From Brigit’s Journal:
The end of secrecy is almost upon us. Today is the day, and Mother Mary, I pray that they welcome the news. If not, there’s nothing left for me to do but pick up the ticket I bought, and go home. Thank heaven my parents will never know what happened—how could I face them? At least my cousin loves me. Mary Kathryn will be sorely disappointed in my behavior, but she’ll take me in and help me rebuild my life. Oh. I can’t help but hope there’s no need for that. The Missus might take pity on me… on us. She treats me kindly enough, if with a firm hand.
But Mr. Edward, somehow I don’t think we’ll find much comfort in his words. With no love in his heart even for his children. How can I expect sympathy or kindness for myself? Mary Kathryn is right—I’m a fool and a romantic. When I first came to this country. I had such high hopes. Now they’re all but dashed on the rocks.
Technically, Joe owned a condo, but it was really a unit in a renovated apartment building on the outskirts of Chiqetaw, near the turnoff that led out to Klickavail Valley. He had a spacious one-bedroom. Although decorated in utilitarian fashion, it was clean and neat. I had never seen any sign that he reveled in his bachelorhood. No pinups, no beer bottles on the floor or dirty clothes scattered around. The refrigerator even had food in it, food that hadn’t gone the way of the mold patrol.
When I returned with the cats and our clothes, Randa helped me carry them up to the apartment. As soon as we were inside, I asked her to set up the litter box while I made up the sofa bed for Kip. Randa and I would share the bedroom. I rummaged through the linen closet and came up with clean sheets and warm blankets, then tucked Kip in for the night, propping pillows on either side to keep him from rolling over onto his broken arm. He was out like a light before I could even kiss him good night.
“Poor little guy,” I whispered, staring at his sleeping form.
Randa fed the cats, then leaned against me, watching her brother. “He seems okay.”
“He is.”
She yawned. “I’m going to bed. Are you staying up?”
“For a little while,” I said, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She headed into the bedroom and I settled down next to Kip, desperate for a few minutes when I didn’t have to do anything, or worry about anybody. I leaned my head back and absently petted Nebula, who crawled into my lap.
“Where’s your mama?” I whispered, thinking about Sammy. Did she think we’d abandoned her? Was she afraid?
As if seeking to comfort me, Nebula licked my hand and began to purr, pawing at me to finish scratching behind her ears. I sighed and looked around for the other two. Nigel and Noël were milling through the rooms, exploring the various cupboards and hidey-holes they might be able to squirrel themselves into. Nebula began to groom, purring against my stomach. After a few minutes, I patted her rump and gently deposited her on the blanket by Kip’s feet. My night wasn’t over quite yet. I slipped into the kitchen and gave Joe a call.
He was in. The station had been free of calls except to help an older lady who had fallen in her bathtub and dislocated a shoulder.
“Kip’s sleeping. He’ll be okay. He has to wear the splint for six weeks but the doctor said he should heal up quick.”
“Take a hot bath, then sleep in tomorrow morning,” Joe said. “I’ll be off shift around 1:00 P.M., though I have some errands to run. But good news—since I worked through part of my vacation, I’m taking another three days off. You headed back to your place after you wake up?”
“Yeah. I’m going to call Murray as soon as I get off the phone with you. We were supposed to meet Harlow tomorrow morning at my place anyway, so I’m going to ask White Deer to tag along. She and I can work on exorcising the lot.”
“I’ll meet you around one or so, then. Love you, Em. Sleep tight. And be careful!”
I slowly replaced the receiver. Joe was an incredible man. Not every boyfriend would let his girlfriend and her kids and their cats descend on his place with such short notice. Hell, even fewer would be able to handle the baggage that came attached to someone like me—what with kids and cats and the demands of the shop and spirits constantly dropping in. Joe was the gold ring on my carousel, and I wasn’t about to let go.
After a quick call to ask Murray to bring White Deer with her the next morning, I flipped on the bathroom light in place of a night-light, then padded into the bedroom and changed into a light chemise that I’d left at Joe’s. My mind was mush and I needed sleep. Big time. I slid under the covers and the minute my head touched the pillow, I was down for the count.
Halloween—and my birthday—dawned with a stormy forecast, but Kip was feeling bright and chipper come morning. While I made breakfast, he admired his splint. I knew as soon as the novelty wore off he’d start to complain, so tried to enjoy the peace while it lasted. Randa set the table and I parceled out the oatmeal and bacon. After hailing me with a round of “happy birthdays” and kisses, they settled in to eat breakfast.
