Chapter 39

“So, was Rosa on the list of people who bought that paper from Sheila?” DeeAnn asked.

“No,” Annie said, sitting down at the crop table.

They were all sitting in Sheila’s basement, like they did most Saturday nights. Karen had driven DeeAnn over and made certain she was situated before she left.

“Are you certain you don’t want to stay?” Randy had asked her.

“I have plans,” said Karen.

“A hot date,” DeeAnn said.

“Yes, so hot that I’m coming back at eleven to pick up my mommy,” Karen said and smiled. Her blond hair was swept up off her long neck.

Gosh, DeeAnn loved her daughter’s nice, long neck—inherited from her father, Jacob, who was as tall and skinny as DeeAnn was round.

“See you later,” Karen said and then walked out.

“Who is she seeing tonight?” Vera asked.

“I have no idea,” DeeAnn responded. “I don’t know if I even have a right to ask, you know? I mean she’ll soon be twenty-six. She lives on her own. It’s none of my business. But I am dying to know.”

“Do you hear that, Mom?” Randy put in.

Paige appeared to not be paying attention, but she grunted.

Once the group had settled in—photos and paper pulled out and placed on the table—DeeAnn cleared her throat. “I do wish Karen would tell me who it is. I mean, is she deliberately keeping it secret?”

“Probably not,” Randy said. “She probably doesn’t know where the relationship’s going and doesn’t think it’s worth telling you about.”

“That’s probably it,” Annie said. “Did you tell your mom every time you went out on a date?”

DeeAnn blushed. “I didn’t date that much. But yes, I did tell her.”

“Me, too,” Vera said. “I couldn’t keep a secret from my mom if I tried.” She stood up and headed for the counter in the small kitchenette. Sheila kept it well-stocked with food and drinks. “Can I get you something, DeeAnn?”

“Not right now, thanks.”

“So what was the crop like last night?” Sheila asked, looking at Annie over the glasses perched on her nose.

“Interesting,” Annie said.

“I loved it,” Randy replied. “They played cool music, had great food, and they were a fun bunch of women.”

“I agree,” Annie said. “And I had a breakthrough with Rosa. I’m going to visit her tomorrow. She roomed with the Martelinos and seemed very willing to talk with me.”

“Did you find out anything else about them while you were there?”

“They loved to scrapbook,” Randy chimed in.

“I’m hoping to see some more of their scrapbooks tomorrow,” Annie said, opening the Halloween book she was working on.

“I can’t believe Halloween is next week,” Vera said. “I still don’t have Lizzie’s costume finished.”

“Are you taking her to the fire hall community party?” DeeAnn asked.

Vera nodded. “We’ll trick or treat a little around the neighborhood, then we’ll go to the fire hall. It sounds like fun. Prizes. Games. And it’s safe. We won’t have to go through all the candy and so on.”

“These books will be cool once we get some photos for them,” Annie said.

“I’m thinking of doing a seasonal book,” Paige said. “You know, instead of organizing books by specific holidays, doing it by seasons.”

“I like that idea,” Cookie said.

“You always loved Halloween,” Annie said to her.

Cookie nodded. “I think you’re right. I’m so excited about Halloween. I can’t wait to see Lizzie and the boys dressed up.”

“Oh, it was more than that,” Vera said a bit wistfully. “We were all involved one year in this ritual at my place. Do you remember that?”

Cookie’s head tilted, her brows knitted.

“You called it a Samhain ritual. It was quite lovely,” Vera said. “Very moving.”

The room quieted.

“I have an idea,” Annie said. “Let’s do it again.”

“The ritual?” Cookie asked.

Annie nodded. “I think I can remember enough to do it again. And maybe it will jog some memories, Cookie.”

Cookie was biting her lip, but she looked up at Annie with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. “Maybe.”

“Being a witch was so important to you,” Vera said. “We thought you were half batty when you first started talking about it, but you taught me so much. Well, all of us. Maybe . . . I mean, since it meant so much to you . . . maybe the memories will come back.”

“You know,” Paige said. “I think about that night sometimes. It seemed like time stood still briefly.”

“And then all hell broke loose,” added Sheila.