wicked witches 07.6 - bewitched Read online

  “Not yet,” I said. “Landon warned me not to leave town in case he wants to get all manly and beat me up.”

  “He didn’t say that,” Clove scoffed.

  “He wanted to say it.”

  “You should give Landon a break,” Clove said. “He has a tough job, and he’s still struggling with all of this … witch … stuff.”

  “Do you like him?” I asked.

  “I like him a lot,” Clove answered. “He’s brave … and he makes Bay laugh. They’re very cute together.”

  “I saw that.”

  “I know you don’t like him because he’s mean to you, but you should understand that he’s not doing that to be a jerk,” Clove said. “Landon will do whatever it takes to keep Bay safe. He’s … loyal.

  “Now, I’m not saying everything he does is right,” she continued. “I am saying that Bay deserves to be happy, and I’ve never seen her this happy.”

  “Don’t you worry that their relationship is doomed?” I asked.

  “Doomed?”

  “He’s an FBI agent,” I said. “He’s supposed to tell the truth, and the longer they’re together the more he’s going to have to lie. It’s not as though he can tell his boss he’s getting magical help from a witch who talks to ghosts.”

  “I don’t think that matters,” Clove countered. “It’s not as if covering for Bay is a big lie, and I think he’s already weighed that. You probably don’t know this – and I’m not sure it’s my place to tell you, but I don’t like you speaking badly about Landon when it’s unnecessary – but Landon left after Bay admitted we were witches.”

  I stilled, surprised. “I didn’t know that. He obviously came back.”

  “Because he decided that he wanted to be with her,” Clove supplied. “He had a chance to walk away with a clean break. Instead, he searched his heart and came to the conclusion that Bay was worth keeping in his life no matter how many lies he had to tell to protect her. He’s not the type of guy who is going to walk away a second time.”

  “You think Bay and Landon are going to get married, don’t you?”

  Clove shrugged, her smile mischievous. “I think some things are meant to be,” she said. “I think that certain difficulties are worth going through to get a happy ending. Bay and Thistle make fun of me because they think I’m … naïve. I’m not naïve. I just see things differently than they do.”

  “I definitely don’t think you’re naïve,” I said, my heart warming at her earnest expression. “In fact, I think you’re kind of refreshing. I like the way you see things.”

  “Thank you.”

  Something occurred to me. “Were you hiding so they didn’t see you?”

  “Why would you ask that?”

  It wasn’t a denial. “You’re not ready for them to know I asked you out yet, are you?”

  “I want to go on this date,” Clove clarified. “I want to make sure we actually like each other before I … upset … the delicate balance of the Winchester household. I hope you understand that I’m not ashamed to go on a date with you or anything. It’s just … my family is difficult.”

  “I understand that, and I agree with your reasoning,” I said, surprised to find that the excitement of doing something under the Winchester witches’ noses held a strange appeal. “We don’t even know if we’ll want to go on a second date yet. That’s a very pragmatic decision.”

  Clove giggled. “I wasn’t trying to be pragmatic,” she said. “I’m only trying to make sure that you still have man parts if we ever get to a place where you might want to use them.”

  “I … don’t understand.”

  “I told you the story about the priest isn’t a lie,” Clove said. “If Aunt Tillie hears about this before I have a chance to soften her up, um, you might find yourself considering a job change, too.”

  “Well, in that case, I definitely agree with you,” I said, shifting my hips to protect my groin area. “You know I’m going to have nightmares, right?”

  Clove smirked. “Come on. I’m starving. Let’s start our date.”

  “That’s the best offer I’ve had all day.”

  Six

  “I think you should put a garden in that spot by your back patio,” Clove said the next morning, her face bright when I opened the door.

  “Good morning to you, too,” I muttered, instinctively running a hand through my tousled hair. I’d almost ignored the insistent knocking on the front door when it first jarred me out of a really happy dream – this time I recognized the brunette and her delightful laugh – but I figured if Landon was outside ready to conduct a search, ignoring his knock would make me sink even lower in his estimation … if that was possible.

