Dreams of the Witch

by Deanna Chase

  “Zoey!” A petite little girl with brown curls ran up to her and grabbed her other hand.

  “Hi, Daisy. This is my uncle Hunter,” Zoey said, pointing to him.

  “Hello,” the little girl said politely. She quickly turned to Zoey. “You’re late. We need to hurry or we’re going to miss it!”

  “It’s the lighting of the school Christmas tree!” Zoey called over her shoulder as the two ran off to the open space in the center of the school.

  Hunter chuckled as he followed along behind them, loving that she’d already made a friend. If Zoey managed to settle in painlessly, it was less likely that Vivian would move her again in the short term.

  School children were lined up in a circle around a massive blue spruce Christmas tree. Four teachers stood nearby, wands in their hands.

  Wands? Since when did the Keating Hollow witches use wands? He heard the clatter of high heels behind him and turned to find Vivian doing her catwalk impersonation down the hallway toward him. She didn’t look like anyone who lived or worked in Keating Hollow. She was far too made up. From the sexy suit, to the heels, to the make-up, she was about ten beauty steps ahead of everyone else. Yes, she was gorgeous, but she also looked like she was trying too hard.

  “Did you know this school uses wands? Isn’t that a little dangerous for kids?” he asked her when she came to a stop beside him. Wands carried power and ancient spells. The last thing the kids needed was another child unleashing a power spell he or she had no skill to control.

  “It’s just for show and to help them concentrate. Don’t worry, I already asked about them. No one is going to turn Zoey into a unicorn. Although she might actually like that,” Vivian said with a chuckle.

  Hunter crossed his arms over his chest and watched as the four teachers waved their wands and in unison said, “From the gifts of our elements, we ask that the gods bless us with the trimming of the tree.”

  The students all repeated the phrase.

  Silence filled the chilled air. It was so quiet Hunter was half positive that a teacher had cast a charm over the kids. But then a bird chirped, and the teachers started waving their wands around. A bottle of water rose in the air and tilted, and water started to pour out. Before it could reach the ground one of the teachers flicked her wrist, and the water rose into the air, separated, and reformed into two dozen icicles. Another flick of the wrist and the icicles each found a place on the tree. Each teacher used their element to decorate the tree, and in no time, the tree was filled with magical flames flickering on white candles, blooming poinsettias that had no need to be watered, and miniature fake swans that had become animated and were now perched on the branches.

  The kids squealed and cheered as they were herded to their classrooms. Zoey ran over to Hunter and Vivian, gave them each a big hug and a kiss on the cheek, and then ran back to her classmates, who were already filing into a nearby classroom.

  Hunter placed a hand on the small of Vivian’s back and guided her toward the school entrance. “She seems to love it here.”

  Vivian nodded. “At least that’s one thing that’s going right.”

  “Mr. and Mrs. McCormick!” the woman Hunter recognized as the principal called and hurried over to them.

  “We’re not—” Hunter started to say that they weren’t married and that in fact, Vivian and Zoey didn’t share his last name, but Vivian cut him off.

  “Hello, Janice. The tree lighting was perfect,” Vivian said.

  “Thank you. It’s a favorite every year. I just wanted to tell you both how much we love having Zoey. She’s a delightful child. She’s already made fast friends with Daisy, the daughter of Noel Townsend. Good people the Townsends.” She grinned at Hunter. “But you already know that, right? I heard you’re doing work for Lin. Such a great guy.”

  “Yes, he is,” Hunter said.

  “Anyway. I have to run. Let us know if there’s anything we can do to make the settling-in process smoother for Zoey.” The principal waved her fingers at them and strode off.

  “That was certainly nice,” Vivian said as they walked back out to his truck.

  Hunter was quiet as he held the door open for her. The interaction had disturbed him. Why had the principal called them Mr. and Mrs. McCormick? He continued to stew about the interaction as he put the truck in gear and headed to the heart of the town. Finally, he couldn’t stand it and just asked her. “Viv, why does the principal think we’re married?”

