Kaley shook her head. “I swear, I won’t give it to her.”
“Actually,” Pandora said, “we want you to do just that.”
“You do?”
Pandora pulled the substitute feather from her purse. “Yes. But this is the feather we want you to give her instead.”
Kaley took the feather, turning it over in her fingers. “Is this some kind of magic thing? Like, is it poison or something?”
“Nope. Just a feather.”
“Then why do want me to give it to her instead of the one I found in the hall?”
Cole answered. “Because that one is mine and it does have magical properties, right, Pandora?”
She nodded. “Right. We can’t have the real feather fall into your mother’s hands, Kaley.”
“Because of the spell she wants to cast,” Kaley said.
“Exactly.” Pandora nodded.
Kaley stared at the feather. “But if I give her this feather and she thinks it’s the real one, won’t she still perform the spell?”
“Maybe,” Pandora says. “We’re going to wait and see.”
“And if she does?” Kaley looked up at Pandora like the realization of what was being planned had just struck her. “What then?”
“Then…there will be repercussions. A witch forcing a familiar to bond with her is a punishable offense.”
Kaley’s brow furrowed and she frowned. “So I’d be setting her up. Getting her in trouble. That’s not cool. She’s my mother and I know she’s not like a model person or whatever, but she’s still my mom.”
Kaley slapped the feather onto the table and stood up. “I’m out of here.”
She stormed off toward her room and Pandora was about to say something but Cole raised his hand. “Let her go.”
Pandora took a breath. “I guess I should have seen that coming.”
“She’s a kid. She’s not going to see this as black and white as we do.”
“Of course. But we still need to figure out a new plan.”
“Agreed. Any ideas?”
“More coffee?”
He smiled. “I can do that.”
But before the pot had finished brewing, Kaley came back downstairs. She still didn’t look happy and possibly like she’d been crying a little. “I’ll help.”
Cole looked at her hard. “I’m happy to hear that, but what changed?”
Kaley stared toward the backyard. “I Facetimed Mom. She asked me about the feather again right away. When I asked her to tell me more about the amulet, her aura went all gray and hazy.”
Pandora shook her head. “I don’t know what that means.”
Kaley shifted to stare at the table, her lower lids rimmed with liquid. “It means she was lying. Big time lying.”
She sniffed. “Tell me again what happens if she gets the right feather and does this spell you think she’s going to try?”
“Miss Williams thinks she’ll force me to bond with her.” Cole came and stood next to Kaley. “And I don’t want to be enslaved to her for the rest of my life. Or be separated from Miss Williams, either.”
Kaley rubbed at her nose. “Both those options are pretty crappy.”
“They are,” Pandora agreed. “And I can pretty much guarantee that if your mom casts this spell, the next thing that’s going to happen is you and your father will be moving out of Nocturne Falls. There’s no way your mother will stay here where so many people will know what she’s done.”
“Is that true, Dad? We wouldn’t be able to stay here? Even if we wanted to?”
“I think so.” Cole looked at Pandora.
She shook her head. “If a bonded familiar isn’t near the witch he’s bonded to, it can cause him incredible pain and mental distress.”
Kaley took a deep breath. “I don’t want to move. I don’t want you and my dad not to be together either. And I definitely don’t want my dad in pain.” A wobbly half-smile curved her mouth. “I like you, Miss Williams. My mom is…my mom, but you’re a really nice person and a very cool witch.”
“Thank you, Kaley. I like you a lot, too.”
A single glossy tear tracked down Kaley’s cheek. “I’d rather be like you than like my mother. I’m not a kid anymore. I know she’s not a good person. It just hurts, you know?”
Pandora’s heart broke for the girl. She reached out and grabbed Kaley’s hand. “Oh, honey, I know it does. My dad wasn’t so hot either.”
Kaley let out a shuddering breath. “Do you promise my mom won’t get hurt?”
“I promise to do my best to prevent that, but if she tries to hurt your dad, I’m going to protect him first. Can you understand that?”
