Dreams of the Witch

by Deanna Chase

  His eyes glinted in the late afternoon light as he gave her a pleased smile. “You like it then?”

  She got to her feet and inspected the area. Behind them, he’d started a rock wall that would likely be filled in with native plants as well as a waterfall off to one side. “I love this. It’s so much more than I was expecting.”

  He joined her, taking one of her hands. “I was also going to install post lighting around the perimeter, as well as ground lights around the steps over there. I figured it should be just as tranquil in the evening as it is during the day.”

  A thread of peace wound its way through her as she took in her surroundings, seeing the completed picture in her mind. Her eyes misted, but this time from pure appreciation and gratitude instead of sadness. He was turning her space into the vision she’d spoken about months ago before he left for Las Vegas. “It’s going to be so lovely. We’ll be able to rent it out for events. Parties, weddings, anniversaries.”

  “As long as it isn’t freezing out,” he said and glanced up at the darkening sky.

  “Is the fire witch cold?” she teased as she slipped into his arms, hugging him.

  He chuckled. “Not when you’re in my arms.”

  Warmth spread through her, and she lifted up onto her tiptoes, pressing her lips to his. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” He brushed his thumb over her cheekbone, gazing at her as if he never wanted to take his eyes off her.

  “For being here with me. I don’t know what it is, but your presence just settles me.”

  “You know what, Faith?” he said, his voice a little gruff.

  “What?”

  “You do the same for me.” He dipped his head and kissed her, sending tingles all the way to her toes. When they finally parted, they were both smiling like teenagers as Hunter walked her back to her office.

  When they got to her door, she paused, not sure if she was ready for what was waiting for her inside.

  “Are you going to be okay?” he asked.

  “I honestly don’t know.” She turned to him. “Can you believe that at five years old, I was the only one who didn’t cry when we realized that my mother left?”

  He raised both eyebrows. “You’re kidding.”

  She shook her head. “I did earlier that day when I felt as if something was wrong, but then I had some sort of premonition that she wasn’t coming back. And I don’t know, maybe I couldn’t deal with the trauma, so I just didn’t think about her. It’s like I just cut her out of my life and my memory. She left, and I pretended she didn’t exist.”

  “Until now,” he said.

  “Until now. I had no idea just how angry I was. And to be honest, now I wish I hadn’t called. I don’t think I want to see her.” She stared down at her feet, ashamed of herself. This was her mother she was talking about, and no matter what she’d done, didn’t she deserve at least one chance to explain? Faith wasn’t so sure.

  “Faith, listen,” Hunter said, pressing both hands to her cheeks as he stared at her intently. “I know it’s not anywhere near the same since my mother left involuntarily, but I can tell you that I’d do just about anything to see and talk to her once more.”

  “You’re right. It’s not the same,” Faith said, her tone matter-of-fact. “And I don’t feel that way. Not today anyway.”

  “I understand,” he said, nodding. “And I get it. Trust me, I get it. There are people in my life… well, let’s just say I have relatives who have let me down, too, and talking to them isn’t on my priority list. But let me just ask you this one thing… if this was your last chance to talk to her, would you take it, or would you be content with your decision?”

  “Do you mean if she ghosted again, would it bother me?” She really didn’t think so.

  “Yes… and no. Just ask yourself, if something happened to her and you could never speak with her again, never get answers, never let her try to make amends, what would that feel like?”

  She leaned against her door and crossed her arms over her chest. “You think I should meet her.”

  He pressed his lips into a thin line and shrugged one shoulder noncommittally. “I don’t know if you should or not.” He pulled her in close and pressed his hand over her heart. “I think you should try to do whatever it is that’s going to keep your heart whole.”

  “Dammit,” she whispered, blinking back tears. “How am I supposed to know what that is?”

  He kissed her temple and said, “Just listen. You’ll know.”

  Faith hugged him tightly and whispered, “Thanks.”

