Light Magic

by Ellie Ferguson

  “Sure. Do you have anything set?”

  “No, but Mondays I try to be at docket call to get a feel for what the courts’ schedules will be for the week.”

  And to pick up appointments. She didn’t say it, but it was what most good attorneys did, at least those who didn’t mind taking the occasional court appointment.

  “I’ll cover for you. Don’t worry.” I cocked my head and looked at her. “Was there something else?”

  She gave a nervous little laugh and nodded. “Sam, not to mention Drew and the rest of my family, have been trying to get me to slow down. This little one.” She smiled as she lightly patted her stomach. “Will be here before I know it. I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to work before the doctor finally puts his foot down and makes me go on maternity leave.” She stood and began to pace the small office. As she did, I bit back a smile to see she had finally foregone her high heels for more sensible shoes.

  “I’m not doing this very well, Meg.” She turned back to me and gave a small shrug. “I’m just going to say it. Meg, I’ve enjoyed having you here. I think we work well together. Is there any way I can convince you to not only stay in Mossy Creek but join the firm?” She spoke quickly, so quickly I wondered if she’d been afraid I’d turn her down before she got more than a word or two out.

  I blew out a breath. Even though I’d considered the prospect of staying in Mossy Creek, her offer made it all real. Part of me warmed at the thought of remaining, knowing there were people here, people like Annie and Drew, who cared for me. More than that, I knew it’s what Mom would want. But was it the right decision? All the experts in dealing with grief said not to make any major decisions for at least six months to a year after losing someone important and moving here was a very major decision, especially since I still didn’t know why Mom sent me here or who caused my wreck.

  “I’m honored.” And I was. “I guess we need to sit down after your appointment and discuss all the details, but I’d be thrilled to accept your offer.” I stood and held out my hand, laughing a moment later when she pulled me into a hug.

  “Good.” Annie looked happy and I hoped she didn’t come to regret her offer. “I promise we’ll talk after lunch. Now, partner, you’d better get to court.” She started out of the office and stopped at the door, turning back to face me. “You might also tell Quinn and Lucas they can stop trying to conspire behind my back.”

  Not sure what she meant, I looked at her in question.

  “That little package you received this morning. I don’t need a minder, but I do approve of you working with the SD as long as it doesn’t interfere with your work here.”

  With that, she turned and walked out, leaving me staring at her in surprise. Then I shook myself. I needed to get moving if I wanted to get to the courthouse on time.

  “Are you ready for lunch?”

  I smiled at the sound of Drew’s voice. Leaning back, I lifted my feet onto the corner of my desk. Then I glanced at my watch. I’d been back from court long enough to give Carli information on the two appointments I’d picked up so she could open new client files for me. The dogs had been watered and allowed to play outside for a few minutes. Now they snoozed at the foot of my desk.

  “I am. Do you have something in mind?” I blushed as an erotic image of what I’d really like for lunch filled my mind. Thank goodness he couldn’t see me.

  “How about grabbing a quick bite at the café? I can meet you there in ten minutes.”

  “Sounds good.” I held up a hand as Carli appeared at the door, asking her to wait a moment. “If you get there before I do, order me the chicken fried chicken.”

  “Will do. See you soon.”

  I set the cellphone down and motioned Carli inside. She grinned as she crossed to the desk. Even as I hoped my cheeks didn’t turn beet red – again – I reached for the folder she held.

  “Here’s the file for your afternoon consult. Beth said to tell you it’s a standard divorce. No kids. No real community assets. Service will probably have to be by publication because the wife took off,” she said.

  “Thanks.” I glanced at the paperwork, pleased to see it all looked to be in order. “I’m heading out to the café. I’ll be back in an hour.”

  “Have fun.” She winked and left the office.

  Five minutes later, I stepped into the early afternoon sun. I stood there for a moment, my face lifted to the sun. The world had shifted at some point over the last few days. It had been gradual at first, almost too gradual to notice. However, I could no longer ignore the fact I’d begun putting down roots in a place I didn’t know existed two weeks earlier. I felt closer to people I’d known mere days than others I’d known all my life. Mom had given that to me. Even in death, she was looking out for me.

