Brewing Boys

by Sara Bourgeois

  “I’m sorry I bailed on you, Lenny,” Abby murmured.

  “I don’t understand, Abby. I know you were afraid of Irene, but she’s gone. Is her spirit bothering you?” I asked.

  “Because if it is, we can deal with that mess right now,” Esme growled.

  “No, it’s not her. I have a feeling she’s gone somewhere very warm for a very long time.”

  “Then why?” I asked

  “There’s someone else, and they’re worse. I should have told you. I wanted to tell you, Lenny, but the man whose been hanging around your house could devour me somehow. He could steal my soul and either lock it away or consume it for his own power.” She began to cry. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Abby, I don’t expect you to hang around and get eaten even if it is to protect me,” I said.

  “So, who is it?” Esme asked.

  “I don’t know. All I know is that he started showing up after Irene died, and I had to hide from him.” Abby said. “I should probably go now before he comes back.”

  “I’ll take care of that,” Esme said. “I can protect you, and you don’t need to hide anymore. But, Lenny, we need to figure out what’s going on. We’ve either got a Warlock or someone possessed by a demon on our hands. Maybe both.”

  “What about the other thing that tried to get through?” I asked.

  “One thing at a time, Lenny. It didn’t succeed, so we’re going to have to focus on Nathan right now. Hopefully, it won’t start tormenting Sally again, though.”

  Chapter Ten

  When Nathan was released from the hospital, he said he wanted to see where he’d worked. We called his doctor to ask if that would be okay, and Dr. Tram said that light exercise and fresh air would be good for Nate.

  The morning two days after he went home, I picked Nate up for a trip to work. He looked much healthier than he had for a long time. When Nathan had woken up from the coma, he was thin, and his skin was ashen.

  He’d started to fill out again despite eating hospital food for the last week, but I guess he’d been on an unrestricted diet.

  “The food isn’t that bad, Lenny.” He’d told me a few days ago. “They let me have stuff like burgers and fried chicken.”

  I’d called Nathan’s boss ahead of time and asked if it was okay for him to come in for a visit. Nate’s coworkers looked forward to seeing him, but they’d been warned that he wouldn’t remember any of them.

  Again, I held out hope that visiting work and the forest would jog Nathan’s memory. I knew something would bring Nate’s past back if I could just provide him with the right experience.

  His coworkers had planned a lunch potluck for us, but we’d arrived a couple of hours early. That meant we could go for a walk, and Nathan seemed excited.

  We picked a trail from the map that said it was for beginners and set out. Nathan had to walk very slowly, and I knew we wouldn’t make it more than a mile down the path before we had to turn around.

  A few minutes after we started, I felt Nathan take my hand. I turned my head to look at him, and it was as if I’d bitten him. He dropped my hand, and his cheeks turned red with embarrassment.

  “I’m so sorry.” He mumbled. “I didn’t realize I’d done that. Please don’t be upset.”

  “Why would I be angry, Nathan?”

  “Because I know all of this is hard for you, Lenny.” He stopped walking and turned to me. “It feels wrong for me to expect you to start all over again with us. We have this entire relationship that I can’t remember, and that has to be painful.”

  “But, you want to start over again?” I asked hopefully.

  “How could I not. I don’t know you anymore, Lenny, but I can still feel how important you are to me. I could feel it when I woke up, too, but it was all so confusing. I didn't remember things right. I want you to know that nothing happened between Irene and me after she took me home. She tried, but it felt so wrong. I made up excuses to keep her at bay. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to remember what we had, but I do know that everything that made me fall in love with you the first time is making me fall for you all over again.” He took my hands in his more confidently this time. “Do you want to give us another chance? Will you?” He asked hopefully.

  That was the moment I realized we’d been tested, and Nathan and I had passed with flying colors. No matter what happened in life, we’d find our way back to each other. The only thing that mattered was the moment right in front of us, and we didn’t need to dwell on the past or worry about the future. I felt as if I would explode at that moment because the stars aligned, and I was able to tap into the well of power inside of me.

