Christmas Witch List--A Westwick Witches Cozy Mystery

by Colleen Cross

“Don’t be ridiculous, Amber! How many times do I have to tell you? There was absolutely nothing wrong with my tea. I did not make a mistake, so just give it a rest, okay? That’s not how I stopped her from going home. I got her flight canceled instead.”

  I frowned. “You can’t just call up the airline and—wait a minute. Do you mean that you changed the weather? You brought the storm?” I had always thought that conjuring up a blizzard was beyond any witch’s ability. “You canceled Christmas for planeloads of people just to keep Merlinda here?”

  “You should try it sometime, Cen. All that power over people is mighty intoxicating. You could even outdo Merlinda if you put in a little effort. First, master the snow globe spell, and then…” Aunt Pearl stared wistfully into space.

  “I don’t want to—oh, never mind.” No point arguing. “I still think you should have let Merlinda go home. Trapping her here is kind of obsessive, don’t you think?”

  “I didn’t do it for selfish reasons, Cen. I had to save Merlinda from her father.” Aunt Pearl’s eyes suddenly grew misty. “I never expected trouble to come here instead. Her father called here day and night, demanding that Merlinda return home. Poor Merlinda felt she had no choice. So I made the choice for her.”

  Was this really Aunt Pearl? She was sharing her feelings about someone she cared about. I had never known her to do that, ever. “She never told you about the secret wedding?”

  Aunt Pearl shook her head. “No. If I had known, I would have stopped it. She confided to me about everything else, so either Dominic’s marriage claim was a lie, or else Merlinda was afraid to mention it in case her father found out.”

  “I guess the truth finally came out,” I said. “Poor Merlinda. Too bad fate had plans of its own.”

  35

  Christmas day dawned quiet and serene. There was no evidence of the wicked snowstorm that had lashed Westwick Corners for most of Christmas Eve. In fact, the weather had warmed substantially.

  The storm clouds had lifted to reveal a brilliant blue sky. It was as if last night’s unfortunate events had never happened.

  Or that they had ended.

  I stared out the living room window as I sipped my morning coffee. The early morning sun warmed the snowdrifts, sending rivulets of water down the driveway.

  I shivered, despite the roaring fire in the hearth. We were confined to a small corner of the living room as the last few crime scene techs finished gathering evidence. They permeated every corner of the inn, from the dining room and kitchen to Merlinda’s room.

  Poor Merlinda. Whatever advantages she had in life had ultimately been used against her. She had money and power but was betrayed in the end by love and trust.

  “The police won’t be too much longer.” Tyler had debriefed the Shady Creek police, and we had all provided statements. There wasn’t much more to do since both Dominic and Gail had provided full confessions.

  I sat on the sofa and snuggled closer to Tyler. I felt safe and secure with his arms wrapped around me, holding me close. I was grateful for everything I had. I resolved never to take anything for granted. Merlinda’s sad fate had given me a fresh perspective on things.

  I had a wonderful boyfriend, a loving family, and incredible witchy talents that I could use if I wanted. Even my dull day-to-day existence in Westwick Corners had a certain charm compared to the alternative. I had everything a girl could ask for and then some. What really mattered was what I did with what I had. But making no choice at all was not an option. I had to do something.

  My supernatural abilities were mine alone, to be channeled toward whatever I wanted. My talents wouldn’t be squandered on mischief or used for material gain. Instead, I would hone my craft so I could use it for philanthropic endeavors to help others.

  No doubt Aunt Pearl had an opinion on that. But in the end, it was just that, another person’s opinion.

  My powers were mine to use or lose. I ultimately controlled them, and it was up to me how I achieved that. But until I took charge of my own destiny, I would be outwitted and out-spelled by more powerful witches like Aunt Pearl. Or worse, fall victim to evil as Merlinda had. If I wanted to be strong, I had to learn my craft and become a stronger witch.

  Aunt Pearl.

