A Modern Witch

by Debora Geary

  Nat pregnant? Obviously a surprise, but given the way things seemed to be headed with her and Jamie, most likely a happy one. She figured any guy who missed a four-year-old as much as Jamie missed Aervyn should be okay with fatherhood.

  Lauren tried to imagine her best friend as a mother. That wasn’t hard either. Nat would finally be able to create the family she’d always wanted.

  Or join the one Jamie already had. Aervyn had a point. There were plenty of playmates and lots of help with a baby in Berkeley. In Chicago, they’d only have her. Somehow, in a middle-of-the-night baby crisis, Lauren was pretty sure any sane person would rather have Nell, experienced mother of five, ride to their rescue.

  So why was everyone so convinced Nell and Jamie would live in Chicago? Was it all because of Jamie’s precog? That seemed like a flimsy reason, given all the weight on the other side of the scale.

  Nat’s studio? Yeah, that was big. But would Nat trade that for Jamie’s rowdy, arms-wide-open family? With a baby on the way? Heck, yes. And Berkeley wasn’t exactly an awful place to open a new yoga studio.

  Lauren leaned back in her chair, unsettled and lonely, and let thoughts ramble around in her head.

  …

  Nell set two drinks down on her kitchen table. “You want cookies to go with this?”

  Lauren held her stomach. “No, thanks. Aervyn and I ate enough snacks on the plane to fill my food quota for a week.”

  Nell laughed. “Aunt Jennie’s coming over this afternoon to train Aervyn and Ginia. You could join them—it would help you work up an appetite for dinner. I know she’d love to see you. She doesn’t know you’ve come in early.”

  “I need to do a little more shopping, but I can take care of that tomorrow.”

  “Great. Maybe I can co-opt you to pick up some party supplies for me, too.”

  Lauren grinned. It was good to be here. “I can most definitely do that. Did Jamie tell you we bought the girls laptops?”

  Nell groaned in mock protest. “Just what we need around here—more computers. What did you get them?”

  “Some seriously souped-up Macbooks. Jamie said you’ll be jealous. He’s setting login spells that only the girls can use.”

  Nell snorted. “That might keep Aervyn out, but anyone else in this house who can’t crack a login spell is a changeling.”

  Lauren laughed. “Far be it from me to defend Jamie’s prowess. He’ll have to do that himself.”

  “So, how’s he doing, anyway?”

  Nell sounded entirely too casual. Lauren paused before she spoke, not sure how to navigate sibling waters. “He’s really in love with Nat. I think he must go to yoga class every day. He can touch his toes now and everything.”

  “But?”

  Cripes. “But he misses his family something terrible. And I think he really misses the magic.”

  Nell frowned. “He can do magic in Chicago.”

  “Tried that.” Lauren told Nell about the motley coven meeting they’d crashed.

  Nell shook her head. “Jamie’s not exactly tactful, especially when someone’s blowing it magically. He’s a wonderful trainer, but he’s best with kids.”

  “So, you sent him to me?” Lauren asked, laughing. “Thanks a lot.”

  “That was different. We didn’t even know for sure that you were a witch. He was available. If I’d known he was going to find Aervyn’s channeler and his future wife in Chicago, I might have sent backup.”

  Aervyn’s channeler. No one had called her that for weeks now. It felt unexpectedly good.

  “Speaking of his future wife,” Nell said, “how is Nat? Jamie mentioned something about buying a building.”

  Lauren was pretty sure the baby was going to throw a bit of a wrench in those plans. Was it bad to spill a secret Jamie and Nat didn’t even know yet? Then again, Aervyn knew. Making up her mind, Lauren reached for Nell’s hand. “I need you to help me plan a surprise.”

  Nell raised an eyebrow. “Buying a building’s a pretty big surprise.”

  “This is bigger, in a way. Aervyn says Nat’s pregnant—he told me on the plane. Jamie and Nat don’t know yet, I don’t think.”

  Nell’s face nearly split in two. “They will soon. Aervyn can’t keep a secret any better than your average four-year-old.”

