When Nana finished tying a bow in the cloth, she spoke. "It is my privilege as a mother and elder of this clan to introduce you to Nancy of the Docga and Greg of the Docga, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Behind me the rest of the guests started clapping and cheering as Dad pulled Mom close and gave her an exuberant kiss. This time I was as loud as the rest of them, even if I was watching my parents kiss.
The flute started a lively tune, and Mom and Dad marched down the aisle while the crowd showered them in sparkles of every color. Nana followed them out the door. The crowd didn't settle down as much as parade out of the room. I knew I had to follow before I was missed, but I needed a moment.
I took my purse from Elron and fished out a tissue. As I dabbed at my tears, I sent silent thanks to whoever had watched over the wedding. It was the only thing that had gone according to plan in months, and if only one thing went well, I was glad it was this.
Elron pulled me against his side, one arm hugging me tightly. I leaned my head into his chest.
"I'm all right," I said, pulling away from him.
"Of course. How could the mighty Michelle be anything but fine?" Elron said.
"What's that about?"
"You are allowed to be weak, have doubts."
"Nope, that's your thing. I'm the mighty Michelle."
"Very well, mighty Michelle, I acquired additional tissues. That is, if you will be human enough to need them."
"Such attitude from an old elf." I tucked the tissues in my purse and took his hand. He'd done what he'd set out to do—make me smile and dry out the waterworks.
"Only when I am around uptight witches."
"Uptight? Annoying elf," I muttered good-naturedly.
Elron squeezed my hand and I laughed.
We followed the sound to the dining room. The room was decked out with big bouquets dotting the table, white fabric covering the chairs, and a three-tiered cake dominating the small table in the back of the room.
Mom and Dad were already seated at the head of the table, and there were several empty seats near them. I tugged Elron in that direction, and we dodged people checking name cards to find their seats.
Breaking away from Elron, I gave them a big hug.
"It was a beautiful ceremony," I said with a smile.
"Thank you," Mom tightened her grip on me, and a couple of tears escaped her eyes.
Dad cleared his throat, speaking in a rough voice. "I'm so glad you were here."
"Me too." I gave him another hug. Mom and I brushed away tears and we continued celebrating.
Chapter 18: Michelle
A man came over to congratulate my parents, and with a smile at me they turned their attention to the rest of their guests. Turning around, I spotted Elron at the table. He motioned to the seat next to him. I'd thought we would be sitting next to Mom, but we were a seat over from Dad. Before I had time to ponder who was taking that seat, Nana sat down.
"I didn't know you were going to officiate the wedding," I said.
"When we moved the wedding, the pastor couldn't do it, and since I usually do clan weddings, it just made sense," Nana answered.
"It was beautiful."
"I enjoyed your service more than any other I have attended," Elron said.
"The trick is keeping it simple. Some people get weighed down with long speeches and all sorts of ceremony. By the time they're done, your butt and ears are numb, and it's all you can do to be happy for the couple."
Elron chuckled and nodded his agreement.
A waiter came between us, setting a water glass beside me. "What would you ladies like to drink?"
"White wine," Nana answered.
"Same for me," I said.
The waiter moved on to Elron and another one set a glass of water next to Nana.
"How long have you known Gretchen?" I asked her.
"I wouldn't say we're friends, but we've moved in the same circles for many years. Why do you ask?"
Casting a quick look around, I found Elron chatting with someone else and my parents thoroughly engaged by four of the guests. "Has she always been like this? Totally focused on what she wants to the exclusion of anyone else's feelings or well-being?"
"Gretchen is a complicated woman, one I don't fully understand. I suspect her mother's views strongly influenced who she became, and not in a good way. By reputation, I know that Gretchen's mother was very concerned with bloodlines, family, and appearances. When Gretchen was pregnant, she complained to anyone who would stand still that boys weren't worth having. It was a girl or nothing. She was so pleased to get a girl but never did accept that witches come in all strengths. There was a time when Gretchen's husband mellowed out those tendencies in her, but after he passed away, things changed. This part I can say with certainty: after his death, Gretchen became everything her mother was reputed to be and more. I think she didn't know how to manage her grief and lost what compassion and empathy she had."
A new day, another tidbit of family history. "But why did she hurt Mom?"
"Besides the reasons you know?" Nana asked.
I nodded.
"Do you see much of Gretchen in Nancy?"
"No. Mom loves to help people; it's why she works at the hospital."
Nana kept her eyes on Mom as she answered. "I saw Gretchen's husband on one or two occasions. I think Nancy is very much like her father. I can only guess Gretchen dislikes the reminder and feels that some of what she has termed Nancy's 'weaknesses' are the very reasons her husband is no longer with us."
I couldn't argue with Nana's logic, even if I didn't understand how you could be so empty inside that you drove away your only child. "How did Gretchen's husband die?"
"I'm afraid I don't know. The rumor I heard was a magical accident."
That would make sense too. Everyone knew Mom had a lot of good traits, but she wasn't much of a witch. She was plenty good at healing, but she didn't have much power, and works that Dad or I could do were beyond her. Gretchen was fixated on me because of my power.