“Mom, can I still go to Tony’s party today after school?”
Tony, one of Kip’s friends, was having a big Halloween party and it seemed far safer than letting Kip run around trick-or-treating. He’d been working on his mummy costume for weeks. Thank God I’d remembered to bring it with me last night. It wouldn’t be hard to adjust to his splint.
“Of course you can. I just want you to promise to be careful.” I looked at Randa, who was still groggy-eyed. “Do you have anything planned today?”
She nodded. “We’re having a harvest dance and food drive at school this afternoon. Gunner was going to take me, but he’s too worried about his folks to go. He spends every afternoon at the hospital. So Lori and I are going together. Nobody asked her and she’s bummed out.”
That figured. Lori was a very caring, smart young woman but she was a little chubby and the ninth-grade boys acted like she didn’t exist. Her parents didn’t help matters much. Her mother was stick thin and bitched about Lori’s weight constantly. I knew because Randa told me, and having met Mrs. Thomas a few times, I had little doubt that Lori received no emotional support at home. It made me mad, but there was little I could do except bolster her self-esteem whenever she came over to visit.
“That’s too bad, honey. I’m glad you’re being a good friend. And the food drive is a great idea. Do you need money?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I almost forgot. We’re holding a raffle and there’s going to be a bake sale to raise money for the Bread & Butter House.”
I handed her a ten. “Are you guys ready to go? Did you feed the cats?”
Kip nodded, grabbing his backpack. “Yeah, Randa helped me.” He listed a little to the left when he slung the heavy book bag over his shoulder. Luckily, he was left-handed like me, so would still be able to write.
After popping the last bite of my toaster pastry into my mouth, I made sure I had everything I needed—keys, purse, money, Nanna’s journal—and followed the kids out to the car. I dropped them off at school and headed to the animal shelter, where I was once again disappointed, then dropped down to the shop for a quick check-in.
The windows were gorgeous. Lana and Cinnamon had worked their butts off to make them both spooky and inviting, with pumpkin teapots and spiderwebs dripping like lace and baskets of apples and wheat adorning the displays. They’d even fixed up a miniature tea party diorama—taking the bobble-head jack-o’-lantern, a miniature scarecrow, and a beautiful faerie princess, and arranging them as a Halloween tea party around a giant toadstool. Enchanted, I bustled through the door, only to find Cinnamon in the tearoom, her head in her hands, bawling her eyes out.
“What’s wrong? Oh my God, were we robbed again?” I glanced around frantically but nothing seemed out of place.
“No, nothing like that.” She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “I’m sorry, I thought I could handle it, but I don’t know if I can.”
“What’s wrong? Cinnamon, talk to me.” I slipped into a chair by her side. “Cinnamon?”
She sucked in a deep breath and, voice quavering, said, “My boyfriend came over last night and he told me the truth. He’s found somebody else and doesn’t want anything to do with me or the kids! I’ve spent months trying to cheer him up while he was in jail and now he dumps me!” And with that, she burst into fresh tears and fell into my arms.
I patted her back and smoothed her hair, wondering how many times she’d cried over this loser. She was a smart girl, but she still hadn’t learned the hardest lesson of love—you can’t change someone unless they want to change.
After a moment, I gently pushed her away and took her hands. “Dry your eyes, chickie, and listen to me. You take him to court and get an order for him to pay child support. And then you make a new life for yourself, without him. There are a lot of good men out there, men who will treat you and your children right. It just takes time and discrimination to find them.”
She gulped down her tears. “But I love him—”
“And he treats you like dirt. Is it worth it?”
With a slow shake of the head, she said, “My mother told me the same thing, only she used language I don’t think you want repeated in your store. She hates him. Maybe that’s why I’ve stood up for him… but now…” She hung her head, her cheeks flushed.
“Now he wants somebody else. Fine, let him go. But make sure he fulfills his obligation to his children.” I couldn’t help but think of my own child-support battles with my ex, and Roy could easily afford the payments. Why did so many men run out on their responsibilities? A lot of men were wonderful fathers and provided for their children, divorced or not, but there were still far too many mothers who scrimped to feed their kids while their ex-husbands lived fancy free.
Lana sashayed into the shop, took one look at Cinnamon, and said, “He dumped you, didn’t he? Get rid of the bugger.”