  “That’s what I figured,” Lauren said. “So, if the news is going to leak anyhow, I wanted to take advantage of it. Will you help me put together a baby shower while we’re here? So long as the girls won’t mind—I don’t want to overshadow their birthday.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding. They’ll be your happy party-planning minions.”

  “Minions will be necessary to pull this off in two days.”

  “We’ll dragoon them to the planning committee after dinner. I hear Aunt Jennie’s car pulling up, so I think the next item on your agenda is training in the back yard.”

  ...

  Jennie watched her three trainees with no small pride. They were doing some fine tricks today. Magic worked best when fueled by strong emotion, and the delight in the back yard this afternoon was strong, indeed.

  Aervyn had plenty of power, happy or not, but he was very pleased with himself today. As he should be. It was a fine bit of witchling maneuvering he’d done to get Lauren back with him. He’d missed his mind-training buddy something fierce.

  They had already played four rounds of Grab the Thought, and Lauren hadn’t lost her edge lazing around in Chicago. Round five was the tiebreaker. Ginia was openly cheering for Lauren. Jennie was too, although quite a bit more quietly. It wouldn’t do for her trainees to know she sometimes took sides.

  Ginia was buzzing with the happiness of her upcoming birthday and Nat’s impending arrival. Ginia loved Nat with all the ardor of a young girl who has met the woman she wants to become. She had chosen well. Nat was a wonderful role model.

  It was Lauren’s delight this afternoon that pleased Jennie most, however. After channeling power for the most spectacular magic Jennie had ever witnessed, Lauren had gone back to Chicago and largely disappeared.

  Oh, she’d sent some nice emails, and they’d even had a couple of lovely video chats. But she’d tucked her magic away. Jennie had pressed Jamie on this, and he’d agreed.

  Until today, Jennie had been unsure whether Lauren was just taking a sizeable breather, or running away for good. Today suggested they might well gain her back. The witching world would be glad. Not everyone accepted the responsibility that came with strong magic.

  Silly old woman, thought Jennie. The girl has wormed her way into your heart, and you want to keep her there. It’s not only the witching world that’s glad today.

  And look at that. Lauren had won Grab the Thought, best three out of five. She was good—and well taught, too.

  “Nicely done, Lauren,” said Jennie, rubbing Aervyn’s head. “Creative as usual.”

  Aervyn was so revved by the competition, he’d scarcely realized he’d lost. “Again please, Aunt Jennie, just one more time?”

  “That’s enough for today, sweetheart. With Lauren here, I want to try something else. Spring equinox is coming in a couple of days, and we’ll be having ourselves quite a few circles in celebration. I was thinking we could show Ginia how to connect to a circle today.”

  That well-thought-out plan was about two minutes old.

  Ginia’s eyes shone. Jennie went on. “Ginia, you’ll call earth, just like we’ve been practicing. Aervyn, I want you to handle water and air, and keep it gentle. I’ll do fire. Lauren, can you guide Ginia through the connection? It’s easiest to have a mind witch lead you, but I can’t do that and handle fire as well.” She could do it in her sleep, but she wanted to see Lauren try on trainer shoes.

  Ginia plunked down in Lauren’s lap, and Jennie and Aervyn formed the circle. Her voice confident, Ginia reached for earth power, her strongest magic.

  “I of the North call on Earth,

  Of fertile life and new growth.

  As I will, so mote it be.”


  Aervyn grinned at his big sister and called on air.

  “I of the East call on Air,

  Breath of life and soul’s flight.

  As I will, so mote it be.”

  Jennie felt Lauren dial him back just a bit, stepping automatically into the shoes of circle monitor as well as coach. She added the call for fire.

  “I of the South call on Fire,

  Creator and destroyer, and force of will.

  As I will, so mote it be.”

  Aervyn smoothly split his channels, a feat few witches could match, and called for water.

  “I of the West call on Water,

  Of life giving stream and cleansing rain.

  As I will, so mote it be.”

  Lauren sent Ginia images of how to entwine her earth power with Aervyn on her left and Jennie on her right. Ginia followed instructions with the confidence and trust of a well-trained witchling. Lauren sent instructions with the confidence and light hand of a future trainer.