  “Were you asleep?” Clove asked, frowning. “I … oh, you were. I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think before I came out here.”

  “It’s fine,” I said, ushering her inside. “Do you want some coffee?”

  “You know it’s almost nine, right?”

  “Actually I didn’t know that,” I said, trudging toward the kitchen. “I thought it was the middle of the night.” I know I shouldn’t be irritated by having my really happy dream interrupted by the real thing, but if she could’ve held off five minutes … .

  “I take it you’re not a morning person,” Clove said, her energy level off the charts for someone who was out late the previous evening.

  Our date was magical, for lack of a better word. I know that sounds cheesy, but I can’t remember having a better time on a first date. We chatted about everything, including favorite childhood memories, Hemlock Cove lore and the Winchester family tree. I was genuinely thrilled to see her, although it would’ve been nicer after I showered and cleaned the morning crusties from my eyes.

  “We didn’t finish our date until … what … two in the morning?” I reminded Clove.

  “I had a good time.”

  “I had a good time, too,” I said. “I also had only six hours of sleep. How can you be so … cute and happy on six hours of sleep?”

  Clove blushed. “You think I’m cute?”

  “I think that goes without saying,” I said, smirking as I filled the coffee machine’s water basin. “How long have you been up?”

  “If we want breakfast at the inn we have to be there when they’re feeding the guests,” Clove explained. “There’s a special tour group staying at The Overlook this week. They had to leave early because they were getting on a bus for Traverse City. If I wanted something other than an egg that’s been in our refrigerator for at least six months, I had to get up early.”

  “You’re saying your mother won’t let you slide on breakfast even after you’ve had the date of your dreams?”

  “Are you fishing for a compliment?” Clove asked, narrowing her eyes.

  “Maybe.”

  “Meal times at The Overlook are etched in stone,” Clove said. “Thistle, Bay and I can’t cook. Sometimes laziness is the easiest way to go, and sometimes it comes back to bite you. This morning was an example of biting.”

  I laughed. I couldn’t help myself. She was adorable … even if she did ruin my dream before I hit the good part. “Not that I’m unhappy to see you – I really am happy to see you – but what are you doing out here? I thought I was going to call you after lunch.”

  After a nice dinner, we decided to take a walk and forgo the festival. A crowded town square risked too many prying eyes invading our get-to-know-you session, and we already knew Landon and Bay were running around stuffing themselves on elephant ears and groping each other in the funhouse. We returned to the Dandridge and sat by the lake, building a bonfire in the fire pit, and talking long into the night. Neither one of us wanted the date to end, but we finally were left with only two options: saying goodnight or going to bed together. It was too soon for the latter, so we were forced into the former. I was mildly disappointed.

  “Oh, well … .” Clove looked caught. “Because the tour group is going to be out of town today, and Thistle is being a pain, I thought I co
uld help you finish your gardening project.”

  “I see.”

  “If you’re doing something else, though, I totally understand,” Clove added hurriedly. “I … wow. I should’ve called before I stopped out here. I didn’t think. I must seem really pathetic, huh?”

  She was definitely cute … and maybe a little insecure. We would have to work on that. “For the record, you can stop in whenever you feel like it,” I said. “I encourage you to do it, in fact. I’m sorry I was grumpy. You just took me by surprise.

  “I think gardening sounds like a great way to spend the day,” I continued. “I still have a lot of work to do, and I’m never going to turn down free help.”

  “Okay, good,” Clove said, exhaling heavily. “I … um … have ideas for punching up the patio on the other side of the lighthouse, by the way.”

  “I’ll happily listen to your ideas once I take a shower,” I offered. “Can you give me twenty minutes?”

  “Oh, sure. I can wait outside until you’re ready.”