  Nathan was my soul mate, and with patience and love, the universe had brought him back to me. Maybe it wasn’t in the way I’d planned, but letting go of what I thought I wanted had given me exactly what I needed.

  “Of course.” Was my response.

  I know that it wasn’t a profound answer given what I was feeling, but there was no way to put into words the magic that had just opened up inside of me. It was in there all along waiting for me to let it out.

  Nathan pulled me into a hug and squeezed me as hard as he could. I bear hugged him back until he laughed and cried “Uncle.”

  It had gotten closer to lunch time, and Nathan looked like he could use some rest and a substantial meal. I suggested we head back to the office. I knew that Nate was in a hurry to get stronger, but he couldn’t accomplish that by overexerting himself.

  The spread was incredible, and it was obvious that Nate’s fellow forest rangers missed him a great deal. Several had come in on their day off just to attend his lunch.

  There were crockpots of meatballs, pulled pork, hearty stews, and bread that someone had made from scratch. Some had brought in salads and desserts as well. There was plenty of food, and the atmosphere felt like a celebration.

  My thoughts turned to Helen sitting in jail for a crime she didn’t commit, but I hoped that Nathan’s wouldn’t. She’d done it to protect him as an act of motherly love. I knew deep down inside that she’d be out soon because we’d find the person who’d actually killed Irene.

  Generally, I wouldn’t care who’d offed that wretched woman. This individual had done us all a favor. But, the case had to be solved for Helen’s sake, and there was someone worse on the loose.

  I had to get my mind on more positive things or else my bad thoughts might bleed over to Nathan. Instead of ruminating on the bad stuff, I took some pictures of Nate laughing and carrying on with his work buddies.

  Lincoln probably needed his spirits lifted, so I sent them to him. I warned him that it didn’t mean Nathan’s memory was back, but he told me it sure looked like something inside of Nate had begun to recognize his old life. I had to agree.

  Everything was going perfect for a few moments, and just as I’d started to relax, Brad called.

  Chapter Eleven

  Brad wanted us to meet him at his house after the potluck. He had some news that he’d wanted to share but couldn’t do it at the police station because it wasn’t information he was supposed to share.

  That was intriguing in itself because Brad was a very by the books person. Nathan looked worn out, and I asked him if he’d rather go home and take a nap while I talked to Brad.

  “If it’s about Irene and her killer, I’ll tough it out.” He said and took my hand.

  Brad answered the door and ushered us in as if the FBI were watching his house. I could tell he didn’t break the rules very often, and that was a good thing because he’d have given himself away in a heartbeat. At least he had Esme to balance him out.

  “I shouldn’t be doing this.” He said as soon as Nathan and I sat down on his sofa.

  “What shouldn’t you be doing?” I asked with a chuckle. “Having your friends over to your house? You need to calm down, Brad.”

  “Right. That’s right. There’s nothing weird about me having you guys over for a cup of coffee and a chat. Who wants coffee?” He asked and immed
iately bounced out of the green wingback chair he’d just sat down in.

  “I’ll take some,” Nathan said.

  “Me too, but I think maybe decaf for you.”

  “Right.” He said and started for the kitchen. “And stop making fun of me, Lenora.”

  I stuck my tongue out at him as he disappeared into the kitchen. I turned my head to give Nate a kiss, and he had a nervous expression on his face.

  “Should I be worried about you guys?” He asked completely seriously.

  I’d forgotten that Nathan had originally been jealous of Brad and me. He didn’t quite understand the nature of our relationship. Though we weren’t related by blood, the universe and the goddess had seen fit to bond us together as brother and sister. Nathan knew that before he was hurt, but those memories were gone.

  “About Brad and me? No. We’re practically brother and sister. You’ve forgotten that part of our relationship, though. The part where you and Brad almost came to blows, but eventually you realized there was nothing between us. Besides, he loves Esme more than life.”

