“Sure and you can’t be serious? That’s not my story to tell. I believe that people have a right to their own privacy. I’m quite certain that if you were ill, you wouldn’t want the gory details dispatched all over town now, would you? Could you imagine?” Fiona said gently, but inside she was shocked. Was this really the woman she would have to deal with?
“You’ll have to excuse my mother. She loves to read the glossies and her nose is always buried in a book. Stories are exciting is all,” John said with a small smile, and Fiona could read the adoration he had for his mother. She blew out her breath. Obviously she’d have to step carefully here.
“Sure and it’s natural to be curious about things. Human nature after all. I just wouldn’t feel comfortable breaking someone’s trust.”
“And that makes you an honorable woman, sure enough. Now, Fiona, dear, tell me a little bit about what it is you do? You have to know we’re curious, what with the week you’ve had and the charges brought against you,” Henry said, and Fiona quickly saw through his affable smile to the steel beneath his words. Perhaps her initial impression of him had been wrong.
“Well, you know she makes tonics and creams,” John said, tension lacing his voice as he sat back and crossed a leg at his knee.
Fiona drew a breath. This wouldn’t be the first time she was openly questioned, now that there had been a trial. She might as well decide just how much she was comfortable sharing with other people― including her potential in-laws.
But just what line would people find acceptable? A little bit of magick? Prayer? God’s will?
“Well, John is certainly right. I do make tonics and cr_mes,” Fiona said, nodding at John before turning back to Celeste and Henry. “I wouldn’t say that I’m magick though. I try to infuse each of my healing tonics with…” She saw Celeste’s eyes narrow, and finished, “Prayer. I pray over each one and set my intention for their healing abilities. I think it just adds an extra touch of love, is all.”
So. A small lie then. Or perhaps a big one, depending on how you looked at it. But if what she was reading from this family was right, magick would not be an acceptable answer for them.
“Well, now, isn’t that nice? So you just add your love and prayers to each tonic and send them on their way? You know, Fiona? I like that. I really do. That’s a good heart right there,” Henry said, and Fiona could read that his words were true and the earlier suspicion he had housed about her was gone.
“Your face cream is lovely,” Celeste said begrudgingly, and Fiona smiled at her.
“I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed using it. I use all natural ingredients found right here in hills and from the waters of the cove. Some of the recipes I follow are old Celtic traditions handed down from generation to generation.”
“See there, Celeste? We’re descended from great Celtic warriors, you know? It’s nice that you’re using some of the old recipes. I always say natural is best,” Henry boomed, smiling at his wife. Celeste smiled back at him and Fiona could easily read the love found between them.
“I certainly hope you’ll share products from your line with me first,” Celeste said finally and Fiona grinned at her.
“You’ll have first access to anything I make,” she promised, finally feeling some of the tension leave her shoulders.
“How is it that you can go into the cove? Legend says it’s enchanted. None of us go there― not since Conan lost his life there.” Celeste raised an eyebrow at Fiona in question.
Fiona cupped the small porcelain teacup in her hand as she thought about how to answer without setting off the O’Briens’ suspicions again.
“I’m not really sure,” Fiona decided to give them the honest truth― or at least partial honesty. “I know one of my ancestors died there. And because of that, it seems as though I’m allowed in the cove. Perhaps because her blood was sacrificed there? I do know that I have a strong pull to the land above the cove. Every time I walk there, I dream of building a little cottage at the base of the hill, situated just so to catch all of the breezes and so that you can see the ocean from almost every angle.” Fiona realized they were looking at her with their eyebrows raised. “I’m sorry, I am. Sure and it’s just a small fantasy of mine, is all.”
She hoped the change of topic to the land above the cove would spur Celeste to move on to other topics, but the eagle-eyed woman honed in.
“Your ancestor died in the cove. How fascinating. I suppose that might make sense― you’ve already given a sacrifice therefore you’re allowed there. I have to admit, I’ve always been dreadfully terrified of the cove. I don’t hold with enchantments and such nonsense, now, you know,” Celeste said, and shook her head in disgust.
“I don’t think you have to understand it in order to respect it,” John pointed out.
“Of course not. I know better than to go there. The entire village does.” Celeste narrowed her eyes at Fiona. “But if I can get special creams and tonics made from ingredients found there, I suppose I won’t mind.”
Fiona wanted to roll her eyes at the dichotomy of it. So going to the cove and anything associated with the magick of the cove was bad― but healing and beautifying creams and tonics made from the cove were good.
“You’ll be the first in line for anything I make,” Fiona promised, deciding to bypass the hypocritical nature of Celeste’s comments.
“What do you suppose will happen to Father Patrick?” John asked, deftly steering the conversation in another direction.
“I, for one, am astounded that a man of the cloth would do such a thing,” Celeste said, horror lacing her features, though Fiona could read in her a level of excitement about the new gossip as well.
“He’s not a good person. Only focused on his gain and not caring who or what he hurts in the process,” Fiona said fiercely, taking a biscuit from tin to munch on. The buttery flakiness of the biscuit complemented the tea nicely.
