“Honey, that ship has sailed. His son Idyll can barely keep the paper afloat. Nobody reads print anymore. Sooner than later, the Moonshadow Bay Monitor will have to join the digital revolution or be left behind.” Ari motioned to the waiter for another latte.
I went back to my waffle, thinking about Conjure Ink. How bad could it be?
That afternoon, it took my aunt, Ari, and me four hours to sort through the house. I knew what I wanted to keep for the most part, so it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it might be. I kept all the family pictures, of course. I didn’t have children and there was nobody to pass them down to, but I had other relatives who might want them. I kept the furniture—most of it was in good condition thanks to my mother’s loving care, and it would save me having to buy new. I wanted to expend as little as possible on this move. But I cleared out the sheets and towels and some of the dishes—namely the goblets and mugs.
I wanted something new, that fit my lifestyle. Ellison had kept everything he could lay his greedy hands on, and most of it was more stuffy than I cared for anyway. So I had quit arguing and just insisted he pay me for what he wanted to keep. I could claim community property on anything we had bought during those eighteen years of marriage.
Finally, by six o’clock, we stood back, looking around. I felt a sense of satisfaction. The house was already clean, thanks to my aunt, but now it felt slightly different. My books were on the shelves, my clothes were in the closet and dresser of the room that had been my parents’—and that in itself felt weird. Clearing their things out, finding my father’s condoms and my mother’s vibrators had been daunting, even though I knew they were highly sexual. But finding all their secret stashes, including the cannabis that my mom had hidden in her jewelry box, felt like I was prying where I shouldn’t be.
I sat on the bed when we were done, staring at the baggie in my hand. “My mother never could quite reconcile herself to the fact that pot’s now legal here.” She and my father had been hippies, and they had grown up to be environmentally conscious Baby Boomers, the ones who shopped at the farmers market and Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. They frequented the local butcher and bought fair-trade coffee, and they had volunteered at the animal shelters and baked cookies for local charity drives. They had cared about the world in a way I had had to push aside during the years I lived with Ellison.
“Your parents were good people,” my aunt said. “They did what they could to make the world a better place. I miss your mother more than I can say.”
I glanced up at her. “Is there anything of hers that you’d like to have? Just name it. You and she were tight.”
“Maybe…her guitar?”
“It’s yours. I don’t play and it would just hang there on the wall.”
“We were called ‘those Karns girls’ in school. We led a march on town hall, and you should have seen your grandpa William’s face when we were escorted home by the police. Of course, we had been up to our tricks, and we conjured up a dancing demon to illustrate the horrors of war, so I guess the cops had good reason to frown on our protest.” Teran started to laugh, shaking her head. “We really mucked things up that time. That demon did over a thousand dollars of damage to the town square before your mother and I managed to send him back to wherever he came from and your grandparents made us work off the cost of the damages as best as we could.” Teran snorted. “But we sure got reprimanded. Not for using our magic, of course, but for misusing it. Neither one of us knew what the hell we were doing.”
I let out a sigh. “Ellison basically hated anything to do with my magical powers. To him, it was all just too freaky. He tried to cover up the fact that I came from Moonshadow Bay like it was a red light district or something. At first I pushed him on it, and I even tried to include him in the Otherkin community. I took him down to Pike Place Market to meet the shifters who own Leathers R Fun, but he made such an ass of himself that I gave up. The elite arteests apparently don’t like admitting other races or talents exist.” I shook my head. “What the hell was I thinking, staying with him? I feel like I’ve lived in a cocoon for the past eighteen years and I didn’t even know it.”
“You know what they say about frogs and hot water,” Ari said, wrinkling her nose.
“Actually, that’s a fallacy,” I said. “Makes for a good metaphor, but the frogs are smarter than I am. They just hop back out when it gets too hot.”
“You’re smarter than a frog,” Ari said, but I waved her away, laughing.
“Hey, it happened. Gaslighting, the abuse cycle—whether emotional or physical—it can happen to the smartest people. I know that. It’s okay, I’m out of there now.”