  “That seems right.” He said and took my hand. “Even if I can’t remember exactly, I can sense the truth in what you’re talking about. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a jealous cad.”

  “You don’t have to be sorry. I totally understand.” I said and kissed his forehead.

  It would have been much easier if I could have just told him about magic, witchcraft, and the whole other world he’d once known about. There was the prospect of having to explain to him about my being a witch all over again because, at that time, I still wasn't sure he’d ever get his memory back.

  Brad came back into his living room with the coffees. He had them on a small wooden tray that included cream and a sugar bowl. It made me smile to think about how relentlessly Esme would tease him for it but also how much she appreciated him for his thoughtfulness.

  “Now that we’ve got coffee let’s talk about autopsies.” He said and opened the laptop sitting on the coffee table.

  Brad typed something into the computer and appeared to read for a few minutes. He’d been attempting to refresh his knowledge before telling us what he knew.

  “What is it, Brad?” I asked impatiently when I couldn’t wait any longer.

  “Okay, here goes.” He said and rubbed his chin. “Irene’s autopsy showed that she died from an overdose of her medication. There were massive doses of a tranquilizer in her system, and it caused her heart and respiratory system to shut down.”

  “Suicide?” Nathan seemed confused. “She didn’t say anything about wanting to die. Irene didn’t leave a note or even mention being depressed. When I left for physical therapy that day, she was sitting at the table pouring over wedding magazines. It was pretty obvious that she was looking forward to planning the ceremony.” He said and then turned to me. “Sorry, Lenny.”

  “It’s okay. We need the information.” I said and squeezed his hand.

  “The coroner has ruled it a suicide, Nathan,” Brad said with a frown. “The case is going to be closed.”

  After that blow, Nathan didn’t want to be alone. We went back to my house. I was concerned about Nate seeing Abby, but he was insistent that he wanted to see my house.

  I saw my ghostly roommate when I went through the door, but she smiled, gave me a thumb’s up, and then vanished when she saw Nate come into the house behind me. I’d have to remember to thank her later. Since Esme’s protection spell made it safe for her to move freely around the house, I felt bad that she had to hide again.

  Nate and I were settling in to spend the afternoon watching movies and eating snacks when my phone rang. It was Anna, the waitress from the Egyptian Diner in Alexandria.

  “Sally’s been in here a few times since I saw you, and every time, she looks worse,” Anna said. “I mean, maybe she’s got the flu or something, but it seems like something more than that. The last time she came in, she was looking gray. I could tell she hadn’t showered for a few days, and any conversation I tried to have with her was just weird.”

  “Do you think she’s in danger?”

  “I don’t know. Last time I talked to her, she asked if I’d seen you lately. It was weird because, like, how did she know I’d ever met you?”

  “I’ll try to get in contact with her and see how she’s doing,” I said. “Thanks, for letting me know.”

  “You’re welcome, Lenny. Oh, and don’t be a stranger.”

  Chapter Twelve

  I tried to call Sally, but she never answered her phone. So, I sent her an email and hoped that I’d hear back from her. If not for what had been going on with Nate, I would have just driven down there the next day to see her.

  At the time, though, I felt that Nathan needed to be my priority. I decided to wait to hear back from Sally before I made any decisions about what to do for her.

  A couple of days later, I hadn’t yet heard from Sally. I wanted to reach out to her again, but I wanted to focus on Nathan just a little while longer before I got involved in demon fighting again.

  Nathan had asked me out on a date, and I promised myself that I’d call Sally or go see her after that. I picked Nathan up for dinner since he wasn’t cleared to drive at night just yet.

  I wanted pie, and I hoped that some of our old dating rituals would jog his memory, so we went to a diner in a nearby town that served a different pie every day of the week. Nathan thought we should at least try to eat a meal before having sweets, and we settled on splitting an order of chili cheese fries. It wasn’t exactly a proper meal, but it was more responsible than tucking into dessert with no dinner.

