“Is he a threat?” Sarah was suddenly stricken at the thought of having to give up their friendship.
“No. Or at least I don’t believe so,” her mother responded. “But I do want to meet him.” She refused to elaborate any further. And in an effort to demonstrate her good intentions and offer assistance, she lent Sarah several books with titles like Wicca: A Solitary Practitioner’s Guide, and To Ride a Silver Broomstick.
Sarah shook her head in disbelief. How might she have responded to works like this even yesterday? Well, certainly not with the same level of interest and acceptance she felt today. Of that she was certain.
Jamie glanced at the books quizzically when Sarah met them in the car. “Don’t ask,” Sarah muttered as she put them in the car next to Chloe. She was about to climb into the driver’s seat when a thought crossed her mind. “I’ll be right back,” she said to Jamie.
Sarah dashed back to the house, flung open the door, and looked her mother in the eye. “Chloe?” She asked.
Her mother nodded. “Yes. She has a power that will one day equal yours. And with training, both of yours will exceed mine.”
“Why?” Sarah was surprised.
“Oh, it happens that way sometimes. With you, you have been blessed with this light, this energy that surrounds you. Tell me you haven’t noticed.” Sarah thought for a moment. “You are the light that draws all the moths, Sarah. Be careful.”
And with that new information, she left her mother’s house and trudged back to her car. My life can never be the same, she thought. Naturally, she was right.
Brian was sitting on the floor of his living room, basking in the silence. He was prepared, having carefully cleansed. He had to reach out to Sarah now, had to know if she knew yet. He had to watch out for her. He was aching for her even now as he wondered whether her life was about to change forever. What he wouldn’t give to hold her close tonight. Maybe he would ask her, invite her over with Chloe and convince them to stay. He let his mind wander. She was in the car, driving. She wasn’t alone. That was good. There was no protection like love, and Sarah was usually surrounded by it, though it was weaker at her residence. She was close to her destination. He would be hearing from her soon. She would call and he would ask her to come be with him.
Ten minutes later his phone rang. Brian waited for the second ring to answer. “Sarah,” he breathed into the phone.
“How did you know?” She asked, the exhaustion evident in her voice.
“Caller ID,” he lied. “How was it?” He waited anxiously, unsure of how much she would admit to.
“Well,” she began. “It was interesting.” He could feel her closing off. She was scared to share too much with him.
“Why don’t you come over?” He asked, soothingly. “I made dinner, more than enough for the three of us.”
“Three?” She asked.
“Chloe would come, too, right?” He waited eagerly for a response.
“I guess,” she said hesitantly. She thought for a moment. The books sat on the counter, right where she left them, begging to be read. She should stay home and do that. The sooner she explored this new side of her, the better. “I have some reading I need to do,” she said.
“Bring it with you,” Brian suggested.
“Um, I don’t think so,” she said, afraid of how he would react to her choice of reading material.
“I don’t want you and Chloe to be there alone,” he said nervously. “And I’m not supposed to be there.” He paused for a moment, knowing she would argue that they were just friends. “I need to count, even though you claim I don’t.” She was silent on the other end, thinking. “Pack a bag, Sarah,” he urged. Come be with me. Come be safe under my protection. He thought fiercely.
Sarah sighed. “It’s very tempting.”
“I’ll give you fifteen minutes,” he said and hung up. He sat down and let his mind wander. What was she doing? Where was she? Then he felt her clearly. She was taking his advice. She would soon be leaving the house. He felt something else too. The danger was lurking nearby, watching and biding its time. Hurry, Sarah, he urged.
He set the table while he waited. He changed the sheets on the bed. He put on some soothing music, but nothing helped. He wouldn’t relax until he knew she was safe, here, with him.
As the knock sounded on the door, Brian became the picture of relief. It was all he could do to not smother her in his arms when they were at last face to face. “I wasn’t sure you’d come,” he whispered into her hair as they hugged.
“Me neither,” she admitted. “But, I was too tired to cook. Hunger won out.”
He laughed. “Oh, and I thought it was my charm.”
Chloe watched them with a smile. “So, you guys are all better,” she said with relief.
They nodded and she set her bag down on the floor. Together they walked over to the table to begin eating.
Once dinner was done and they had cleaned up together, Chloe began to unpack her bag. “I need a bath,” she complained to her mother. “You know this is my bath night.” She was standing with hands on hips, waiting for a response.
Sarah looked at Brian with raised eyebrows. “What do you think?” She asked.
He was silent a moment, walked out onto the deck, glanced over the railing, and smiled. “Well, the river is high enough. She can probably bathe there.” He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Sounds good to me. Chloe?” Sarah glanced at where her daughter had stood only moments before.
Chloe wasn’t there. She had marched down the hall and brought her clothes and supplies into the bathroom. Sarah followed her in to help her get the water drawn. “Why do you do that?” She asked her mother seriously.