“Well, if we’re done, I need to go home, shower, and dress,” Teran said, standing up. Her knees popped and she grimaced. “Sometimes getting older sucks, but I’ll take it over the alternative. Anyway, I have a date tonight, so I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Date? You’re dating?” I had never once heard my aunt talk about dating. She had never seemed interested in relationships.
She grinned. “Yes, I’m dating, but don’t hold your breath. You aren’t getting an uncle any time soon.”
“Have you ever wanted to get married?” Ari asked.
Teran shook her head. “No, I knew early on I’m not cut out for commitment. I’m set in my ways and I like my independence. But it’s nice to have company now and then, and it helps that he’s very adept in the bedroom.” As I blushed, she waved off my look. “You know perfectly well that all the women in our family are sexual. I have to say, I’m so surprised you stayed with Ellison so long. The man seems so self-absorbed I can’t imagine he’d notice an elephant in the room, let alone pay attention to a clitoris.”
“Well, you have me there,” I said, blushing. “Oh good gods, why did I stay so long? I guess…well, he didn’t hit me, and while he was a jackass, we did have a lot in common.”
“Yes, both Ellison and you loved Ellison. But you’re here now.” After a peck on my cheek, Teran headed to the door. She paused, glancing over her shoulder. “The house has stood empty for too long. You should do some warding.”
Ari started to say something and I knew she was going to tell Teran about the voices, so I jumped in before she could voice anything.
“I will, I promise. See you later!”
As my aunt left, Ari turned to me with an inquisitive look. “Why didn’t you tell her?”
“I don’t want her to worry. She’d cancel her date, drag her bundle of supplies over here and insist on a midnight ritual. Which I really don’t feel like holding right now. I’ll take care of things tomorrow.”
“I see your point, but she might be able to shed some light on the subject. She might even know who the ghost is.” Ari shrugged.
“I don’t even know if it is a ghost,” I said.
“Then let’s hold a séance to find out.” Ari jumped up. “I know where your mother kept her crystal ball and it’s still there. I found it when I was putting away your stuff in the library today.”
I snorted. “My first day home and you want to have a séance? Are you nuts? I haven’t held a séance since I was twenty-two.”
“So what? I have. You’re not the only witch around here,” she said, laughing. “I can lead a séance.”
I sighed. One thing about Ari—she was a pit bull in a size 2 body. She might look willowy and petite, but her red euro-bob fit her nature. And when she decided she wanted to do something, nobody could stop her. That was one of the things I loved about her, and always had.
“Fine. We’ll hold a séance. Although I’m not sure—” I paused as the doorbell rang. “Who could that be? I wonder if my aunt forgot anything.” I headed to the door. But when I opened it, I saw that it wasn’t my aunt. Instead, I found myself staring at a man who was a little taller than me. He had curly light brown hair, down to his shoulders. There was a small scar on his cheek that looked long healed. And he had the most beguiling green eyes I had ever seen. I found it hard to look a
way, actually.
“Hi, I’m your new neighbor. I bought the house next door. My name’s Killian O’Connell, and I wonder if I could borrow a cup of salt,” he said, with an impish smile.
At that moment, all I could do was stare. There was something about him that took my breath away, and I could barely find my tongue to answer.
Chapter Three
I blinked, staring at the glass cup he held out. It was a measuring cup, all right. But a cup of salt? Sugar I could have believed, even in this day and age. But salt? Confused and a little flustered, I motioned him in.
“Salt… You need salt?” I stammered, forcing myself to stop staring at him.
“Yes, I would like to borrow a cup of salt. I’m sorry, but you didn’t tell me your name,” he added.
I raised my eyebrows. “Of course, I forgot. I’m sorry, I’ve had a long day. My name is January Jaxson, and this is my best friend, Ari.”
Killian paused and the smile abruptly slid off his face. “Oh, you’re…” He stopped. “I’m sorry for your loss. My real estate agent told me that the couple who owned this house…” Again, he looked tongue-tied.
