Landon cautiously released Sandra’s arms and kept his eyes on her as he reached for his phone. “We can arrange for an adult social worker. I’m not sure she can stay out here.”
“Wait.” Aunt Tillie stilled Landon with a hand on his arm and glanced at me. “We might be able to do something.”
Landon’s eyebrows rose. “What?”
“Just a little something,” Aunt Tillie hedged. “That won’t fix the issues with the house, though. We’ll need more help for that.”
“We have help,” I said. “We have Marcus, Landon, Sam, Chief Terry … all of us. We have help. We can fix this place up if you can handle the rest.”
“I don’t understand what’s happening,” Landon said. “Are you telling me you can cast a spell to solve mental illness?”
“No, and I would never suggest anything of the sort,” Aunt Tillie replied. “I’m saying that we can ease the loneliness and see if it helps. It’s not a forever fix – and she might need regular medication when it’s all said and done – but now that we know she’s out here … .”
“Okay, I’m willing to try it,” Landon said. “But if it doesn’t work we have to call for professional help.”
“I can live with that.”
Landon knit his eyebrows. “Why are you being so easy to deal with … especially after what happened with Annie?”
“Because I think suffering from loneliness is probably the worst thing in the world,” Aunt Tillie replied, not missing a beat. “I may get agitated with the witchy wonders – all six of them – but I’m never lonely. Imagine living out here for years with no one to talk to.”
Landon opened his mouth to argue and then snapped it shut. “Do your best. If you fix this, I’ll give you free rein on whatever illegal operation you’re running this week.”
Aunt Tillie snorted. “Like I need a free rein. I have you running in circles when it comes to my side businesses.”
“Perhaps that’s merely what I want you to think,” Landon suggested.
Aunt Tillie made a derisive sound in the back of her throat. “Keep telling yourself that.” She turned a set of kind eyes to Sandra. “I think we should take a walk. I have a story I want to tell you.”
“Is it about Abigail?” Sandra looked hopeful.
“It’s about reclaiming your life,” Aunt Tillie replied. “I wouldn’t rule out a visit from Abigail one day, though. Come with me.”
I watched Aunt Tillie go, a mixture of love and respect welling inside of me. “She never ceases to amaze.”
“That’s her gift,” Landon said. “Come on. While she’s doing that, let’s start making a list of things to do around the house. We’ve got a lot to fix here.”
“Let’s do it.”
TWO DAYS later Sandra seemed a different person, although she was still skittish around big groups of people. The men did their best to give her a wide berth as they finished renovations on the house.
She had a new roof, new carpet, fresh paint and a promise to fix the sagging front porch as soon as the weather allowed. The plumbing was in the process of being updated – as was the electrical system – and Chief Terry worked it out with a local church group to bring Sandra regular deliveries so she wouldn’t be left alone for long stretches. She also had a standing invitation to dinners at The Overlook, although she didn’t appear keen on being surrounded by that many people at one time.
There was only one thing left to do.
“I don’t want to see her.” Annie stubbornly jutted out her lower lip as she held Marcus’ hand and followed him toward the house. We’d explained what happened – and why Sandra wasn’t ultimately a bad person – but Annie refused to believe it. She’d gotten most of her feisty nature back and was now milking her ordeal for all it was worth. That essentially meant a never-ending stream of desserts every night. Belinda returned the following day, and I figured it was time to put Annie in a difficult position – whether she wanted to be in one or not.
“She’s a nice woman,” Marcus said. “She was lonely and made a mistake.”
“She was confused,” I added. “You’ve been confused before. You know how that is. Do you think that should be held against you forever?”
“But she kidnapped me,” Annie protested. “It’s her fault I was lost in the woods and almost died.”
“Oh, geez.” Aunt Tillie made a face as she sauntered past. She had a large houseplant in her hands. The day was cold but not oppressively so, and even though fall was officially here the sun shone brightly as the red leaves tumbled from the trees. “You’ve been hanging out with Clove too much. You didn’t almost die.”
“I did so,” Annie fired back, annoyed. “I heard you talking. My feet could’ve fallen off if you didn’t warm them up with magic.”
