Interrupted Magic

by Karla Brandenburg

  “Did you see the results?” he asked.

  I nodded.

  “Is two lines good or bad?”

  A nervous laugh escaped. “That depends on your definition of good and bad.” I turned to face him. “Two lines is positive.”

  He set the test on the sink and hugged me so tight I could hardly breathe. When he pulled away, his eyes welled with tears. “I never imagined... I was told the reason the gift skips is because we couldn’t...” He hugged me again. “Brynn, tell me I’m not dreaming.”

  I continued to shake, struggling with my own reality. “I’m only three days late. It could be a false positive.”

  Ian’s eyes shone. “How does this work? Being late and pregnancy and all the rest?” His gaze locked on mine. “Tell me you’re happy. I want to crow to the world.”

  “I’m scared to death.” Another nervous laugh bubbled up. “Let’s say I’m cautiously optimistic. The first trimester is never a certainty. You can’t say anything to anyone. Not yet.”

  “Don’t you see?” he asked. “How many one-night stands have you had? I’m guessing not too many. I’ve never—ever—slept with a woman on a first date, much less the first time I met her. There is a greater power at work here.” He paused. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded, a new habit that was becoming annoying. “Yes,” I said, determined to quit with the bobblehead routine. “I mean no. I’ve never had a one-night stand either. I mean... I don’t know what I mean.”

  “I’ll make us breakfast. Or we can go into town and eat at the bakery.”

  The thought of food made my stomach flip. I knelt beside the toilet and heaved.

  Ian took a step back. “Oh.”

  “Toast, jam and ginger tea,” I croaked.

  As he hurried downstairs, I picked up the test stick again. Two lines clearly presenting. At least I didn’t have to work today.

  I did have to work today. Cassandra and I had agreed to take advantage of the whole Labor Day weekend to maximize earnings.

  I showered and dressed, and when I walked downstairs, I found Ian in the workroom, thumbing through bottles.

  “Your breakfast is on the table,” he said. “When I came to get you, I saw an open grimoire. Figured I’d take a look.”

  I stepped beside him. “An open grimoire? The books haven’t opened for me in almost two weeks.”

  As he showed me the recipe, another book landed on the worktable.

  I raised my eyebrows. “I guess they know you’re here.”

  “Eat, and then show me where everything is. I’m assuming you’ll be selling these in your shop today. When are you closing the doors for the last time?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Do you mind if I help out? I work cheap.” He winked at me.

  “Don’t you have work to do in Pratt?”

  He pointed to the open grimoires. “Seems like I have work to do here, too.”

  I slipped my arms around his waist. “I’m happy to have you around. Please tell me you aren’t offering so you can keep an eye on me.”

  “I’ve been miserable without you this past week, Brynn, and I know it’s my own fault. My own insecurities. We made promises last night. I intend to honor them, and I intend to show you every day for the rest of our lives how much I value you.”

  My heart expanded. His words carried so much more weight than the three words Lisa had told me to be wary of.

  “I will never throw you away,” he whispered in my ear.

  “And I’ll never cheat on you,” I replied. “Promise.”

  He kissed me tenderly, then smiled. “Go eat your toast before you throw up again.”

  I grinned in return. “Yes, sir.” I gave him a mock salute and sat down to the breakfast he’d prepared for me. When I finished, I joined him in the workroom and pointed out where to find the supplies he needed. By the time we left for work, he’d mixed five special orders.

  The sun sent sparkles of light to the shrouded footpath, the morning air heavy with humidity. Church bells summoned people to matins. I soaked it all in, acutely aware my time walking the footpaths of Hillendale every day was coming to an end.

  A new adventure awaited me in Pratt.

  Broadway buzzed with tourists. The townspeople I recognized stared openly at the man beside me, putting their heads together, no doubt to speculate on why he was there.

  I unlocked the shop, let Ash out of her carrier and directed Ian to line up the special orders behind the sales counter. Ash meowed hungrily, and led me into the nearly empty backroom to be fed.

  When I returned to the front of the shop, Ian was in conversation with the woman who’d come to me about her son’s attention deficit. Ian waved me over.

