Of course, we all sprinkled a little witchcraft into our games. Normally, that wasn’t a problem, but this time we were all in various stages of advanced inebriation. That included Aunt Pearl. Drunken spellcasting was dangerous without at least one sober witch to clean things up.
Aunt Pearl grinned sadistically. “Okay, listen up. Each couple is a team. Couple against couple. Everything’s on the table.”
Aunt Amber looked visibly relieved. “I guess Ruby and I are out then. We’re the only ones without dates.”
“Don’t be silly,” Aunt Pearl said. “You two are the sister act.”
Mom shook her head. “No! I don’t want to be—”
“Oh, c’mon, Ruby. It’ll be fun.” Aunt Amber brightened. “We’ll win because we know each other so well.”
“I doubt it,” Dominic said. “Merlinda and I are gonna ace this thing. Right Merlinda?”
Merlinda’s eyes fluttered open. She frowned. “Um, sure. I’ve never played truth or dare before, though.”
“It’s simple,” I said. “One couple gets asked ‘truth or dare’. If you choose truth, then you answer a question. Choose dare and you have to perform whatever is asked of you. Once you complete the task, you get to do the same to whoever you choose.”
Grandma Vi floated behind Earl and Aunt Pearl. “Ooh! I can’t wait to watch everybody self-destruct. I’ll be the only one left standing.”
Mom smiled.
Aunt Pearl pointed at Mom. “Ruby, you start.”
“Okay, fine. Earl and Pearl…Truth or dare?”
“Truth.” They both answered in unison, like an old married couple.
Mom giggled. “Why don’t you tell us what you two did on your first date?”
“You can’t ask that, Ruby!” Aunt Pearl’s face flushed a deep crimson red.
“Why not? You said anything goes, Pearl.” Mom raised her brows and smiled sweetly. “That goes for you too.”
“We had a candlelight dinner at my place,” Earl said. “It was very romantic, but I have to admit things got a little out of hand.”
Aunt Amber snickered. “You two got hot and heavy? Oh my…I can see it now.”
“Earl!” Aunt Pearl slapped his hand.
Earl recoiled. “It was hot all right. Especially after the curtains caught fire, and we had to call the fire department. Pearl loves her soy candles. You can melt them to make massage oil and…” He patted her hand. “I better not say any more. I’ll never forget that night, though. Pearl’s so full of surprises.”
Tyler and I burst out laughing, followed by Mom. The thought of Aunt Pearl romancing anyone was beyond belief. Then again, Earl affected her in a way I had never seen before. She was under his spell, so to speak.
“Oh, Earl, stop. You’re embarrassing me.” Aunt Pearl turned toward Tyler and me and said rather abruptly, “Your turn. Truth or Dare?”
“Dare,” Tyler said.
My heart skipped a beat, knowing that Aunt Pearl wanted nothing more than to ridicule Tyler. Dare was probably the wisest choice, though. I expected Aunt Pearl to have some embarrassing questions of her own.
“I dare you to leave town, sheriff.” Aunt Pearl crossed her arms as she leaned back in her chair. “I’ll even make it worth your while if you act quickly.”
“That’s not a valid dare, Pearl.” Aunt Amber shook her head. “Next time make it something that can be done right here and now.”
Tyler tossed his head back and laughed. “Nice try, Pearl. But even a bribe won’t convince me to leave Westwick Corners anytime soon. I’m not leaving Cen, either.”
“How much do you want? Whatever it is, I’ll pay it.”
“Pearl, stop it!” Mom wagged a finger at her older sister. “Tyler’s not going anywhere, so get used to it.”
Aunt Pearl’s eyes narrowed. “If that’s how you want to play it, fine. Don’t ever say I didn’t give you a way out, sheriff.”
Tyler chuckled but didn’t answer.
“You just wasted your turn, Aunt Pearl.” At least she hadn’t forced me to curse Tyler or cast some equally horrible spell.
Aunt Pearl scowled but remained silent. In her haste to deflect unwanted attention from herself and Earl, she had been too flustered to come up with a decent dare.
I turned to Brayden and Gail. “Truth or dare.”
“Truth,” Brayden smirked. “Ask me anything.”