  Well done, both of you, sent Jennie. Lauren, have Aervyn turn the power up a bit. Ginia, hold nice and steady, just like you’re doing.

  Aervyn did as asked and upped the wattage slightly. Power hummed around the circle. Ginia’s delight was contagious.

  Aervyn wanted to spellcast, and Lauren was more than willing to play. Jennie laughed, careful not to jiggle her connection with Ginia. That’s what happened when you had three mind witches in a circle—they had the communication links to invent things on the fly.

  That’s exactly how accidents happen, she thought wryly. However, it would do both Aervyn and Lauren all kinds of good to feel that connection again. Go ahead, Jennie sent, but keep the magic small, sweet boy. Very small.

  Aervyn did something nifty and complicated with his elemental streams and separated out a channel for Lauren. They hooked together with heartwarming ease, and then Lauren gently reached out to Ginia.

  Jennie could see Lauren walking Ginia through the steps until her earth power changed shape and flowed smoothly over the dome. Jennie added her fire in quickly. Ginia was new to circle work, and she’d soon tire.

  Clearly aware his time was short, Aervyn grabbed power and speedcast the spell.

  Summer breezes danced around Ginia. Lightning bugs darted and a circle of dew-covered daisies rose out of the backyard grass. For the grand finale, nature sang.

  Happy birthday to you,

  Happy birthday to you,

  You smell like a monkey,

  And you look like one too.

  The circle dissolved in fits of giggles.

  As things quieted down and they all headed over to a bench where milk and cookies waited, Lauren touched Jennie’s arm. “Are you sure Ginia doesn’t have mind magic?”

  Jennie nodded slowly. “I think so. I’ve run the usual assessments, same as Jamie would have done with you. What did you see?”

  “I’m not sure, exactly. She pulled earth power, but she also had two small power sources that weren’t elemental. They sure looked like mind channels.”

  Jennie considered. She hadn’t seen anything, but Lauren’s mind vision was a lot stronger. “She’s got some minor fire talent, but you’re pretty sure it wasn’t elemental.”

  Lauren shrugged. “You’d see that better than I would. My ability to read elemental power is pretty awful. Like I said, it sure looked like mind power.”

  It hit them both at the same time. Shay and Mia. Lauren raised her eyebrows. “Three witches?”

  Jennie had no idea. “Anything’s possible, but neither of them test for power at all. Triplets have a very close connection, and I wonder if that’s what you’re seeing. Ginia might be using that as a power source.”

  “Jeez. How the heck do we figure that out?”

  Ah, you’ve the curious soul of a trainer too, my girl. “That’s what you and I need to sort out, isn’t it?”

  Lauren laughed. “I need cookies if you expect me to do anything else today.”

  ...

  Nell stood at the window where she’d been for nearly an hour.

  She’d learned three things in her watching. One, Jamie wasn’t the only one who’d missed communal magic. Two, Lauren had the makings of a darn good witch trainer. And three, Aunt Jennie had something up her sleeve.

  The next few days would certainly not be boring.

  Nell reached for her laptop and cell phone. Lauren wasn’t the only one who could plan a surprise.

  Chapter 25

  Lauren walked the streets of downtown Berkeley, munching on a bagel. She’d woken at the crack of dawn, one of the hazards of a brain that was still on Chicago time. Unable to talk herself back to sleep, she’d decided to get a head start on her shopping list.

  Instead, she’d been sucked into the vibe of downtown. Berkeley’s inner core had a fascinating mix of people, buildings, and modes of transportation. She’d seen more bikes in the last hour than taxis. Chicago it wasn’t.

  As a realtor, she made a habit of walking her neighborhoods, getting a feel for the attitude and pace of life, the amenities or lack of them, the forces of change. Downtown Berkeley didn’t have Chicago’s arrogance or high-rise worship, but you felt the people here. Kind of like summer in Chicago, but minus the tourists.

  It was a neat little town.

  Lauren spied the real estate office and cut across the street. She loved to look at the listings realtors always posted in their office windows. Occupational hazard.

  She finished off her bagel as she satisfied her curiosity. The listings were as diverse as the people of Berkeley. Angular modern homes, colorful and funky ranch houses, some great Craftsman bungalows in the downtown arts district. That must be nearby.

