A Witch of a Time

by Amanda M. Lee

  “What are you doing here?” Bay asked.

  “It’s a free country,” Aunt Tillie sniffed, brushing the knees of her pants off haphazardly. “I have a right to take a walk wherever I want.”

  “You were out for a walk?” Bay asked, narrowing her eyes.

  “I needed some exercise,” Aunt Tillie said. “I think I might need my hip replaced, so I have to walk it off to make sure I don’t need surgery.”

  “You don’t walk off a hip replacement,” Thistle said, exasperated.

  “Oh, are you a doctor now?” Aunt Tillie challenged.

  “No,” Thistle said. “I just happen to know that when you need a hip replacement, you can’t just walk it off.”

  “Says who?” Aunt Tillie wasn’t budging from her lie.

  “Says everyone,” Thistle screeched, flapping her arms for emphasis.

  Aunt Tillie arched a salt-and-pepper eyebrow. “Do you know everyone?”

  “I can’t,” Thistle said, stalking away. “I just … .”

  This was going to get out of control if I didn’t put a stop to it. “Is your hip okay now?”

  “It feels much better,” Aunt Tillie said. “I think it’s cured.”

  “Good,” Bay said. “Tell us what you were really doing here.”

  “I already told you,” Aunt Tillie said. “I was curing my hip ailment.”

  “No, you were here to do something awful,” Thistle said, scanning the area. “What? Magical gophers? Charmed bugs? Deranged snakes? What did you bring here?”

  “I don’t think I like your tone,” Aunt Tillie warned, extending a finger in Thistle’s direction.

  “Just tell us what you did,” Bay pleaded, joining Thistle in her underbrush search. “We won’t tell anyone what you did. Just … tell us what you brought out here because we know you brought something.”

  “I can’t believe my own flesh and blood would accuse me of being a liar,” Aunt Tillie said. “It’s enough to break an old woman’s heart.”

  Aunt Tillie only refers to herself as “old” when she’s trying to get away with something. If someone else uses the word when describing her, she’ll shrivel whatever part of their anatomy strikes her fancy.

  “We’re not accusing you of anything,” I said. “We’re just … . Things are already tense enough.”

  “Why? What’s going on?”

  I couldn’t tell if Aunt Tillie was genuinely interested, or if she was just looking for an out. “We accidentally drew a ghost here during a fake séance last night.”

  Aunt Tillie made a face. “Why were you having a fake séance?”

  “Because Dad wanted to impress the guests,” I said. “The magical rebranding of Hemlock Cove makes people picture ghosts and witches. He just wanted them to have fun.”

  “And you played into this nonsense?”

  “We were trying to help,” I hedged.

  “Well, great job,” Aunt Tillie said. “In fact, I couldn’t be prouder of you three if I birthed you myself.”

  “Thanks for that … visual,” Thistle said. “I’ll be having nightmares for a week now.”

  “Why are you proud of us?” I was confused.

  “At first, I thought you were coming out here to upset me,” Aunt Tillie said. “I thought you were being disloyal. Now I know you were just pretending to be disloyal. You really had a plan to bring this … hellhole … down.”

  “What?”

  Bay lowered her head, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter. “She thinks we drew the ghost here on purpose.”

  “She doesn’t think that,” Thistle scoffed. “She’s just playing it that way.” She narrowed her eyes, her mind clearly busy. “Did you call the ghost here?”

  “That’s a downright abominable thing to say,” Aunt Tillie said.

  “That doesn’t mean it’s not true,” Thistle shot back.

  “Well, you just moved yourself up to the top of the list, missy,” Aunt Tillie said. “You’re the queen of the list.”

  Thistle’s grim features hardened. “Don’t threaten me. We’re struggling enough here as it is. We don’t need you to make things worse. So, undo whatever spell you cast, and go home.”

  “Don’t you dare tell me what to do,” Aunt Tillie said.

  “What’s going on out here?”

  Four heads swiveled toward the back door, all landing on Landon in unison.

  “Aunt Tillie is here,” Bay said.