“What do you mean?” Sarah asked curiously.
“You know. You two play with me like that,” she said indignantly.
Sarah shrugged. “I thought kids liked to play. I always did.”
“Oh, mother,” she complained. “You know I’m not like other children.”
“Really?” her mother asked, eyes narrowed, “How so?”
“I don’t know what to call it exactly. I just know I’m different. We’re different.” Her face scrunched up as she searched for the words to explain what she understood intrinsically.
Sarah sat heavily on the lid of the toilet. She had thought it was the sex talk she was going to dread. Somehow, this seemed infinitely worse. She swallowed and asked, “And when did you make this discovery?”
“Well,” Chloe said slowly, sinking into the tub. “I guess I’ve been finding that out all year in kindergarten. Don’t worry, mom. I know there are kids like me, too.”
“Yeah, like who?” Sarah was surprised by the direction the conversation had taken.
“Well, Brian’s nieces and nephews are like me.” She smiled happily.
Sarah glanced out the doorway and saw Brian frozen in the living room. She wasn’t sure he had heard the conversation. How could he? But it was apparent something had him spooked. “Why don’t you take your bath? I need to talk to Brian.”
She shut the door behind her after blowing Chloe a kiss. Then she turned on her heels and marched out to the living room. Brian was sitting on the coffee table, hunched over, with his hands clasped together. Sarah chose a seat on the couch opposite him.
“I’ve had a strange day,” she said quietly. “And it shows no signs of letting up.” Brian said nothing. He hadn’t even moved. “In fact, I just had a most intriguing conversation with Chloe.” Still, no sound or movement emitted from Brian. She sighed. “Is there anything you would like to tell me?”
He glanced at her while picking at a hang nail. He shrugged. “Like what?” He couldn’t hold her gaze. She was angry and annoyed.
“Well, I didn’t know how to tell you before, but suddenly I doubt you’ll be surprised to find I’m a...” Her voice trailed off. She was scared to say the word aloud. She tried again. “I’m a...” She had no better luck this attempt.
“Witch.” Brian was watching her now. They stared at each other, neither speaking. He was the first to break off the stale mate. “I know. I knew before you, even.”
“Is that what...?” Her eyes widened nervously.
But Brian interrupted. “That is not what attracted me to you. I liked you as a person. Only later did I realize what you were, and that you didn’t know.” Slowly, afraid to scare her, he reached over and laced his fingers through hers.
“You are the reason I do know now, aren’t you?” She looked at him in surprise. She was putting all the pieces together. He set her up with Bob. Bob set her up with Brenda. No wonder her mother wanted to meet him.
“Yes,” he said quietly. “I had only your best interests at heart. You know this, right?” He needed her to understand. With all his heart and in his touch he urged her to relax, to remain calm, to give him a chance.
She looked at his hand holding hers. It was warm, but not sweaty. There was a heat traveling through him into her. It soothed her anger, settled her fears. She gazed deeply into his eyes and saw it for the first time. They shone with love. She gasped.
Brian knew why she had reacted as she did. She was learning. She was a bright witch. Inexperienced though she was, she would catch on quickly with training.
“I’ll be satisfied with just being your friend,” Brian murmured into her hair as he pulled her into his arms, though the words hurt his throat even as he uttered them. “Don’t take that away.”
With a heart full of questions, Sarah melted into his arms. She had experienced what it was like to not have him in her life. It was a terribly empty couple of days. And while she wasn’t ready for them to explore other possibilities in their relationship, she couldn’t imagine being without him all together. I need you, Brian. The words came from her heart.
And I, you, his heart whispered back. Something in her smiled and sighed. They pulled back to face each other again, just as Chloe walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.
“I’m clean!” She sang. “I’m ready for bed!” She was happy, dancing around even as the towel came loose and exposed her little naked bottom. Sarah laughed, Brian covered his eyes, and Chloe grabbed for her clean underwear and made a dash back to the bathroom.
For the first time in forever, Sarah felt what it could be like to have a family. Maybe some day, she thought. She looked Brian in the eyes.
Maybe with me, he responded. And Sarah, upon hearing his deep seductive voice in her head, shivered.
As Sarah suspected, her life was never quite the same. She and Brian achieved a happy balance. From him she received all the love, companionship, and affection she could hope for, without the pressure of a real relationship. He never demanded more, content to be a fixture in her life.
Summer passed the way it should, slowly, so that they were able to savor every moment of it. And because Sarah was so busy learning and reading and growing, she nearly forgot part of the prediction Brenda made. She forgot about being in danger. She forgot that at least part of the reason she studied so hard was for her own protection. Instead she basked in her growing abilities, reveled in the new spells she learned, potions she successfully created, and supplies of the trade that she acquired.
