by Tegan Maher
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Gary rushed toward her, but as he tried to gather her up, his arms slipped right through her. His gaze was agonized as he turned toward me. "We've gotta do something." He looked from me to Cheri Lynn to Rae. "You guys have to figure out how to get us out of here!"
Sarah had seen the dog and heard Bonnie's cry. She was by her side in an instant and looked up at us. Her eyes settled on Gary and if looks could kill, he'd have been dead where he stood.
"You! After abandoning her for a year, you just waltz right back in here and expect to pick her up and sit her on Santa's knee? Over my dead body." She raced over and picked up a bewildered Bonnie.
"Who are you talking to Sarah? Did you see that little dog? He looks just like Levi!"
Since we were only about ten feet from them, Sarah was looking back and forth between me and Gary. "Shelby! I'm so happy to see you! Noelle told me what happened, but she didn't tell me you made it back safe."
By now, Noelle and Rae were as bumfuzzled as Gary and I were. And Bonnie was struggling to get down so that she could chase the dog.
Cheri Lynn seemed to be the only one with enough clarity to take control of the situation. "Sarah, honey, take Bonnie to Bobbie Sue for a few minutes. We need to talk."
Still glancing back and forth between the five of us, Sarah nodded and did as she asked. It only took her a minute to hand her over to Bobbie Sue, who led her over to the chocolate fountain. Sarah made it back to us in double time. "Now would somebody mind telling me what in the name of little green apples is going on here?"
Cheri Lynn took the lead again and gave her the run-down. Her face paled as the story progressed.
"So let me get this straight. You and I are the only ones who can see and hear them?" Cheri nodded, and Sarah turned to Noe and Rae. "And you two can't?"
"Nope. Not so much as a shadow or a peep," Raeann said.
"So," Sarah said, never taking her eyes off of Gary, "you never left us? At least not on purpose?"
"Never, sweetheart. I was a horrible father after Melody died, but I would have never up and left Bonnie, or you and Sean."
Sarah's chin quivered, but she squared her shoulders. "What do we need to do to get them out? Noelle? You've been talking to Camille, right? What does she say?"
"She says nobody's ever come back from the in-between."
"What in blue blazes is the in-between?"
Noelle explained it again, but I was really getting tired of being stuck between pages one and two. "I can't believe we're this close and there's no solution. Tell Noelle I said so. Tell her and Rae they're two of the most powerful witches I know and that I know they can do it."
Cheri Lynn did, but then I felt bad when Noe's face fell. I'd meant to be inspiring, but I think I just put more pressure on her. What if we never came out? She'd blame herself.
"Tell her I know this is my fault. I was a snotty, irresponsible, cocky brat and if there's not a way to fix this, then it's not her fault."
Sarah repeated what I said, but it didn't appear to make Noelle feel any better.
Cheri Lynn was looking at Sarah as if she were working a puzzle. "Why do you reckon we can see them when nobody else can?"
Noelle chimed in. "There's only one thing you two have in common. Cheri, your Bebee had the sight, right?"
The ghostly go-go elf nodded, then added, "She had the gift. Said she could walk between the realms, whatever that means."
Noelle turned to Sarah. "And you have a touch of psychic talent too, right?"
"A touch," she said, "I've never really done anything with it.”
Noelle's face was twisted in concentration, then she turned and strode toward the front door.
"Follow me. I think I have an idea. Or at least an idea for an idea."
Sure. That cleared things right up.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Outside, it had gotten completely dark except for all the Christmas lights strung around town. The snow hadn't stopped falling, and a soft blanket of it coated the rooftops and tipped the trees.
The moon hung full and beautiful, crystal blue in that way it can only look when it's really cold outside. The stars glowed and twinkled along with the Christmas lights and I thought how much better it looked than the snow globe.
Noelle called for Addy, and it only took my aunt a second to pop in. "What? Belle and I were getting ready to come in and sing a couple of carols with y'all. Why are you outside?"