  “I see her,” Landon replied, stepping out onto the back porch. “Why?”

  “We were just trying to figure that out ourselves,” Bay said.

  Landon fixed Aunt Tillie with an inquisitive look. “Do you want to tell me why you’re here?”

  “Why are you here?” Aunt Tillie countered.

  “I wanted to spend some time with Bay,” Landon replied honestly. “She wanted to come here. So, we’re here.”

  “You need to put your foot down more often,” Aunt Tillie said. “People will say you’re whipped if you keep doing what she wants.”

  “Well, next weekend we’re going to do what I want,” Landon said.

  “Is it something dirty?”

  Landon smiled. “It’s something lazy,” he replied. “Now, tell me, why are you really here?”

  “She was hiding in the bushes,” Thistle said. “We’ve searched them, though. Whatever she has planned, she already did it, or she’s hidden it really well.”

  Landon pressed his lips together and moved toward Aunt Tillie, leaning his tall frame down so he could look her in the eye when he got close. “What were you doing?”

  “I already told these busybodies,” Aunt Tillie said. “I think I’m going to need a hip replacement. I was out walking to correct the problem.”

  Landon was obviously fighting the urge to laugh. “And you just happened to walk out this way?”

  “What? That’s allowed. I haven’t broken any laws, agent.”

  Landon shook his head and then straightened. “If you can’t find what she did, there’s nothing you can do to stop it. Just send her back home. We’re only here one more night. Let’s eat dinner and try to get some sleep. If everything works out, you guys can clean this ghost up after everyone is gone.”

  “Send me back home?” Aunt Tillie’s voice was shrill. “Send me back home?”

  “You’re done with your walk, right?” Landon wasn’t backing down. He rarely did where Aunt Tillie was concerned. It was one of the things I liked best about him. Honestly? I think it’s one of the things she likes best about him, too. That didn’t mean she was going to back down either, though.

  “I think I need some refreshments before I’m ready to go on my way,” Aunt Tillie said.

  Landon narrowed his eyes. “Refreshments?”

  “I need water,” Aunt Tillie said, pulling her small frame up straight. “I need nourishment, too.”

  “What does that mean?” Landon asked.

  “It means she’s inviting herself to dinner,” I said, resigned.

  “Can she do that?” Landon was nonplussed.

  Aunt Tillie was already heading toward the back door of the inn.

  “I think she just did,” Bay said.

  “WELL, this place certainly looks better than the last time I was here,” Aunt Tillie announced as she walked into the dining room.

  Dad, Teddy and Jack jerked their heads toward the door, incredulous grimaces moving across their faces as their worst enemy let herself into their domain.

  “Tillie,” Dad said, getting to his feet. “To what do we owe the honor?”

  “Well, I was out for a walk,” Aunt Tillie said. “I’m trying to work out my hip so I don’t have to have it replaced. I just happened to run into the girls outside, and they kindly invited me in for dinner so I could rest up before going home.”

  Dad shot an accusatory look in my direction. All I could do was shrug and shake my head apologetically.

  “Actually, Aunt Tillie invited herself,” Landon said, sidling into the room with Bay�
��s hand clutched in his. “She’s going to sit next to me.”

  “I don’t want to sit next to you,” Aunt Tillie said.

  “Well, you’re going to,” Landon said, crossing the room. “We’re over here.”

  “Oh, is this the great-aunt you were telling us so much about?” Clara asked excitedly.

  “Unfortunately,” Thistle mumbled. Marcus ran his hand over her back when she sat back down, obviously trying to calm her.

  “What were they saying about me?” Aunt Tillie asked, slapping Landon’s hand away as he tried to force her into the open chair next to him.

  “Sit down,” he ordered.

  “Don’t tell me what to do,” Aunt Tillie said.

  “Don’t make me arrest you,” Landon threatened.

  “For what?”

  “For … assaulting law enforcement,” Landon said. “Everyone here just saw you smack me.”

  “Are you really going to arrest a little old lady?” Jim asked, his face flushed from the wine he was mainlining. “She looks harmless.”