  “Oh, that.” She waved an unconcerned hand. “When I filled out Zoey’s paperwork, I used your last name. I figured it would just be easier than changing it later.”

  He pulled the truck into a parking spot on Main Street and stared at her in confusion. “What are you talking about? Why would you do that?”

  “You know why,” she said, impatiently. “Come on, Hunter. Give me a break, will you? I’m just trying to do the right thing.”

  “By erasing Craig completely?” he roared and then shot out of the truck, needing the fresh air to cool his temper. Craig didn’t deserve what she was doing to him. He’d been Zoey’s father for seven years of her life. She couldn’t just erase that because it made life easier for her.

  “Hunter, please,” she said, standing beside the truck with her arms crossed over her chest in a protective stance. “This is hard enough as it is. I was just trying to… I don’t know. It seemed like the right thing to do. We’re sort of like a family now. And if we just give it time…” Her voice wobbled, and she glanced away, but not before he noticed the tears in her eyes.

  He let out a frustrated sigh and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Walking over to her, he used two fingers to lift her face so that she was looking up at him. “Viv, you can’t just change things like that. Don’t you think it’s too confusing for Zoey? She’s been a Chambers her entire life. She can’t just switch to McCormick out of nowhere.”

  “She’s happy to be a McCormick,” Viv said as a single tear rolled down her face. “Craig would understand.”

  Hunter highly doubted that. In fact, he was fairly certain his friend was rolling in his grave right at that moment. A sharp stab of pain sluiced through him even as his heart seemed to swell with the idea. He couldn’t let her do this. It wasn’t fair to Craig or Zoey.

  “Vivian, listen, you have to go back to the school and make sure they know that Zoey’s last name is Chambers. It’s her legal name, and we aren’t married, nor will we ever be. You have to stop thinking you can will things into existence.”

  “Why are you fighting this?” she asked, her eyes searching his in earnest. “Craig is gone. You aren’t betraying him, and Zoey deserves to have a father.”

  Hunter ground his teeth together, praying for patience. “Zoey has a father!” he said through clenched teeth, wanting to shake her. “You know I’m committed to her, that I’m not going anywhere, but Craig deserves to live in her memory and you’re trying to erase him. I won’t let you do it.”

  “I’m not trying to erase him,” she said very quietly. “I’m just trying to do the right thing for my daughter.”

  “So am I,” he said, closing his eyes, trying to regain control. “But you have to stop forcing this, Vivian. You and me, we’re never going to end up together the way you want us to. I’m not… it’s just not what I’m looking for.”

  “You mean I’m not what you’re looking for,” she said with a huff of irritation.

  It was true, but he hadn’t wanted to come out and just say it like that. Finally, he opted for the truth. “I’m sorry, Viv. The fact is that I’m interested in someone else.”

  “It’s Faith, isn’t it? The pretty blonde you were talking to at the bookstore. She owns the spa, doesn’t she?” Her words were matter-of-fact, void of emotion.

  He didn’t even acknowledge her question. Instead, he bent down and kissed her softly on the cheek. “I’m sorry, Viv. Please talk to the school so there aren’t any more miscommunications. I have to get to work.” He climbed back into his truck, rol
led down the window, and said, “Call me if you need a ride home later.”

  She glared at him. “Don’t worry about us. I’ll figure something out.”

  “Okay. Offer stands,” he called, pretending she wasn’t trying to burn holes in his skull. Then he took off down the road, heading to Lincoln Townsend’s farm.

  Chapter 8

  Faith sat at a corner table way in the back of Incantation Café, clutching the letter her mother had sent her. She’d read it at least two dozen times, but she couldn’t seem to fully process the words scrawled across the page and read it again, wishing that mother-daughter connection would spring to life. It didn’t. How could it? Faith hadn’t seen or heard from her mother in twenty-one years.

