He was my husband after all.
And I loved him…more than I ever thought I’d be able to.
He leaned down and kissed me while I wrapped my arms around him, trailing my fingertips up his spine.
As he relaxed into me, I realized the sound of the piccolo had disappeared, but it was soon replaced by a knock on the door.
Roman moaned.
“See what I mean?” I asked, hopping out from under him and heading to the door. “Just like having kids.”
Outside our bedroom stood Roman’s father, who looked remarkably similar to Roman with the same black hair, only his was salt-and-peppered with gray, same six-foot-something height, and same charming, yet slightly crooked teeth. In his hand, he clenched the offending instrument. Would it be wrong to pry it away from him and throw it out the window?
“Hi, Ettie,” Joseph said, looking over my shoulder at Roman holding the rumpled sheets in his hands. “Roman. You two are in bed already? It’s only eight.”
“Nine-thirty,” I said.
“Oh, it’s that late? That’s one thing about being retired, you lose track of time. I was just going to whip up a bedtime snack.” Joseph twirled his magic finger in the air. “Did you want something? Baked Alaska? Tiramisu? Maybe a chocolate fountain with fresh fruit?”
“No, we’re fine.” I glanced at Roman to confirm he agreed.
“Okay, suit yourself.” Joe gave us a quick nod and headed down the steps to the kitchen.
I turned around and rolled my eyes at Roman, who laughed.
“He means well,” Roman said.
“I know. He just has such bad timing.”
“I don’t know about that.” Roman smiled. “A chocolate fountain sounds delicious.”
I sulked back to the bed. “Oh, I don’t know. I’ve always been fond of whipped cream, myself.”
Roman reached out, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me back to bed. He kissed my cheek and whispered into my ear, “Do you think he’ll hear us in the kitchen?”
I shook my head, relaxing into my husband’s strong embrace. “At this point, I don’t care.” I pressed my hands to Roman’s bare chest, easing him down on the bed. “If he does hear us, maybe it’ll give him a reason to move out.”
“Well, if that’s the case, let’s give him a run for his money.” Roman flipped me over, and I couldn’t help but giggle. He snapped his fingers, producing a can of whipped cream and a bottle of chocolate sauce which only made me laugh more. Oh, this was going to be an adventure. Could I face my father-in-law in the morning?
There was only one way to find out.
Chapter Two
I leaned against the check-out counter in Ettie’s Enchanted Effects, taking some weight off my aching feet. Nearly two months had passed since my enchanted item shop had opened, and my body still hadn’t adapted to the long days.
“It looks like you’re doing pretty good.” Principal Prusa from Watersedge Elementary and Middle school stood opposite me. You could tell it was a Saturday, because she had left her school business blazer at home, but she still wore the same dark blue jeans and button up colored blouse. Today, it was a light green, making her matching eyes stand out.
“Yeah, the shop’s been getting busier and busier. At least that’s what my sore feet and tired legs are telling me.” My finances were showing the uptick in business as well, but Penelope didn’t need to hear all those details. I was just happy we were able to meet the business bills. Soon, hopefully, the shop would contribute to Roman and my personal finances as well. We did want to start a family someday and a bit of extra cash would certainly help with the added expenses.
She tucked her wild brown hair behind her ears. “News spreads here in Watersedge like wildfire.”
“Yeah, I learned that when I first opened.” Just one child had sprouted a tail, and the entire town had been quick to blame the new witch in town, namely me.
“Oh yeah, the fox epidemic. No harm, no fowl, er foul. Everyone’s back to normal and all is forgiven, even if we still don’t know what caused the outbreak.”
“Officer Gates and Officer Duncan are still working on it, but they haven’t had any new clues in the case.” As much as I wanted to find who had sabotaged the store and my reputation, I was grateful things had finally settled down.
