “Why, Andie, don’t you know?”
My stomach suddenly got very queasy. “Know what?”
Dot smiled, her orange lips spreading wide over her face. “Why, I’m moving in. As long as I’m watching over this little girl, I’ll be staying here.”
The bottom fell out of my stomach. “Okay. Great,” I said, totally void of enthusiasm.
Why had my life suddenly gotten all crazy cat lady on me?
“Well, then, I’ll see you this afternoon,” I said. I crossed to Gabby and kissed her on the forehead. “Mommy be back later.” I headed toward the front door.
“Oh, and Andie—” Dot called.
I popped my head back in the bedroom. “Yes?”
“I’d like roast beef for supper.”
“You got it.” ’Cause I was the queen of roast beef. Not. My cooking skills encompassed grilled chicken and green beans. I never cooked anything more spectacular than that.
I think this day was going to require a lot more chocolate. Scratch that—my life was going to require a lot more chocolate.
Luckily I knew just the place to get it—the coffee shop.
NINE
“If you find one vampire, there’s usually ten more hiding behind it.”
—The Witch’s Handbook
* * *
I arrived at Brewhouse a few minutes later. It was located not far from the school in an area I liked to call the Red Brick district. I parked on the street, slid out and skipped my way to the curb. It was normal for tables and chairs to be left outside the shop, but not so normal for them to be scattered over the sidewalk.
Joe Malone, the owner, was going about fixing the chairs. He was in his midthirties with thick dark hair that was graying at the temples. If he wasn’t married, I would’ve set him up with Kate.
“Hey, Joe, did you have a party last night?” I joked. “Things get a little out of hand?”
He straightened to his full height after righting a chair and said, “Looks like it, doesn’t it? Unfortunately Molly and I were in bed when this happened.”
“Looks like somebody had a good time,” I said, eyeing a couple of knocked-over chairs.
“Yeah. I hope next time they invite me. When we closed up last night, there were those kids hanging out down the street at Nightshots, but I didn’t think much of it.”
“What’s Nightshots?”
“Some kind of teen hangout,” he said, nodding to a building a little ways down the street. “Guess I’ll be taking these inside when we close.”
I clicked my tongue. “Yeah, that should solve the problem.”
“I hope,” he said, scowling.
I stepped inside and saw Molly Malone behind the counter. “Joe’s keeping busy today.”
Molly smiled. “Morning, Andie. You here for the muffins? Kate called ahead.”
“Yes.” I smiled. “Can you add a mocha to it?”
She threw me a wink. “Sure thing.”
Molly placed a white box and my drink on the counter. “Take care, Andie.”
“Great,” I said. “Thanks for having everything ready.”
I buzzed down the line of people, paid and left. I gave Joe a final wave as he finished clearing up the mess from the night before. By the time I arrived at school, Givens was beyond ready to eat.
“Andie, I never thought you’d get here. Meetings during Fall Break make the teachers ravenous. They’re eyeing me like they think I might be breakfast.”
So though it was Fall Break for the kids, we teachers still had to come in and do a little bit of work. I usually just made myself look busy for a few hours once the meeting was over.
I handed off the box and said, “I don’t think you’d taste nearly as good as one of Molly’s treats.”
“I tried explaining that to them as well. I don’t think they believed me.” She studied me for a moment. “You could have brought Gabby today
if you needed to. I know childcare is expensive.”
A glob of saliva caught in my throat, leading to a hacking cough that I took full advantage of. I hoped by the time I finished, Givens would forget that she even asked me that question.
“Yeah. Thanks. My aunt’s watching her.” Oh, and my child has suddenly developed her witch powers, so you’ll probably never see her again because I’m afraid she’ll set your hair on fire.
Givens adjusted her glasses. “Let me know if there’s any way I can help.”
“Thank you.”
We had the morning meeting, and I went to work on school stuff. At one o’clock I was finished and headed out to my car. When I reached the parking lot, I saw Stone leaning on the 4Runner, a twinkle in his eyes and a toothpick in his mouth.
“Great,” I mumbled. “Now they’ll all be talking.”
I glanced over my shoulder, and sure enough, I noticed about five other teachers looking in my direction. Crap. Missy Burke would be driving down the road screaming out her window in a few minutes.
“Andie Taylor’s dating some hot stranger. I think she met him online because I haven’t seen him in town before!”
Seriously. That’s probably what she’d say.
“Hey,” I said. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
His answer came in a low, husky voice. “I like to do things you don’t expect.”
A flash of heat washed over my body as his plump lips curled into a smile that lifted all the way to those silver eyes of his. Stone hadn’t shaved that morning, and dark stubble sprouted over his jawline, making him look more devilish than heavenly.
“You can grow a beard?” I said.
“My body works like yours.”
“Except for the whole healing thing,” I said.
“Except for that.” He scratched the back of his head. It was a boyish gesture and immediately made my stomach do flip-flops or tumbles or backflips—whatever you wanted to call them.
A cold breeze whisked by. I closed the lapels of my jacket. “So, what are you doing here?”
He wove his fingers through his hair and brushed the tendrils from his eyes. “You and I are going on a field trip.”