  Her mother had walked out on the family when Faith was only five years old, but she remembered that fall day as if it were just yesterday. Gabrielle Townsend had been a beautiful woman. She had thick honey-blond hair, ocean blue eyes, and an ethereal quality that made Faith remember her as if she were some sort of angel.

  Even though the day had been Abby’s birthday, it had started out as any other, except their mother had been dressed in sweat pants and a stained sweatshirt instead of her usual chic jeans and flowy blouses. Normally on birthdays, their mother would bring the birthday girl cake in bed. But that morning Gabrielle appeared to have forgotten, and no one even wished Abby a happy birthday.

  Yvette had been the one to force the girls into the car and remind their mother to drive them to school. Noel was mad about something, and she and Yvette had argued the entire way to school while their mother, who usually didn’t tolerate any nonsense, had ignored their bickering. By the time Gabby dropped them off, Faith’s ears had been ringing from the screaming.

  Faith remembered standing on the sidewalk with Abby as they watched the old Volvo disappear down the street. Faith had been unsettled but hadn’t realized it at the time. All she knew was that she desperately wanted to be back at home, cuddled up next to her mother.

  Two hours later, Faith burst into tears and demanded that the nurse call her mother. She had to see her. Had to go home.

  When no one had been able to calm Faith, they’d done as she asked and called Gabby to come get her, thinking maybe she was coming down with something.

  But no one answered, and Gabby hadn’t come for Faith. It was her dad, Lin, who’d arrived an hour later and scooped his daughter up into his arms. He’d wiped her tears away and taken her home. Faith had run into the house looking everywhere for her mother, but she was nowhere to be found. It was then that Faith had the dreaded feeling that she’d never see her mother again. She’d known before Lin found her mother’s empty closet and the empty bank account. Before Abby had come home and found out her mother had abandoned her on her birthday.

  Gabrielle Townsend had left them without a word or any hint that she was leaving. But five-year-old Faith had some sort of premonition that day at school, and she’d been the only one who knew without a doubt that her mother wasn’t coming back.

  Twenty-one years later, Faith had been wholly unprepared for her mother’s letter. She’d let that relationship go a long time ago, but now it was all she could think about. Her mother had written her. She knew where her youngest daughter lived, and she wanted to reconnect. Wanted to mend fences.

  Faith had no idea what to do.

  “Hey, you,” Hanna said, sliding into the seat opposite Faith. She handed her a mocha latte with extra whip. “What’s wrong? You look like someone stole your puppy.”

  “No one would steal Xena. She’s a terror wrapped up in a ball of fluff,” Faith said. “If they did, they’d return her within the hour.”

  Hanna snickered then stuck her bottom lip out in an exaggerated pout. “Poor Xena. She just needs to grow up a little bit. I bet she turns into a great dog.”

  “That’s what I keep praying for.” Faith slid the letter in her hand over to Hanna. “This came in the mail a few days ago.”

  Hanna picked it up, glanced at it and gasped. “Holy balls, Faith. Is this really from your mom?”

  “That’s what it says.” She blew out a breath and buried her face in her hands. “I don’t know what to do with that.”

  There was silence between them as Hanna read the letter. When she was done, she put the letter down on the table and smoothed out the crinkles from where Faith had clutched the paper.

  “Well?” Faith asked. “What do you think I should do?”

  “She’s your mom, Faith. I think you kinda have to respond.” She glanced down at the letter again. “Have you told your sisters?”

  Faith shook her head. “Not yet. I don’t know what to say. How do you tell your sisters that your mother wrote you a letter and asked you not to tell them you heard from her? Besides, I want to have a pretty good idea of what I want to do before I talk to them. I don’t want anyone trying to make up my mind for me. You know?”

  In the letter, Gabby had written that she wanted to make contact with each of her girls separately and asked that Faith not tell her sisters that they’d been in contact. Faith was not comfortable with the request at all. Before she did anything, she’d be having a conversation with her sisters and her dad.

  “Makes sense,” Hanna said. “It’s an unreasonable request anyway. Anyone who knows the Townsends sisters knows that you four stick together.”

