Come Witch or High Water

by Constance Barker

  “What were you going on about?” He yelled at him. Roger stood speechless, he sputtered unable to think of anything to say. He couldn’t figure out what had happened to bring everything to this point. I did feel a bit bad for him since he was actually right about the fact that there had been a lake monster. He was wrong though in that it had saved him, not hurt him.

  Chapter Thirteen

  With Judy on the job, things cooled off quickly after that. Roger stormed off in anger, unsure as to what he was supposed to do now. The men who he riled up awkwardly walked away, feeling foolish now they were blatantly proved wrong. Judy did an incredible job at shaming them all. How could they have been so foolish? And how did they think this was a good idea? She wasn’t easy on Roger either and insisted that she was going to tell the police what had happened, hoping that he might get some help.

  I would feel worse for him, but really that was the best course of action. He had held on to this story for so long and allowed it to run his life. The best thing for him would be to get help so he could move on.

  There was still the issue of getting Llyr back to Nikatomia. We all wound up back in the bakery. Despite his discomfort with Judy initially it soon seemed like they had known each other forever. I think Judy even liked him, which I didn’t expect. I didn’t know how we were going to get him back; I was almost resigned to leaving him.

  It came as a surprise when Tracy told us that she wanted to come to Nikatomia with us and Llyr. She was certain of her choice though. Judy had gone to the kitchen to make us all something. Her mood and energy had bounced back, and she seemed like her old self again. It was good to see, and I hoped the coming news wouldn’t change that.

  “I’ve wanted to leave here for so long, and see the world,” Tracy explained. Llyr was holding her hand as they stood in front of us, pleading their case. It was clear they were in love, but it felt like a big decision to make after such a short period of time. I couldn’t help but think of Judy, and how hard it would be on her for Tracy to be so far away. Especially after she was missing. There were certain circumstances where a non-paranormal person could move to Nikatomia, but she’d have to marry Llyr for that to happen.

  “What about your mom?” I asked. My own memories of my mother were coming back. Something was changing, maybe the curse I had been hit with was wearing off. It could just be that now I had jogged some of my memory, the rest would trickle in. She was a strong woman, who had gone to Nikatomia to be with my father. She had made the decision to go back home after he died. After all, she didn’t have a place in Nikatomia. I was young enough that I believe she hoped I would adjust to the normal realm and possibly never develop powers. She was sick though, whatever my father had died of had passed through her. The journey through the portal was too much for her. She withered away after bringing me to her parents’ house. My memories were strange and didn’t really feel like mine. It was more like watching a movie.

  “Llyr explained to me that I could visit twice a year,” Tracy said. “I’ll tell her that I got into school. I can tell her that I don’t want to spend my life dreaming of far off places, that I want to see them. She believes that I got lost out there, so I can tell her that I was so scared I’d die that I realized what I really want to do.”

  “You’ll be okay with only being able to see her twice a year?” Winnie asked. “You have to understand too, you won’t be able to tell her the truth, ever. Your entire life will be a lie to her.” I, too, wanted to make sure that Tracy really understood the gravity of coming with us. It wasn’t a decision to be made lightly.

  “Our paths are intertwined,” Llyr spoke now. He had a soft accent, denoting that he came from the north of Nikatomia. “We have met and met again, that means we are meant to be. I cannot leave if she will not come.” It was a threat more than anything. He was telling us that we had to agree to bring Tracy along with us and if we didn’t then we would not be getting our job done. I thought of my own mother making the same decision that Tracy was now. It was a rarity, but sometimes people did move between the realms. It didn’t work the other way around though. Llyr didn’t have the option to live in the normal realm for the rest of his life. We didn’t thrive in the normal realm and caused issues whether they meant to or not. That’s why our job even existed in the first place. Tracy would be allowed into Nikatomia and could visit the normal realm a couple times a year, but it was all controlled by customs.

  “I know what I want,” Tracy said steadily. “We’re going to start a life of our own. Not one predetermined for us by his family business or by my upbringing here in this tiny part of the world. I’ve never known what I wanted out of my life before now. I was always so uncertain until I met him.” She smiled widely at Llyr, making her eyes crinkle. He lifted their intertwined hands and softly kissed her knuckles. I almost looked away, feeling like the moment they were sharing was a private one.

  “If you are sure, and if he won’t leave otherwise, then I’m not sure we have the right to make that decision for you,” I said after a moment. I wasn’t sure that she was making the right choice. Winnie’s face looked as doubtful as I felt. For all her flirting, she was not the settling down type. I could imagine that this was the last kind of decision that she would made for herself. Personally, I didn’t see myself settling down either. At least not any time soon.

  “Go say goodbye to your mother,” Llyr said to Tracy. She looked a little surprised, as if it had all been not quite real until this moment. “Only if you are sure,” He added after she hesitated. I wondered if that meant if she chose to stay behind, he might come back with us. I doubted it. Our job now depended on Tracy.

  “I’m sure,” She said, kissing him. This time I did look away if only to give them some privacy. As sure as she was in her decision, it would not be easy for her to say goodbye to Judy. I knew Judy well enough by now, and she would let her daughter go gracefully. She might shed a few tears and make sure that her daughter was sure, but Judy would let her go. It would be the hardest thing she’d ever do, but she’d do it if it meant her daughter would be happy.

  Things moved quickly after that. Judy was sad to see her daughter go but had been prepared for it since Tracy told her that she wanted to go to college. We had to notify the police that their search was over. Not that they had been looking very hard in the first place.