  Chapter 13

  Faith found Abby sitting at her desk, staring at the phone in her hand. She didn’t even look up when Faith entered the office and shut the door behind her. Her footsteps echoed on the hardwood floors, finally drawing Abby’s attention.

  Abby’s red-rimmed eyes met Faith’s, and she said, “That was a lot harder than I expected.”

  Faith leaned against her desk and placed a hand over her sister’s. “You don’t have to tell me. I just had a meltdown outside.”

  Abby’s lips twitched into a tiny smile. “A meltdown? You? That doesn’t sound like my little sister.”

  “I know. Poor Hunter. He had to put me back together.”

  “Hunter, huh?” Abby asked with sudden interest. “What’s going on there?”

  Faith could still feel his arms around her as she said, “We have a date on Saturday.”

  “Oh, oh, oh! You should see the look on your face. You’re smitten.” Abby grinned. “Way smitten.”

  “Maybe.” But the thought of being alone with him on Saturday made her giddy.

  “Wait, don’t you have a date with Brian on Friday?” Abby asked, her brows drawn together in confusion. “Are you dating two guys now?”

  “No. I’m not dating two guys.” Though, technically she supposed she was. “I think ‘dating’ is overstating things.”

  “So you have a date on Friday with Brian and one on Saturday with Hunter. Damn, little sister.” Abby’s eyes glinted with mischief. “You’re a player.”

  “Calm down. Weren’t you the one making eyes at Clay while you were technically still with whatshisname from New Orleans?”

  Abby laughed. “Maybe. But I sure wasn’t dating both of them at the same time during the same weekend. I’m impressed, Faith. Seriously. You go months without a date, and now you have the two hottest guys in town vying for your attention. Well done, babe.”

  “Thanks. I think,” Faith said, feeling anxious about her date with Brian. She liked him, but she already knew the person she really wanted to be with was Hunter. She grimaced. “I don’t think I’m cut out for playing the field. I should probably cancel my date with Brian.”

  “So… you like Hunter that much?”

  Faith nodded. “More than that much, I think.”

  Abby gave her a sympathetic nod. “I get it. Good luck there.”

  “Thanks,” Faith said. They both turned their attention to the phone that was lying on the desk. Faith bit down on her bottom lip before asking, “What did she say?”

  Abby gripped the chair arms as her expression turned sour. “She’s sorry. Sorry for a lot, it appears. For leaving. For only writing to you. For asking you to keep her letter a secret.” Abby scoffed. “She said she wanted to ease back into our lives one at a time and that she thought you might be the most amenable because you were always an easy child.”

  “Easy? Sure,” Faith said, matching her sister’s scoff. “She has some nerve. Did you tell her no one is interested in her apologies?”

  “More or less.” Abby sat back in the chair, looking defeated.

  “What is it, Abs?”

  She visibly swallowed and then forced out, “I told her she could come on Sunday.”

  “You… what? She’s coming here on Sunday? Where?” Faith’s heart started to hammer against her ribcage. What if she melted down again?

  “I told her she could come to my house.” Abby closed her eyes and leaned back in
the chair. “I didn’t know what else to say.”

  “Your house, Abs? What about Olive and Clay? Are you sure you want that?” Olive was Clay’s daughter from his first marriage and Abby’s stepdaughter. She had just turned ten, and introducing her to a grandmother that was likely to flee again didn’t sound like a good idea.

  “No, I’m not sure I want her in our house at all, but I couldn’t think of anywhere else that wasn’t public. I’ll have Clay take Olive to his mom’s.” She opened her eyes, her expression pained. “Was that okay, Faith? I didn’t know what to say. But one thing I know for sure is that when I finally came home, I was tired of running. And the only thing I wanted was to reconnect with my family. That’s what she says she wants too, and if that’s true…”

  “Your situation wasn’t even close to the same as Mom’s, Abby,” Faith said earnestly. “You left Keating Hollow, but you never left us. Never. I know you kept your distance for your own reasons, but we always knew where you were and how to reach you.”

