I grilled the corn on the barbeque grill I’d purchased with the money from the cemetery job. Lawrence at Nailed It had even given me a nice discount.
Thankfully, I wasn’t using any magic when Brody ambled into the kitchen half asleep. Apparently, the sleeping magic Meri had used on him wasn’t as strong as my familiar believed. Perhaps it was that Brody was already becoming a powerful witch. That would make things awkward if I didn’t tell him soon.
“You’re making fried chicken?” he asked as he slid into a chair at the kitchen table.
“Is it still your favorite?”
“Yes,” he said quietly. “They have it in the cafeteria at school. It’s all right.”
“Well, I hope this is better.”
“I can’t believe you took the time to make it for me.”
“It’s your favorite.” Was my response. “But we are having another guest for dinner.”
“Who is that?”
“The sheriff from earlier. He’s… He’s my boyfriend, Brody. I invited him to dinner with us.”
“To prove that I’m not a murderer,” Brody said.
“I don’t know that I’d put it that way. I want him to get to know you. I want to get to know you,” I said.
“We haven’t been close,” Brody said more to himself than to me.
“But we can fix that,” I said hopefully. “There’s no reason we can’t.”
“You know, when we were younger, I was always angry with you, but I don’t know why. It just always seemed to be there hanging in the air, and it got worse when you left home. But when I went away to college, it started to makes less and less sense,” Brody said and stood up. “Let me help you by setting the table.”
I knew why he was always angry at me. It was my mother whispering in his ear. That’s why it stopped making sense when he got away from her, but I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to tell him that. I didn’t know if he’d believe it, or if he’d get angry at me in defense of our mother.
“I’m glad you’re here now,” I said. “And I would greatly appreciate it if you set the table.”
Brody seemed to know where everything was, so he put out the dishes and silverware without any directions from me. I finished the food and put it in serving dishes. We could have just filled our plates at the kitchen counter right from the cooking pots and pans, but I was trying to make the dinner something special.
As I set the tray with the grilled corn on it down on the table, the doorbell rang. “That will be Thorn,” I said. “Go ahead and sit down to eat, Brody. Or grab yourself a drink from the fridge. I imagine Thorn will want a beer.”
“That sounds good to me as well, what about you, Brighton?”
“I’ll just have a diet soda.”
It was Thorn at the door, and when I opened it to let him enter, he surprised me by pulling me into his arms and kissing me. He held me there for a long moment before reluctantly letting me go.
“I’m so sorry, Brighton,” he said. “I stepped out of line with the things I said this morning. Please forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive, Thorn. You said what you said because you care about me. It was me that was out of line. I was too harsh.”
“No, you weren’t. It wasn’t right of me to question your brother the way I did. He’s your family.”
“It’s okay, really,” I said. “Please come in. Dinner is ready. We can have a nice meal, and all get to know each other better.”
“So we’re not going to have the talk tonight?”
“I told you earlier that we weren’t,” I said and kissed him again quickly. “I meant that.”
“I’ve been worried,” he said softly.
“You don’t need to worry about that, Thorn. Whatever happens between us, we can work it out.”
“It’s good to hear you say that,” Thorn said. “Now that’s enough of you spending your energy soothing my insecurity. Dinner smells delicious.”
“Thank you. I just finished cooking. Please, come eat.”
I’d expected there to be more conversation at first, but apparently both Thorn and Brody were starving. They devoured firsts and then seconds while I just sat and watched in awe at how much food they consumed in a short period of time.
I ate too, but not with as much gusto as my boyfriend and my brother. The chicken was better than I expected, but the mashed potatoes and corn were my favorite. I left the majority of the chicken to the men and ate my fill of the vegetables.
“So, Brody, what are you studying?” Thorn asked when he came up for air.
“I’m getting a master’s degree in history. I’d planned on getting a PhD after so I could teach at the university level,” Brody said.
“You planned on getting a PhD?” I asked. “What happened?”
“I think that I still might,” Brody said. “But I was considering changing my course to a more research-based trajectory. I just don’t know if I want to teach anymore.”
“Is that something you were thinking about before today?” I asked.
“Are you asking if I am saying crazy things because of Brittany’s death?” Brody asked. “No, Brighton, it’s not because of her. I’d been thinking about this for a year. In fact, it’s one of the reasons Brittany and I argued.”
“You argued because you wanted to do research?” Thorn asked, and I could tell he was trying not to sound too much like the sheriff.
“She didn’t like the idea of me making even less money than I would as a professor,” Brody said. “A research job wouldn’t pay as well, and Brittany had expectations. She was… I don’t like to speak ill of the dead, but she was high-maintenance. It didn’t help that her father is a surgeon and her mother inherited money. She was used to a lifestyle that I would not be able to provide. It caused friction between us.”
I hadn’t expected Brody to be so open and forthcoming about his private life, but he seemed like a weight had been lifted from him when he finished speaking. Thorn tensed up, and I knew Brody’s story made him even more of a suspect, but I watched as he took a deep breath and relaxed.
“I understand,” Thorn said. “I was married to a woman who wasn’t happy with the life I provided.”