I tipped Cinnamon’s chin up. “It hurts now, but it’s for the best. Lana, can you mind the shop by yourself today? I’m not expecting a flurry of customers given that it’s Halloween.”
She nodded. “Not a problem. By the way, happy birthday!”
“Oh God, I forgot—” Cinnamon gasped but I motioned for her to be quiet.
“Don’t worry about it. Lana, take over while she goes home.” I looked at Cinnamon. “Take the day off. Relax, spend time with your kids, soak in a long hot bath, and get in a nap. Promise me you’ll be good to yourself today?”
With a final sniff, Cinnamon shrugged. “Okay. Thanks, Emerald. You’re really cool, you know?”
I smiled. “I know. Now go on, get a move on.” I gathered up my purse and keys. “I’ll be back bright and early Monday morning, and trust me, I’ll be ready to work.”
“How’s it going?” Lana asked me as Cinnamon made her way toward the door. “Did they find out who the skeleton was?”
“Yeah, but right now, don’t even ask,” I said, slipping on my jacket. “I’ll tell you all about it next week.”
As I headed back out into the blustery day, I realized just how much I loved my work. I glanced back at the Chintz ’n China and smiled softly. Yep, Chiqetaw had been good to me, and I could hardly wait for the holidays.
It was almost eleven by the time I pulled into my driveway. Murray, Harlow, and White Deer were huddled on the front porch, looking more than a little irritated. Knowing I was running late, I had called ahead on my cell and asked them to wait, then stopped off at Starbucks and now proffered peace offerings—a box of cranberry bars, mochas for Murray and myself, a decaf latte for Harlow, and jet black coffee for White Deer.
They held the drinks and food while I unlocked the door and we trooped inside. As I ran a quick check through the house, making sure everything looked okay, I filled them in on the latest.
“Kip’s going to be okay?” Harlow asked, warming her hands by one of the heating vents.
“Oh yeah, but today… it has to end. We have to cleanse that lot.”
As I headed into the kitchen, White Deer stared out the window into the backyard. She turned around, her face unusually solemn. “It won’t be easy, but we’ll manage it somehow.”
“Nanna has a lot of ideas on banishing negative entities in her journal,” I said, going through a few of them. I bit into one of the cranberry bars and closed my eyes. Yum… bliss in baked sugar.
“Okay, then. We start the exorcism this afternoon. We may have to do some prep work first, though. If we start early, we can finish in time for your birthday party.”
“Providing everything goes as planned,” I muttered. I’d had my cocky moments in the past and paid for it, finally learning to hope for the best but plan for the unexpected.
“Speaking of birthdays, I know what Joe bought you!” Harlow grinned, her eyes sparkling. “He’s a smart man. He asks for help in selecting gifts when he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
I’d stuck my birthday on the backburner, but now my curiosity bubbled up. “What did he get me? Perfume? Clothing?”
“You think I’m going to tell?” she said, laughing. “Think again, Miss Nosy. You’ll have to wait until tonight to find out. Meanwhile, I’ll pick up the cake when I’m shopping for snacks.” Harlow had been designated the official refreshments coordinator for the party. She’d ordered the cake, planned out the menu, and was overseeing all of the edibles. Naturally, she’d opted for catered platters and a gourmet cake, which was just fine with me.
“Sounds good,” I said. “I hope you’ve got chocolate in that mix.”
“More than you know what to do with,” she shot back. “What about guests? Anybody we forgot?”
I thought for a moment. “Horvald and Ida should be back today, and Maeve is coming, and Joe’s Aunt Margaret. I invited Cinnamon and Lana, but I doubt that Cinnamon will show.” I told them about her predicament.
Murray shook her head. “Man, that girl needs to do some thinking. He leaves her with three kids and she still puts her heart on the line.” She finished her mocha. “Well, I’m off to work. Jimmy won’t be able to show up until around eight. He’s off checking his trap lines.”
“Tell him I could use a mink.” Harlow grinned. “So, did you invite Andrew?”
I grimaced. “You really think Joe would appreciate that? Besides Andrew is getting creepier and I don’t need any more complications in my life. He’s become a pain in the neck. I told you, didn’t I, that he’s been calling every time he gets drunk and begging me to leave Joe?”
“No! Oh my God, I bet Joe loves that!”
“Yeah, they make quite a pair. Joe would love nothing more than to go over and deck the guy, but I won’t let him.”