  “Who are you calling old?” Aunt Tillie charged.

  “Sit down,” Landon ordered again.

  “I will sit down,” Aunt Tillie said. “I just don’t want you to think I’m doing it because of you. I’m doing it because my hip hurts.”

  “Great,” Landon said, settling between Aunt Tillie and Bay.

  “So, what’s for dinner?” Aunt Tillie asked brightly.

  “Brined pork loin,” Teddy said, swallowing nervously.

  “It sounds gross,” Aunt Tillie said. “They’re serving stuffed cabbage out at The Overlook. That’s a real dinner.”

  Bay groaned. That was one of her favorite meals. I could take it or leave it.

  “Maybe you should go back out to The Overlook,” Dad suggested.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Landon said.

  “Why not?”

  “Because she … might have a mess here to clean up later tonight,” Landon said. “I think it’s best to keep her close right now.”

  Dad visibly blanched. “What kind of mess?”

  “We’re all just waiting to find out,” Thistle said.

  “He just likes spending time with me,” Aunt Tillie said. “He keeps flirting with me when Bay isn’t looking. It’s despicable.”

  Jack made a face. “Maybe you should take him off Bay’s hands? Or, I don’t know, just keep his hands off Bay? That sounds like a great job for you.”

  Aunt Tillie’s gaze bounced between Jack and Landon. “What did you do to upset him?”

  Landon shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  “I think it was because he was feeling up the blonde on the hammock earlier,” Jim said.

  Aunt Tillie pursed her lips, conflicted. As much as she liked needling Landon, there was no way she was going to take Jack’s side. “As long as her bra was still on, I don’t see the problem. A little over-the-clothes action never hurt anyone. It can be kind of fun. Your Uncle Calvin and I used to do it all the time.”

  Landon choked as he sipped from his wine glass.

  “Eat your dinner,” Bay ordered.

  “There’s nothing on my plate,” Aunt Tillie said.

  “Someone put something on her plate,” Thistle said.

  “So, Tillie, you were just out here walking?” Teddy asked.

  “What? Is there a crime against walking now?”

  “No,” Teddy said. “I’ve just never known you to be much of a walker.”

  “And The Overlook is ten miles away,” Dad added. “That’s a long walk for someone of your … advanced maturity.”

  Thistle snorted. “That was just a fancy way of calling you old, in case you missed it.”

  “I didn’t miss it, trouble,” Aunt Tillie said. “I’m choosing to rise above it. That’s what a lady of proper breeding does. I’ll have you know, Warren, I’m in the best shape of my life. I could run a marathon.”

  “When have you ever run anywhere?” Bay asked.

  “Focus less on me and more on your boyfriend,” Aunt Tillie said. “He’s obviously feeling neglected.”

  Landon shook his head. “Nope. I’ve decided to get hammered.” He poured himself another glass of wine.

  “I thought you were worried about a hangover?” Jim asked.

  “It doesn’t matter at this point,” Landon said. “This night is just going to keep going downhill. I might as well be drunk for it.”

  I glanced over at Sam. His face was unreadable, but he was downing his own glass of wine in tandem with Landon.

  I leaned in closer to him. “Are you okay?”

  “Well, let’s see,” Sam said, his tone flat. “We were supposed to have a romantic weekend alone, and instead we’ve been forced to hang out with people who hate me. There’s a rogue ghost on the loose, and Aunt Tillie is clearly up to something – which means this place could explode in the next few hours.

  “I’m great,” Sam said, reaching for another bottle of wine. “Getting drunk sounds like a superb idea.”

  I pinched the bridge of my nose. This was the worst weekend ever, and I once watched Aunt Tillie do a spell that caused every underground sprinkler in downtown Hemlock Cove to go off at once and flood the downtown – in zero-degree temperatures. It was like living in a skating rink for three weeks.

  “Pass me the wine,” I said.

  I needed to hide somewhere. Wine seemed like a viable option.

  Seven

  “This pork tastes salty.”