“Oh, yeah,” I said. “Well, I was married to a man who was never happy. So I guess we’re three peas in a sad little pod.”
“I’m glad the two of you made me stay,” Brody said. “This has to be better than going home and stewing in my little apartment.”
After dinner, Brody went up to the room he had claimed as his to study. He had his books and laptop in his car and felt like drowning his sorrows in his schoolwork.
Thorn drove me to Mann’s Gas & Grocery to pick up my car. We chatted on the way there while avoiding the topic of Brittany’s death. I brought my car home, and Thorn followed me.
When he pulled his car in behind mine, I left my car and got into his. “You want to go somewhere?” he asked as I slid into the passenger seat.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I wanted to talk to you, though.”
“He’s an adult, Brighton. If you want to leave, you can. Brody will be all right. He’s got a good head on his shoulders. Or we can sit here if you like,” Thorn said and took my hand.
“I went to see Remy today,” I said.
I thought that Thorn might let go of my hand, but he squeezed it tight. “You two haven’t been spending much time together lately,” he said.
“No, we haven’t,” I said. “But I went to see him today to talk about Brody. I wanted to see Annika, but her grandmother still has her on lockdown.”
“You wanted to talk to Annika and Remy about Brody?” He rubbed his chin with his free hand, but after a moment, realization lit up in his eyes. “Because your brother is like you. He didn’t know before, but now that he’s here, he will. You wanted help guiding him through the process?”
“Possibly. That is definitely part of my concern.”
“And the other part?”
“Whether I should tell him at al
l. Or if I should find a way to hide it, and if I cannot hide it, then to send him away as soon as possible,” I said.
“Why wouldn’t you tell him?”
“Because of Maude.”
“Brighton, that’s not going to happen to you. From what I understand, it wasn’t her family that had her put in the institution,” Thorn said.
“They didn’t put her in there, but they didn’t save her either.”
“Well, you didn’t kick him out, so are you going to tell him?”
“I think so. I’ll trust my little brother,” I said. “I’ll tell him. It’s not like Meri and I can’t prove what I’m saying.”
“Would you like me to be with you when you tell him? Maybe I can… I don’t know. Maybe I can help keep him grounded so he doesn’t think you’ve gone crazy.”
“You would do that?”
“I would do that,” he said and leaned over to kiss me on the cheek. “You could have come to me today. I would have discussed it with you. Even if I can’t help you with the magic part.”
I instantly felt a pang of regret for going to Remy instead of Thorn. I could be friends with whomever I wanted, but I’d nearly been in a relationship with Remy. I had to wonder how I would feel about Thorn spending so much time alone with someone he’d had romantic feelings for in the past. I didn’t know if I would handle it as well as Thorn had.
“You still care about him very much,” Thorn said when I didn’t answer. “You gave us a chance because he turned on you, but what if you were able to make amends with him? He was your first choice.”
“That’s unfair,” I said. “And he wasn’t my first choice. I believe that no matter what had happened, it would have been you and me”
“How do you know that?”
“Because of the way I feel about you now, Thorn. There is no doubt in my mind that we are meant to be, and it’s not just because I have no feelings for him, Thorn. Remy and I came close to being something more, but sitting here with you, I know there is no way I could ever feel for him what I do for you.”
“Brighton.”
“Did I say too much?” I suddenly felt as though I might have said enough to scare him away. Thorn seemed devoted to me, but with men you never knew. Reveal to them that you loved them too soon, and they would run like a scalded dog. Some got their heads back about them and returned to you, but most didn’t.
“No, sweetheart. You didn’t say too much. I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while, but I was afraid it was too soon. I didn’t want to scare you off or make you feel pressured into choosing me if you weren’t ready.”
“Wanted to tell me what?” I asked.
“That I love you, Brighton. I’ve fallen in love with you. Well, I’m not sure if that is accurate. I think I’ve loved you since I first laid eyes on you. It’s the reason I tried so hard to push you away. My feelings for you terrified me because I don’t think anyone I’ve ever known could hurt me the way you can. You have my heart.”
At first, I couldn’t speak. Thorn wasn’t a witch, but his words affected me like a spell. I felt him pierce my heart, and any doubt I’d ever had about us was washed away. Any reservations I’d had because of what Remy told me were gone because I believed Thorn completely. And how could someone who loved you that much ever break your heart?
“I love you too,” I said. “But you have to promise never to disappear on me for my own good again.”
“I was wrong to pull back from you the way I did, but I was scared. I will never let fear make me hurt you again. I can promise you that.”
“Then, I guess we have a deal,” I said.
“We have a deal?” Thorn asked with a laugh.
“Yes. Our deal is that we will love each other as fiercely as we can. You’ll never disappear from my life because you think it’s what’s best for me, and I will never leave you because I think our town is boring.”
“You’re nothing like her. I was wrong to think you might be,” Thorn said.
“It’s the past. We’re going to move forward.”
“I love you,” Thorn said.
“I love you too. Now let’s go inside and tell Brody who he really is.”
