The Naked Witch (A Wendy Woo Witch Lit Novel Book 1)

by Wendy Steele

  Rowan, wearing only her bikini and sun hat joined them on the patio. She accepted Lizzie’s invitation. “I’ve sat in on a few rituals with mum.”

  “And you felt safe?”

  Rowan laughed. “She’s not some crazy sorcerer or something! I don’t feel like Mum does, but communing with a goddess is so different, it feels like magic, for sure. I always feel relaxed and happy after. Our ancestors revered the sun and moon, you know, understanding a good relationship was vital for their crops and animals and children. Don’t you ever sit outside and look at the stars?”

  Bryony blushed. “Not really. Josh doesn’t…well, he’s not interested in that sort of thing.”

  “But this isn’t about Dad. It’s about you.”

  Bryony’s pretty lips set firm. “Then I’d like to come along and learn something.”

  The evening air hung warm and moist, tinged with the scent of jasmine. The women gathered on Lizzie’s balcony, beneath the Corn Moon, and gazed up at the night sky. Wisps of clouds covered part of the moon but she blazed upon them, magnificent at her ripest best.

  “Blessed Arianrhod of the Silver Wheel

  We welcome you with love in our hearts.

  Bright and beautiful,

  Verdant mother of the sky

  We call you to our rite.

  We cast our circle on the earth,

  Isis veiled, Isis unveiled are you,

  As above and so below

  Look with kindness and wisdom

  Upon our rite.

  Fruitful mother, star goddess

  Arianrhod, we call to you

  Women of the earth

  Bound by blood and love

  We welcome you to our rite.”

  With Lizzie’s voice to guide them, three women performed their full moon ritual. First, they thought of the sea, rolling waves leading to crashing breakers, ending with soft ripples in a gentle cove. Here they rested, the water cradling them, cleansing their bodies and washing away the angst and heartaches they carried.

  Sat at the altar, a table from Lizzie’s room covered with a white cloth, the women gazed at the objects before them. The white candle spluttered at their breath, illuminating two smooth stones, the quartz pebble Lizzie found by the chapel, a large bowl of water and a rough wooden carved owl.

  Lizzie lifted the owl to the moon and whispered.

  “Blessed mother, hear our prayers.”

  Where before the whining of insects and the occasional beep of a car horn had met their ears, now a comfortable silence fell. Without permission, the women smiled at each other and set upon their task of committing their burdens to paper. Titian flames consumed each one. ‘I’m letting go’ they whispered. Tears fell on hot cheeks. They wept and hugged until finally, with the bowl in Marsha’s lap, they immersed their hands together. Lizzie clasped the quartz pebble.

  “Blessed Arianrhod,

  Mother of birth and rebirth

  Take away the pain we feel,

  Bless each of us

  And make us new.”

  Arm in arm, Lizzie walked Rowan to her bedroom.

  “That was cool, Mum.”

  “Wasn’t it?”

  “Nanny looked so content. It felt like family, didn’t it? Even with Bryony.”

  “It did. Bryony looked happy. How about you?”

  “I enjoy doing something ‘all girls together’ but it’s only psychology, isn’t it? Relax, think of all the bad stuff, write it down, burn it and it’s gone. Life isn’t that easy.”

  “No, it’s not easy but we enjoyed our time together, we did no harm and maybe we can all start with a clean sheet tomorrow. When I talk to the moon, I’m sharing my burden. It doesn’t seem as heavy after.”

  Rowan hugged her at the door. “Give Nanny my love and tell her sweet dreams.”

  “I didn’t say…”

  Rowan laughed. “It’s not magic. I know you well.”

  Did Rowan know Marsha was dying? Lizzie lay awake, the airy notes of a wooden wind chime rising up from the garden, keeping her company. She shivered, burying her nose in the sweet soft cotton. No, Rowan knew Lizzie cared about Marsha, that’s all. She was snoring softly when Lizzie knocked, Antonio easing into the hallway so as not to disturb his love.

  “She is happy and sleeping easily. Whatever you did was good for her.”

  “Thank you, Antonio. Once we’re gone, she can look at the moon and know we are with her.”