“I’m sorry you were the target of his wrath,” Henry said evenly. “Though I’m right proud of my boy for standing up for you. Now, it seems we have your future to be discussing.”
Fiona’s eyes widened and she coughed on the biscuit, suddenly dry in her throat.
John laughed and patted her lightly on the back, before turning to his parents.
“I know this comes as a bit of a surprise and that you haven’t had a chance to get to know Fiona very well. But, I know she is the partner that I want in life. I’ve known for a long time but she’s never quite noticed me before. The time is right. It feels right. Kind of like when you saw mum for the first time,” John said and Fiona’s heart clenched at his words, giddiness snaking through her as this man― who months before had just been someone she knew in passing― declared his love for her to his parents.
Surprisingly, Celeste’s eyes softened as she looked at her husband.
“I do remember when you first caught my attention. Who was this big hulking man who was suddenly bringing me clutches of posies at the bakery?”
Henry’s face reddened a bit, but he grinned at his wife.
“It was hard not to bring you flowers once I’d had a look at you. Plus, I had to beat back all the other suitors.”
“Oh stop,” Celeste laughed, dimpling up at her husband. Fiona was surprised to find herself beginning to like the woman. Maybe this would work out after all.
“We’ll need to plan a wedding,” John pointed out, and Fiona’s eyes bugged open.
A wedding! She’d completely overlooked that huge detail in the midst of all the chaos of the day.
Henry chortled at her expression. “Seems as though Fiona needs a little time to warm up to the idea of a wedding. Let’s give her a little breathing room, shall we?”
“I don’t want to get married in the church,” Fiona blurted, and then looked over at John to see what he would say.
“Sure and I can be understanding that after what happened this week. We don’t even know if we’ll have a new priest soon,” John said easily, and Fiona’s tension eased a bit.
> “What were you thinking then, Fiona?” Celeste asked politely.
“I wasn’t― not really. I think maybe a simple handfasting, outside, would be lovely.”
“A handfasting?” Celeste raised an eyebrow but Fiona could see the wheels turning in her head. “You know, it would be fun to do something different. We’d be the talk of the town. We could have a lovely celebration instead of a stodgy wedding ceremony. It’d be great craic.”
“You hear that, Fiona? Mum thinks a non-traditional wedding could be fun. Maybe she isn’t such a prude after all,” John said, smiling at his mother to soften his words.
“I’ll have you know that I’ve been known to have some fun too, John O’Brien,” Celeste said, her nose in the air.
“Sure and Celeste used to dance me off my feet,” Henry said, laughing at her.
Fiona smiled at the lot of them, feeling a bit dazed by the turns her day had taken. Just this morning she’d been worried about being sentenced to death, and now here she was planning her wedding― having tea by the ocean with her in-laws.
It was amazing how a life could change in a matter of hours.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
After John’s father had taken himself back to the fields and Celeste had begun to outline ideas for a menu for their wedding, Fiona pulled John aside. She still had something important to discuss with him.
“Will you come with me? To the cove? While it’s still light? I’d like to show you something,” Fiona whispered into his ear in the hallway of his house.
“I’ll follow you anywhere, my love,” John said adoringly, and Fiona felt warmth wash through her as she lost herself in his eyes for a second.
She hoped he would still feel the same way after they went to the cove. Fiona grimaced a little, but knew she needed to press through― to show him everything she was. She could hide the truth a little for her in-laws, but she’d never live with herself if she had to hide herself from her husband.
They said their goodbyes to Celeste, claiming they were leaving for a private dinner, and waved to Mr. O’Brien as they climbed into John’s truck. Lir watched them go from behind the fence, his heart in his eyes.
“That silly lamb. I love him,” Fiona said, watching the animal race along the line of the fence after the truck as they pulled away and headed towards the cove.
“I think he should be invited to the wedding. Seeing as how he’s the reason you finally started talking to me. Well, yelling at me, that is.” John sliced a grin at her and Fiona laughed.
“I talked to you before then. We just didn’t see all that much of each other.”
“I waited for you to grow up a little and finally notice me.”
“Is that so? You’ve really waited for me?” Fiona just could not bring herself to believe it.
“Aye, I’ve known it was you for a long time. I just didn’t know when to make my move. Plus, I had some growing up to do myself.”
Fiona tilted her head at him. John was an old soul at that. There was no way a normal man of his age would be this focused and understanding of himself― and of what he wanted in this world. The understanding and the patience he demonstrated in waiting on Fiona made her fall just a little more in love with him. She wondered if that would continue to happen― if, each day, she’d discover something else that would make her love him a little bit more.
Her heart felt full to bursting as they jolted along the lane in his old truck, nearing her favorite place in the world. Fiona fell into silence, smoothing her hands over the red dress, wondering if the light would shine from the cove today.
Would John run when he saw the true magick of what she was?
Wordlessly, they got out of the truck, but John immediately rounded the front and captured Fiona’s hand with his own. They began to walk along the old stone wall that ran the length of the field in front of the cliffs, following their way to the cove.
Fiona looked over at her spot. Would it some day be hers?
John followed her gaze.
“You know, I think you may be right about a little cottage there,” John said, smiling down at her.