They laughed as they headed out the door, Murray to work and Harlow to shop. White Deer and I set about gathering what we’d need for the exorcism. I pulled out my Florida water, some white sage, lavender, cedar smudge sticks, a piece of amethyst crystal, and a five-pound box of kosher salt.
White Deer was poring over the variation I’d written up with for Nanna’s charm. “You know, I think this adaptation you’ve created will work. It’s really quite lovely.” She paused, then asked, “Have you seen the Will o’ the Wisps lately?”
“A few.” I shrugged. “For the most part, they seem to have disappeared when we found Brigit’s skeleton.” I told her about the journal entry and my theory. “I guess they were there to bring my attention to Brigit’s remains. They’re nasty buggers, but they did their job.”
“A lot of nature spirits aren’t very nice,” White Deer said. “People forget that they aren’t human, and don’t play by human rules.”
Good point.
White Deer showed me the things she’d brought, just in case. A rattle, some special incense, blessed river rocks that were taken from a sacred spot—with approval—after much prayer. She also had a bag full of quartz crystals.
“Hold on,” I said, dashing to answer the phone as it rang.
“Hey babe, you naked?”
“No I’m not, and when are you coming over?” I asked.
Joe snorted. “I take it you want to be naked. Well, you’ll have to wait a little while for that, sweetie. I’m going to be a little late. I need to stop by a store and pick up something for tonight. The store’s in Bellingham.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re not buying the deed to another empty lot, I hope?”
“Yeah, like I’m going to try that one again. Who knows what you’d manage to find on it? Aliens, probably.” Laughing, he hung up after promising to be back around six.
Even though a few last rays of sun had broken through the thick clouds for a rare hello, we bundled up. The thermometer read forty-seven degrees and evening was on its way. Gear in hand, White Deer and I headed next door, and cautiously entered the lot. It was quiet, almost as if an uneasy truce was under way.
“I’m trying to decide whether it would be better to lay out everything near the yew tree where her body was left, or in her bedroom.” Both had their advantages and disadvantages. My main concern with the basement room was that we’d have farther to run if we needed to get out of there in a hurry.
White Deer squinted against a ray of light that splashed across her face, leaving a golden glow in its wake. “My vote is for the bedroom. It probably had better memories than the yew tree, which was essentially her grave.”
Good point. I sighed, as we cautiously peered into the basement. I didn’t want to go down there again, but if it would put an end to all of this, I wasn’t going to back down. The stairs were slick with rain-soaked debris—leaves and twigs and needles from the trees still shedding the last of their summer foliage.
Step-by-step, we descended into the gloom of the basement. I couldn’t help but wonder what the layers of mulch were hiding. A movement caught my eye and I flinched as a wolf spider scuttled across the top of the leaves. Where there was one, there were others, and I had no desire to meet his kinfolk. I slogged through the ankle-deep detritus, wincing as my foot met something soft and squishy. Oh God, please let whatever it was be vegetation-related.
By the time we reached the bedroom, the energy was tangible, crackling around us. As the day progressed, the veils between the worlds of spirits and of mortals had started to part. I hurried to open the door.
White Deer set up the high-beam flashlight she’d brought, placing it on the nightstand while I reluctantly sat down on the bed and emptied my tote bag of ingredients onto the ragged covers. We spread out our crystals and incense in a ring on the desk, with the photocopied pages from Brigit’s journal in the center, topping them with the copy of the picture of Brigit and Mab. Over the top of everything, I gently scattered Samantha’s hair.
White Deer watched while I circled the quartz spikes with salt, taking care to create no break in the thick ring. “Are you going to smudge?”
“Yeah, once I have everything set up. I guess we’re about ready.”
“What do you want me to do?” she asked.
“Focus on my energy and do what you can to increase it.”
“In essence, be your amplifier.” She grinned as I flushed, but then I saw she was teasing.
“Yeah, something like that.” I lit the smudge stick and smoke began to fill the room. The soothing smell of sage and cedar always reminded me of pot roast and turkey and big dinners around the table. The tension in my shoulder blades began to ease up a little. Come what may, at least I’d go into this clear and calm.
I inhaled slowly and let out my breath in a thin stream. “Winds, mighty winds, hear me. Blow through this space, clear the path for Samantha and Mab to find their way home.”
White Deer murmured something that I didn’t catch but the energy shifted and grew stronger with her words. I splashed Florida water around the room.
“Waters of life, cleanse and purify. Let our task be exposed, shining before us so we might know what to do.”
