by Ellen Jane
“It’s what my grandma used to say,” Rebecca explains. There is a soft expression on her face as she retrieves the matchbook and tucks it back into her pocket. She clasps Lee’s shoulder and squeezes, offering her another smile. “You don’t need to worry that you wasted my luck; these sorts of gifts are not possessions. I shared my luck with you, and in turn, you shared yours with me. My heart embraces yours.”
Lee recalls their first meeting, when Rebecca spoke of mirrors and blocks. She imagines that block shattering now, breaking into a thousand pieces. The guilt dissolves.
Jo rejoins them, and they part ways from Rebecca with each other’s contact details in their phones and promises to be in touch after Christmas.
“And that’s that,” Jo says when they’re alone again.
She links arms with Lee as they walk to the car, snow falling in silent drifts around them. The streets are empty, most people only now beginning to tumble out of their beds to the sight of presents and sweets.
“No more magic matches,” Lee agrees.
“Babe.” Jo levels her with a stare. “You can’t possibly be upset about that. Last night was a bona-fide Christmas miracle.”
Lee recalls the moment she stumbled over Rebecca’s prone figure, the tight ache of fear in her chest, the overwhelming relief when Rebecca stirred. “Yeah,” she agrees. “It really was.”
“And now I have my first client,” Jo adds with a grin. “And a hot new girlfriend.” She kisses Lee on the cheek. “Everyone wins.”
Heat spreads through Lee’s face and neck, but she can’t stop smiling. “So, this isn’t still chasing everyone else’s dreams?”
Jo’s laughter is bright and free. “Definitely not. This project isn’t about any one person; it’s about creating a community that lifts each other up. I can’t wait to get started. The contacts I’ll make… Lee, it’s going to be amazing.”
Lee is awestruck by the expression on Jo’s face. She’d never thought Jo would hold parts of herself back, but now she isn’t so sure. It’s strange how this transformation—the move, the new career—is barely different to what Jo was doing before, and yet it has changed everything. Perhaps true change isn’t about becoming something new but becoming something real.
She doesn’t know Jo that well at all; it’s time that changed.
She nudges Jo with her elbow. “I want to learn everything about you.” Jo’s eyes widen, but Lee keeps talking. “And I don’t mean know. I mean learn. I want to take time on this, share it bit by bit.” She fumbles, heat flooding her cheeks as she realises how ridiculous she sounds. This is the side of her she tries to hide. It’s a little too like her mum—too enthusiastic about the small things and prone to erratic energy. “I mean, only if you—”
“Me too,” Jo says, her voice a slow drawl. “And speaking of, I know the perfect place to start.”
“You do?”
Jo nods. “I want to…” she leans closer and waggles her eyebrows, “…meet your mum. Eight years, and I’ve only ever seen her in passing. It’s tragic. I make a mean hot chocolate and she deserves to taste it for Christmas.”
Something brightens in Lee’s chest, and it’s as if her smile spreads through her whole body. “I’d like that.”
Jo clears her throat, eyes sliding away. “We can trade stories.”
Lee’s breath hitches because she knows there is nothing casual about that offer. Jo has always kept her history close to her chest, revealing nothing more than she has to.
She reaches out to take Jo’s hand, entwining their fingers together in the cold. “It’s a date.”
Author Notes
Huge thanks to Violet and Dan for helping me out with this one! I was so focused on longer projects this year, I didn’t have time to do a festive novel (which is a shame because I love me a cosy Christmas romance). So, I hope you enjoyed this compromise in the form of a little short story with festive cheer.
You can keep up to date with new projects by following me on Instagram (ellenjanewrites) or signing up for my mailing list at www.ellenjanephillips.com. Next on the list is a Cupcakes and Sorcery sequel, coming out 2019!
About The Author
Ellen Jane (also known as E.J. Phillips) is an Australian author who writes an assortment of paranormal mystery and queer romance. She also publishes speculative fiction novels with queer characters and a range of themes under E.J. Phillips, and you can find her at www.ellenjanephillips.com or on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tumblr as @ellenjanewrites.
Also By Ellen Jane
MAGIC, MURDER & MISTLETOE
Cupcakes and Sorcery, Book One
Heather is looking forward to another quiet Christmas with her dogs. However, her plans get a touch waylaid when someone sees fit to stick a knife in the Earl of Denbigh. To make things even better, magic is in the air, and it’s not the festive kind.
Being the only two magic users at the scene of the crime, suspicion falls on Heather and the compelling stranger, Sinéad. If they want to prove their innocence, they’ll have to work together. Just one problem: Sinéad is a sorcerer, and Heather is a witch. . . and everyone knows that witches and sorcerers don’t get along.
Things escalate when someone starts sabotaging their investigation, but Sinéad is determined to see the case through to the bitter end, and Heather won’t let her do it alone. Can they catch the killer before the killer catches up to them?
LAST CALL FOR WITCHING HOUR
Free Cupcakes and Sorcery short story available through www.ellenjanephillips.com
All Heather and Sinéad have to do before the coven’s Samhain ritual is look after a tiny kitten. How hard can it be?
When their friend’s familiar, Pinklepurr, goes missing, girlfriends Heather and Sinéad are swept up in a whirlwind of forgotten secrets, strange ghosts, and rituals gone wrong as they try to find her. But time is against them.
Samhain is the night when the veil between this world and the spirit world grows thin. Hovering on the edges, there are always those spirits who would do anything to cross over, including taking control of a young, inexperienced familiar.
Can Heather and Sinéad find Pinklepurr before it’s too late?