Penelope futzed with a button on her blouse. “I think the town has looked past the tails. I like having a couple of witches in town. It adds a bit of diversity. I’ve been hearing so much good about Ettie’s Enchanted Effects. At school, all the parents are talking about how whatever enchanted object they purchased here has made a positive impact on their family. From having more focused family time, to less picky eaters, and even having their kids sleeping better at night. Like I said, word spreads quickly around here.”
“Well, it’s good to hear that it isn’t just bad news that spreads as fast a hare runs from a fox.” I smiled. “So, what brings you down here?”
“I’ve been having a little problem with Joseph.”
I laughed. “Us, too!” But then I stopped myself, certain that Penelope’s problem with my father-in-law wasn’t the same as Roman and mine. I shook my head. “Never mind. What problem are you having?”
“Oh, it’s not Joseph’s problem. He’s great, and I’m happy to be in a relationship again. I just have things I need to tell him about me—about my past—and…” She trailed off and looked behind her to the line that was forming.
“I have just the thing.” I circled around the counter and led her to the display of little red-clay totems in the center of the room. “Take a look at these Earth charms. I have a few that are for courage. I’ll let you peruse them, then I’ll be right back.”
Penelope nodded, and I returned to the cash register to check out the two people who were next in line. When I returned to Penelope at the Earth charms, she held one in each hand.
“They’re both for courage. What’s different between these two?” she asked.
“They’re quite different.” I took the first little totem from her hand, turning the tiny clay bear around in my fingers. “This one’s for the courage to stand up to your enemies or disagree with someone on a topic.” I gave her the bear back and took the fierce-looking hawk totem. “The hawk is for courage from within, to tell someone a secret when you’re afraid that you’ll be judged. Does that make sense?”
Penelope nodded and set the bear totem down, taking the hawk from my hand. “I was always a bird lady.” She laughed. “How much do I owe you?”
I dismissed her with a wave. “Nothing. Just send Joseph home with another of your famous strawberry rhubarb pies and we’ll consider us even. Actually, I might owe you a bit.”
“Well, strawberries and rhubarb are no longer in season, but I’m getting my first crop of fall raspberries which bake into a delicious crumble, but that’s not enough. I want you to succeed, and I’m going to pay for this.” As she dropped a ten on the counter, the shop’s lights flickered and a few of my customers gasped. “What was that?” Penelope asked.
“I’m not sure.” In the two months I’d been working in the shop, it had never happened before. “Probably nothing. You know the wiring in old buildings like this.” I nodded at the bill on the counter. “And thank you for your support.”
“You bet,” she said. “You’re nearly family. Well, I’m off for a quick lunch at the diner across the street, then I need to return some library books. Take care.” Penelope nodded towards the greasy spoon with the big neon burger sign that adorned my view and headed out through my jingling door.
Out on the street, through the glass door, I caught a glimpse of my neighbor, Brittany Fleming, who owned the church next to me. We shared a wall and some parking spaces out back. She was clearly anti-magic and everything associated with magic, as she had been quite boisterous about it when we first opened Ettie’s. Since Roman and I both saved her when her ladder slid out from beneath her, she had been finally leaving me alone. Was she back outside,
handing out her negative publicity flyers and trying to get Ettie’s shut down, like she had done when the store first opened?
I came around the counter to get a better view. No flyers were in her hand. All she was doing was chatting with a few people on the sidewalk outside my shop. Nothing wrong with that.
At least, that’s what I told myself before I caught a glimpse of who she was talking to. Mayor Matilda Raab stood on her right, clearly identifiable as she was the tallest woman I had ever seen. Beside her, with a camera around her neck, stood reporter Natalia Young with her out-of-control ginger hair and dark-framed glasses that stood out against her pale, freckled skin. All their posse needed was my father-in-law and everyone that hated Ettie’s would be standing in one place.
What had brought the three of them together?