Again, White Deer’s energy echoed my own and heightened it. After a moment, the power began to rise. I lifted my left hand and, using two fingers, drew runes in the air. Runes that Nanna had taught me years ago, runes to attract the attention of the spirits, runes to banish negativity, runes to protect. I seldom used them, preferring a gentler approach to matters, but this situation called for every resource I had.
I drew the rune for summoning, the rune for cleansing, and the rune for protection. A low rumble echoed through the room. Earthquake? Maybe. Astral-quake? Probably. Energy raced through my hand, buzzing like a good jolt of caffeine on a slow morning.
White Deer positioned herself on the bed, cross-legged, and closed her eyes, serene in a way I could never be. She was both peaceful and wise, yet I knew if anything crossed her path, she’d simply take a breath and zap it to hell. I lit a white taper candle and used the flame to keep the smudge stick alight.
Inhaling deeply, I grounded myself as the energy flowed up from the ground to seep through the floor, into my feet, up my legs until it coiled in my belly like a snake around warm hearth embers. I raised my arms and focused on the images of Mab and Samantha, then called out in Nanna’s native tongue:
“Du, der Du liebesverloren bist,
Komm zurück zu mir.
Von der Welt in der Du schreitest
In die Welt, in welcher ich lebe
Folge meiner Stimme,
Komm zurück an meine Seite.”
“You who are love lost, return to me.
From the world in which you walk
To the world in which I live,
Follow my voice,
Return home to my side.”
There was a hush, then a rustle. I exhaled. White Deer sat very still and we looked at each other, waiting. Nothing, and yet—everything. Something was stirring, I could feel it even though it hadn’t yet manifested. I closed my eyes, focused my attention, and with my right hand reached out for White Deer who clasped it firmly, linking her aura to mine as she magnified the energy.
Again, I held up the dagger and this time envisioned Mab and Samantha and tried to light the path for the two cats to return to their respective homes. I could feel them watching from the periphery—both curious, both lonely. I sent out a tendril on the breeze, beckoning Samantha, begging her to come home and White Deer added her own call. She was working with earth mana, slower than the force of the wind, but deep and resonating with life.
“Let this space be cleared and protected, and made clean once more!”
As we pushed the protective charm out to encompass the entire lot, the energy spiraled, running through the vines, through the blackberry suckers deep within the earth, through the tree roots and rocks, seeking to forge the path for the cats, seeking to link the two worlds so they could trade places. Our force was an arrow, whistling through the air as it attempted to part the veils.
And then, the charm ground to a halt and it felt as if there was a boulder blocking the path. White Deer leapt to her feet and stared into the corner. As I scrambled up, I saw what she was looking at.
Brigit was standing there, Samantha by her side. Tears ran down her face as she held out her hands to Mab, who crouched on the other side of the room. But they could not connect.
“What are we missing?” I shouted, exasperated. “Why won’t this work?” As I spoke, a gust swept through and extinguished the candle. The room plunged into darkness. My stomach knotted as I backed up toward the door, White Deer following suit. As we stumbled out into the fading afternoon, the light blinded me, and I moaned, resting my head against the wall.
“I have a splitting headache.”
White Deer shook her head. “I can think of only one reason that the spell won’t complete. The veils between worlds haven’t parted enough. Tonight, when they open fully, we can finish this.”
Angry, frustrated, I slogged my way through the mulch, trying to keep my footing. I forced my way up the stairs, cold and tired.
“Emerald, are you okay?” White Deer put her hand on my shoulder, stopping me.
I shook my head. “I feel horrible. We just left them. Sure, Brigit and Mab are spirits, but they want to be together. And Sammy—how can I just leave her? I can’t take this much longer.”
White Deer put her hand on my shoulder. “We’re doing what needs to be done. Our timing’s just off.”
I glanced back at the basement. “Tonight, you say?”
“Yes,” she said. “Tonight, it will be over and done with.” She spoke with such conviction that I almost believed her. She saw me wavering and added, “Trust and keep hope, Emerald.”
A distant crash of thunder sent me shivering. I sighed. “So what do we do?”
“Go back to your house,” White Deer said. “And tonight, we come back to finish what we started.”
With a deep breath, I glanced at the sky. The clouds were gathering thick and fast. “Okay, but there’s a storm coming. If we don’t get Sammy tonight, I don’t think we ever will. She’ll be trapped forever.”