  We had to move quickly because the next full moon was coming up in only a couple days. Luckily with Llyr he was able to stave off some of the rain so we could fly all the way back to the tunnel. Tracy was mesmerized by the flight and I could see that there wasn’t an ounce of regret to her choice. She explained that Llyr had told her about all the colleges she could attend in Nikatomia. I hadn’t even known about all the options a non-magic person had for schooling though it made sense. Nikatomia was a place for any paranormal or super natural being.

  Customs were a breeze for Winnie, Alan and I as usual. We didn’t even bother going through anymore. The officers knew who we were and just waved us through. Tracy and Llyr were going to have a far lengthier process to get through. With a hug to Tracy and a warning from Winnie to Llyr about treating her right we were back home.

  “I think I could go for a coffee,” I said as we got close to our coffee shop. It was on the corner a few doors down from our offices, which Alan and I lived above. Winnie had her own apartment on the nicer side of town purchased for her by her very doting parents. “How about you?” Winnie and the barista had something going on between them. Though I didn’t know many people that Winnie wasn’t interested in.

  “I could use a coffee,” she said with a far-off smile. Winnie loved it when we returned back to Nikatomia. I wasn’t sure how long she was going to stick to this job with me. She was good at it, but I didn’t know if it suited her sensibilities.

  “You could use a conversation with Barry, you mean,” Alan said to her. He managed to make her blush, which was a rare occasion.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said
walking ahead of us.

  “No?” I asked laughing at her. “You couldn’t possibly imagine what he’s referring to?” I teased. Winnie turned and rolled her eyes. I laughed, hopeful that she would stick around for a while. It was nice to be back home, but part of me yearned to be back in the normal realm as well. I had a family back there and I wanted to see them. Winnie opened the door to the coffee shop and led us inside.

  “Hey good looking,” she said to a nervous Barry who immediately dropped the pastry he was holding. “Three coffees please.” Winnie smiled at him. I tried not to laugh, but I only managed to repress it to a small giggle.

  “Welcome back,” Barry said with a crooked grin. “It’s good to see you guys.” After his initial blunder he was more confident talking to us. I felt guilty for laughing, but Barry had the incredible ability to laugh at himself.

  We sat waiting for our coffees and I had the feeling of being home. With Tracy immigrating to Nikatomia, I wondered if I might be able to find and convince my grandparents to do the same. If they didn’t hate me that is. I couldn’t think of a more ideal world than this one. Maybe on our next trip, I’d get the chance to re-meet them. I could only hope though.

  “You’ll get the chance to explain everything to them,” Alan said quietly as Winnie flirted away at the counter. He knew exactly what was on my mind and I hoped that he was right.

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  Catalog of Books

  Triplet Witch Sisters Mystery Series

  Two’s Company, Three’s a Coven

  Resting Witch Face

  Bewitched and Bewildered

  Triple Toil and Trouble

  THE WITCH SISTERS OF Stillwater

  Hoodoo and Just Desserts

  A Shade of Murder

  That Ol’ Black Magic

  A Whole Lotta Witchin Goin On

  The Beast Cometh

  Secrets and Sorcery

  THE LUCKY DILL DELI Mystery Series

  A Yuletide Wallop

  Haunted Homicide

  The Leprechaun’s Loot

  THE SINISTER CASE SERIES

  Mirror, Mirror Murder Them All

  A Wicked Enchantment

  A Scorching Spell

  THE GRUMPY CHICKEN Irish Pub Series

  A Frosty Mug of Murder

  Treachery on Tap

  A Highball and a Low Blow

  Cursed With a Twist

  A Whiskey Sour Wipeout

  OLD SCHOOL DINER COZY Mysteries

  Murder at Stake

  Murder Well Done

  A Side Order of Deception

  Murder, Basted and Barbecued

  Murder Ala Mode

  The Candy Cane Killer

  The Curiosity Shop Cozy Mysteries

  The Curious Case of the Cursed Spectacles

  The Curious Case of the Cursed Dice

  The Curious Case of the Cursed Dagger

  The Curious Case of the Cursed Looking Glass

  The Curious Case of the Cursed Crucible

  WITCHY WOMEN OF COVEN Grove Series

  THE WITCHING ON THE Wall

  A Witching Well of Magic

  Witching the Night Away

  Witching There’s Another Way

  Witching Your Life Away

  Witching You Wouldn’t Go

  Witching for a Miracle

  TEASEN & PLEASEN HAIR Salon Series

  A Hair Raising Blowout

  Wash, Rinse, Die

  Holiday Hooligans

  Color Me Dead

  False Nails & Tall Tales

  CAESAR’S CREEK SERIES

  A FROZEN SCOOP OF MURDER

  Death by Chocolate Sundae

  Soft Serve Secrets

  Ice Cream You Scream

  Double Dip Dilemma

  Melted Memories

  Triple Dip Debacle

  Whipped Wedding Woes

  A Sprinkle of Tropical Trouble

  A Drizzle of Deception

  SWEET HOME MYSTERY Series

  Creamed at the Coffee Cabana

  A Caffeinated Crunch

  A Frothy Fiasco

  Punked by the Pumpkin

  Peppermint Pandemonium

  Expresso Messo

  A Cuppa Cruise Conundrum

  The Brewing Bride

  WHISPERING PINES MYSTERY Series

  A Sinister Slice of Murder

  Sanctum of Shadows

  Curse of the Bloodstone Arrow

  Fright Night at the Haunted Inn

  THE CHRONICLES OF AGNES Astor Smith

  The Peculiar Case of Agnes Astor Smith

  The Peculiar Case of the Red Tide

  The Peculiar Case of the Lost Colony