  I scanned the room and was relieved to see her snuggled on the loveseat with Earl. They both snored softly in unison. Earl’s hand rested upon Aunt Pearl’s green velvet-clad thigh. It was a touching scene. Aunt Pearl normally hid her sentimental side, but here it was on full display.

  I briefly considered snapping a picture to embarrass her but decided against it. I didn’t want to do anything to discourage her fledgling romance with Earl. He was so good for her. His easy-going nature softened her rough edges. Most of all, he made her happy, though she wouldn’t easily admit that.

  I was jolted from my thoughts by Aunt Amber. She waved an empty glass in the air. “Who drank all the eggnog?”

  “You can’t be serious, Amber,” Mom said. “It’s not even 8 a.m.”

  “I’m dead serious,” Aunt Amber said. “After everything that’s happened, I need a drink. I haven’t gone to bed yet, so it’s not really morning. At least not as far as I’m concerned.”

  “The eggnog’s gone,” Mom said. “I gave the last of it to Dominic and Gail. I figured they might as well enjoy some Christmas cheer. It’s the last they’ll see for a while.”

  Grandma Vi laughed as she hovered at Mom’s side. “I hope it’s the last we see of them too.”

  “Oh, darn.” Aunt Amber spun around and headed toward the kitchen. “Wine it is, then.”

  “Hey, look.” Brayden pointed to the hearth where Merlinda’s snow globe sat atop the mantel. The globe’s flickering light had strengthened into an unwavering sunny yellow glow.

  The shimmering Christmas tree lights and the roaring fire warmed the room. But it wasn’t just the cozy fire or the company of those I loved. I felt something else, an unfamiliar yet comforting presence. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it was there, nonetheless.

  There was something else missing. My Christmas wish remained unfulfilled.

  I grabbed Tyler’s hand as I stood. “C’mon. I want to show you something.”

  “You sure? You look like you could use some rest.” Tyler’s warm brown eyes twinkled as he placed his hand on mine. “I don’t think I’ve ever had such an exciting Christmas Eve. Your family attracts the weirdest people.”

  I leaned in and kissed him. “It’s mostly Aunt Pearl.”

  “It’s all Aunt Pearl,” he whispered.

  “You sure you want to be involved with my crazy family? You can back out if you want to. You have no idea what you’re getting into.”

  “I know exactly what I’m getting into, Cendrine West.” Tyler nodded toward Aunt Pearl, still snoring loudly along with Earl.

  It was our first quiet moment since Tyler had arrived for dinner last night, and I wanted to make the most of what little time we had. I wanted my Christmas wish. It was too late for our intimate Christmas dinner but never too late for romance.

  I guided Tyler around the Christmas tree so that we were mostly hidden from view. I stood on my tiptoes and fell into his arms for a long leisurely kiss.

  That was when I saw it.

  At first, I thought it was a Christmas ornament, one I hadn’t noticed earlier.

  Only it wasn’t.

  It was a globe, smaller and dimmer than Merlinda’s. It rested on the upper branches of the Christmas tree, a foot or so higher than where I had first seen Merlinda’s globe.

  And it wasn’t just any globe. It was my globe. Not the one I had encased Brayden and Gail in earlier but another one. One that I must have created without knowing it during one of my earlier attempts.

  It was my Christmas Eve wish right down to the tiniest of details. While Merlinda’s globe was a tropical Vanuatu, mine was a snowy Westwick Corners.

  I pulled Tyler closer and peered inside the tiny globe. Snow frosted window panes framed the cozy scene inside, a tab
le set for two. It was exactly what I had imagined all along. It wasn’t life-sized, but it was my Christmas wish just the same. I had made it come true. I wrapped my arms around Tyler and kissed him.

  My globe had been hiding in plain sight all this time, if only I had cared to look.

  I broke from Tyler’s embrace, eager to share the news. My snow globe was beautiful and strong. And I had done it myself without any help. I especially wanted to prove to Aunt Pearl that my spellcasting was much better than she thought. I thought better of it and pulled Tyler close again.

  Tyler smiled. “Some secrets are worth keeping, Cen. It might come in handy sometime.”