Kaley nodded and sighed. “Yeah, I understand. Just tell me what to do.”
One text from Kaley. I found a feather. That’s all it had taken for Lila to show up again, looking to spend time with her daughter. They’d gone to get ice cream, during which Kaley had turned over the substitute feather as planned.
Now, a day later, Kaley was at Pandora’s for safe keeping. She’d sent Lila a text saying she couldn’t hang out because she was doing witch stuff with Pandora until eight o’clock.
Which meant Lila knew Cole would be alone in the house until then.
And so the waiting began.
Cole knew she’d show. It was just a matter of when.
Sheriff Merrow, Corette, Marigold and Charisma were all in the backyard where they could see into the house through the windows. The sliders onto the porch were unlocked. He just hoped they made it into the house before Lila cast whatever spell she was planning to use on him. Fake feather or not, he didn’t want to be on the receiving end of Lila’s magic.
He glanced toward the backyard. It was still light out, but he couldn’t see any of them in the obscene overgrowth. Or maybe they were using magic to conceal themselves. But wouldn’t Lila sense that?
If only he’d been raised to understand more about witches and magic and familiars. Corette had assured him that their magic would work no matter the distance and that they could immobilize Lila from their hiding spots. Marigold had added that he would be perfectly safe.
But he felt like a fish in a bowl with a cat on the prowl. He glanced skyward. For a second, he wished Gertrude could access any part of the house, but that would be more of a curse than a blessing.
He passed the time by working. Another day of clearing junk out and the remodeling could begin. There were floors to refinish, walls to paint, light fixtures to change. The stairway to refurbish with wrought iron. Bathrooms to gut and rebuild. The kitchen cabinets and countertops needed to be ordered, too, since he and Pandora still hadn’t gotten around to that. Maybe tomorrow.
And there was the outside. Painting, repairs, landscaping… He chuckled at how much remained to be done. But it was work worth doing.
The house would be something special when it was complete. Hell, it was something special now. He stood in the foyer and looked around at the grand space with a pang of regret that he wouldn’t get to enjoy it after the work was complete. It was the most amazing place he’d ever lived.
Seemed fitting that he’d met Pandora here, seeing as how she was the most amazing woman he’d ever known.
And she loved him.
His smile was unstoppable. Thinking about her did that to him. With a lightness in his heart that overrode the worry about the events yet to come, he dug into the task of sorting through the last remaining boxes.
He lost himself in the work—and thoughts of Pandora—until a knock on the door brought him back to reality. The sound was a jolt to his system, reminding him of what the real task was: facing down Lila and eliminating the threat she posed to his and Kaley’s life once and for all.
Prepared for whatever happened next, he steeled himself and opened the door.
Corette and Sheriff Merrow stood on the other side. Merrow made a face. “We would have come up to the sliders, but it’s a jungle back there. Didn’t want to drag Corette through the thicket just to reach
the back porch steps.”
“I understand. Did you need something then?”
“Just wanted to let you know I sent my girls home.” Corette looked at her watch. “It’s ten to eight. I don’t think Lila is coming tonight. She believes Kaley’s supposed to be home at eight. Lila won’t want to do this with her daughter around.”
Cole looked at his watch just be sure. “I didn’t know it was that late already.”
Merrow nodded. “Call me when you set this up again. Corette, I’ll wait for you in the car.”
“Thank you, Sheriff.” Cole sighed.
Merrow left with a short wave.
“Disappointed?” Corette asked.
“Yes. I wanted to get this over and done with.”
“Us too.”
“What do you think it means that she didn’t show?” He’d been so sure of it. Could he and Pandora have been that wrong?
Corette thought for a moment. “Maybe she couldn’t get everything together that she needed for the spell.”
“Or maybe she really is making an amulet for Kaley.”
Corette’s impeccable brows lifted. “My darling boy, there is no feather amulet that is of particular use or power to a witch who can read auras. That’s rubbish. Whatever your ex is up to, I can assure you it’s no good.”