  Dinner was going pretty much how we expected it to go. Aunt Tillie was zinging barbs left and right, and our fathers were trying to dodge them without reaching across the table and throttling her. As for the guests? They found Aunt Tillie delightful. I had no doubt it was because they thought she was crazy.

  “It’s brined,” Dad said. “It’s supposed to taste salty.”

  “Salt is bad for you,” Aunt Tillie said. “It gives you high blood pressure and heart attacks. That’s why we never use too much salt at The Overlook.”

  “And the food is good at The Overlook?” Clara asked.

  “It’s the best in the state,” Aunt Tillie said, guileless.

  “That’s funny. Warren said that the Dragonfly had the best food in town.” Clara really was clueless. She was so busy flirting with Jack she’d missed every other clue tossed about the table that night.

  Aunt Tillie narrowed her eyes. “Did he?”

  Dad swallowed hard. “Taste is a matter of opinion.”

  “Really? Hmmm.”

  I didn’t like the look on Aunt Tillie’s face.

  “So, Landon, do you think the food here is better than at The Overlook?” Aunt Tillie’s question was pointed.

  Landon’s face was flushed from wine consumption, and he didn’t look like he had a care in the world. “I prefer the food at The Overlook,” he said. “You guys always make my favorites.”

  Aunt Tillie beamed, her anger with him fleeting – as usual.

  “You’re just saying that because Tillie is here,” Jack grumbled.

  “No, I’m saying it because I happen to like the food at The Overlook,” Landon said. “I eat there several times a week. I think I know what I like. I particularly like breakfasts.”

  Landon was purposely baiting Jack. I think the wine was going to his head, and he appeared to be spoiling for a fight.

  “You eat breakfast there a lot, do you?” Jack was also ready to fight. This had been brewing for a while, but it looked to be coming to a head.

  “Do something,” I hissed to Sam.

  “What?” He was watching the exchange with avid interest.

  “They’re going to get into a fight,” I said.

  “So? I think it might be fun to watch.”

  “Landon will kill him.”

  “Probably,” Sam agreed. “He might be too drunk to stand, though. I kind of want to see what happens.”

  “What about Bay?” I tried a different tactic.

  “What about her?”
Sam was clearly missing the point. “I think she’ll root for Landon. Jack may be her father, but she seems to really care about Landon – although I can’t figure out why.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” I snapped.

  “You seem pretty comfortable with my daughter,” Jack said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest.

  “That’s what happens when you’re there,” Landon replied, unruffled. “You get comfortable with people. Why do you think the three of them are so uncomfortable here? They don’t really know you.”

  Uh-oh. I exchanged a worried look with Bay.

  “I think we should go to bed early,” Bay said, pulling on Landon’s arm.

  “Leave him alone,” Aunt Tillie said. “I think he’s being entertaining.”

  “You should go home,” Bay said. “Your hip is fine.”

  “I don’t want to leave yet.”

  “Oh, let her stay,” Thistle said, waving from across the table. “She’s having fun. Someone here should.”

  Was everyone losing their mind? Why was everyone so combative? It wasn’t unusual for Landon to pick a fight to protect Bay’s honor, but he was being overtly aggressive tonight. Since he was the king of calm, it seemed out of character. I scanned the table, confused.

  The only two people in the room who appeared untouched by the mayhem were Marcus and me. He met my gaze across the table, his eyes just as troubled as mine. What was going on here?

  “Since when are you on Aunt Tillie’s side?” Bay asked.

  “Since she started making more sense than you,” Thistle said, tapping her temple. “She’s a genius.”

  Aunt Tillie smirked. “I’m liking you more and more tonight.”

  I furrowed my brow. I was wrong in my first assessment. Marcus and I weren’t the only ones untouched. Aunt Tillie was fine, too. Sure, she was persnickety and mean, but she was always those things. Crap. She had done something.

  “You’re such a suck-up,” Bay said, reaching for her glass of wine. “You always suck up to Aunt Tillie. You claim you’re not scared of her, and you’re the one who always wants to get back at her, but you’re also the first one to suck up to her.”

  “Oh, whatever,” Thistle said. “We all know Clove is the first one to suck up to her.”