His hesitation gave me time to compose myself.
“Yes, I’m Trevor and Althea’s daughter. My parents died in a car crash about five months ago. I’ve decided to move back to Moonshadow Bay, and I just arrived today. Please, come inside. I’ll see if there’s any salt in the kitchen.” I had spent so many years of playing the gracious hostess that, given the breathing space, I was able to hide my distress. I had spent many an evening soothing ruffled egos with Scotch and bourbon. I could do it with my eyes closed when I wasn’t taken by surprise. The artsy crowd liked their booze.
I led him into the living room. Thanks to Ari and my aunt, the boxes were gone, collapsed and out in the garage, and the house looked tidy and neat.
Killian glanced around. “This is a nice house. You have a great yard. I love how we live right up against the park.” He sat down when I motioned to the sofa.
“This is a wonderful neighborhood. When I was little, I spent more time playing in the woods than I did in my yard. I used to run wild out there, even though my mother tried to put a stop to it—the Mystic Wood is full of shadow as well as light. But Ari and I never let that stop us. We were out there constantly during the summer.”
Ari flashed me a bright smile. “We were, at that. I’m so glad you’re back. Why don’t I make us all some hot cocoa? While I’m at it, I’ll see if you have any salt around.” She turned to Killian. “January just moved back today, so I’m not sure what we’ll find in the pantry, but I know my way around the house.”
“Oh, don’t bother—” he started to say, but Ari shook her head.
“No, you sit here and talk. Moving’s hard enough, and since both of you have been at it today, I’m happy to help.”
She darted into the kitchen as I slowly sat down opposite Killian. He was a striking man, now that I’d had time to get a better look at him. His hair was almost corkscrew curly and the color of honey. But his eyes…they captivated me. The color of spring leaves, they glittered like gems, and the crow lines at the edges of his eyes told me he had a few years on him. His features were angular, almost chiseled. He was sturdy—muscled and firm—and my imagination lingered, thinking about what his chest and abs must look like beneath the sweater he was wearing. Over the sweater, he wore a black leather jacket, and I noticed that he was wearing a pair of motorcycle boots. All in all, my new neighbor was smoking hot.
“Is everything all right?” he asked. It occurred to me that I had been studying his looks for a good minute or two without speaking.
Again, I blushed. “I’m sorry. I was just…spacing out. I’ve had a long day and it’s the end of a very long few months. I’m not at my best right now.”
He leaned back, crossing one leg over his other knee as he gave me a nod. “I get it. I’m sorry I bothered you tonight, truly. You look tired.”
Crap. I wasn’t sure how to take that, except it had never been a compliment.
“I am,” I muttered. “I just got home last night and I’ve spent all day unpacking. My aunt and Ari helped me, but you know how it is. Even when you want to move, it takes a toll on you.”
“And you didn’t want to move?”
I paused, trying to think of a good way to answer that. “I was ready to, by the time I left.” I wasn’t about to regurgitate the mess with Ellison or the months-long acrimonious divorce. “Let’s just say, it wasn’t my idea to begin with but now I’m glad to be back in town. So, where are you from?”
He shrugged. “I’m coming in from California. I’m a veterinarian, and I worked in Southern California until the fires destroyed the town. My house burned down, my business burned to the ground, and I lost everything. A client once mentioned Moonshadow Bay and the name stuck in my mind. I decided rather than rebuild—because with the way things are, the area will just burn again—I’d take a look up and down the coast for a place to live. I visited several towns in Oregon and Washington, but once I arrived in Moonshadow Bay, I knew this was the place for me. And it seems that one of the vets in town is retiring, so I bought out his business.”
He ran out of breath just as Ari returned, a cup of salt along with mugs of hot cocoa and a package of Candy Cane Oreos on a tray.
“Here we go, Oreos for the hungry and footsore. And hot cocoa, fresh made.” She set the tray down on the coffee table and handed us each a mug. I recognized them from my mother’s holiday Spode collection.