  “This woman wants to try your lemon and cedarwood fragrance.”

  My lemon and cedarwood fragrance. I smiled brightly. “Of course. I’m sure it will help.”

  “I hope so,” she said. “It’s my last resort before I buy the prescription, and I really don’t want to do that. I should have bought it last time I was here.”

  I suspected she’d been better off waiting. Ian’s touch would make the difference while my alchemy was interrupted.

  Because I was pregnant.

  I rested a hand on my belly. Ian’s eyes followed the movement and his smile was like a ray of sunshine.

  Cassandra arrived and stopped when she saw Ian.

  “We have help today,” I said.

  She glanced between the two of us, a sly smile on her face. “I approve.”

  I laughed.

  “So you know, Lucas rented a U-Haul to cart off the remaining fixtures and furniture after we close tomorrow.” Her lower lip wobbled and her shoulders tightened.

  “You okay?” I asked.

  “No.” She sobbed as she hugged me. “I’ve gotten kind of used to seeing you every day.”

  Her tears triggered mine—no surprise, given my elevated hormones. “Me, too. We’ll still see each other.”

  “Promise?” she asked.

  “Promise.”

  As customers trailed in, we straightened and composed ourselves. Cassandra went off to haggle with a woman asking about an outfit and I manned the register. Ian sat on a stool beside me while Ash purred contentedly in his lap.

  Several of the locals stopped in—probably to get a closer look at Ian—and bought botanical products, along with the special orders Ian had mixed this morning. Barry Waterman stopped in near noontime and made a pretense of browsing until there was a break in the flow of sales.

  “Last time we met, you’d mentioned serendipity,” he said. “If I were to tell you my client’s sale didn’t go through, would you be open to selling your house now? I believe you told me you might be interested if there was a buyer.”

  Ian set Ash on her rug and stood beside me. He slipped his hand in mine, but remained silent.

  A moment of truth? My pulse raced. “I might consider an offer.”

  “When would be a good time to show it?”

  Nora waltzed into the boutique. I offered her a smile before I addressed Barry. “When were you thinking?”

  “At your earliest convenience.”

  I walked around the counter. “Nora, would you mind letting Barry and his client into the house today?”

  She cast him a glance, her eyes glowing. “I can do that.”

  “Nora. So good to see you again. How have you been?” Barry asked.

  “Better than ever,” she replied.

  Barry turned to me. “I’ll let you know when my client is available.”

  “You do that,” Nora said.

  Barry rushed out, and Nora approached Ian.

  “Edgar Oliveiro’s nephew?” she asked.

  He bent at the waist in a half-bow. “Ian. You must be Nora Hanson.” He kissed her knuckles.

  She smiled, her attention lingering on him before she turned to me. “I can understand the attraction. How are you today, sweet Brynn?”

  “My heart is full,” I replied. />
  “Something I should know about?” Cassandra asked, walking behind the counter to ring up a sale.

  Inside, I wanted to tell her, but I was wary. “When I have something to share, you’ll be the first person to know.”

  Nora corralled Cassandra and me into a group hug. “I’m proud of you both for following your dreams. I’m going to miss this old shop, too, but new adventures lay in wait. For both of you. I think you’ll do very well in Milwaukee, Cassandra.”

  Cassandra beamed. “Thanks, Nora. I hope so.”

  Nora shared a secretive glance with me. She was the closest thing to a mother I had. Of course, she knew I was pregnant. I’d already told her I suspected as much. I still couldn’t quite believe it was true, and I had several weeks to go before I could be assured the baby would stick.

  Nora took my hands, in that all-knowing way she had. “Everything’s going to be fine.”

  Epilogue

  One Year Later

  I checked on my son, sleeping in the back seat as Ian drove us to Meadow Hill. I hadn’t ventured far from the castle since Wesley had been born, and welcomed the opportunity when Jason had invited us for dinner.

  “We’ve got a few extra minutes,” I said. “Can we detour through Hillendale to drive by the house?”