  “We do now that Abby is home at least,” Faith said. Abby had moved away after high school graduation and stayed away for about a decade. While Faith and Yvette had kept in touch with her, Abby and Noel had suffered some issues. But the four were close now, and hiding this from them was not an option. “Do you really think I have to call her?”

  “If you don’t, will you regret it?”

  Faith closed her eyes and tried to ignore the ache in her gut. It was no use. She knew her answer. “Yes. I’d always wonder.”

  Hanna reached out and covered Faith’s hand with her own. “I know this has to be gut-wrenching for you. But you’ll tell your family, and you guys will get through it together.”

  “What if she’s not who I remember?”

  Hanna gave her a grim smile. “Sweetie, it’s been twenty years. She’s definitely not who you remember.”

  “Ugh. You’re right. I mean, what if she’s not a nice person? You know, one of those people who hates kids and posts hateful memes on Facebook all day?”

  Hanna chuckled. “You’ll just block her and move on like everyone else.”

  “Yeah. But what if it isn’t obvious? What if we meet her and she seems fine, but suddenly we find out she’s just here for money or to manipulate us or something? I don’t know, Hanna. I don’t have a great feeling about this.” If there was one thing Faith had learned when her mother left all those years ago, it was to trust her gut.

  “Oh, sweetie. I know this is hard,” Hanna said. “You’ll either let her back into your life or you won’t, but remember, you have all the power here. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries. She’s the one who left you all, remember? If it turns out she can’t earn your trust, you don’t have to have a relationship with her.”

  “You’re right.” Faith leaned back in her chair. “The first step is to call a family meeting, huh?”

  But Hanna didn’t answer. She was busy staring out the window.

  “What is it?” Faith leaned forward, following Hanna’s line of sight.

  “Hunter and his girlfriend,” she said. “Wow, looks like they’re having a row.”

  “He swears they aren’t dating,” Faith said as she watched Hunter scowl at Vivian. They exchanged words, but then Hunter seemed to soften a bit as he spoke to her and bent his head to kiss her on the cheek. “I guess that’s a lie.” Faith sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “Why are men such pigs?”

  “Oh, come on now. They aren’t all terrible,” Hanna said, eyeing her friend. “Your sisters seem to have done okay for themselves.”

  Faith let out a bark of laughter. “It only took them each about ten y
ears and a few really bad apples to get it right.” Yvette’s marriage had failed when her husband realized he was gay. Noel’s first husband had walked out one day and didn’t return for six years. And Abby had left town right after graduation, leaving behind the man she loved, because she hadn’t been able to deal with the fact that she might’ve played an accidental role in the tragic death of her best friend Charlotte. “I’d like to do a little better on my first try than they have.”

  “You just need to pick someone who won’t let you down. What about Brian? He seems totally into you. Don’t you two have a date on Friday?”

  Faith nodded.

  “That’s a good thing, right?” Hanna picked up her cup and took a long sip of coffee.

  “I guess.” Faith slumped, hating that she wasn’t more excited about dating Brian. If the date wasn’t exceptional, she’d have to tell him they could only be friends. She didn’t want to lead him on when she was so clearly into someone else. Someone who was clearly taken, no matter what he said. “I just wish I liked him more, you know?”

  Hanna nodded, her expression serious. “Like how I like Rhys.” She sighed. “Why can’t that man see what’s right in front of him? I practically threw myself at him the other night. And you know what he did?”

  Faith sat up, happy to be hearing about someone else’s drama. “He thought you were joking?” It was how he handled everyone who flirted with him while he was working at the brewery.

  “Ha! If only. When I told him I was free on Saturday night and looking for a dance partner, he told me to sign up for Magical Connections. Apparently, it’s a dating site for witches. Can you believe that? I was wearing that dress that stops traffic, and he told me to sign up for an internet dating site. Is he blind? Am I the annoying little sister type? I don’t get it!”