  “How about you just wait down here?” I said, tickled by her nervous energy. “I’ll go shower, and then we can get dirty together in the garden.”

  Clove pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.

  “That came out wrong,” I said.

  “I got the gist of it,” Clove said. “Take your time in the shower. I’ll make sure to call before I stop in next time.”

  “That’s completely unnecessary,” I replied, moving toward the stairwell. “By the way, Clove, next time you want to hang out with me it’s not necessary to make up a story about wanting to garden.” I winked to let her know I was teasing, but that didn’t stop the blush from climbing her cheeks. “I’ll be right back.”

  “SO, how did Landon and Bay enjoy the festival last night?” I asked several hours later, leaning back in one of my lawn chairs and watching Clove sip from her glass of iced tea.

  After three hours of work, gossip and laughter, we were both relaxed. We decided to take a break in the shade. Even though it was spring and the weather wasn’t overly warm, the sun was strong enough to cause me to shed my jacket and Clove’s cheeks to pink up over the course of our morning chores.

  “They had a good time,” Clove replied. “Bay said Landon got fresh in the funhouse, and Landon said Bay ate enough junk food to make an entire kindergarten class throw up.”

  “Sounds like fun,” I said. “Are you sorry we didn’t go?”

  “Not particularly,” Clove answered, not missing a beat. “I’m glad we had a chance to hang out by ourselves. Are you sorry we didn’t go?”

  “Not really,” I said. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of a good festival. You were more fun than ten festivals last night. We made the right decision. I’m sure there will be plenty of other festivals to attend.”

  “You’re charming when you want to be,” Clove said.

  “Thank you.”

  “Why are you only charming with me?”

  That was an odd – and difficult – question. “What makes you think that I’m charming only with you?”

  “When you answer a question with a question, that means you’re uncomfortable,” Clove said. “Bay taught me that.”

  “Who taught her that?” I asked. “It was Landon, wasn’t it?”

  “No,” Clove said, shaking her head. “Bay came up with that one on her own. I think she learned it from interviewing people for the newspaper.”

  “Do the people of Hemlock Cove often answer questions with questions?”

  “You did it again.”

  I sighed, exasperated. “I try to be charming with everyone,” I explained. “You get an extra dose because you’re so cute.”

  “That’s still not an answer,” Clove pressed. “It was a very enjoyable attempt at flirting, though.”

  “I assume we’re back to talking about my problems with Bay and Landon,” I said, tamping down my frustration. “I tried to be charming with Bay, and that backfired. I don’t know what you want me to say.”

  “You didn’t try charming Bay,” Clove argued. “You lied to her about why you were in Hemlock Cove, annoyed her by siding with Brian Kelly about stupid ways to increase The Whistler’s circulation, and then ambushed her when she was especially vulnerable.”

  “How was she especially vulnerable?” I asked, genuinely curious. “I waited until you guys found those kids on the ship. She should’ve been happy that day. You were heroes, and everyone in town was talking about you.”

  “We didn’t save all of the kids,” Clove clarified. “There was a dead girl on that ship. We were too late to save her.”

  “I … never thought about that,” I admitted, embarrassed at missing a big clue that would’ve at least partly explained Bay’s behavior. “Did Bay see her ghost?”

  “Bay did see her ghost,” Clove confirmed. “Bay also saw another ghost named Erika. She was from a different ship a long time ago. She died a horrible death, too. Bay was upset by what happened, and Landon was angry at the time because we almost died doing something stupid. She was not in a good place the day you went after her.”

  “Bay and Landon seemed to have made up.”

  “They never really fought, although Bay worried that he would walk away again,” Clove said. “You shouldn’t have approached Bay they way you did.”

  “How should I have approached her? Should I have written her a note?”

  “Don’t get pouty,” Clove warned, wagging a finger. “I know you’re on the defensive, and I get that, but you ambushed Bay because you wanted to catch her off guard. You wanted to shock her into an admission. There’s no sense in lying. I know that’s why you handled things the way you did.”