Aunt Tillie arched an eyebrow, Annie’s tone clearly grating. “I warmed your feet because they were cold. You were hardly in danger of losing them.”
“That’s not how it felt.”
“Listen, junior mouth, you’re being a kvetch. It’s not an attractive quality.”
Annie narrowed her eyes. She was used to Annie Tillie taking her side no matter what. “But … .”
“No.” Aunt Tillie cut off whatever argument Annie was about to muster with a firm shake of her head. “Sandra had a lot of bad things happen to her over the years. She was sad and confused. She took you because she thought you were someone else. She didn’t hurt you.”
“My feet froze!” Annie’s voice bordered on shrill. “She’s bad.”
“You’re the one who wandered out of the store,” I reminded her, keeping my voice gentle and low. “You’re not to blame for any of this, but you shouldn’t have done that. Sandra couldn’t have taken you if you’d stayed with us.”
Annie looked positively mutinous as she glared at me. “How can it not be my fault if you’re saying it’s my fault?”
I shrugged. “Life is full of conundrums.”
“I don’t know what that means.” Annie let loose with a growl as Landon grew closer. “Landon agrees with me, don’t you?”
Landon stilled. “About what?”
“That this lady is bad and we shouldn’t be helping her.”
“Actually I don’t agree with that,” Landon argued. “I think she’s misunderstood and made a mistake. I don’t think she’s bad. I think she deserves a second chance. You’ve had a few second chances, haven’t you?”
“I’m not bad.”
Landon poked her stomach, but Annie refused to smile despite his best efforts. “No one thinks you’re bad. You’ve done some naughty things, though.”
“It’s okay to be naughty,” Aunt Tillie offered. “That’s how I live my life … on the naughty list.”
“Don’t tell her that,” I ordered, shaking my head. “You’ll give her bad ideas.”
“She already has bad ideas,” Aunt Tillie said. “Annie, you need to suck it up and be brave. I know you had a really rough day when all of this went down, but we fixed it. It won’t happen again.”
Annie didn’t look convinced. “How do you know that? Did she promise to never take me again?”
“She doesn’t remember taking you in the first place,” I replied. “She was confused. I told you that already. Aunt Tillie did a little thing so she’s not confused any longer.”
“She did?” Annie was intrigued. “Like … a spell?”
Aunt Tillie shook her head. “You can’t mess with someone’s memories with a spell,” she clarified. “That’s not good. You can, however, give a person in pain a suggestion here or there to clear the way to getting better.”
“I don’t know what that means.” Annie was frustrated. “I don’t want to be taken again.”
“You won’t be,” Aunt Tillie said. “You’re safe. You were safe that night because I was going to find you no matter what.”
“She’s right,” Marcus said, squeezing Annie’s hand. “We’ll always come looking for you. You’re part of our family. You never give up when you hav
e a family.”
“So are you saying that when I’m eighteen and legal you’ll come for me and dump Thistle?”
Annie’s question took me by surprise and Marcus barked out a laugh before he thought better of it. Even Aunt Tillie looked amused.
“You need to find your own man,” I said, extending a finger in mock warning. “Marcus is mine.”
“He’s mine,” Annie corrected. “He just doesn’t know it yet. I’m going to woo him as soon as I’m old enough.”
“Woo?” I cocked my neck and stared at her. “Who taught you that word?”
“Aunt Tillie.” Annie pointed for emphasis. “She told me Landon is wooing Bay, and a lot of the time it’s a big woo-woo time because he’s so sappy.”
“Thanks for that,” Landon said dryly.
“You’re welcome,” Aunt Tillie said, smiling.
“They are sappy,” I agreed. “They’re family, though. You’re family. We’re family. Sandra is now kind of an extended arm of the family.”
“But she won’t kidnap me, right?” Annie was adamant that someone promise her that, so I did.
“No one will take you,” I said. “We’ll fight whoever tries.”
“And we’ll win,” Aunt Tillie added. “You know I don’t like losing, so that won’t be a problem.”
Annie heaved a sigh, resigned. “Fine. I’ll be nice.”
“That’s good,” I said, lifting my head when I heard a car door slam and glancing toward the unfamiliar vehicle at the end of the rutted driveway. The blonde who got out appeared uncertain. “Who is that?”