  Ian signaled and switched lanes, turning onto North Avenue, the northern border of Hillendale. He drove under the iron scrollwork that greeted visitors into town and moments later, he stopped at the corner of the dead-end street.

  A shadowbox fence dripping with ivy surrounded the house, although the triquetra on the chimney was still visible.

  Ian laced his hand with mine. “Looks like a haunted house now.”

  “Madeleine values her privacy.”

  “Don’t we all? There are easier ways to keep people away. You never got unwanted visitors, did you?”

  I considered Daria. Unwanted? Maybe, but she’d come for a reason. Curiosity seekers kept their distance. His question was rhetorical. I’d made very few trips to Hillendale since I’d sold the house to Madeleine Stephens, steering clear of the town gossips. They’d embraced me once, but my life had been much less stressful away from the constant scrutiny and judgement.

  “Do you want to say hello while we’re here?” Ian asked.

  “No. Jason will be waiting for us.”

  Ian squeezed my hand. “Do you miss the place?”

  I gave in to a nostalgic smile. “Yes and no. I only lived there a few years, but it was the one place that felt like home. Until I met you, that is.”

  Ian’s eyes sparkled. He leaned in to kiss me before he pulled away from the curb and continued on to Jason’s house.

  Ten minutes later, we pulled into Jason’s driveway. As I released Wesley from his car seat, Nora parked behind us with a jerk. She flounced out, sleeves flying from her outstretched arms like great wings.

  “Look at this beautiful boy,” she warbled, gathering him into her arms. “He gets bigger every time I see him.”

  “Babies will do that,” I said with a laugh.

  She held my gaze, a new habit she’d acquired from when I’d been pregnant. “It’s good to see you looking so well, sweet Brynn.” Which I interpreted to mean she could see the glow of magic in my eyes.

  “I didn’t realize you were coming today,” I said. “For that matter, I didn’t think Jason was comfortable around you yet.”

  “He said there was something we all needed to discuss ahead of Jeannine’s wedding.”

  I turned around and nearly ran into Nora’s husband, Fletcher. I let out a gasp and took a step back, my hand over my heart. His stealthy manner continued to startle me. I smiled and gave him a hug. “Good to see you.”

  Jason met us at the foot of the front steps, shook hands with the men, and faced me. “Motherhood agrees with you. You’re looking like your old self again.”

  “Growing a human is hard work,” I joked.

  When he didn’t lead us up the steps right away, I grew wary. Ian handed me the diaper bag and collected Wesley from Nora.

  “Something we should know?” Ian asked.

  “He asked me not to tell you he was coming,” Jason said.

  “He who?” Nora asked.

  I held my breath. He wouldn’t invite Kyle over, would he?

  The baby fussed, and I traded the diaper bag for my son, bobbing him gently in my arms to quiet him. He was due for another feeding, which I was willing to do in the car to avoid an unpleasant confrontation.

  “My father,” Jason said.

  I felt strangely impassive at the idea of seeing my uncle again after all this time, but the calm gave way to dread. “And your mother?” I asked. Ian put a protective arm across my shoulders.

  Jason shook his head. “No. She isn’t here.”

  “Heavens. Do you realize I haven’t spoken to him for...?” Nora paused as if to contemplate the number of years. “I suppose I called him after you arrived in Hillendale, Brynn, but aside from that...”

  I squeezed her hand. “I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you. You’re his sister, after all.”

  “You guys going to be okay with this?” Jason asked.

  “Might as well get this over with,” I replied.

  Nora squeezed my hand and we followed Jason inside.

  Uncle Jerome rose from the sofa and gasped. He stared at me as if I was a ghost. “You look so much like your mother.”

  I knew that, and took it as the compliment it was surely meant to be. “Uncle Jerome.”

  He stared at Nora awkwardly. “It’s good to see you again, Nora.” His gaze flitted to the man glowering beside her.

  “My husband,” she said. “Fletcher Coleridge.” She fixed Uncle Jerome with a stare, daring him to say something about Fletcher’s heritage.