  I wished I believed that was the only reason she’d asked me to come here. She’d had another reason. I didn’t know what — yet. But I would. I owed her that much.

  As I walked in the direction of the café, the dogs on either side of me, I thought back over what little I’d learned of Mom’s life from the time she left Mossy Creek to when she settled in Kansas. Nothing, so far, shed any light on why she left college or why she didn’t return here. Yet, despite whatever happened, she did come back at least once a year. She kept in contact with Miss Serena, Judith and others — and she never once mentioned it to me. Why? Why keep it all a secret?

  A hard, jarring impact as someone barreled into me sent me staggering back a step. Pain flared as my left shoulder struck the limestone outer wall of the bank. At the same time, the dogs growled and strained against their leashes. Instinct more than anything took over. I tightened my grip on their leashes and straightened. As I did, I looked around, trying to see who had been so careless. I caught a glimpse of someone disappearing around the corner of the building without so much as a backward glance.

  So much for making sure I was all right.

  “Idiot,” I muttered.

  I pushed away from the wall and continued on my way. The café was only a few doors down. Drew should be there and, hopefully, he’d ordered lunch already. Now if he didn’t overreact to what happened. I had a feeling he could and would be just as overprotective as Sam where Annie was concerned.

  A wave of pain washed over me and I stumbled. The man, at least I thought it was a man, must have bumped me harder than I thought. Nausea rolled over me in waves and I reached for the side of a building, steadying myself. For a moment, I considered going back to the office but the café was closer. Besides, I probably just needed to sit for a minute. I had skipped breakfast and my injuries from the wreck were still healing. This sudden feeling of wanting to throw up or pass out or quite possibly both probably stemmed from that as well as the force with which the man had bumped into me.

  The dogs moved as one as I started off again. They pressed against my legs, almost as if they’d been glued to me. Athena whined and I wondered what she was trying to tell me. Too bad my talents didn’t run to talking to animals. That would have been so much fun, especially growing up. I could have been a real-life Doctor Doolittle.

  The jangling of the bell over the café door seemed unusually loud as I stepped inside. Several people turned to see who’d entered. I looked around, blinking against a fog I didn’t understand. It shouldn’t be foggy inside. Maybe Janny or one of the cooks had burned something? Nothing else explained why it was so hard to see.

  Apollo barked, sharp, worried. But it sounded as if he was far away, not next to me. He was next to me, wasn’t he? Quinn would kill me if I’d let him get away.

  “Meg?”

  That was Drew’s voice. I recognized it even though he sounded different. Why couldn’t I see him?

  “Meg!”

  Hands grabbed for me as the floor raced up to smack me in the face.

  Chapter 21

  “I don’t give a damn how good your intentions were, Andrew Grissom. You should have called me!”

  Fury, hot and dangerous, filled
Annie’s voice. It echoed through my head, not helping the way it pounded painfully. Eyes closed, I drew a cautious breath. As I did, I heard Drew try to say something only to be cut off by his sister. There were other voices. Someone tried to shush Annie. Even as out of it as I felt, I knew that was a bad idea. A very bad idea. A redhead in full temper didn’t take kindly to being told to calm down. One near the end of her pregnancy – let’s just say I was glad not to be in her sights.

  “And why the hell didn’t someone call me?” Quinn sounded calm, too calm.

  I needed to get up. I needed to let them know I was all right. Of course, it would be nice to know that for myself. I seemed to hurt all over. Worse, my body didn’t want to obey my mind. Fear blossomed and my fingers slowly curled into a fist. The sheet beneath them felt rough, scratchy. Scents of oils and candles filled the air, making it difficult to breathe. That was wrong, everything was wrong.

  “Easy, Meg. You’re safe.”

