I chuckled as I unlocked my car and stepped back, holding the door open for a minute to allow the pent up heat inside to escape. Placing the gown in the tiny backseat, I climbed in to leave. After only a few moments in my car, I was sweating again. The humidity of southern Indiana was relentless! Once out of the parking lot, I pointed my car east to go through the town square.
Driving down Main Street, I waved at many of the store owners and townsfolk, hoping my good mood would overpower any of their animosity towards me. Most of them turned their heads or worse, they looked right through me. “I wish they’d just get over it already. I can’t be the only witch to have ever married someone normal. Jeez!” I needed to face facts. It didn’t matter how many times I explained that I loved Shawn, they would never approve of my decision.
“All of these people can go to hell, every last one of them! Soon I will be married to the man of my dreams. Who needs these small-minded morons and their small-town bullshit, anyways? Shawn is all I’ll ever need.” I knew I was trying to convince myself things would be okay, but part of me wanted to break down crying. I knew I’d always wonder if things would have been different if I had never met Shawn.
Chapter 3
MAYBE IT WAS my nerves after the run in with Janice or another bout of those wonderful, pre-wedding jitters, but I really needed a drink. I’m sure my pressure cooker of a car also played some role in my desire to imbibe, and I may not have been thinking clearly. Perhaps, I simply yearned for the illusion of friendship? Even if I sat at a table alone, drinking in a room of complete strangers, at least it meant I’d had a drink with someone other than myself. I hadn’t been inside Tooth & Nail in quite a while and I hoped the customers would be kinder than most of the townspeople I was accustomed to dealing with for the past year.
For over a century, Tooth & Nail has been our town bar. It has withstood the wrath of Mother Nature, time, the economy and magic. I’m not saying anyone would had ever tried to destroy the bar with magic, but there had been a few instances of drunken sorcery in the establishment’s long history. Tooth & Nail had mustered through it all and has been a haven of sorts for all humans and paranormal beings. The bar is a reflection of the way the town and our community had fought tooth and nail to coexist peacefully in years past. The owners have always adhered to a strict policy: “No Fighting, biting or hexing.” In fact, the walls were adorned with many signs announcing this behavioral, zero-tolerance code. If anyone were ever to ignore these rules, they were barred for life. Zero-tolerance means just that and there are no exceptions.
I stepped out of my car and into the afternoon sun and enjoyed the slight breeze as it carried the smell of our river town along the Ohio. Contrary to belief, the river didn’t stink of dead fish. In fact it was quite the opposite, thanks to a group of earth loving witches, our water always smelled clean and fresh.
“Despite how most people feel about me, I truly love it here.” I meant every word I said as I made my way across the parking lot.
I pushed open the warded, wooden door and entered the familiar haven I used to call my second home. “It hasn’t changed a bit,” I whispered.
The neon signs were lit, the spotless tongue-and-groove floor and the handmade antique bar top gleamed like new. As I showed myself to a table, I was greeted with a few people saying ‘hello’ and ‘good to see you’. I smiled back and spoke to each of them before sitting down at a leather-upholstered booth with a hard-grained wooden table-top.
Inside, I felt giddy. I practically bounced as I sat there. The people here were actually speaking to me. Speaking to me nicely! I sighed and smiled as I let out a deep breath of relief. I knew there had to be a glimmer of hospitality left in our wonderful town and I’d found it! It felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders, at least for a little while.
Kelly Jacobs warily approached my table with not even a hint of a smile upon her face. She’s one of the many people who had turned their back on me and over the past year, it was apparent her feelings about my lifestyle choice hadn’t changed. As she stood there glaring down at me with her pen poised to take my order, it amazed me that we’d ever been friends. She acted like a complete stranger, a stranger with large green eyes full of contempt for her former best friend.
“What’ll it be?”
“Hi Kelly. I’d love a bottle of Coors Light, please.”