  Uncle Jerome shook Fletcher’s hand. “Glad to finally meet you.” His eyes dipped to the child in my arms. “Yours?”

  “This is Wesley, and this is my husband Ian.” I turned to Ian. “My uncle Jerome.”

  Ian extended his hand. “Sir.”

  Uncle Jerome’s eyes welled with tears. “I knew you’d land on your feet. You always were one tough cookie.”

  Wesley fussed and I rocked him in my arms. “The baby’s hungry.”

  Ian handed me a baby blanket, which I draped over my shoulder as I sat on the couch. Wesley struggled to latch on, something I attributed to the tension coiled in my body.

  “Aunt Brynn!” Georgia came running from her bedroom and launched onto the sofa beside me.

  I hugged her with my free arm and she stared at the blanket.

  “Is that my cousin?” she asked.

  “Yes, sweetie. He’s eating right now, but you can say hello when he’s finished.”

  She bounced beside me.

  Sharon held out a hand. “Georgia, honey, why don’t we go to your room and play for a few minutes so Grandpa can talk to Aunt Brynn and Aunt Nora.”

  “I want to see Wesley,” Georgia whined.

  “And you will. As soon as he’s done eating,” I said.

  Georgia pouted and folded her arms.

  Ian crouched in front of her. “How about if I come with you?”

  Her face contorted as she struggled not to smile. She was as enamored of her Uncle Ian as I was. She thrust out a hand and tugged him along behind her.

  “You going to be okay?” Ian asked over his shoulder.

  “Of course.”

  Uncle Jerome settled into a chair, avoiding eye contact. Because I was nursing? Or because he was uncomfortable?

  “Jason said you wanted to see us,” Nora said.

  He nodded. “With Jeannine’s wedding a month away, I thought it would be better if we had a chance to talk beforehand.” He glanced at me. “I’m so glad things have turned out well for you. Truly, Brynn.”

  “Where’s Theresa?” Nora asked.

  Uncle Jerome bowed his head again. “She doesn’t plan to attend Jeannine’s wedding. As you might guess, she doesn’t approve. Howev
er, Jeannine has asked me to give her away, and I fully intend to do so. She is my daughter, after all.”

  Nora’s eyebrows rose. “What do you have to say about her wedding?”

  Uncle Jerome’s gaze shifted to where Fletcher scowled beside Nora. “I only want her to be happy.”

  “I believe she is,” Jason said.

  I smiled at my cousin, proud he’d come to accept his sister’s choice.

  My uncle’s voice became thick with emotion. “I haven’t always done the right thing or made the right choices. I tried to be a good husband, and sometimes that meant I wasn’t as good of a father as I should have been. For that, I’m sorry. I can’t tell you how happy I am you kids have found a way to be a family.”

  He turned to Nora. “I shouldn’t have let her divide us, either. I’m glad you’ve found your happiness, too.”

  Fletcher’s expression softened.

  Uncle Jerome waved around the room. “I’ve missed out on all this. Weddings. Babies. When Jeannine asked me to give her away, I realized how much I’d already given away. I know that’s my fault, but it stops. Now. Theresa can do what she wants, but if my family is willing to invite me in, I plan to be there for them, from here on out. I hope you can all find a way to forgive me.”

  “It’s about time,” Nora said softly.

  Wesley unlatched. I put myself together beneath the blanket and raised him to my shoulder to burp him.

  “I’m grateful to you for taking Brynn in,” Uncle Jerome went on. “And doing the job I wasn’t able to.”

  “Charlotte gave her a good head start,” Nora said. “Brynn has been a blessing to me.”

  Georgia came running down the hall again, her little brother Remy in her wake. Remy detoured to his grandfather, who scooped him up. Georgia climbed onto the sofa beside me.

  “Is he done?” Georgia asked.

  Ian rested a hand on the back of the sofa and inclined over us, a contented smile on his face.

  I cradled Wesley against my legs, his dark blue eyes struggling to focus.

  “Hi, baby,” Georgia said.

  Ian and I exchanged a questioning glance. Was that a spark we saw in Wesley’s eye? And a matching one in Georgia’s?