“That is Abigail Prescott,” Landon replied, smiling. “I found her through court records. She was raised three towns over and was legally adopted by a wonderful family when she was eight. She remembered her mother, though, and she’s keen on seeing her.”
“You found her?” Aunt Tillie looked impressed. “That was nice of you.”
“I’m a nice guy.”
“You’re ‘The Man,’ but you’re not too bad,” Aunt Tillie said, her eyes lighting up when Sandra appeared on the porch and stared at the woman. “She recognizes her.”
“She does,” Landon agreed. “I’m going to facilitate a nice meeting between them. Does anyone want to come?” His gaze was pointed when it landed on Annie.
“As long as no one kidnaps me, I’ll come,” Annie said, gripping Marcus’ hand tighter. “I need my boyfriend with me.”
“Oh, you’re laying it on a little too thick,” I teased, amused.
“He’s a good boyfriend,” Annie said. “I can’t bear to part with him.”
I shook my head. “Where did you hear that phrase?”
“That’s what Aunt Tillie said to her bottle of wine last night,” Annie answered. “She said he was a good bottle of wine and she couldn’t bear to part with him.”
Aunt Tillie averted her gaze and found something interesting to stare at on the other side of the house. “I’m sure I didn’t say that.”
“We all need to pay more attention to the things we say,” Landon said, shaking his head. “Come on, Annie. I’ll be your boyfriend today, too.”
“You can’t be my boyfriend,” Annie said, although she took his hand. “You’re only supposed to have one boyfriend. Besides, Bay would cry if you left her.”
I was pretty sure I should be offended. “What about me? Wouldn’t I cry if Marcus left me?”
Annie’s grin was impish. “All’s fair in love and war. Besides, Marcus is too nice for you, and he’s going to wise up to your fresh mouth eventually.”
“Who told you that?”
“Who do you think?” Landon asked, chuckling when Aunt Tillie scampered toward the house.
“You’d better run, old lady,” I called out. “I’ll be coming after you before the end of the day.”
Aunt Tillie didn’t look perturbed in the least. “I look forward to it. I’ll see you on the battlefield.”
“And may the best witch win,” Annie said, giggling. “I have a feeling I know who that’s going to be.”
Aunt Tillie beamed. “That’s because I’ve trained you well.”
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About the Author
I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my novels. I have a particular brand of humor that isn’t for everyone – and I know that.
If you liked the book, please take a few minutes and leave a review. An independent author does it all on their own, and the reviews are helpful. I understand that my characters aren’t for everyone, though. There’s a lot of snark and sarcasm in my world – and I know some people don’t like that.
Special thanks go out to Heidi Bitsoli and Phil VanHulle for correcting the (numerous) errors that creep into a work of fiction.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Books by Amanda M. Lee
An Avery Shaw Mystery
Who, What, Where, When, Die
If it Bleeds, it Leads
Buried Leads
Shot Off The Presses
The Preditorial Page
Misquoted & Demoted
Headlines & Deadlines
Misprints & Mistakes
Bylines & Skylines
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery
Any Witch Way You Can
Every Witch Way But Wicked
Witching You Were Here
Witching on a Star
Something to Witch About
Witch Me Luck
Life’s a Witch
Charms & Witchdemeanors
The Trouble With Witches
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short
Careful What You Witch For
Wicked Brew
On a Witch and a Prayer
You Only Witch Once
The Christmas Witch
Bewitched
A Solstice Celebration
Witchdependence Day
Happy Witchgiving
Merry Witchmas
Four-Leaf Clover
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fantasy
Witchy Tales
A Witch In Time
An Aisling Grimlock Mystery
Grim Tidings
Grim Offerings
Grim Discovery
Grim Reunion
Grim Expectations
Covenant College
Awakening
Whispering
Conjuring
Waxing & Waning
Graduating
Living Covenant Trilogy
Rising Covenant
Dark Covenant
Eternal Covenant
A Mystic Caravan Mystery
Freaky Days
Freaky Lies
Freaky Hearts
Thistle While You Work: A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short Page 9