I crossed through the shop, passing a handful of customers who were looking at the display inside the front window. Were these three stooges outside conspiring against me? I leaned over so I could see the giant changeable letter board Brittany had used to send her messages of hatred towards witchcraft. The board still read, “Find Jesus This Sunday at 9” with no hint at all to the turmoil Brittany must still be feeling. Sure, Roman and I saved her life, but that didn’t make her any more friendly towards me.
Since Ettie’s opening, Natalia had run a handful of articles in the paper, all twisting witches as bad for society. Her stance on having Roman and me in town was clear, as clear as the trouble she had caused the witches over in Crystal Caverns. She had tried to drive that town’s resident magic practitioners away, but the town turned on Natalia, shunning her instead. People like this made me realize why Roman’s father kept his witch heritage a secret.
And Mayor Raab, who had pulled my retail license and was overruled by the city council to reinstate it. She hadn’t visited my shop since. Her son had died due to some bad magic he had gotten himself into, and I understood why she struggled with sharing her town with witches.
Well, I couldn’t let them conspire against me, right in front of my shop, now could I? I snatched the bear totem off the Earth charm table, and headed outside to face my demons head-on. “I’ll be right back,” I called to my customers.
Outside, Brittany’s eyes widened when she saw me marching up to her. “Ettie,” she said with as much fake sweetness as one’s stomach could tolerate.
Mayor Raab and Natalia spun around, the surprise that was clearly on their faces told me everything I needed to know. They were talking about Ettie’s…or me.
“Anything I can help you with?” I asked with a few innocent eye bats.
“No,” they all said in unison.
“Are you sure? Would you like to come inside?” I waved my hand in Ettie’s direction, welcoming them to the shop.
“No,” Mayor Raab said. “We were just discussing the charity auction for the after-school program at the Children’s Club.”
“Really?” I raised an eyebrow. “Without Principal Prusa? She basically runs the Children’s Club.”
“She was here,” Brittany said a bit too eagerly. “She helps with the guest list and the events, but we’re in charge of the silent auction. And there’s nothing wrong with continuing to plan after she went into your shop. We have lots of businesses to contact for donations.”
“Donations? Silent auction?” Maybe this was my chance to get in nice with the three of them. “What kind of donations are you looking for?”
“Anything, really. Hopefully items that’ll bring in quite a few dollars at the Children’s Ball,” Brittany said, almost a bit boastful in the way she spilled information.
I rubbed my chin. “I read about that Ball in the paper. I’d be happy to donate something from the store.”
“No,” Mayor Raab snapped, then looked at her companions for support.
Natalia clarified, “I don’t know how the town would handle a magical item at a children’s charity.”
“Nonsense,” I said. “Most people in the town have come to show their support of Ettie’s Enchanted Effects already. I think they’ll love something from the store.”
“Well, if you want to donate, you’ll have to drop it off at the Children’s Club yourself,” Mayor Raab said.
Was she so afraid of enchanted objects that she wouldn’t even touch one? “No problem. I’ll drop something off after work tonight.” With that, I smiled and headed back into the shop where I had someone waiting for me at the counter. I doubted the three stooges standing outside would have ever invited me to participate in the event. If I didn’t integrate myself into this town, I’d always be the outsider.
As I helped the older woman at the counter, who was a repeat customer, my mind dwelled on the auction. I needed a fantastic enchanted object to showcase my importance in this community. I needed to get the biggest and best price for the item.
And even then, I’d still be outside Brittany, Mayor Raab, and Natalia’s circle, but if the entire town welcomed me with open arms, at some point, they would have to, too.
Right?
Chapter Three
After Ettie’s closed for the day, I climbed the creaky steps to the upper floor of my building that I used for storage. I needed the perfect enchanted object and could think of only one. Maneuvering around the enchanted suitcases and totems, as well as half-used boxes of pendants and charms, I stopped at the furniture I had lined up on the far wall of a room that looked like it used to be part of a living room.