  “I know. I just… We don’t know her reasons for leaving, and Faith, I think I really need to know. For my own understanding about what happened, I need her to tell us why she left.” Her phone went off, causing her to jump. She fished it out of her pocket and read a text. “I need to go pick up Olive from a friend’s house.”

  “Okay,” Faith said, running a hand through her long blond hair. “Thanks for coming. I guess I kind of dumped this on you.”

  Her sister wrapped her in her arms and held on tight. “That’s what big sisters are here for.” When Abby released her, she gave Faith a devilish smile. “Now, it’s up to you to tell Noel and Yvette.”

  “What? No. I’ll tell Yvette, but Noel’s your job,” Faith said, holding her hands up and walking backward.

  Abby snorted. “Please. You’re the only one who could tell Noel without her stabbing someone with the closest sharp object.” She rushed across the room, her keys already in her hand. Just before she slipped out, she said, “I’d call Noel sooner rather than later. She’ll need time to calm down.” She blew Faith a kiss. “Love you.”

  The door closed behind Abby, and Faith took her seat, staring at her phone. Shaking her head, she picked it up, cursed Abby, and called Noel.

  Hunter’s muscles ached with fatigue after his long week of working at Lin Townsend’s farm and Faith’s spa. His body was screaming for a shower, a decent meal, and a nice long nap, but he was getting close to finishing Faith’s outdoor sanctuary and needed her opinion on lighting fixtures. Not to mention that he was dying to see her, to touch her, and to wrap her in his arms again.

  It was late Friday afternoon, and darkness had fallen over the town of Keating Hollow. But the stars were shining bright, and he wondered if he could talk Faith into a stroll down by the river. His aching body be damned, all he really wanted to do was spend more time with her. He knocked on her office door and waited.

  No answer.

  He knocked again.

  When he didn’t hear anything inside, he turned the knob and poked his head in. The office was dark. She’d already left.

  Disappointed, he flipped the light on and headed to her desk, intending to leave a note and the fixture samples so she’d see them in the morning. But as he rummaged around for a pen and a piece of paper, he spotted a couple of old, faded pictures lying on her desk—pictures of a woman he knew. The woman who’d raised him since he was nine-years-old.

  He dropped the light fixtures on the desk and held the picture up to the light to get a better look. He stared at Gia, his uncle’s long-term live-in girlfriend, the one he’d both loved and hated for nine years until he’d left his uncle’s house and moved out on his own.

  What was Faith doing with a picture of his pseudo-aunt? He picked up the second picture and swore. Gia was front and center, with four little girls huddled around her. One had dark hair, and the other three were blond. He flipped it over and spotted the note scrawled on the bottom. Gabrielle, Yvette, Noel, Abby, and Faith Townsend.

  He dropped the picture and shook his head. Gia was Faith’s mother? How was that possible? Why would Gia leave someone like Lincoln Townsend and four beautiful girls to live out in the middle of nowhere with Mason McCormick? But he suspected he already knew the answer. And he for sure didn’t want her bringing her troubles back to Keating Hollow.

  After scrawling a note to Faith about the light fixtures, he pulled out his phone, took a picture of the photo, and sent a text to Vivian to let her know he’d be gone until the morning. Then he headed straight for his truck. He had a long drive ahead of him.

  Chapter 14

  The small cabin sat back among the redwoods, one light shining in the front window. The broken-down, rusted-out roadster was still cluttering the gravel driveway, and an old water-stained leather couch sat in the front yard adjacent to an old wheel rim that had been turned into a fire pit. It didn’t look like much had changed at the McCormick residence in the four years since he’d last visited.

  He pulled up beside an old Ford Bronco and killed the engine. Just as he hopped down the cabin’s front door swung open, and Gia appeared on the porch wrapped in a blanket.

  “Who’s there?” she called.

  It was then he noticed she had a shotgun in her hand. He rolled his eyes, knowing the gun was likely empty and that she still hadn’t learned to shoot it. Still, he hadn’t seen her in four years, and anything was possible. “It’s me, Hunter.”