"Have you met Sarah or Tammy?"
"Not Tammy. They avoid the Docga. If memory serves, Sarah is levelheaded and progressive," Nana said.
The crowd moved away from Mom and Dad, and we let the conversation lapse. I couldn't speak to Nana's motives, but I didn't want them to overhear. We didn't talk much as the staff passed out drinks and entrées. Once the food arrived, conversation picked up again. Beside me, Elron was having a pleasant conversation about plants with a round wizard who was taking great care not to land food in his beard.
"What do you think of the clan?" Nana asked.
It took me a second to find a way to answer that was honest and didn't dive too deeply into my feelings. After all, it was hard to tell the true character of any group at a wedding. "They're really letting the joy of the celebration shine through."
"Wonderfully diplomatic, just like Greg, but that wasn't an answer."
"Nana, it's a wedding. I can't judge a group by how they act on a day when everyone is trying to behave."
She pursed her lips. "Keep your eyes open; you're seeing more than you realize."
"What's it like joining a clan?"
"Usually you only feel a connection to the clan during the joining ceremony. Shortly after that, it fades and you won't sense a connection unless it's a special occasion, a new member joins, or you do spell-work with other clan members. You can contribute to the clan—generally with energy, although it can be a variety of things—but the clan can't take from you. However, big-picture things can have an effect. The clan takes its… personality from its members, and in return you tend to find that most people in a clan are a similar to each other."
Nana continued. "The minister has a constant awareness of the clan. It can be stronger or weaker, but when I was minister, I could feel exceptionally strong emotions and regulate clan-wide interactions."
"So it wouldn't be a noticeable connection?"
"No."
That was
good. At least I wouldn't have clan members living in my head all the time; that would feel like an invasion of privacy.
Dad got Nana's attention, and I listened in on Elron's conversation. He was still discussing growth cycles of various plants with the wizard on his other side.
The rest of the celebration passed in a haze of laughs, conversation, smiles, cake, and champagne. I watched Elron charm my Mom into a dance and swing Nana through a waltz. Between partners, Nana did a little disco, spurring a rash of cheesy dance moves. Nana hauled me into a conga line, and we snaked our way through the house, singing at the top of our lungs. Elron took up a position behind me, purposely fudging the lyrics to make me laugh.
Back on the dance floor, Mom and I spun in a circle, and I was struck by how happy she looked. As we danced, I knew I'd do whatever it took to keep the Wapiti away from her and give her this time to build the life she'd wanted. If jail did the trick, I'd be overjoyed, but if they weaseled out of that trap, I'd think of something else.
When Dad pulled me away for a dance, he was happier than I'd ever seen him.
"I'm lucky to have a daughter like you."
"Thanks?"
"You don't realize how special you are, how few witches your age are self-sufficient, own their own business, and are confident in their powers."
"I'm not trying to be special." Really, I could do with less attention. I was happier when most people ignored me.
He shook his head slightly. "I know. That's why it's remarkable."
I let that one go; there was nothing I could say to it anyway.
A portly wizard spun Nana, and her red robe billowed out, catching the eye of everyone in the room. She tossed her head back, laughing.
"She's something else," Dad said.
"It seems to me that I got one fantastic grandmother."
"That you did." He paused, but I could tell that he wasn't done. "You're a lot like her."
I shrugged.
"You got Nancy and Gretchen's determination, but you got my mom's spirit."
Tilting my head, I studied him, but I couldn't figure out where he was going with this.
He nodded in Nana's direction. "You could do worse."
"What?"
"Than to be like her."
Now I was really confused.
Dad smiled at me, and I did my best to smile back. "My mother is a vibrantly alive woman who is happy. Would it be so bad to be like her?"
"No, but I want to be me."
"You will always be you, but remember that what you do today builds who you shall be tomorrow."
"And you're saying I should build to be her?"
"Be the best you, and then look in the mirror. Some of your Nana will look back."
I studied him, trying to understand where this was going. "I am being the best me, or I thought I was."
"Good."
There was a look on his face that bothered me, so I asked, "Why are you telling me to be my best?"
"I worry. I worry about you staying true to yourself. It would be nice to believe that you have faced the worst of what is to come in your life, but it's likely that your toughest challenges lie ahead of you. Stay true to you; don't waver from your path."
This was more serious than I'd expected our wedding talk to be, and I wasn't sure how to respond. "I'm trying. I'm trying to be my best for me and the people around me."
"I know."
"I don't want to disappoint you."
"Michelle, you've always made me proud. Even when you were giving me gray hairs."
"Just making up for lost time." I smiled.
The music ended and he kissed my forehead. "I need to liberate Nancy from her next partner. He's known for squishing toes."
I didn't get two steps before Elron came over, hand out. "May I have this dance?"
"You may."
He pulled me into his arms and guided us into a waltz. I was grateful for his lead since I wasn't a great dancer.
"That was my toe."
"Sorry. I'm not used to wearing heels."
"You look lovely, though I prefer your everyday attire."
"But why?" Most guys I knew loved to see their girl dressed up.
"Because it's you. Practical shoes, businesslike but not fussy clothes, ready to spend a day on paperwork or fight off witches." He cupped my cheek with his hand.