  She had hugged Antonio before trotting down the stairs, grabbing a glass of water from the kitchen on her way to the garden. Bryony sat on the stone wall between the greenery and the pool. Her tear stained face shone in the moonlight. Lizzie sat beside her and put an arm around her shoulder and gave it a squeeze before moving away slightly, giving Bryony space.

  “Thanks, Lizzie. I…You and Rowan have been so kind to me. And Marsha. I’ve been so blinkered. I can see that now.”

  “Sometimes you need to step away from a situation to see it for what it really is.”

  Bryony nodded. “And what I have with Josh isn’t a relationship. He thinks it is and I did too but not anymore.”

  “I lived with Josh for years and never managed to work out how he thinks. His mind works in such a different way to mine but perhaps that’s what his clients like. I’d never go to see a life coach. I’ll work out my own life, thank you very much, but I know a lot of people do.”

  “He seemed so focussed, so assured about everything but it’s lies. As long as he’s always right and has money and people to adore him, he’s reasonably pleasant but he’s less balanced than most of his clients when it comes to dealing with the problems and pressures of real life.”

  “And you?”

  “I was struggling with bereavement and self-confidence when we met. It was easy to follow someone like him.”

  “And now?”

  “If I’m going to follow, I need to know why. What’s in it for me? More than that, Josh says he loves me. I don’t believe him.”

  “And do you…love him?”

  Bryony dropped her head. “I don’t know.”

  “Then take time for yourself, think about what you want from your life and decide if Josh fits into your plan. Your life is about you. It’s not for anyone else to manipulate.”

  “Thanks, Lizzie. I better get back before Rowan falls asleep. You coming up?”

  Lizzie hugged Bryony. “You go. I’m having a final few minutes in the garden with the moon.”

  Beneath the silver orb, cross legged on the brittle, sun shrivelled grass, Lizzie allowed the turmoil in her mind to be touched by Arianrhod’s gentle caresses. Faces tumbled through her thoughts. Her mother sneered and became an old wizened woman in a chair before the fire. Josh barked and snarled and was consigned to a duck pond. Louise greeted her beneath the oak tree in the park. Surrounded by expectant squirrels, Louise’s laugh filled her head. Rowan danced with Errol but she was older, taller and more elegant. She bent him to her with her gaze. Edward Brown wore a collar and leash and danced naked on a piano while his nephew, David, struck up a discordant tune. Sam, blond hair streaming from his head, led the band at Wembley, thousands of fans shouting his name. Antonio held Marsha in his arms, forcing life into her with his own breath. The final face was Richard. Gentle, worried and kind, he held off a runaway train with one hand to protect her.

  Her prayer to Arianrhod had been to cut the cord between her and Josh, however painful it was, yet other people stood in the way of her happiness as well as her ex-husband. Alone in her bed Lizzie turned over, ruffling up her pillow beneath her cheek. But Josh was the first step and she had taken it. Tears dampened the thick cool cotton before she drifted off into a restless sleep.

  22

  Lizzie and Rowan were eating breakfast the next morning, soft sweet rolls with jam and honey when Antonio came onto the patio with Rosi and Teagan. While Teagan enjoyed the rolls, Lizzie and Rosi moved onto the loungers with coffee.

  “I didn’t know you knew Antonio.”


  “He knows Momma. He came to talk to me this morning about a job, here with Mrs Martin.”

  “Really?”

  “I’m a nurse and he says Mrs Martin isn’t well. Sometimes, he is up all night with her and worries he will fall asleep. He needs someone to help out.”

  “And you would do that?”

  “I can do some nights and some days, he says. He speaks to Momma. She doesn’t want me to go back to the House on the Beach.”

  “So this will be permanent?”

  “I’m not going back home.”

  “Does Teagan know?”

  “Not yet. I’ve a friend, Melissa who will pack up for me. I can afford one crate to be shipped. We don’t have much but we could do with more of Teagan’s clothes and toys and some of my books, documents and files. I rang the landlord and gave a month’s notice and Antonio says I can start now as I’ll need to find money for the final month’s rent.”

  “What were you doing in England?”

  “Agency nursing but only when Mel could sit the kids. I’ve been studying too and passed my final book keeping exams last month. Numbers used to scare me but there are rules in book keeping.” She sipped her drink. “Nursing is still more rewarding than numbers though.”