“I know. I just…I don’t know.”
“You were hoping that Lila wasn’t who she was. But she is. I’m sorry.”
He nodded. “Me too.”
Corette patted his arm. “You want me to have the sheriff take me by Pandora’s so I can collect Kaley? I can give her an update on the no-show.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll text Pandora. And Kaley’s sleeping over. It was part of the deal. She’s been dying to spend the night ever since she met Pandora.” He smiled. “I made her promise not to be cranky about getting up in the morning.”
Corette nodded. “It’ll be good practice for Pandora too.”
“Practice? For what?”
Corette’s smile turned sly. “Motherhood.”
“Concentrate on the air around the pencil, not on the pencil itself.” Pandora stood a few feet away from Kaley so the kid didn’t feel crowded. Learning to control your gifts was hard work. Pandora had had the added pressure of having gifts that had never worked right. She understood the frustration.
Kaley sighed. “I can’t do it.”
Pandora gave her a reassuring smile. “You absolutely can. Don’t get discouraged. You did it once.”
“That was a fluke.”
“No, it wasn’t. Look how easily you grasped calling fire. Now try again.” Pandora moved closer to Kaley. “With focus this time. If you want to master your powers, this is what it takes. Practice and patience.”
“So bossy.” But Kaley was grinning. “Okay, here goes.” She stared at the pencil on the kitchen table, and her smile drifted away into a sea of concentration.
The pencil trembled.
“Very good,” Pandora whispered. “Move the air, not the object. Think light thoughts.”
The pencil lifted off the table and hovered a few inches above it. Then it went a few inches higher.
Kaley whooped, and the pencil fell back to the table. “I did it!”
Pandora swooped in to hug her. “I’m so proud of you!”
Kaley hugged back. Hard. Then her slim frame started to shake.
Pandora pulled back to look at Kaley. She was crying. “Hey, what’s wrong? Don’t cry.”
Kaley wiped at her face. “I’m just happy.” She sniffed. “And a little sad.”
“Why, honey?” Pandora brushed the hair out of Kaley’s face.
“You’re so nice to me. And you’ve only just met me. And my mom’s known me for years and…” Kaley shrugged. “You’ve been a better mom in a week than she’s been all my life.”
Pandora held Kaley’s face in her hands as she fought back tears of her own. “Your dad’s not the only one I’ve fallen in love with.”
“You mean me?”
“Yes, silly girl, I mean you. And Pumpkin’s crazy about you.”
“That’s because I have beef jerky.”
They both looked at Kaley’s backpack. Pumpkin was currently curled up on top of it. Snoring. “There might be some truth in that,” Pandora said.
Kaley laughed and rubbed at her eyes. “I hope that Lila doesn’t hurt my dad.”
“She won’t. We won’t let that happen. I promise.”
Pandora’s phone chimed. She grabbed it, hoping there was news at last. She read the text. “Speaking of your dad, he wants to know if you’re in bed yet.”
Kaley rolled her eyes. “It’s only nine thirty.”
“Go brush your teeth and put your nightgown on.”
Kaley made a face. “A nightgown? Really?”
“Whatever you wear to bed. Go get ready. Or I’ll turn you into a catnip mouse and let Pumpkin torture you.”
Kaley snorted. “Could you do that?”
“No. Remember, animate to inanimate is a high-level skill. I could turn you into a real mouse, though.”
Kaley shrieked. “Ew!”
Pandora flicked her fingers, and the hall light came on. “Teeth. Now.”
Kaley held up her hands. “Going.”
Pandora grinned as she took her phone to the couch to text Cole back. She’s brushing her teeth now. How’d it go with Lila?
She never showed.
What? You think she saw the sheriff and knew the gig was up?
Not sure. Your mother thinks she didn’t have the spell ready.
Could be. But Pandora didn’t like that the loose end of Lila remained untied.
How’d it go with Kaley?