I closed my eyes, enjoying being close to him. "I'll remember that."
"I expect you will." He dipped me before bringing me back into his arms. "The dress is pretty."
He spun me as the song ended, and while I was still dizzy, kissed me. Elron was a confusing elf, but he was my confusing elf.
Before I knew it, there had been toasts, more cake, and another round of champagne. Shortly after that, Mom and Dad were rolling down the driveway with "Just Married" scrawled across the back window of the car.
Elron and I said our good-byes. I got two hugs and a kiss from Nana. We hit the road not far behind my parents. I kicked off my shoes and rubbed my feet. It was one thing to spend hours standing and walking in boots or sneakers, but heels were a different story. Tired of being in the dress, I pulled my bag out of the backseat, surrounded myself with an opaque shield, and wiggled into jeans and a long-sleeved shirt.
"Better?" Elron asked.
"Much. Thank you for coming with me and driving."
"Someone needed to make sure you didn't take any detours this time."
I groaned. "Involuntary detour. Trust me, it wasn't my idea to spend some quality time with the Wapiti."
Elron didn't get a chance to reply because my phone started ringing. I shouldn't have been surprised since it had been quiet through the wedding.
"Oaks Consulting, this is Michelle."
"Michelle, it's Bethany. I could use your help."
Bethany was a witch who worked with the Union County Sheriff's Office. She was an oddity in my clients because she was a witch rather than a hedge-practitioner. She suffered from much the same problem as Mom, being underpowered, but her skills matched well with police work. Bethany was lucky though; her clan wanted her to be happy and allowed her to be employed outside their business. Shortly after I started consulting, she talked her boss into hiring me to handle the cases she couldn't.
"Sure, what's the problem?"
"I'm at a greenhouse with plants gone crazy. Nothing I've tried has helped, and the plants have swallowed the elf who was with me."
"Swallowed?"
"Engulfed? Look, I can talk to him, so I know he's not badly injured, but I don't know how to fix this." Her voice shook at the end.
Beside me, Elron slowed the car down and guided us onto the shoulder of the road.
"Give me the address." I scribbled down the directions and took my best guess at the drive time. "It'll take me about thirty minutes to get there."
"Thank you."
I hung up without offering her any reassurances. Plants weren't really my thing, but I had a driver who was good with greenery.
"Do you mind?" I asked Elron. Even though I'd told Bethany I would be there, I needed to double-check with him.
"Plants gone wild sounds interesting."
Elven hearing made private phone calls difficult. "Good, because I think I'm going to need your help."
He turned the car around, and we headed to the greenhouse.
*******
The drive ended up taking forty minutes because we missed a turn in the dark. We knew we'd found the right spot when we pulled in behind three police cars and one unmarked car with their lights pointing at a wood-and-glass building. The building was long and narrow with wooden walls, making me think it had started out life as a chicken house and been retrofitted with a glass ceiling when it was converted to a greenhouse.
Bethany jogged over, greeting us as soon as we got out of the car. "Michelle, thank goodness you're here. Who's that with you?"
"Bethany, I'd like to introduce you to my associate, Elron." We'd talked about it on the way over and figured it would
be better to introduce him as a work friend than a boyfriend. I didn't think anyone would ask why we'd been together late in the evening and away from home, but if they did, I was going to tell them they were lucky that he'd been in the area and leave it at that. Luckily, his slacks and button-down weren't formal enough to prompt any questions.
"Nice to meet you," Elron said.
"Likewise." The two of them shook hands, and Bethany shot me a confused look.
"Elron has a singular talent with plants, especially the magical variety. When you mentioned the nature of the emergency, I thought his skill might be useful. Since I brought him along, I'll pay his fee."
Payment was a subject Elron and I hadn't discussed during the drive, but we could work it out later. My guess was that he wouldn't want to be paid.
Bethany nodded and her shoulders relaxed ever so slightly. "Thanks. You know any additional expenses have to go by the sheriff."
I smiled. "That's why Elron won't be an additional expense for the department. Now, about this greenhouse."
"Right. I was going home when I felt a magical disturbance. I called it in and waited for an on-duty officer to come check it out. Officer Bale came out to take a look, and I followed him to this greenhouse. He could tell something weird was going on and stepped inside to take a look. The plants grabbed him and pulled him farther into the greenhouse. I tried to follow, but I barely managed to avoid being pulled in myself.
"I called that in, and additional officers were sent this way. After a couple of attempts to retrieve Bale, I called you. It doesn't feel like those are naturally magical plants, and whatever was done to them made them rather lively," Bethany finished.
While she was talking, I opened myself up, getting a feel for the magic. The magical plants I'd been around had magic in them, but not like this. This place was a mass of raw power and spells that had changed the plants, though I wasn't sure why they'd taken a hostage.
"Can you still talk to Officer Bale?" I asked.
"Last time I heard from him was fifteen minutes ago. All of us have tried, but if he's communicating, it's too quiet for us to make out." Bethany motioned to the two officers standing near the door of the greenhouse.
A Witch's Concern (A Witch's Path Book 4) Page 14