  “This position sounds perfect for you then but you do know how sick Mrs Martin is?”

  “Antonio told me. I’m so sorry, Lizzie.”

  Lizzie sucked down the lump in her throat. “Thanks, Rosi but Rowan doesn’t know and Mrs Martin wants to keep it like that.”

  “Sure, no problem.

  Lizzie and Rowan developed a routine during the second week of their stay. They swam lengths each morning, joined by Bryony on the second day, with a sheepish admission to not being able to swim. Rowan took on the role of teacher so during the afternoons, while Lizzie visited Marsha, Bryony learned to swim. She’d admitted to Lizzie, the men hadn’t hurt her but she’d been shocked Josh would use her that way. The realisation he would do anything to further his business plans had frightened her. Learning to swim was her first challenge, taking charge of her own life and doing something for her.

  After her midday rest, Marsha lay beside the pool or on her chaise longue in the window of her room. On their penultimate day, Lizzie took a shoe box wrapped in a blue scarf to Marsha’s room.

  “Hello, love. Have you eaten?”

  “Maria made me a salad, thank you.”

  “You’ve lost weight since you’ve been here.”

  “Have I?” Lizzie looked down at her body and held out her arms.

  Marsha smiled and shook her head. “I bet you’ve not looked in the mirror since you’ve been here.”

  Lizzie blushed. “As it happens, I’ve noticed myself doing it recently. There are a lot of mirrors in this house!”

  Marsha laughed. “Because unlike you, I’m a vain old bird!”

  Lying on her chaise in a long peach chiffon robe, Marsha’s hair was pinned up and her lipstick primed.

  Lizzie smiled. “I’ve something for you.” She held up the box.

  “Now I gave you money for the town to spend on yourself not on me.”

  “We’ve not been in for souvenirs yet. Thought we’d go tomorrow but I’ve made this for you. It won’t heal you, and how I wish it would, but it will help, if you’re willing.”

  When Antonio came in from his swim, Lizzie had set out the portable altar, the quartz crystal sitting in a wooden bowl in the middle.

  “We charged the quartz on the full moon, remember. It’s a powerful stone for gaining clarity, linked with the third eye.” She touched the middle of her forehead. “But it’s also the Master Healer. It’s said to be able to draw out pain. From what you’ve told me, there’s going to be more pain.”

  “And I hate the woozy feeling from the drugs. Maybe one day I’ll be happy to be doped up and ‘out of it’, but not yet.”

  “You can pack all this away and get it out to use it but I feel it should stay out now, for a few days at least. You could set it up on a small table. The crystal is fully charged so you can use it whenever you need. To charge it up, leave it exposed to moonlight with the tea light burning and the frankincense in the burner or it can be rinsed in the sea beneath a waxing or full moon. Well, that’s how I would do it.”

  Antonio sat on the floor beside Lizzie, watching Marsha rolling the crystal around in her palm.

  “Could I bring sea water here, in case I cannot get to the ocean?”

  Lizzie touched his arm. “You do whatever you think is best.”

  “She will feel you here with her, Miss Lizzie and that will soothe her.”

  “As will you. Rosi will be a great help and give you a break every now and then. Everyone needs to rest.”

  Antonio nodded and looked up at Marsha. Her eyes were shut, a peaceful smile lingering on her lips and a gentle snore purring from between them. In her left hand, she clasped the crystal to her chest.

  The plan was to get up early and to drive Rowan and Bryony into town for shopping but Josh’s return in the middle of the night thwarted Lizzie’s preparations. Finding Bryony absent from his bed, Josh had found her in Rowan’s room and a row broke out. Lizzie and Antonio arrived at the same time to quell it.

  “Please, Mr Martin. You will wake your mother.”

  Antonio’s quiet insistence made no impression.

  “Shut up, the lot of you!”

  Lizzie’s words worked on her daughter. Rowan sat down on her bed and Bryony wriggled free of Josh’s grasp and joined her.

  “Since when…”

  “Shut up!” hissed Lizzie. “Sorry, Antonio. We’ll sort this out, thanks.”

  With his customary bow, Antonio left.