I wanted to donate an old wooden wardrobe made from a charmed tree from the witch’s realm to the silent auction. The charmed tree wood by itself had no magical abilities, but with a simple spell, my people had figured out how to make a wardrobe that cleaned your clothing. All witches had one, but the charmed tree didn’t grow in this realm. After the Magic Movement twenty years ago, all witches agreed to stop traveling between realms to prevent invasive species, out-of-control hexes, and to ease fear of the unknown among the mortals. That left very few enchanted witch wardrobes and, as I understood, very few non-magical folk had one of these rarities. It was sure to bring in a substantial donation.
Luckily, I had a spare that would be perfect for the auction. Actually, between Roman and me, we had a few spares. What mortal wouldn’t want to never have to do laundry again?
I grabbed a cleaning rag and wet it from the sink in the old kitchen, listening to the rattling pipes as I waited for the water to warm. As I cleaned the dust from the wardrobe’s surface, the tiger-striped wood went from a dull-gray to vibrant light and dark tans. When my rag was filthy, I simply set it inside the wardrobe for a few minutes and it was as good as new.
Man, it was nice being a witch, sometimes.
My cell phone screen read that it was five thirty p.m. Roman had to be finishing up his workday. I clicked on his contact info.
“Hey, Hon. What’s up?” Roman greeted me.
“Can you swing by Ettie’s on your way home?”
“Sure. What do you need?”
Before I could answer, the overhead lights went out. Odd. That was twice today I had a lighting issue. The darkness didn’t stop my conversation. “Two things, I guess. First, the lights are acting up here. I was wondering how are your electrical skills?”
“I can troubleshoot,” Roman said. “I might not be able to fix it, but if it’s something easy like a fuse, I’m your guy. What else did you need?”
“Second, there’s a charity auction that I want to donate the old wardrobe I have upstairs to. I was wondering if you’d help me transport it to the Children’s Club.” When the lights stayed out, I snapped my fingers, causing all the enchanted objects to light up with a magical glow. Each item’s magic glowed, filling the room with a soft glow that resembled candlelight. Only, it didn’t flicker.
“Are you sure you want to get rid of that thing?” Roman asked.
“Yeah, the Children’s Club needs money more than I need a dust collector.”
“I’m just finishing up here. I should join you in about fifteen min
utes.”
“Perfect. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
The call ended, and I continued to clean the now softly glowing wardrobe. If using magic didn’t make me so tired, this would be a much nicer way to light the place. The dim amber hue that filled the room was easy on the eyes and created a stunning beauty, especially combined with the underlying tiger-striped wood. Whoever won this was going to be a lucky mortal.
I couldn’t help but smile as I dug the dust out of the wardrobe’s grooves, causing the magical glow to intensify the cleaner it got. My excitement wasn’t because I was buying my way into the community, but rather, I was really glad I was able to help the Children’s Club and was excited to see a different part of this community. Maybe I’d even meet a few of the children who utilized the program.
I had become a mail-order bride and married Roman because I wanted to keep pure-blooded witches alive in this world. To do so, it was my duty to have children. I had thought I wanted to wait a few years, but now?
I had been thinking about it more and more.
Things were settling down, and Roman would make an amazing father.
If I wasn’t so set on getting a year of marriage under our belts first, I’d say we could start popping the young ones out as fast as rabbits. Maybe I could do something with the charity to satisfy whatever motherly urges I was having?
And besides, we couldn’t have kids just yet. We hadn’t even had much alone time yet…not since Roman’s father moved in.
By the time Roman arrived at Ettie’s, the lights had flickered back on and I removed my glowing spell from all the enchanted objects. I followed my husband into a storeroom I hardly used which contained our electrical box. He opened the panel’s door and rubbed the five o’clock shadow on his chin, flipping a few breakers one way then the other with his other hand. The lights flashed on and off like a disco throughout the shop.
Magic Underground: The Complete Collection (Magic Underground Anthologies Book 4) Page 115