“You mean us,” Gail corrected. “Ask us.”
It was a perfect opportunity to learn more about their relationship. “What’s the biggest secret you are keeping from your mate?” I asked. “Brayden, you go first.”
Brayden flushed. “Well…um, Cen and I were once engaged.”
Not what I was expecting. Apparently, not what Gail was expecting, either.
She bolted upright from her chair. “What? You brought me to your ex-girlfriend’s house for dinner without telling me? You lied to me! You told me she was an old friend!”
“Well, she’s both. I meant to say something…it just never came up in conversation, I guess.” Brayden’s eyes darted around the room looking for help.
Gail threw her hands in the air. “How would that naturally come up in conversation? I can’t believe you didn’t tell me, Brayden. You make me look like an idiot!”
We all looked away in awkward silence. No wonder Gail had thought nothing of coming for dinner. She had no clue that Brayden and I had almost married each other. I still didn’t like her, but I did feel sorry for her right now.
Mom broke the silence. “Gail, your turn. What are you keeping from Brayden?”
“That I’m fed up with being ignored.” She turned to Brayden. “I’m tired of you flirting with other women while I’m right here. You think I don’t notice you ogling Merlinda? Everybody sees it. Right, Dominic?”
Merlinda’s mouth dropped open in shock.
Dominic leaned away in his chair, clearly uncomfortable. “Uh…maybe we should move on. Who’s next?”
“I’m not playing this stupid game anymore.” Gail stood and threw her napkin down on the table. She marched into the kitchen.
Things had stayed rather civil until now, despite everyone’s tipsy state. It was now clear that no matter what the game, Aunt Pearl had orchestrated everything to culminate in this exact moment where we were ready to bite each other’s heads off.
Mom tilted her head toward the kitchen. “I think you should go after her, Brayden.”
Brayden sighed and stood. “But why do I have to…oh, okay. But first…Dominic and Merlinda, truth or dare?”
“Truth,” Dominic said. “Ask away.”
“Do you think you’ll ever get married?” Brayden didn’t even hide it with Gail out of the room. He spoke to Dominic but gazed adoringly at Merlinda.
I glanced toward the kitchen door, hoping that Gail wasn’t on the other side listening.
Dominic answered. “The answer’s yes. Because we already are married.”
12
“What wedding?” Aunt Pearl choked on whatever she was eating. She looked visibly upset as she turned to Merlinda. “When did you get married? Why didn’t you tell me?”
We were all too shocked to speak. Dominic’s admission was the last thing any of us expected.
Merlinda’s mouth dropped open. She glared at Dominic.
Aunt Pearl’s eyes widened. “I can’t believe you kept that from me, Merlinda. After everything I’ve done for you. I thought we shared everything.”
“I would have told you eventually, Pearl. I just wasn’t ready yet.” Merlinda turned to Dominic. “You promised to keep it a secret.”
“Yeah, but it’s truth or dare, babe. And I just couldn’t wait anymore. Nobody here knows your family, so what does it matter?”
I was at a loss for words. Aunt Pearl’s revelation that she and Merlinda were confidantes was shocking, to say the least. And Dominic and Merlinda seemed such an odd match. He had to be at least a decade older than her, and his tough tattooed exterior was so at odds with Merli
nda’s refined fashion model looks.
“When did you get married?” Mom asked.
“Last semester break when Merlinda returned to Vanuatu.” Dominic helped himself to a generous slice of Christmas cake and dropped it onto his plate. “We had a small private ceremony. Merlinda looked so beautiful in her dress.”
The lights flickered several times before finally staying on again. I hoped they were on for good this time. Our drafty old mansion wasn’t the coziest place to ride out a storm, and the darkness made it spooky.
Aunt Pearl turned to Merlinda. “You’re barely old enough to get married. You’ll ruin your life before it even starts.”
Dominic glared at her. “Merlinda doesn’t need advice from you, Pearl. She can make her own decisions.”
“I’m twenty-one,” Merlinda protested through a mouthful of Christmas cake. “I haven’t dated much, but I really don’t have to. I just know that Dominic’s the one.”