She turned on her heels and walked behind the bar to retrieve my beer. Kelly brought it to me in record time, set it on my table and walked away without another word.
“Okay, that went well,” Raising the chilly glass bottle to my lips, I took a long, refreshing sip.
Thinking back to how things used to be, I got caught up in the memories of once wonderful times with my former best friend. Kelly and I shared many classes in high school. Though we weren’t stellar scholars, we made it through. She and I were on the Salem Ridge Panthers cheerleading squad, which offered various opportunities for socializing and nine out of ten times, our social lives trumped any studying that might be necessary. Every adventure we had together was always well-worth any trouble we had gotten into.
So many nights we would sneak out to party at the crossroads, where kissing boys was the main event. Other nights, we could be found practicing magic on the very property where I now lived. Kelly didn’t have any powers, per se, but she was always right there encouraging me to show and teach her simple things she could do, such as a potion spell that needed no mystical power. We would gather our ingredients, prepare them as needed and have a new, pure shampoo or soap to use.
The few ‘trickster’ potions that we created were my idea and they didn’t always work. More times than not, my brilliant ideas got us into trouble with my mother. Mom would firmly admonish me in front of Kelly or whoever my target had been, but once we were behind closed doors, she would always teach me the proper way to create any potion I desired. Sadly, Kelly outgrew her fascination with potions and I was left to doing that work on my own for the most part. However, she loved watching me work magic and just like any best friend, she was always willing and ready to accompany me whenever I set off for our secret spot in the woods.
“It’s like watching a goddess,” she’d said with a dreamy quality in her voice.
I would just laugh. She could be so very dramatic and I knew she was just trying to appeal to my ego, but that’s what friends do.
Shortly before graduation, Kelly adapted the ability of stealth. There were countless rumors Kelly had become involved with black magic and she ran with a wild crowd of kids. I knew Kelly would never be into black magic, her heart was too pure, but I couldn’t make sense of anything she was doing. She wouldn’t talk to me about what was going on in her life and before I could do anything to stop it, we’d drifted apart.
I would call her house, but she wouldn’t get on the phone. I’d stop by and every time, her dad said she was busy. Kelly’s father, Kyle, wouldn’t offer any explanation and said he preferred to stay out of it. Her behavior became very weird and it started to scare me to the point that I’d try to avoid her. Sometimes, when I had no escape and would pass her in the hall at school or at the store, the look in her eyes was almost primal, full of hatred and something else I couldn’t put my finger on. She obviously had some sort of an issue with me, but I had no idea why. After so many futile attempts at bridging our sudden cavernous relationship, I came to the conclusion she’d tell me when she was ready. I couldn’t force her. Besides, all friends have disagreements once in a while, right? I only wished I knew what had caused ours.
The distance between us grew to mammoth proportions after her mom and two of her older brothers were killed in a hunting accident at their vacation cabin. I never heard the details, but I knew it was gruesome. Kelly’s father Kyle sent his only living son, Keith to work in Tennessee for some Wildlife Protection Program in The Great Smoky Mountains. Honestly, this didn’t come as such a shock. I knew they had family spread across the country, but most of their relatives lived i
n Tennessee. Everyone knew the Jacob’s were huge environmentalists and belonged to many groups, most of which sheltered injured and abandoned animals. So, sending Keith to the Smokies made perfect sense. After all, Kyle was suddenly a single father who was also grieving the loss of his wife and other children.
Kelly was kept under a very watchful eye by her father and he rarely let her out of his sight. This, in all actuality, wasn’t much different than the way Kyle treated her before their loved ones had died. But to me, it seemed as though the remaining Jacobs’ family members were hiding from the world. My insecure side thought maybe they were hiding from me? Of course, that wasn’t a logical thought. And I chided myself for even making any part of it about me.