Great. Taught her how to shoot lasers out of her eyes and how to turn straw into gold.
O_o
Just kidding. She practiced levitating a pencil.
So much better. Wish you were here.
Ditto.
Maybe the next sleepover should be you and me.
A shiver of wicked anticipation rippled through Pandora. She bit her lip. Before she could answer, he texted again.
When the time is right of course. How about lunch tomorrow?
That might be a little soon for a sleepover.
Haha. I meant for actual lunch. Mummy’s?
It’s a date.
See you at noon. Love you.
She grinned and then texted words she’d only ever sent to her sisters and mother. Love you too.
At eleven forty-five the next day, Cole found himself wandering on Main Street. He stopped in front of a store called Illusions. The windows were full of sparkly things, but also watches, and he’d always had a weak spot for a good-looking chronograph.
He’d left the house early to get to Mummy’s in time to snag a table before the lunch crowd descended, but as he’d parked, he’d gotten a text from Pandora telling him she’d had an eager seller call about listing their house.
He’d told her to take her time, but she insisted she’d meet him at twelve thirty, no later. Truth was, he loved how successful she was, how she was very clearly her own woman with her own life. It was incredibly sexy to have a woman like that want you.
Because if there was anything Cole knew about Pandora, it was that a woman of her caliber could have any man she wanted.
Being with her was an honor and a privilege. With that in mind, he slipped into the jewelry store. There were two women behind the counters waiting on a smattering of customers. He had no purpose in mind other than killing time, but the thought of buying Pandora a little something had merit. If he found something that seemed like her.
He worked his way around the store until he came to a display case of engagement rings. He paused there, lost in the idea of putting that sort of ring on his sexy redhead’s finger.
“Can I help you?”
He looked up. A pretty blonde woman smiled at him, her aqua eyes bright. “Just looking.”
She nodded, then canted her head and, with
a coy look in her eyes, said, “You wouldn’t be looking if you didn’t have a reason.”
He laughed. “True.”
“What’s her name?”
“Pandora.”
“Pandora Williams?”
He nodded. “I guess everyone in town knows her, huh?”
“Yes, but she’s also a really good friend of mine. Her cat and my cat are brother and sister.”
“Pumpkin?”
“Yep. Jasper’s back there in my office right now.”
“Is he also…” Cole puffed his cheeks up.
“Fat? No. Jasper’s a lean, mean, sleeping machine.” She laughed and offered her hand. “I’m Willa Iscove. You must be Cole.”
He shook her hand. “If you know who I am, that must mean Pandora’s mentioned me. I hope it was good.”
Willa’s smile kinked. “Yes and no. No at first, yes lately.”
“Yeah, I had some things to learn.”
“She mentioned some of that.” Willa leaned in. “Are you looking for an engagement ring for her?”
He hesitated. “Not yet. But I can see that day coming.”
Willa clasped her hands in front of her. “That’s awesome. She’s the best. She deserves to be happy.”
“I agree.” He looked at the rings one last time. “I wouldn’t mind getting her a little present, though. I’m meeting her for lunch in a bit. Any ideas?”
“Come with me.”
He followed her to a new case.
She pulled out a sterling silver pendant in the shape of an antique key decorated with little vines. It hung from a delicate chain. “Considering that she’s a realtor, I thought this could be appropriate. Could also be the key to your heart.” She held it out. “What do you think?”
Seeing that the Pilcher Manor was also part of their story, he loved it. “It’s perfect. How much? And do you gift wrap?”
“I’ll give you the friends and family discount since this is for Pandy. And I’d be happy to wrap it for you. So long as you promise to come back to me when it’s time to do some ring shopping.”
He pulled out his credit card. “Deal.”
She took the card and the pendant. “Be right back.”
A few minutes later, she handed him his card with his receipt and the wrapped box. “We should all go out to dinner sometime, you and Pandora and me and my fiancé, Nick.”
The Professor Woos The Witch (Nocturne Falls Book 4) Page 21