  Even though I knew she spoke softly, Miss Serena’s voice tore through me as if she’d yelled in my ear. At the same time, the sound of flesh striking flesh came from wherever the others waited. Drew cursed softly. Worried, I tried to open my eyes. I needed to know what was going on.

  Damn it, what was wrong with me?

  A warm cloth bathed my face. Another bathed first one arm and then the other. Two voices softly chanted. A warmth settled over me, almost like a loving hand. My eyes grew heavy, even though I’d yet to open them. The sensations that moments before seemed almost overwhelming eased and a shuddering sigh escaped my lips.

  “Meg, can you hear me?” Worry strained Miss Serena’s voice

  Carefully, I opened my mouth enough to lick lips that felt dry as a desert, not that my mouth was any better. “W-what h-h-happened?”

  Someone carefully helped me sit up some. A moment later, a straw was guided between my lips. I sipped, moaning in relief as cool water trickled over my tongue and down my throat. One sip, two, three. Then the straw was withdrawn and I was eased back onto the mattress.

  “Meg, Judith and Amy are here with us. We need you to trust us,” Miss Serena said.

  Someone lightly rested their hand against my forehead, as if checking for fever, and then my cheek. I turned my head, seeking the reassurance the touch gave.

  “Do,” I croaked. “Trust you.”

  Something wet fell onto my forehead. A tear? I tried to open my eyes but couldn’t. I didn’t have the strength.

  “Damn it,” Miss Serena cursed as the sounds of arguing once again shattered the peace of the room. I wanted to laugh. I never expected to hear Miss Serena lose her temper much less swear. “Amy, go down and tell those fools if they can’t keep their voices down and their tempers under control, they can all leave, each and every one of them.”

  The sound of a door opening and then closing was the last thing I heard as I once again lost the battle for consciousness.

  Warm sun fell across my face when I woke next. I lay still, assessing how I felt. Dry mouth, parched lips and a bladder that warned I was going to have a very real problem if I didn’t get to a bathroom soon. That much was normal – sort of. Relief filled me as my eyes opened. Turning my head on the pillow, I looked around. I wasn’t home, but I recognized my surroundings. I was in the room at Quinn’s I’d stayed in earlier. Miss Serena sat in a chair next to the bed, her head bent, eyes closed. For the first time in our short acquaintance, she looked old and tired. How long had it been?

  More importantly, what happened to me? The last thing I remembered was stumbling into the café and the floor racing up to smack me in the face.

  Carefully, urged on by my bladder, I sat up. The room swam around me for a moment before steadying. Doing my best not to disturb Miss Serena, I pushed back the sheet and climbed to my feet. I moved from bed to dresser to bathroom, using the furniture for support. I hadn’t felt this weak and washed out since waking in the hospital in Germany after that last mission.

  A few minutes later, I stared at my reflection in disbelief. I looked like death warmed over. Pale, with deep shadows under my eyes that attested to how sick I’d been. Under the sleep shirt I wore, a bandage covered some sort of wound on my right side. The fact they hadn’t taken me to the hospital reassured me. Not a lot, to be honest, but some.

  “You shouldn’t be up yet, Meg.” Miss Serena stood in the doorway, her expression worried.

  “I needed to take care of something.” At least I didn’t have to explain what that something was. Nor did I argue when she helped me back to bed. “What happened?”

  “We’ll try to answer your questions soon, I promise. But first let us check you.”

  As she spoke, the door opened and Quinn’s mother stepped inside. She wore a pair of khakis and a red sweater and looked as exhausted as Miss Serena. Seeing me awake, she smiled and crossed to the bed. A moment later, she set the tray she carried on the dresser. As she did, the smells of freshly brewed tea and chicken broth filled the air, reminding me it had been much too long since I’d eaten.

  “After we check you,” Judith said as if reading my mind.

  I nodded and sat back. As I did, Miss Serena draped the sheet over my legs. Then, much to my surprise, she sat next to me and drew me close. For a long moment, she held on as if she wouldn’t let go. I felt a shudder run through her and swallowed hard. She’d been scared. Scared for me.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

  She leaned back. When she looked at me, her eyes flashed dangerously. “Don’t you dare apologize,” she snapped. “You did nothing wrong.”