Sarah was happy. She was proud. She shared every accomplishment with Brian, her mother, and Brenda. She even saw to it that Chloe learned, a little. She was determined that her daughter not have to learn about herself later in life as Sarah had. Chloe would be whole. She would know who she was always. The only trick was to convince her to keep the secret from her father and the rest of the world.
Naturally, Sarah didn’t have that challenge. Jamie tended to be self-centered, so when she noticed changes in Sarah she assumed that Vermont had taken its toll on her and she was turning into one of those Earth Mothers. Jamie was so consumed with her own life that it never would occur to her to question. Josh was busy with Tessa, and now that Sarah spent so much time with Brian, they barely spoke. So, other than her students, pretty much everyone else was clued in to Sarah’s life. She liked it that way. She wasn’t the duplicitous type.
As she sat in her office one Monday near the end of the summer session, she felt Brian trying to speak to her. She turned to face his window. Now that she had learned to communicate other ways, the wipe boards had become superfluous. What? She asked with a smile.
Just wanted to make sure we were on for lunch today. His words came slowly, carefully.
Sarah nodded and was about to make a reply when she heard a throat clear behind her. As she turned, the sight of Evan Winters sent chills down her spine. His skin tone had been consistently darkening all summer. And today he looked especially fit in his navy polo shirt and khaki shorts. He smiled at her the way the wolf smiled at Little Red Riding Hood.
“Can I help you, Mr. Winters?” She asked seriously.
He entered the room and took the seat across from her. Sarah wasn’t worried. She knew Brian was watching from his window. Yet, when she glanced over, the office was empty. It gave her a jolt.
“Well, the summer session is almost over,” he began. Sarah watched him, unsure of the direction he intended to take. “And I thought you might want to consider going out to dinner with me after it’s finished.” Sarah frowned. “You see, I won’t be a student anymore. There would be no reason for us not to see each other socially.” He smiled. He was confident he had the situation under control.
“Actually, there would,” a voice boomed from the doorway. They both turned to see Brian standing there. Relief washed over Sarah.
“And what might that be?” Evan asked, trying to hide his displeasure. He had been planning this move since the first day he met Professor White.
Brian leaned against the doorway. “Well, it would be unethical. The administration might question whether or not something had been going on between you all session. It would put Professor White in a very uncomfortable position. She doesn’t have tenure yet.” Brian gazed at Sarah, trying to communicate mentally. See, I didn’t leave you, Sarah. I would never leave you. She didn’t say anything, but he could feel her response. She was completely at ease now.
But Evan wasn’t finished. “I would rather hear this from Professor White, if you don’t mind,” he said evenly through gritted teeth.
All eyes were on Sarah. “Professor Waite is right,” she said. “I couldn’t date you even if I wanted to.” She intended for Evan to recognize that the desire to be with him didn’t even exist.
Of course, that wasn’t how he understood it. In his twisted mind, the undue pressures of her job were tearing them apart. “This isn’t the only university on the east coast that would hire you,” he said quietly. Immediately, his began scheming, determined to find a way for them to be together. He smiled, stood suddenly, and left her office.
They were silent for a moment as Sarah’s heart began to slow to its regular pace. Brian attempted a joke. “Man, I had hoped it would be me that finally had your heart pounding like that.” Sarah gave him a weak smile. “Shall we adjourn for lunch?” He asked, offering her an arm. Sarah gladly took it, and they wandered out to the courtyard.
Brian made sure the picnic basket was always filled with her favorites. He seemed to consistently remember what she liked. Today was no different. Together they laid out the blanket they so frequently used. As they relaxed into their meal, he began the conversation. “Do you like him?” He thought he knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it from her.
“Who?” Sarah asked, distracted by the foccaccia bread.
He looked impatient. “Evan. You can tell me the truth, Sarah. I’ll know anyway.”
Sarah knew it was true. He could always read her heart. She cocked her head to one side. “I thought he was interesting at first. I think women are always flattered when someone finds them attractive.” She took a breath. “He showed up at a difficult time, remember?” Brian nodded sadly. “And goodness knows he was nothing if not tenacious.” He looked down. Sarah reached over and lifted his ch
in so that he had to see her face. “But I don’t like him. Not in the least. I think he’s bad people.” She watched Brian for a reaction. “Do you understand?”
He smiled and did something impulsive, something he hadn’t done in such a very long time. Brian leaned over and planted a light kiss on Sarah’s lips. And this time she didn’t balk, she didn’t push him away, she wasn’t afraid. The kiss left a slight tingle, her eyes widened and she reached up to touch her lips in surprise.
“Can I ask you for a couple of favors?” He asked with smiling eyes.
“By a couple do you mean two?” She asked teasingly.
His smile widened. “As a matter of fact, yes. You see, I have two field trips planned. The first is a day trip this Thursday.” He intended to say more but Sarah interrupted.
“And just when were you planning to ask me?” She was bothered that he waited so long, just assumed she’d have nothing better to do than drop everything to be there for him.
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