"This is more important than caroling," Noelle said, waving her hand. "Can you see Shelby and a guy standing right there?" Rae motioned toward us.
Addy looked straight at us and frowned. "If that's supposed to be funny young lady, you missed the mark by a long shot."
"No, I'm not trying to be funny. Cheri Lynn and Sarah can see them." She brought Addy up to speed right as Camille popped in.
"Let me get this straight," Camille said. "We have two women who both have at least a touch of the gift, though walking between the worlds usually only applies to the world of the living and the world of the dead. There's a chasm in between, which is where Shelby and this Gary guy are. But I still don't understand why anybody, living or dead can see them, because they're neither.”
Noelle shook her head. "That can't be. They have to be one or the other."
Addy nodded and crossed her arms. "I agree. Not to get all hippy dippy, but you're either kickin' or you're not." She pointed to Camille then at herself. "You are, I'm not. Ain't no in-between there."
"I agree," said Cheri Lynn. "I've been both. Ms. Addy's right. Ain't no maybe about it. So, what do we do to pull these two"—she motioned toward us with her thumb—"outta the butt crack of existence?"
Sarah'd been quiet up until then, but she stepped forward. "Cheri Lynn, have you tried touching either one of them?"
"No," she answered. "Actually, I haven't. But they look solid to me, just like other ghosts look. Living people look different."
"They look normal to me, too. Solid as everybody else looks to me."
Cheri Lynn floated over and touched my shoulder, pulling her hand back like she'd been burned when she actually touched me. When the shock wore off after a second, she squealed, then moved back in and scooped me into a hug. I could actually smell her candy-and-jasmine perfume as I hugged her back.
"But, does this mean I'm dead, then?" I asked, a little scared.
Cheri pointed to Sarah, who was hugging Gary. "I don't think so."
"Okay then," Camille said. "I've never in my almost-three-hundred years seen anything at all like this. Since I can't see them—"
Cheri Lynn's whole demeanor suddenly changed. She shushed Camille as she turned to look at something behind her. "Don't matter if you can see them or not," Addy said as stared over her shoulder in the same direction Cheri was, eyes wide, then dropped to one knee. "Because unless I'm sorely mistaken, we’re about to get the miracle we’ve been prayin’ for.”
Even I could feel the change. It was like a huge storm was coming; the hairs on my arms stood up and my ears popped.
Cheri Lynn and Sarah had their eyes closed, and their faces looked all peaceful. A pinpoint of light appeared and grew as it came closer. As the voices inside the restaurant lifted high and clear, singing about angels playing near the earth, the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen stepped out of the blinding light, wearing what looked like a white toga with a golden, filigreed belt and circlet. Her blonde hair flowed to her waist, and the light behind her made it look like spun gold.
Gary gasped as she stopped within a few feet of us, and a tear rolled down his cheek. "Melody?"
She rolled her shoulders and a magnificent pair of white-feathered golden wings spread out behind her.
"Yes, sugar." She nodded and smiled at him in a way that made me think she didn't know how to frown. "You've been lost for so long. Now it's time to go take care of our little girl." She turned to me. "And you, Shelby. You have a place in this world—an important one, which is one of the reasons I'm here—bu
t first you need to accept that you have only started your journey and you have much to learn."
I started to drop to my knees as Addy had done because, well, holy geez, there was an honest-to-God angel standing in front of me. She smiled at me and touched my shoulder. "The Flynn witches are powerful; you're not meant to kneel to any being, but you do need to learn what your place is in this moment in time. Bow your head in humility and embrace your destiny. Your power is a gift, meant for good. Remember that."
She turned back to Gary, who was drinking her in with his eyes, tears streaming down his face. Her gaze turned wistful and she laid her hand on his face. "I'll be waiting on you, but a lifetime will pass before we see each other again. Find happiness, and fill Bonnie's world with joy. For both of us."
She looked at Cheri Lynn and Sarah. "Ready ladies?"
Cheri looked at Sarah. "You know what to do?"
"Weirdly enough, I do now."