  “Fine,” I said, holding up my hands in mock surrender. “I hoped she would admit the truth before she had a chance to change her mind. I … really wanted to talk to her about the ghost thing. She’s the only other person I know who can see them.”

  “Bay doesn’t consider talking to ghosts cool and hip,” Clove explained. “Bay spent her childhood haunted by things she didn’t want to see and taunted because people misunderstood and thought she was talking to herself. Do you know how hard that was on her?”

  “I never really considered it,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “I didn’t see my first ghost until I was a teenager. Well, that’s not exactly true. I probably saw my first ghost before that but had no idea what I saw.”

  “Bay didn’t have that luxury,” Clove said. “People thought she was weird … and that stupid Lila Stevens even suggested she was crazy. I hate her.”

  “Who is Lila Stevens?”

  “This girl we went to school with,” Clove answered, making a face. “She was mean to Bay.”

  “Bay doesn’t strike me as the type of person to sit back and take abuse.”

  “Bay has more confidence now than she did as a kid,” Clove said. “She’s a different person. I know you’re desperate for someone to be like you, but Bay really isn’t. She’s in a class all by herself. It’s harder for her.”

  “I guess I’m starting to see that,” I said. “I always thought seeing ghosts was a game … fun even … but I guess from Bay’s perspective it’s the opposite. How many ghosts has she seen?”

  “I have no idea,” Clove replied. “She doesn’t like to talk about it.”

  “Even with Landon?”

  “What is your obsession with Bay and Landon?” Clove asked, her eyes narrowing. “Are you interested in Bay?”

  “No,” I sputtered, stunned by the question. “If I was interested in Bay, why would I ask you out?”

  Clove shrugged. “Maybe you want to get close to Bay and you’re using me to do it.”

  “No,” I said, shaking my head. “No offense to Bay, and I think she has some … interesting … qualities, but I’m not interested in her. I would love to talk to her about ghosts one day, but I see now that my approach has been completely wrong and that will probably never happen.”

  Clove word
lessly pressed her lips together.

  “I’m not interested in Bay,” I repeated. “I’m only interested in you.”

  “Okay,” Clove said, although she still looked dubious.

  “Clove, I had a great time last night, and I want to keep having great times … with you,” I said. “I’m sorry if I’ve put you in an awkward position with your family. I’ve tried apologizing to Bay. She’s not interested in hearing anything I have to say.”

  “She’ll get over it,” Clove said. “If you want to help, though, you need to stop fighting with Landon and show that charm of yours to everyone. That’s the only way this will work.”

  “Well, I want it to work, so I guess I don’t have much of a choice,” I said. “Now, come on and finish your iced tea. You have a lot of work to do if you want me to buy you pizza for dinner.”

  “You want me to stay for dinner?” Clove looked please with the invitation. “See, that was charming the way you did that.”

  “You have to earn your supper first,” I said. “I’ll supervise to make sure you do it right. Maybe I can find a pad of paper so I can make a list.”

  Clove’s smile slipped. “That charm thing comes and goes, doesn’t it?”

  DESPITE our serious conversation, Clove and I spent the rest of the day gardening and enjoying each other’s company. She was a witty conversationalist, and I got the feeling that she didn’t get a chance to shine very often because she was often relegated to hiding in Thistle and Bay’s rather large shadows. She left shortly before ten, even though I tried to think of an excuse for her to stay – I wasn’t above using a possible Bigfoot sighting – but ultimately I walked her to the parking lot and watched her drive off.

  I was exhausted. Clove’s early morning arrival jarred me from a dream I hoped to find my way back into. I climbed into bed, closed my eyes, and passed out minutes after my head hit the pillow.

  I woke shortly after midnight, bolting to a sitting position and scanning the dark lighthouse. I was still becoming accustomed to the expansive space, so it took me a few seconds to get my bearings. I didn’t so much hear something as feel something.