I never understood why I was suddenly persona non-grata and I grew tired of trying to figure it all out. I didn’t even hear from Kelly or her brother Keith when my parents died. Part of me wanted to reach out to them, to anyone, but the other part of me said, “Why bother?” They apparently wanted me to leave them alone and I wasn’t going to beg anyone for their friendship. I shouldn’t have felt like I had to. The remainder of my so-called friends turned their backs on me with record-breaking speed as word of Shawn’s and my engagement spread. Aside from my familiar, Sterling and my fiancé, I was alone.
Shaking my head, I realized I had been staring at Kelly while lost in thought and I noticed Kelly watching me like a cat from across the bar. I sipped my beer and averted my eyes as I looked around at the few customers scattered throughout Tooth & Nail, sitting at the various tables and booths. There weren’t many people and frankly, I was surprised since the bar was normally busy at that hour.
Over the noise of the jukebox, I heard what sounded like an argument between one particular customer, who was seated on a barstool and Kelly. I couldn’t see who the man was, his back was to me. But every few seconds, Kelly would peak over the top of his head and look back at him as she spoke in hushed tones. It didn’t take a psychic to know the conversation was about me and obviously a serious one. Apparently, I couldn’t even have a beer without making tongues wag. Feeling a bit feisty, tired of the gossip mongering, I slid out of my booth and walked to the front of the bar with every intention of nipping at least one rumor in the bud.
“It’s none of your business, Kell,” the man said, shaking his head from side to side before he took another drink of a soda. As I approached them, I was already prepared to insert my own two cents. The man, even from behind, felt familiar somehow and I felt the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. The air seemed charged with electricity, causing gooseflesh to crawl across my skin. I shook my head, warding off the chill that slid over me and ambled on up to stand directly behind the man’s seat.
“Of course it is. Have you lost your mind?” Kelly’s auburn hair with silver tips bounced as she shook her head at him. “She is engaged to Richardson!” she fiercely whispered.
“Rub it in, why don’t ya’? Does that mean I can’t even go say hello?”
“I’m not going to argue with you about this. This isn’t the time or place.”
“For what?” I peeked over the man’s broad shoulder and asked; “You’re obviously talking about me, shouldn’t I be privy to this conversation?”
Kelly’s face turned a deep shade of pink, she grabbed a bar towel and grumbled incoherently as she rushed to the other end of the bar, clearly not pleased that I’d inserted myself into her private chat. The man turned to me, smiling. Keith Jacobs stood and picked me up in a huge bear hug as he spun us both in a wide circle. I hadn’t been hugged like that in forever! And good goddess, it stirred a longing deep within me that sent shock waves to my very core. No one had been this happy to see me in a very long time. Every firm inch of his body was pressed up against my own and it was heavenly. Keith smelled of the outdoors, like hard work and fresh air, manly. There was no hint of fancy cologne that cost hundreds of dollars, only Keith, pure Keith!
Why was I suddenly thinking like that? Surely two months without sex wasn’t enough of a reason to have those thoughts. But in Keith’s arms, I fit, really fit and I felt ashamed for noticing it. I knew Shawn loved me, but as of late, I’d felt more like his buddy than his fiancé and it was obviously taking its toll on my emotions. And I had missed Keith so much! It was nice to see that one person hadn’t changed.
“Selena, it’s so great to see you, darlin’!”
“Keith! When did you get back to town?” And why hadn’t he called me? I silently chided myself for questioning something that really didn’t matter. I wanted to enjoy the happy moment with the man I’d had a crush on for most of my youth, but my broken-hearted, inner child threatened to rear her immature head. I couldn’t allow that to happen. I belonged with Shawn.
“Last week,” he said sheepishly as he set me back on my feet. My body now warm by his touch inside and out immediately felt cold and begged for him to hold me again.
“Last week? Why haven’t I heard from you? No one even told me you were home.” I questioned, while my voice raised an octave. Being around Keith had always stirred strong, primal emotions in me and even after not seeing him for over a year, he still had the same effect on me.