  “Serena.” Judith rested a hand on her shoulder, calming her.

  She rested her forehead against mine and then straightened. “I’m sorry, Meg.”

  “I’ll repeat what you just told me.” I held her gaze until she nodded.

  “No one here has anything to apologize for,” Judith said. “Others.” She didn’t finish her comment. Instead, she looked downstairs and I had a pretty good idea who she meant. “Now, how do you feel?”

  “About like I look.” I wasn’t trying to be flip. It happened to be the truth.

  “Let’s see if we can help.” Miss Serena lightly patted my shoulder in reassurance.

  I reached up and grasped her hand. “You both look stretched to your limits. I’d rather you get some rest first. I’m all right as long as I take it slow and easy.”

  They both looked like they might argue. Then they nodded. That alone told me I’d been either deathly ill or badly injured, maybe both. It also told me they had been working on me much too long, even with the help Amy had given them.

  “All right. You need to try some tea and broth. Then you’ll rest some more. I promise we will as well. After that, we’ll give you another treatment. Then and only then will we talk about what happened.” Miss Serena pinned me with a firm look that dared me to object.

  Without waiting for my response, Judith retrieved the tray and placed it across my thighs. I reached for the cup of tea and carefully sipped. It didn’t surprise me to taste the additives in it. Mom used to do the same thing. Nor did I doubt even more had been added to the broth.

  “The dogs?” I asked as Judith took the tray a few minutes later.

  “Are just outside the door.”

  Judith opened the bedroom door and softly whistled. A moment later, Apollo and Athena padded in. Miss Serena watched as I lay back and got settled. Then she motioned to the dogs. They needed no other encouragement to jump onto the bed and settle on either side of me.

  “Stay with her,” Miss Serena said, scratching Athena’s ears. “Make sure she rests,” she told the dogs and then bent to kiss my cheek. “We’ll be back soon,” she promised before leading Judith out of the room.

  I woke some time later to the sound of arguing – again. Damn it. Had they been at it all this time or was this the second round? Or maybe the tenth? Not that it mattered. I felt better but the yelling and negative energy in the house was giving me an even worse headache.

/>   Sitting up, I signaled the dogs to get off the bed. My cellphone rested on the bedside table, but it needed recharging. Since there was no clock, all I could do was judge the time by the sun’s position as it came through the window. My best guess was I’d been asleep an hour or so. Enough to make me feel a little better but not enough for me to heal.

  Later, I stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind me. I’d traded the sleep shirt, which was more than a little ripe, for an oversized tee shirt and loosely woven pants. Barefoot, the dogs flanking me, I slowly walked down the hall toward the staircase.

  From the landing, I looked down and shook my head. My friends, my new family if I let them, ranged around the living room. None looked happy, but it was the sight of the bruise along Drew’s jaw that brought me up short. Memory of the first time I woke returned and I wondered if that had been when someone hit him. If so, my bet was on it being Quinn. She still looked angry enough to chew nails.

  “I don’t give a damn, Quinn. I want to see her.,” Drew said, one hand fisting at his side.

  “You’ll wait with the rest of us, Drew.” She moved to stand almost toe-to-toe with him. I waited, holding my breath. She looked ready to do whatever it took to keep him downstairs. Then her expression softened, and she rested her hand on his shoulder. “Drew, I know you’re worried about her. We all are. But we need to trust Mom and Miss Serena to take care of her. They’re who she needs right now.”

  He nodded, his expression miserable. Then he seemed to almost shake himself before looking at Lucas. “Have you found out anything?”

  The sheriff shook his head. “I would have told you.”

  Safe. You’re safe. Go down. They need you.

  The words echoed in my mind, not really spoken but understood nonetheless. Whether it was the house – and I still didn’t want to think about a house that could talk or much of anything else – or something else, I didn’t wait to see. I took a grip on the bannister and slowly started down the stairs.

  “Meg!”