"Shelby, Gary, take our hands," Cheri Lynn said as she and Sarah moved to stand face to face, leaving enough room between them for us to stand.
We did as they asked, then they closed their eyes. I had the strangest feeling of being lifted off my feet. Gary and I were literally floating, but it felt like we were being balanced and guided. Each time we'd float a little too close to either of the girls, it was like we'd hit a wall. The only directions open to us were up and down.
The beginning strains of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" drifted out to us, the voices of our friends and neighbors blending, each note hanging on the cold night air in near-perfect harmony. Goose bumps raced down my arms as everything around me snapped into sharper focus.
When that happened, Cheri and Sarah smiled and nodded at Melody, and she placed a hand on each of their shoulders. As the final strains of the carol played out, the light grew so bright that I had to shut my eyes, and even though I still felt the floating feeling, it was as if Cheri Lynn was pushing us and Sarah was pulling us.
The chill air brushed my cheek. The light winked out and the feeling of floating went away, and time was suspended for a minute as I looked around. Were we back?
After a split second, Noelle and Rae pounced on me, squealing—even though they're never squealers—and hugging me. Sarah ran to Gary and pulled him in for one, too. I thanked Cheri Lynn and Sarah for what they'd done.
"Sugar," Cheri Lynn said, "that wasn't any of our doin'. We just somehow knew what she wanted us to do, and did it. Make no mistake, that's a real-life blessing you just got."
I shivered, feeling the cold for the first time since we'd been outside. The crowd inside Bobbie Sue's burst into "Deck the Halls" and suddenly I couldn't wait to be among them.
We made our way inside the restaurant. The decorations seemed cheerier and the lights twinkled a little brighter as I caught my first glimpses of the smiling faces of the people I loved.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
It was warm inside, and little Bonnie was sitting on Santa Earl's lap singing Jingle Bells with a cookie in each hand and melted chocolate on her face. Everybody looked toward the door as we blasted them with cold air, and her little hands went slack, dropping both cookies, as she saw who was walking beside us.
She scrambled off Earl's lap and ran across the room as fast as her short legs could carry her, then stopped a little bit in front of us, staring. Gary bent down and opened his arms, and she jumped the few feet to him. He swung her up and buried his face in her hair, squeezing her, smiling and crying at the same time.
I guess, thinkin' about it, he'd had a pretty big day. He'd been sucked out of a snow globe, dropped between pages one and two, found out his wife was an angel, then got to hold his little girl for the first time in a year. The guy had a right to be a little emotional, all things considered.
After all the hugs and fussin' were done and over with, I called Cody. He'd worked late at the clinic with Will, but came over as soon as he heard my voice. As soon as he got there—after hugging me so hard I thought I was gonna break—he made me promise never to wish we were anywhere else again, and I gladly obliged.
I was happy right where I was, and was ready to admit I didn’t know nearly as much as I thought I did. I was just grateful that, for some reason, the universe had seen fit to send me a Christmas miracle when I surely hadn’t earned one.
I went into the bathroom to change out of the horrid red ski suit and Noelle followed me. As I pulled off my ratty sleep shirt—that's what I'd been wearing when I’d wished us into the snow globe—Noelle grabbed me by the arm so hard she sunk her nails into me. I scowled and tried to pull away from her.
"Sorry," she said. "But look." I tried to twist around to see what she was pointing at, but couldn't.
She pulled her compact out of her purse and I backed up close to the mirror. There, right where Melody had touched me on my right shoulder, was an inch-high, reddish-brown mark shaped like a perfect pair of angel wings.
EPILOGUE
An attractive couple sat at one of the cafe tables at Brew4U, sipping lattes and watching the holiday activities going on in the town square.
"It seems to be a quaint little town," he said to her.
She nodded once. "It does. I'd love to give that barbecue place over there a go." Her stomach rumbled as she peered at the sign.
He followed her gaze, then took another sip of his coffee. "Do you think we'll have any trouble adapting?"