  After we’d finished our meal, Nate and I were trying to decide what to do next. Neither one of us wanted the night to end, but we weren’t feeling like seeing a movie. He’d brought up mini golf, and we were debating whether or not to call and invite Brad and Esme when a fist pounded our table and almost sent it careening over onto its side.

  “What the heck?” I jumped out of the way right before the side of the table landed on my feet.

  I’d still managed to end up soaked with soda and had leftover food clinging to my dress. I looked up and couldn’t believe my eyes.

  Dr. Maxwell Mountebank stood there seething with his hands clenched into fists at his side. Nathan rushed over and stepped in front of me protectively.

  The entire diner turned around and stared at us when Dr. Mountebank pointed at Nathan and yelled “You killed her. You killed my Irene.”

  “What are you talking about? Who are you?” Nathan stammered.

  I felt guilty because I hadn’t told Nate about Esme and my little field trip to Northview West Mental Hospital. I hadn’t wanted to stress him out because I only had theories about Irene and Dr. Mountebank. At that moment, I understood that my intuition had most likely been correct.

  “I’m your worst nightmare, Mr. Carter. You took the only thing in this world that mattered to me, and I’m going to destroy everything you love.”

  He said the last part while looking right at me. Nathan’s hands balled up into fists, and I had to grab his arm and hold him back.

  “No baby, don’t. Let’s get out of here.” I said.

  Dr. Mountebank stood there staring at us. I thought for a moment he’d attack, but all he did was fume as we walked past him out of the diner.

  When I took Nathan home, I wanted to tell him what I’d discovered about Irene and her doctor. It felt like I should tell him everything, but I couldn’t without revealing what I was. He wasn’t ready for that.

  I remembered back to before the first time I’d confessed to him that I was a witch. Some of those old guilty feelings had returned. If he didn’t remember our past soon, I swore I’d tell him again.

  And, I think I meant it.

  Chapter Thirteen

  When I got home from dropping Nate off, I tried to call Sally again. There wasn’t an answer on her phone, so I went to my office and checked my email. Sure enough, the night got worse.

  Len
ny,

  I’m losing the fight.

  Sally

  That was all it took, I called Nathan and told him goodnight. My next call was to Esme. She and I were going to Sally’s place that night to get rid of her issue once and for all.

  “We’ll, I’m supposed to be working, but one of the other nurses has been begging for overtime. I’ll call her to come in and replace me. Come pick me up.”

  I felt relieved that Esme was going with me to Sally’s house. She’d be able to figure out what was infesting the place, and Esme was stronger than me. Her ability to cleanse a house far exceeded mine.

  When we arrived, Sally was sitting on her front porch. Her head was in her hands, and when she looked up at us, I could tell she’d been crying. It took me a moment to put my finger on it, but there was something more encouraging about the situation.

  Sally’s skin had returned to its normal color, and her hair was clean. She was a far cry from the wraith that Anna had described to me over the phone.

  “Thank you so much for coming. I don’t know what to do. I can’t go back in there. It’s too much.” She said and started to cry again.

  Esme and I pulled Sally in for a hug, and together we whispered an incantation for peace. There was work to be done in the house, but first, we had to put Sally’s mind at ease.

  “Wait out here for us,” Esme said authoritatively. “We’ll handle this.”

  Inside the house was a disaster. Most of the furniture was turned over, and anything that was upholstered had its stuffing ripped out. There was broken glass in several places from windows and dishes. Scratch marks covered some of the walls, but it was the stench that was the worst.

  At first, Sally’s house smelled like lilacs, and I took a deep breath in without thinking. It was like a reflex, but when my lungs were half full, the scent changed to a thick odor of rotten eggs. The sulfurous vapor burned my nose so badly that I covered my face and bent over as if I could hide from it.