  “You’re right.” He understood me. He accepted me for who, and what, I was. Even my crazy family. I savored the moment a while longer before we joined the others.

  Aunt Pearl stirred on the sofa. She slowly pulled herself away from Earl, careful not to disturb him. “Ruby says I need a break from everything. But I don’t know what else to do with myself. That poor girl. I wish I could have saved her.”

  “I’m really sorry, Aunt Pearl,” I said. “I know how much you cared about Merlinda.” I had never seen my aunt attached to anyone, much less express it openly. It was a side of her I hadn’t known existed.

  “It’s all right.” Aunt Pearl shook her head, but not before a tear rolled down her cheek. “But she was my star student, and I had high hopes for her. Now she’s gone just like that.” She snapped her fingers.

  I turned toward her. “You’ll have other students.”

  “It’s just not the same, Cen. Merlinda wasn’t like most other students. The only student…”

  My momentary bliss turned to irritation. “I’m sure there are other students out there that want to learn. Maybe you need to advertise. You know, promote Pearl’s Charm School.”

  She sniffed. “I don’t want just anybody as a student. We have a very rigorous selection process, and I’m certainly not changing that.”

  “Maybe you could compromise a little. Relax your standards.”

  It was as if she didn’t hear me. “Tell you what. I’ll let you come back, as long as you promise to stick to your lessons this time.”

  “But I’m not ready—”

  Aunt Pearl tapped her watch. “Better get a move on. Class starts in one hour.” She bolted off the sofa, headed to the front door, and opened it. She stepped outside and then turned back. “I’ll get my lesson plan ready. I might regret saying this, but the only student better than Merlinda was you, Cendrine. I’m doing this for your own good. One day you’ll thank me.”

  “But I don’t want to be a wit—” I realized she had purposely confronted me in front of Tyler, so I couldn’t protest. Though Tyler already knew my secret, Aunt Pearl didn’t know that he knew. I didn’t want her to, either. She had far too much power already.

  Tyler smiled and winked. “Maybe you should let Pearl have her way. The whole town’s happy when Pearl’s happy.”

  I threw my hands up in the air. I didn’t see why I had to be the sacrificial lamb. ”I just wish she’d stop trying to run my life.”

  “Pearl just cares about you, Cen,” Grandma Vi said. She wants you to be the best you can be. Be happy about that.”

  I was about to answer when something caught my eye.

  It was Merlinda’s tropical snow globe. It rested in the boughs of the Christmas tree, halfway to the top. It pulsated with energy, lighting up the room like a thousand-watt bulb. In fact, it vibrated with so much energy that I half-expected it to take flight.

  “I think Merlinda is trying to tell us something,” Grandma Vi said. “She wants you to take her place.”

  I shook my head firmly.

  Aunt Pearl followed my gaze. “You see, Cen? I’m not the only one who thinks that way. In fact, it’s my Christmas wish.”

  “That’s a good one, Pearl,” Mom agreed. “I’m sure Cen will come around to your way of thinking. Give it time.”

  “What’s your wish, Cen?” Aunt Pearl waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, forget it. If it’s something about Sheriff Gates, I don’t want to hear it.”

  Tyler snickered.

  “It’s a secret.” I smiled and thought of my Christmas snow globe hidden in the branches of the Christmas tree.

  Aunt Pearl winked at me. “Careful what you wish for, Cen. It just might come true.”

  How right she was.

  Afterword

  The Westwick Witches are a product of my imagination, but John Frum and the cargo cult is real. To a certain extent, at least. I’ve taken liberties in my story, but it’s not too far from reality. If you want to read more you can find plenty of historical and modern-day accounts.

  John Frum is one of many so-called cargo cults that existed in remote areas in the South Pacific and elsewhere. Frum is the name collectively associated with different seamen who arrived on Tannu, one of the islands in the tiny South Pacific nation of Vanuatu.