"So far, we've fared well," she said, shrugging. "These people seem to be especially forgiving when we make errors. Though I do wonder what a Yankee is. They seem to use the term mostly when we've committed a social blunder."
"Maybe it just means foreigner," he said. "They seem inordinately determined to point out that we're not from these parts. Perhaps we should focus on learning the local dialect and rules of conduct."
She hummed, agreeing. "We'll need to find employment and a place to live. I saw a sign when we entered announcing this shop is looking for a barista. I assume that means somebody who makes coffee. It's not a term that was in use in our day, but it can't be too difficult. What would you like to do? You're skilled with animals, but the horse and carriage seems to have been replaced by those automated vehicles."
"I don't know," he said, eying a passing pickup with a wreath attached to the grill with interest. "I'm not particular. Perhaps I can secure a position in the building sector. That can't have changed much. After all, a hammer is a hammer. Or I could learn to repair those vehicles. If it's mechanical, it breaks."
Smiling, she placed her hand over his. "It doesn't matter what we do as long as we're together."
He lifted one corner of his mouth in a loving half-smile. "I'm content wherever you are, love. As long as you never ask me to ice skate again."
<<<<>>>>
Bubble, Bubble, Here Comes Trouble
This novella also takes place in my Witches of Keyhole Lake world. This time, it’s Halloween, and creepy things are afoot while Noelle’s trying to pull of the annual Flynn Farm Halloween party.
CHAPTER ONE
I dusted my hands off on my apron and blew an errant curl out of my face before setting the oven timer for thirteen minutes, the exact time it would take for the last batch of pumpkin-shaped cookies to bake to golden perfection. Apropos since it was Halloween, I know, but there are some things even magic can't change, and how long it takes to bake a cookie is one of them.
A quick glance at the clock on the stove confirmed what I already knew: I was running out of time much faster than I was running out of things to do.
The Flynn Farm Halloween party had been a family tradition for over forty years, and this year, I was holding the reins. Or at least I was supposed to be; at this point, I felt like I was failing spectacularly. The house was only half-decorated, and I was still in my sweats. I shoved my hair off my forehead and pulled out dried flecks of cupcake batter left over from an unfortunate mishap with the mixer earlier.
I touched one of the kazillion gleaming red candy apples arranged in rows on wax
paper and left a fingerprint. That meant they weren't cool enough to wrap yet, so I poured two glasses of iced tea and stepped onto the front porch. I sighed and closed my eyes; the cool fall breeze felt like heaven after the heat of the kitchen.
"It's about time you came out to help," my little sister Shelby said as she plucked one of the glasses from my hand. We plopped down on the front step and she leaned over and bumped shoulders with me. "It sure seemed easier when all we had to do was carve pumpkins and eat candy, didn't it?"
Until this year, our Aunt Adelaide had been the one to pull all this together, and I'm not going to lie: I felt like the shoes I was trying to fill were way too big. This shindig was just one of many traditions that had fallen in my lap when Addy passed away several months ago.
"It sure did,” I said. “I have no idea how she managed to do it. We're scaling it way down, and we'll still be lucky to have everything done before people start showing up. My feet are killing me already." I took a long pull from my glass, savoring the cool, sweet liquid that was a staple in our fridge. But I only had about a second and a half to enjoy the break before a ball of self-righteous energy in transparent muck boots burst through the wall, hands on hips.
Remember when I said Addy passed away? Well, she did—but she chose not to cross over. Imagine my surprise when she showed up in the barn a couple weeks after her death to comfort me during one of my crying sessions. Who knew you had a choice when it came to staying or going? But apparently, some of us do; the proof was currently hovering several feet off the ground, hands on hips, and tapping her toe in mid-air. If you've never seen the ghost of a southern woman with a mood on, count yourself lucky. I cringed.
"Oh, good," she snarked. "I'm glad to see you're comfortable. We only have a hundred or so guests showing up here in less than five hours. You two just go ahead and sit there like a couple of lumps on a log. So what if the lights aren't hung or the hay bales aren't out? Oh, this is going to be a disaster!"