  “Hunter? What are you doing here?” She stepped back into the house, holding the door open for him.

  “I need to talk to you.” He bounded up the steps, surprised to find that the rotting stair risers had been replaced with solid wood. He glanced around and noted the entire porch had been redone.

  “It’s kind of late, don’t you think?” She turned and disappeared back into the cabin.

  He followed, ignoring her statement, and found himself in a clean and tidy cabin with a new sofa and matching club chairs. The old Formica dining room set was gone, replaced by a hardwood table and matching chairs. He blinked, taking it all in, and asked, “Where did all this come from?”

  “We bought it.” She’d discarded the blanket and was leaning against the same old tiled counter, watching him through skeptical eyes.

  The kitchen was the same with the exception of upgraded stainless steel appliances. “With what?”

  “Mason got promoted at work.” She pulled a single cigarette out of her sweater pocket and rolled it between her fingertips without lighting it.

  “At the logging company?” Hunter studied her, looking for the telltale signs of chemical dependence. But even though her eyes were tired, they were clear, and she certainly seemed coherent.

  “Yes. He was made foreman.”

  There wasn’t any pride in her announcement, just a statement of fact. And not for the first time, Hunter wondered if she felt anything at all for his uncle. “And you? Are you still making your… potions?”

  She shook her head. “That’s over. I’ve been helping Kimmy cultivate the flowers in the greenhouse over at the nursery in town.”

  “No side hustle?” he asked, still skeptical, even though the property looked better than he’d ever seen it. So did she for that matter. Despite the obvious fatigue around her eyes, she had a pink glow that wasn’t unlike Faith’s, and clear, bright blue eyes.

  “No side hustle,” she said with a sigh. “Why does it matter to you? You made yourself really clear the last time we saw you that you weren’t interested in our life here.”

  “Because, Gabrielle, you’re about to insert yourself into the life of someone I care about, and I’m not going to let you unless I know you’re clean.” He saw the surprise flash in her eyes the moment he said her real name and pressed on. “Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”

  She stared at her sock-clad feet. “I left that woman behind. It didn’t matter.”

  “It sure the hell mattered. You stood there after Craig’s funeral, listening as I told Uncle
Mason about the work I was doing for Faith Townsend, while I praised her sisters and her father for being the heart of Keating Hollow. And you said not one damned word about being her mother. Why?”

  Gia bit down on her bottom lip, looking like an older replica of Faith, and shook her head. “I haven’t been her mother for over twenty years.”

  “And yet you’ve contacted her and want to reclaim a place in her life,” he said dryly. “Why, Gia? Why now? Do you have any idea what you did to that family? What you did to your four daughters?”

  “Of course, I know what I did!” She pushed off the counter and stalked toward him. “Do you think I don’t live every day with the guilt and pain of losing everything? I had a husband who adored me and four beautiful girls. And what did I end up with? This.” She waved a hand around at the small, shabby house. Despite the new furnishings, it was still rundown and in need of some serious repairs. “And a partner who never loved me. All he wanted were the potions I made. And then you came along, the sweetest little boy who’d lost his mom and dad, and I thought you were my chance to make it up to the universe, to take care of you, shower you with all the love I’d denied my daughters. But you…” She shook her head violently. “You didn’t want me. I didn’t deserve to stand in for your mother. I failed. Over and over again, I failed. Now I’m clean, and I want to try to start over. Is that too much to ask? Is it, Hunter?”

  Emotion rolled through him, coiling like a snake in the pit of his stomach. He remembered the day he’d come to live with them. It was burned in his memory and always right there when he was reminded of that fateful day eighteen years ago. His uncle had picked him up from the sitter and brought him to this cabin. Back then, there’d only been one bed. Gia had thrown a sleeping bag on the leather couch in the living room—the same one that was now out in the front yard—and told him to keep quiet. She had a migraine.