Dominic interjected. “You can’t time true love. When love walks into your life, you grab it and don’t let go.”
I thought about grabbing the cake platter and taking it into the kitchen. Instead, I grabbed the last two pieces and put them on my plate. It was the only thing I could do to stop our guests from eating more.
Mom smiled. “I’m definitely making more next time.”
“How could you not even invite me to your wedding?” Aunt Pearl’s face flushed, angry at being excluded. Her disappointment was understandable, given the amount of time they spent together. Merlinda was basically her protégé and her only student at the moment. Then Dominic came along and spoiled everything. Even so, Aunt Pearl’s anger bordered on unhealthy obsession.
“Nobody got invited,” Dominic said. “We didn’t want to make a fuss, so we had a secret wedding on Vanuatu. A couple of tourists were our witnesses, so absolutely no one knew. Until now. We just couldn’t wait. Isn’t that right, pumpkin?”
“Couldn’t wait for what?” Gail emerged from the kitchen, frowning.
“Merlinda and Dominic secretly got married,” Aunt Amber said. “And we only found out because of truth or dare.”
Gail started to speak only to be interrupted by Merlinda.
“I—don’t—feel—right.” Merlinda dropped her fork and clutched her stomach. She pushed back her chair and staggered to her feet.
“What’s wrong, dear?” Aunt Amber stood. She eyed Merlinda with concern.
Merlinda sat back down in her chair and closed her eyes. “I’ll be okay, just give me a minute.”
Her rapid breathing and flushed skin said otherwise.
“Maybe you should lie down. Let me help you to the sofa.” I stood just as the lights went off again.
The room was dark except for the dim candlelight and Grandma Vi’s softly glowing apparition as she floated above the sideboard like an oversized nightlight. Her soft glow illuminated the dining room just enough to see Merlinda hunched over across the table, wincing in pain.
Aunt Pearl noticed it too. “Geez, Merlinda…you don’t look so hot.”
“My stomach is really upset. Excuse me.” Merlinda rose from the table and staggered to the dining room doorway. She paused a moment to steady herself. Then she disappeared into the darkness of the living room.
Dominic jumped to his feet. “I’d better go help her.”
Aunt Pearl stepped in front of Dominic and waved him away. “No, I’ll help her.”
I wasn’t surprised that Merlinda was sick given how much alcohol-laden Christmas cake she had eaten. I only wished I could have stopped her without Mom knowing.
All conversation ceased as we listened to Merlinda stumble through the living room and into the hallway toward the bathroom.
Outside the wind howled, the gusts rattling the ancient single-paned windows.
The lights flickered again and turned back on for about thirty seconds. Then the power went out again. Seconds later a draft blew out all the candles. We sat in darkness and said nothing. We were all transfixed by Merlinda’s agonized retching in the hallway.
Merlinda hadn’t made it as far as the bathroom yet. She repeatedly refused all offers of help, but it was killing me to sit still and do nothing.
“I’ll get some more matches.” I rose from my seat and felt my way along the seat backs toward the kitchen door. My eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, and after what seemed like an eternity, I finally navigated through the kitchen to the built-in desk where we kept matches. I rummaged through drawer after drawer, frantically searching for matches before finding some in a bottom drawer.
I lit the candle on the kitchen counter and carried it out into the dining room. After relighting both candelabras on the sideboard I set my candle down on the table, relieved to see familiar faces once more.
I had just sat down when Merlinda screamed.
13
We all jumped from our seats and raced to the doorway. Dominic and Brayden collided by the sideboard, almost knocking over the candelabras.
Dominic swore under his breath and grabbed a candelabra. He brandished it like a weapon and forced Brayden out of the way.
I shrunk against the wall and let both of them pass. Given Brayden’s obsession with Merlinda and his need to always be first, I didn’t want to get in his way. I motioned for Tyler to go ahead of me too. Then I picked up the second candelabra and followed the men out into the hallway.
I almost ran into Tyler’s backside as he stopped abruptly in front of me.
Aunt Amber swore as she slammed to a halt behind me. “What the heck is going on?”
“Merlinda!” Dominic’s wail sent a chill up my spine.
No answer.