  There was an open house at ten o’clock she was tempted to wander through. You didn’t get much chance to tour historical bungalows when you worked the Chicago condo market.

  Lauren almost missed the Business for Sale sign.

  Her breath stuttered as she read the small print. Well-established real estate practice for sale. Owner retiring. Credentialed and experienced realtor required. Inquire within.

  As Lauren stared at the sign, memories swirled in her head.

  … Mind-witch yoga class with giggly Aervyn and grumpy Jamie. Cat Woman. Nat at a dinner table full of family that adored her.

  … Her first training circle, flying high on sunshine-bright power. Sweet, spinning Jacob cuddled in his mama’s lap. The outer circle of candles and love at Ocean’s Reach. The inner circle of power

  … Jamie’s desperate longing for Aervyn. Her own joy at the giggly boy behind her couch. A toddler and a snowman.

  Drowning in emotion, Lauren felt her decision form somewhere deep inside. It looked like buying party hats and streamers would have to wait.

  …

  Many hours later, Lauren stood in Becky Temko Tot Park and waved goodbye to the caterers. They’d done an amazing job on zero notice.

  The tiny neighborhood park was normally a happy place for toddlers, with a play structure, sand, and shade trees, all safely fenced in. Tonight, it held the makings of a party.

  The grassy area was covered with blankets and a few very nifty portable picnic tables. Lanterns hung on the fence and from a line strung between two of the bigger trees. One of the tables was piled high with fried chicken, sandwiches, chips, fruit, and some really awesome brownies.

  Now all she needed were her guests. A honk from the street suggested they were here. Aervyn hopped out of the van and ran into the park, closely followed by his three sisters. He danced briefly around Lauren and ran over to the slides.

  Nell walked over, carrying a couple of chairs. “What’s up? That was a fairly cryptic message you left.”

  Lauren grinned. “I figured you were the only person I knew who could herd witches without a good reason.”

  Nell laughed. “Food’s enough reason for most witches. Everyone should be here in a few minutes. Good thing you got too much food. We have a few extras.” She gestured toward the street, where Jamie
and Nat were helping someone out of Jamie’s car.

  It had been a rollercoaster of a day, and apparently the ride wasn’t over yet. Lauren felt her heart stutter one more time. Moira’s face glowed with pleasure as she carefully made her way across the park. She waved off the chair Nell had ready. “I’m not that creaky yet, my dear. I’ve been sitting all day. Lauren, child, let me look at you.”

  Lauren wrapped Moira in a hug. “You came here all the way from Nova Scotia?”

  Moira nodded to the young woman beside her. “My granddaughter Elorie brought me. When Nell called yesterday, I wasn’t about to miss all the excitement. Birthdays and babies are some of my favorite things. I’ve always had a very soft spot for Jamie, and I wanted to meet his Nat.”

  Lauren looked at Nell and lowered her voice. “Do Nat and Jamie know, yet? About the baby?”

  Nell shook her head. “I don’t think so. I thought I was going to have to bespell Aervyn today to keep him quiet, but he’s managed to hold the secret in without splitting in two. The girls have been really giggly, but I think everyone figures that’s just the pre-birthday sillies.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Is that what this is, the Chicago version of a baby shower?”

  Lauren laughed. “Not exactly. You’ll just have to wait along with everyone else. Get some food. I’m not going to spill the beans until after dinner.”

  She went to fill a plate for Moira and ran into Tabitha over the platter of chicken. “I hope you don’t mind that I came. Jennie said you were in town, and I really wanted a chance to say hello.”

  Lauren handed over a chicken leg and grinned. “You’re totally welcome. What do you really want?”

  Tabitha laughed. “Never try to hedge with a mind witch. I really want to tell you that you did an amazing thing for Jacob and his family. Now that he’s not spinning all the time, they’re learning about each other. Jacob likes bulldozers and being tickled, and he’s learning how to play.”

  Lauren looked over at Aervyn chasing a purple-haired toddler. “Sounds like what kids are supposed to do. I’m glad I could help.”