  Back then, Vanuatu was known collectively as the New Hebrides Islands. Though the islands were remote, they had occasional visitors in the early 20th century, and the islanders were impressed by their modern conveniences and apparent wealth.

  However, it was World War II when the cult really took off. 300,000 troops were stationed on the islands, arriving by sea and air. They brought with them all sorts of supplies or “cargo”, as the servicemen called their supplies. The troops built Quonset huts, and suddenly, the quiet islands bustled with industry.

  The cargo crates included tents, food, medical supplies, and weapons. They also brought the islands first trucks, iceboxes, canned meat, candy, and Coca-Cola too. The quality of life improved immensely for the islanders with all these new mod cons. It was, in a word, magical.

  Prior to this happening, the islanders believed in ancient stories and beliefs that had been recorded and retold for generations. It was only natural that some of these fables were combined with stories of the men and cargo that had recently arrived on the islands out of nowhere. From this, the John Frum cargo cult blossomed. Many of the John Frum legends are a mix of ancient beliefs intertwined with modern hopes that the well-equipped visitors brought to Vanuatu.

  John Frum may or may not be a corruption of ‘John from America’, ‘John from (wherever)’, or maybe something else. Regardless of the name, some form of this cult or pseudo-religion existed well before the Second World War. But the arrival of the troops seemed to be irrefutable proof of ancestral legends. People’s beliefs differed: some considered John Frum a religious deity, others considered him a mystical figure, and still others believed him to be a fictional composite of past visitors to the island and better times.

  But wars eventually end and so did the troops’ time in Vanuatu. In fact, it had ended rather abruptly, just as you would expect a military operation to dismantle once a war ends. The sudden departure meant the end of modern conveniences, since no one else was transporting exotic foods or time-saving household conveniences to the islands.

  As the islanders faced their harsh new reality, some believers even created ceremonial landing strips to encourage the visitors to return by air if not by sea. If you’ve ever lived on a remote island with no mod cons, you’d probably celebrate a made-up fantasy figure too. If strangers arrived out of the blue with all kinds of treasures once, surely it could happen again. It couldn’t hurt to cover your bases, right?

  Whether it is wishful thinking, true belief, or just an excuse for some fun, many Vanuatuans still celebrate the strange and wonderful conveniences brought by air force planes, naval fleets, and merchant mariners and make predictions for their eventual return. True believers look forward to February 15 of each year as the promised date of return, and even skeptics enjoy the annual parade and celebrations. February 15 is officially observed as “John Frum Day” on Vanuatu.

  Kind of makes you think of Christmas Eve and Santa Claus…

  I hope you enjoyed Christmas Witch List as much as I enjoyed writing it. You can help me to continue to write in
the series by providing feedback in an honest review. I read all reviews as they help me to determine the direction of the series, which characters to feature, and whether to continue on with the series or, alternatively, develop a new one.

  Thank you so much for reading!

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  Colleen

  About the Author

  Mystery and crime thriller author Colleen Cross writes exciting, intelligent thrillers and engrossing mysteries that grip you from the very first page. She took her very own "Exit Strategy" from the corporate world into the book world several years ago to indulge her bookworm wannabe writer self.

  Colleen Cross is a retired CPA and CFO who lives with her family on Canada's West Coast. When not writing she loves to run, hike, and explore the coast and mountains with her rescue dog, Jaeger, who reminds her daily that life's too short to not follow your dreams--or a squirrel or two.

  Her thriller and mystery books have been translated into multiple languages with more to come. Find them in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and other languages using search term Colleen Cross

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  Visit her website at www.colleencross.com and sign up for new release notifications and exclusive subscriber-only offers at http://eepurl.com/bkYx01or click the QR code below:

  Get the latest on Colleen’s books here:

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  Also by Colleen Cross

  Westwick Witches Cozy Mysteries

  Witch You Well

  Rags to Witches

  Witch and Famous

  Christmas Witch List

  Westwick Witches Magical Mystery Box set (books 1-3)

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  Katerina Carter Color of Money Mysteries

  Red Handed

  Blue Moon

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