“I suppose not. I hear you’re engaged to Mr. Smooth Talker and I saw you coming out of Janice’s shop with a dress bag. So I assume the rumor mill wasn’t wrong this time? Besides, I’m sure he wouldn’t want a dog like me sniffin’ around his territory.”
“You’re far from a dog!” I placed my hands on my hips and I realized how very much I’d missed Keith and Kelly. “Yes, I am engaged,” I bragged, showing him the ring and sending a reminder to my amped-up hormones at the same time. “The wedding is in two weeks. Please say you’ll come?”
A chilly glare crept across his silver-blue eyes and with abruptness, he returned to his seat at the bar. I stood there, silent and quite uncomfortable as I waited for the response I knew was coming. It was the same response I heard from everyone I’d invited.
“Sorry Selena. I’ve got a ton of work to do around here. Dad and Kell really need my help.”
“Yeah, it’s a really busy place. I can see you’ve really got your hands full with five full tables and four people at the bar.”
I was unable to keep the disappointment and bitterness out of my voice as I tossed five bucks on the bar for my unfinished beer. Truth is I’ve never been a great bluffer. I was always more of a “wear your heart on your sleeve sort of girl” and today, I had reached the limit on the amount of bullshit I could tolerate. Why couldn’t anyone treat me like they used to? Was it really that difficult to just come to my wedding and support me, to be happy for me?
“Selena, it really isn’t because of you. I’m just busy. There’s a ton of inventory that has to be finished in the next two weeks” he said as he looked everywhere but at me.
I knew better. Keith was just like the rest of the town. “It was good to see you, Keith. Take care.” I kissed him on the cheek and walked out of the bar, fighting back tears of frustration. Just as I reached out to open my car door, I heard footsteps behind me.
“Selena, wait.” It was more of a command than a question.
“Why, Keith?” With my back to him I said, “I understand. I really do. Please just go back inside. I’ve got things to do.” I blinked back tears, taking a deep breath. I didn’t want to argue with him. Not with Keith.
“More wedding plans, right?”
I detected another hint of sarcasm and my resolve to remain in control snapped. I spun around lightning-quick to face him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Keith hung his head down abashedly and kicked a small, round rock with the toe of one custom-made cowboy boot, making his six-foot tall frame look as if he’d shrunk into himself. His demeanor took on an almost boy-like quality, when only a second ago he was an adult full of piss and vinegar. Now Keith remained silent as if he needed a moment to gather his thoughts before he spoke. Lifting his head slightly at an angle and piercing me with the same brilliant, blue e
yes that had once roamed over my naked body, Keith ran a hand through his shoulder-length brown hair. Identical to his sister’s color and shade, the sun glinted off the silver-tipped strands as he dropped his shoulders in a sign of defeat. In that moment he was so handsome, so much like the young man I used to know and I wished our previous words hadn’t been loaded with tiny jabs. I had an overwhelming urge to punch him or kiss him and I couldn’t decide which I should do first.
“Yeah, more wedding plans. I’m running out of time and I have no idea why I stopped by to have a beer. I should’ve known better. It was obviously another mistake.”
“Oh, I bet.” Suddenly Keith was riled up again. Gone was the nice guy. “Mr. Money Bags will have a fit when he hears you were here today.”
“Again, what is that supposed to mean? What’s with all of these snide comments? I’m a big girl, Keith, I can go where I choose. I had a beer, big deal. I’m sure he’s had beer on his business trip.”
“I’m sure he’s had more than just beer.” He mumbled and quickly recovered by asking; “Business trip? What kind of business trip?” His eyes took on a serious look and his brow was furrowed.
What had gotten into this guy? I chose to ignore his jab; “Um, yeah.” I backed up and shrugged. “Didn’t the town gossip-mill inform you? Shawn’s in Germany on a business trip. He’s been there for two and a half months.” With my arms crossed over my middle, I prepared for a litany of accusations about Shawn’s infidelities and escapades.
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