When Thorn and I went back inside the house, I was shocked to find Brody sitting on the sofa as still as a statue. Meri sat in front of him chanting some sort of spell. I thought he was casting it on my brother, but then I noticed the ghost behind Brody.
I readied myself to fight the specter, but as Thorn closed the front door behind us, the apparition disappeared. Brody didn’t move at all.
“Meri, what is going on here?”
“Oh, good. You finally decided to join us.”
“What are you doing to Brody? Brody, are you all right?”
“Brighton,” he whispered, but said nothing more.
“He’s fine. He’s probably in a bit of a shock right now.”
“Again, I have to ask, what are you doing to him?” I took a step closer to the scene before me.
“It’s just a little spell to keep him in place. He was going to run before I… before we had a chance to explain. You see, that ghost appeared again and I tried to deal with her quietly, but you know how ghosts are. She kicked up a fuss and Brody here came running downstairs just in time to see the ghost and me using my magic. So I had to freeze him in place. It was for everybody’s own good.”
“Let him go,” I instructed as gently as I could.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea, Brighton?” Meri asked. “He might try to run again.”
“Yes, I’m sure. We can’t hold him hostage while we explain things.”
“I don’t know,” Meri said. “My job is to protect you, and if he freaks out it could cause bad things to happen.”
“Meri,” I said. “You’re my familiar, and your job is to assist me. You take your orders from me. So let him go.”
“You’re pulling rank on me?” Meri scoffed.
“Enough,” Thorn interrupted. “Brody, will you agree to stay and listen to what your sister has to say so that her cat will stop holding you hostage?”
Brody couldn’t really move his head, but he could still move his eyes. They darted from Thorn to Mere and then to me.
“Brighton?”
“It’s okay,” I said. “It really is. There is a perfectly rational explanation for all of this. Okay, it’s not rational, but there is an explanation for it.”
“I’ll stay,” Brody said. “I’ll stay if you promise you won’t hurt me.”
“I would never hurt you, Brody. You’re my baby brother, and we’re not dangerous. I mean, Meri is kind of a pain in the butt, but he’s our family familiar. He won’t hurt you. I assure you he’s done what he’s done for your own good.”
“Fine, I’ll let him go,” Meri said ruefully.
“Thank you,” I said.
Meri released Brody from the spell, and he sat on the sofa stunned for a few seconds before shifting in his seat. Brody wiggled his fingers and moved his feet around as if to test the movement.
“Would someone please tell me what is going on here?” Brody asked. “I’ve already had a heck of a day.”
“Did you ever hear any of the stories of our out Great-Aunt Maude?” I asked.
“Not intentionally,” Brody answered, “But I overheard some things when I was younger. Usually around the holidays after people had too much wine. They said that she was put in the institution because she believed she was a witch and had magical powers. I believe that’s the gist of it.”
“That is why she was put in the institution, but Brody, she wasn’t crazy. Maude was a witch, and so am I.”
“Brighton, don’t talk like that. You know that can’t be true. The only thing that runs in our family is mental illness, but you have to resist those thoughts. You can’t just give in and believe them.”
“Think about it, Brody,” I began. “My cat was holding you on that sofa with a spell while he dispelled a ghost. The sheriff of Coventry is here with me. This isn
’t delusion. What you felt as you walked into Hangman’s House was the knowledge of what you are trying to surface. When you felt relaxed in this house for the first time since you could remember, it’s because you were home. Coventry is your home, and you are a Tuttlesmith witch.”
“The cat did magic,” Brody said quietly.
“Yes, and so can I,” I responded. “Watch this.”
I tried to think of a magic display that would prove we had magical powers but wouldn’t freak Brody out more. “Fire,” I said and pointed at the fireplace. A fire roared to life and burned for a minute before snuffing out. My fire magic needed work, but the spell did the job.
“I understand,” Brody responded.
“Are you all right?” Thorn asked before I could.
“The historical accounts of witches were all written off as hysteria and superstition,” he said before standing up. “This changes everything.”
“But you can’t tell anyone, Brody. You can’t tell the regular humans,” I said.
“I’m not interested in telling anyone. I’m interested in knowing. I’m going to need books, but for now, I can start with information on the internet,” he said and started for the stairs.
“So you’re okay?” I asked.
“I’m more than okay, Brighton. This is fascinating. There are so many things for me to know now. If you don’t mind, I’m going to go to my room and begin my research.”
“Please,” I said. “And let me or Meri know if you have any questions. Meri knows a great deal more than I do. He could be an invaluable resource.”
“Leave me out of this,” Meri said.
“Meri,” I scolded.
“Fine. But not too many questions. I have a great deal of lying around not talking to either of you to do.”
Chapter Six
After Brody went to his room, Thorn left for the evening, and Meri disappeared into the walls, I decided to stay up reading for a while. An hour or so after I started, I heard a vehicle pull up in front of the house.
I went to the door thinking it was Thorn returning for some reason, but when I opened it, I was surprised to find Grey getting out of his work van. He came around the front of the van and gave me a wave and a smile.
Wicked Witches of Coventry- The Collection Page 27