“You found her holiday dishes,” I murmured.
“I remembered how much you loved them. Every Yule, you’d beg her to make us hot chocolate. And she would, using these, along with homemade cookies.” Ari handed me a saucer with several Oreos on it.
I teared up, staring at the mug, my heart still sore. My mother had worked all her life, but she had always managed to make time for special occasions. The china had been passed down to her from my grandmother. And now, it was mine. As the hot cocoa hit my tongue, I turned to Killian, feeling slightly teary-eyed.
“I’m sorry about your house and your business. That must have been terrifying.” To Ari, I added, “Killian’s a vet—a veterinarian. He lost his business and home to the California wildfires.”
Killian stared into his cocoa. “Thank you. It was difficult. It’s hard to be uprooted from everything you know. It’s hard to lose everything you worked for.”
“I understand that all too well.” I paused, then turned to Ari. “So you found the salt?”
She nodded, glancing at Killian. “Do you mind telling us what you’re doing with the salt? Are you brining a chicken or something?”
He laughed. “No, I just needed to cleanse the space and while I could go out and, hopefully, find an all-night grocery, I’m too tired. So I thought I’d come over, introduce myself, and see if you had some. My mother taught me to always cleanse a house before you move in, but I didn’t have the opportunity, and there is some pretty murky energy there. I’ve got distilled water, but I didn’t have the salt. I’m going to make a spray and just douse the corners of the house until I can hire someone in to do a proper warding.”
I perked up. “If you need any help, just ask. But it has to be tomorrow, because I’m too tired tonight. I’m from a Fam-Trad lineage. So is Ari.”
“Well, I thank you for that. And I’ll probably take you up on it if I can’t dislodge the psychic grunge myself.” He stood, setting his cup down. “Thank you for the cocoa and cookies and being so welcoming, but I’ll leave you to your evening. I imagine you’re as tired as I am.” As he headed for the door, I followed, feeling oddly reluctant to see him go.
“If you need anything, just ask,” I said, opening the door.
As he stepped into the chill night, he ducked his head. “Sleep well,” he said, glancing back at me. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
I watched him go, finding myself thinking just how nice he seemed. And he was a veterinarian, which meant he
loved animals.
“You like him,” Ari said, when I returned to the living room.
“He seems nice,” I said. “So, what about the séance? You still want to hold it?” I wanted to get out of talking about him, but Ari wasn’t taking the bait.
“We can do that later. But January, you like him. I can tell. I always knew when you liked a boy back in high school.” She snickered.
I blushed. “I sounded like an idiot.”
“You did not. You were delightfully quirky. Well, he’s a looker, all right, if you go for that type. I, myself, prefer boobs and—”
“I know what you prefer!” I said, laughing. “Speaking of preferences, are you dating anybody right now?”
She shrugged, curling her legs beneath her on the sofa. “Yeah, kind of. What’s on TV? Or is the cable on yet?”
“Yeah, I had all the utilities turned on last week before I got here, so I wouldn’t have to deal with that after moving in.” I flipped on the giant flatscreen my father had bought the year before, and flipped through the channels till I found the guide. “What about The Great British Baking Show? They have a holiday special on.” As I flipped to the channel, I added, “What do you mean, you’re ‘kind of’ dating? I didn’t think you did casual.”
“I usually don’t, but this time, I am,” Ari said, but I could hear something behind her words that told me she wasn’t happy with it.
“What’s going on?” I picked up my cocoa and dipped a cookie in it.
“Nothing. Just…nothing,” Ari said. “I don’t feel like talking about it right now, okay? Can we just watch the show and enjoy the evening?”
I relented, but I knew Ari enough to know that there was something going on she didn’t want to go into about. “Okay.” I paused before turning up the volume. “Do you have to work tomorrow?”
“I’m afraid so,” she said. “I managed to get today off, but I need to be there tomorrow.”
Ari was a self-employed hairdresser. She had a salon in her house, and had quite a number of clients. She was good—very good—and was usually booked solid for several weeks in advance.
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