I craned my neck to see around Tyler and saw Merlinda lying on the floor. Dominic knelt beside her. His lit candelabra sat on the hall table and illuminated the otherwise dark hallway. The flickering light only intensified the dark mood.
Merlinda was curled in a fetal position in the hallway, unconscious. She had collapsed before reaching the bathroom.
“Merlinda! Talk to me.” Dominic shook Merlinda’s shoulder, his voice breaking. “Wake up!”
Tyler walked around Merlinda and knelt on her opposite side. He lifted her arm, but it was limp. He leaned over her and checked for a pulse and vital signs. “She’s not breathing.”
I followed Tyler and stood behind him. I placed my candelabra on the floor by the wall.
“Somebody call an ambulance, quick!” Tyler turned sideways and began CPR. His broad torso partially blocked my view, but even so, it was painfully obvious that the CPR wasn’t yielding results.
“I already did.” Westwick Corners was so small we didn’t actually have 9-1-1. Or, unfortunately, a hospital or paramedics. Even the closest doctor was an hour away in Shady Creek. I had called Shady Creek Emergency anyway, hoping for a miracle. But the storm was so fierce that even the paramedics were grounded. “Unfortunately, they can’t get here in the storm.”
A minute passed, then a few more. Even in the dim light, Merlinda’s bluish skin tone was evident. It didn’t look good.
Tyler and Dominic took turns performing CPR, though it soon became obvious to us all that his efforts were futile.
Finally, Tyler stood and turned to Dominic. “I’m so sorry, Dominic. We did everything we could, but…she’s gone.”
“She’s not gone. She can’t be. She just fainted. We have to keep trying.” Dominic shoved Tyler out of the way and resumed CPR, though it was obvious from his technique that he had never resuscitated anyone before.
“Dominic, I’m so sorry.” Brayden placed a hand on Dominic’s shoulder.
Dominic brushed Brayden’s hand away. “She’s not gone. She’s just...”
Aunt Pearl shoved in front of Brayden and knelt beside Merlinda. “Let me see her. I’ll get her to the hospital.”
Tyler’s eyes met mine. Clearly, he thought the same thing I did. Not even magic would bring Merlinda back to life.
Aunt Pearl rose to her feet and stood complet
ely still as the gravity of the situation hit her.
“What the hell is happening? Just a few minutes ago she was…” Dominic shook his head in disbelief. He slowly backed away from Merlinda and leaned against the wall, defeated. He slumped down into a sitting position and covered his face with his hands. His whole body shook as he cried into his hands. “She can’t die on me.”
Dominic was clearly distraught at losing his sweetheart.
He wasn’t the only one.
Aunt Pearl screamed. “No!” She collapsed on the floor beside Merlinda and curled up into a fetal position.
The rest of us stood frozen in place, stunned. An apparently healthy twenty-something woman had passed away right in front of our eyes with no logical explanation.
Merlinda’s hands clutched her stomach in a death grip, her face frozen in a grimace. Her eyes remained wide open, unseeing. Even in the dim candlelight, it was obvious she was dead.
“I’m sorry, Pearl.” Tyler gently pulled Aunt Pearl up into a standing position and placed his arm around her shoulders. He steered her toward Aunt Amber and Mom, who both sobbed quietly a few feet away.
Dominic sobbed into his hands. “She was eating and talking and everything was fine. I don’t understand what happened. How can someone so young just die like that?”
Tyler shook his head. “Sometimes people die suddenly. Maybe she had an undiagnosed medical condition. We’ll have to wait and see what the medical examiner says.”
The medical examiner, like pretty much everyone else, was in Shady Creek.
Mom’s hand flew to her mouth in shock. “I can’t believe it. She was the picture of health. She had such a healthy appetite too. She was just enjoying my Christmas cake.”
Aunt Pearl jumped to her feet and shook her fist at Mom. “You have to stop making that cake, Ruby. Your stupid cake killed my star student.”
“You think I poisoned Merlinda?” Mom’s mouth dropped open, aghast at Aunt Pearl’s accusation. “That’s crazy. What about everyone else? You all ate the cake and you’re not sick.”
Christmas Witch List--A Westwick Witches Cozy Mystery Page 8