“It’s a lovely spot, it is,” Fiona agreed, feeling her throat catch at the thought that her dream could actually become a reality.
“What do you say, Ms. Fiona? Maybe I can convince my father to let us build a little cottage there? One where we could look out at this view every day, and maybe grow a family of our own?”
Fiona couldn’t control the tears that pricked her eyes. It was all so close― so shiny that she almost didn’t believe it could be a reality.
“It would be a dream come true,” Fiona said softly and gasped as John put his hands around her waist, picking her up to swing her in a circle before holding her close and letting her body slide down his. She looked up at him, delighted with him, delighted with how her world had changed so quickly.
“That’s all I want in this life, and the next― to make your dreams come true,” John said softly. Fiona considered his odd choice of words, but then thoughts left her mind as he slid his lips over hers in a kiss that both heated and soothed. Losing herself to his touch, Fiona forgot the world outside of them and slid into a space that felt like home.
“Now, take me into this infamous cove of yours,” John said when they had pulled apart, gasping a little.
“I’d be honored to,” Fiona said, tugging him forward to the top of the path. She slid her feet from her shoes, knowing that the small heels would be useless on the trail, and proceeded to walk barefoot down the path. She pulled John behind her, her hand trailing along the rock wall, as she looked for items to gather as her token gifts along the way. Finding a sparkly quartz rock, she pocketed it and scanned for some flowers.
“Gathering stuff for your tonics?” John asked from behind her.
Fiona paused mid-way down the cliff and looked back at him. She froze for a moment as his image seemed to blur out and fade, suddenly becoming translucent. It was as though he was there, then suddenly he was an ephemeral being― a wisp of a man. Her heart tightened in her throat as a certainty hit her, so strong it left her gasping for air as John stepped forward to wrap his arms around her.
“Hey now, what’s wrong? Are you feeling faint then? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost,” John said, running his hands down her arm and pressing his lips to her head.
Fiona stared blindly out at the cove, the trickles of rage beginning to work through her as she realized what the cove had been trying to tell her.
She’d get to have her happiness with John.
But much like anything in life, it would be fleeting. She would lose him to the veil one day.
Fiona couldn’t decide if it was a gift or a curse― to have her happiness dulled by the prospect of knowing she would lose this man someday. She wanted to know when, how, what would happen. Her eyes blurred as John held her, the waves of the cove placid as she watched, desperately waiting for a sign― something, anything― that never came.
And wasn’t that just a lesson in itself?
Perhaps it didn’t matter when she would lose him. Maybe that was the gift that the cove was giving her― to cherish each moment she had with him like it would be their last. So many people took their lives and the people in them for granted. If she had to lose John― or love him from outside the veil― she would do so wholly and completely then, never taking a moment of his time for granted.
“Let’s keep going. I think I just had a moment. An overwhelming day it was today,” Fiona said softly.
“It has been a day, hasn’t it? One for the record books, that’s for sure,” John said easily, nudging her a bit to continue following the path down the cove. Fiona plodded forward as they wound their way down the cliff, the dirt and sand of the path pressing into her bare feet, her mind numb as she absorbed what the cove had showed her.
Everything had an end. It was the circle of life, and the sooner she came to terms with it, the better a healer and woman she would be.
Fiona skidded to a stop at the bottom of the path, putting her arm out to stop John from walking any further.
“Wow, sure and I’ve died and gone to heaven,” John said, and Fiona froze at his choice of words. Turning, she tilted her head at him in question.
“This cove? It’s just… it’s breathtaking. From above it’s stunning, but when you are down here, you can really feel the impact of it. Those high cliff walls seem to sort of hug you― don’t they? Cupping you in your own private world. And this beach― it’s out of a fairytale, it is. I can feel it too― that press of power. I can see why you come here. And why others stay away,” John said, his face alight in awe as he looked around at the cove.
“Tis magickal, at that,” Fiona said, stepping forward and beginning to draw a circle in the sand with her toe.
“What’s that you’re doing now?” John asked, cocking his arms on his hips and looking at her in question.
“I’m drawing a circle. This is how I’m allowed down in the cove. I lied a bit to your parents. There is magick here. I’m magick too. And this circle and the ritual I’m about to perform are for your protection.” Fiona watched his face carefully.
John looked at Fiona steadily, simply waiting for her to proceed.
“So, if you’re okay with that then, I’ll be performing the ritual,” Fiona finished, feeling a bit awkward at his continued silence.
“Go on. I certainly would like you to protect me,” John said easily and Fiona felt herself stiffen. Were his words a foreshadowing of what was to come? Was she supposed to protect him from something in the future? Swallowing against the very real fear that seemed to clog her throat, Fiona nodded and ushered him to stand inside the circle.
“The purpose of this little ritual is to offer a protection of sorts when you enter the cove. You must sacrifice something or give a gift, to show you mean no harm here,” Fiona said.
“Sacrifice?”
“Well, give something of yours or something you find beautiful. Either way, just an offering of sorts. Energy is all about a give and take. Your intent should be pure and if it is, then you may enter here.”
Wild Irish Witch Page 13