EPILOGUE
Three months later.
We were celebrating. Thanks to Cassandra’s mother’s connections, the building had been completely reconstructed in record time. Ev had allowed Sally and me to decorate the office, so it looked less like a man cave and more like a business establishment. I was looking forward to returning the rental car and resuming my walk to work in the early mornings, getting a latte from Cassandra to drink while my coffeepot perked, and having her deliver my lunch. I had missed those five or ten minutes of “girl time” each day.
The revolution-that-never-took-place didn’t make the papers. The big news was the arrest of the Senate Majority Leader, but that had nothing to do with the “revolution” and everything to do with the fact that he’d been caught in a compromising position with a girl the same age as his teenage daughter. I suspect the powers-that-be in the paranormal community engineered the scene as an explanation for his arrest, rather than allowing his were status and his involvement with insurgents to be made public. Like most news stories nowadays, there was about three days of outrage on social media, then the story faded away. No one questioned the lack of a trial in human court.
I was never told what happened to the creeps I’d confronted and their friends, but Nelion was apparently comfortable enough to allow the extra wards on my apartment building to vanish without refreshing them. Fudge was wary for the next week or so after that, but even he finally calmed down and resumed being less of a familiar and more of a cat. I was finally allowed to drive myself to and from work at Ev’s house and get back to my normal life.
The deli’s grand re-opening was a resounding success. The weather was typical for October – somewhat cool with a light rain – so everyone squeezed into the store. Cassandra probably made more that day than she did in a regular week, which said something about how popular her place was and how much it had been missed.
Ev, Gregory, Sally, and I were squeezed into a corner, out of the traffic, and enjoying watching Cassandra and Tommy get hugs from all the regulars.
Gregory touched my arm. “I have some news for you.”
“Yeah? What?”
“After discussion with Althea, we have decided to graduate you from witch school. Between how you acted during the latest crisis with Ev and how you’ve progressed in your lessons since then, we don’t see a need for me to teach you any longer.”
I was almost at a loss for words. I was free on Saturdays? “Uh. Thanks,” I said. Then realized more was required. “I really appreciate all your efforts, Gregory. I hope I can live up to your expectations.”
He chuckled. “I never had any doubt. And although I would admonish you to stay out of trouble, it seems to follow our employer and we get caught up in it. So, I will not say that. But know if you ever have questions, I am here.” He squeezed my arm.
“The wizard need not worry because you have me.” My cat may have been physically three blocks away, but he was never out of my brain.
“And I’ll always be grateful for you, you spoiled little thing.”
Ev cleared his throat. “This is nice and all, but we have work to do. Amy, I’d like to talk to you – I’m thinking about buying another security firm whose owner wants to retire and there are some logistics to go over. So, come on everyone. Back upstairs.”
I glanced sideways at Gregory and mouthed, “Uh-oh.”
He smiled, shrugged his shoulders, and opened the door for us. As I passed him, he quietly said, “Never a dull moment.”
About the Author
A semi-retired accountant, Master Herbalist, author and witch, Deborah J. “DJ” Martin is the author of non-fiction books about herbs as well as this fiction series.
She abandoned frozen Minnesota many moons ago and now lives in the woods of the southern Appalachian Mountains with her husband, four cats, and numerous woodland creatures. If you can’t find DJ in the garden or visiting her grandchildren, check Facebook http://www.facebook.com/authordjmartin, Twitter @authordjmartin, or her website http://www.authordjmartin.com.
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Transformation! Page 26