  “I want to know…”

  “Dad! Shut up! You know Nanny’s not well!” hissed Rowan.

  Josh, unshaven and sweaty, pointed a finger at Rowan.

  “And don’t you dare start on Rowan!” hissed Bryony.

  Three pairs of eyes stared at her. She blushed. “I’m sick of your behaviour, Josh. You don’t care about anyone but yourself.”

  “How can you say that? I need to make this venture work for us, baby. For our future.”

  Doubt flickered across Bryony’s face. Then resolve.

  “You stormed off without a word. You’d let those men…” Bryony looked at Rowan. “You knew I was upset but you didn’t even think about me so Rowan invited me for a sleepover movie night and I’ve been sleeping in here ever since.”

  “Now look here…”

  “Shut up, I’m not finished,” hissed Bryony.

  Lizzie struggled to supress a smile.

  “You can’t storm around and expect to get your own way all the time! Because you wanted me in your bed you’ve woken everyone up, including your own daughter. That’s arrogant and selfish.”

  “And thoughtless, Dad. All Nanny wanted was for us to be nice to each other for two weeks and you couldn’t do it.”

  “I was…I wanted…”

  “Admit it, Dad.”

  “Why does it always have to be about your Nan!”

  “Because it’s her house and she invited us, Dad. And why not? Why can’t we spend part of our holiday pleasing Nanny?”

  Pride glowed from Lizzie’s cheeks.

  “I’m too tired to argue. Bryony, go to our room and let these people get some sleep.”

  “You’re such a charmer, Dad.”

  “Now, look here…”

  “No, Josh. You’re out of order. We need to talk but it’s late. Go to bed and we’ll talk in the morning.”

  Josh stood up and grabbed Bryony’s arm. Rowan held on tightly to the other and Lizzie stepped in.

  “You’ve got your answer, Josh now get out.”

  “Just go, Dad!”

  The three women winced as the bedroom door slammed behind him.

  It was midday by the time they parked up. Three women in straw sombreros swaggered into town. Bryony had left a note for Josh, saying she would be back at three o’clock to tal
k to him, as he wasn’t awake to speak to. Her cheeks were glowing and since her twice daily swimming lessons, her appetite had increased. Lizzie was pleased to see flesh covering her bones. Rowan had grown, in stature and maturity. Lizzie watched her buying three peaches with her practised Spanish.

  Lizzie bought embroidered bags for Louise and herself and a delicate chain with a pale blue butterfly pendant as she had an idea her mother liked them. A yellow citrine on a green cord was acquired for Marsha and a t-shirt for Sam. It was black and rude but funny. Two hair scarves for Maria went in the bag with a dozen fridge magnets for the girls at work and her spare gift box at home.

  Only Richard and Antonio were left to buy for. Bryony and Rowan were trying on clothes so Lizzie wandered down a narrow street behind the square and smiled at an old woman with no teeth who was nursing a baby on the steps of her house. She beckoned Lizzie and held up the baby to her.

  “Sorry? Do you want me to help?”

  The woman brought the baby to her breast and shook her head.

  In broken English she said. “Your gift, your present for man. He wants child.”

  They sat beneath faded umbrellas, drinking coffee, their final drink before leaving town.

  “Since when did you start liking coffee?”

  “Since here! I don’t have much, don’t worry. Bryony says a tiny cup goes a long way. Did you get all your gifts?”

  “Yeah, all spent out. How about you?”

  “I got the coolest t-shirt for Sam but you won’t like it.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “It’s pretty rude.”

  “Show.”

  Rowan brought out the t-shirt. Lizzie pulled its twin from her bag.

  “No way! How cool is that! Mind you, one of us is going to have to get our money back and find something else but I saw other stuff I know he’ll like, don’t worry. You keep yours, Mum. That’s a big bag.”

  “I know and it’ll have to be hand luggage!”

  “For Richard?”

  Lizzie nodded.

  “Richard?” asked Bryony.

  “Remember Sam who I was telling you about? Richard is his Dad. Mum and Richard are friends.”

  “And the pair of you can stop looking at me like that! I’ve been flitting around like a Mexican jumping bean with all this worry at work and Richard is still grieving for his wife. We need a good friend, nothing more.”