“And they came together because your mother realized you were safe from us and the coven could be reunited,” Hazel offered. “I want to help you with Dani. In fact, I think I might move up here – if only temporarily – to offer her a home.”
I was taken aback. “She has a home.”
“With a mother who is terrified of her.”
I hadn’t really considered that. “So … what? You would rent a place and live here with Dani?”
“I know you plan to try to rehabilitate her. You’re going to need help.”
That was true. I couldn’t do it on my own. “I don’t think that’s a terrible idea,” I hedged. “I need time to think about it.”
Hazel cracked a smile. “You also want to talk about it with your family. Tillie might not be happy with the prospect of me staying.”
That was the understatement of the year. “She might surprise you.” Probably not, but you never know.
“I think she might be softening toward me,” Hazel offered brightly. “She promised me some special gummy bears with my ice cream once the cake is cut. She seemed to think it was a good thing.”
I had news for her. Those gummy bears were tainted. Still … that was Aunt Tillie’s business. “Tonight is for Clove,” I insisted. “She’s been dreaming about this day since we were kids. I want her to have everything she’s ever wanted … and that means getting upstairs so they can poke and prod me for the next five hours. We can talk about the rest of it tomorrow.”
Hazel let loose a low chuckle. “You’re a good cousin, Bay, and we can indeed discuss the girl’s fate in the morning. Clove isn’t the only dreamer, though. You used to be one, too.” Her gaze was heavy when it landed on Landon. “I think your dreams have come true as well.”
At least that was something we could agree on. “They have. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my witchy Bridezilla awaits.”
LANDON
The revelry went late into the night. He danced, ate his weight in bacon, played with Peg and sat under the stars with his blond witch. It was the perfect evening, though she was starting to tire. He could read it in the slope of her shoulders.
The other witches got drunk, throwing bird seed with a little too much zest for his liking given everything that happened earlier in the day. They pelted Clove and Sam with it as they climbed in the back of the limo and left for their honeymoon. Clove stuck her head out the window to exuberantly say goodbye to Thistle and Bay, tears streaming down her cheeks. When he looked to Bay, she was crying, too. This time, however, he wasn’t sure she could blame it on Clove’s hormones.
When he recognized that she wouldn’t be able to keep her eyes open much longer, Landon suggested she say goodbye to the remaining witches and meet him at the guesthouse. She agreed and trudged away in the darkness.
He’d looked everywhere for Winnie for the past hour and come up empty. He wasn’t surprised to find her washing dishes in the kitchen.
“Can’t that wait until tomorrow?” he asked, folding his arms across his chest and resting his hip against the cupboards.
Winnie’s eyebrows hopped in surprise. “What are you doing here? I thought you would’ve passed out by now.”
“Not quite. I had a few drinks, but I didn’t want to be drunk in case Dani somehow managed to conjure a flock of birds from her jail cell.”
“Ah.” Winnie nodded, her expression caught between amusement and sadness. “Do you need something? I’m just putting a load of dishes in before heading back out. It’s going to take about ten loads before we’re finished, so I thought I’d get a jump on things before the naked dancing starts.” Her smile was smug as she focused on Landon.
“I do need something.” Landon’s voice was soft, his nerves getting the better of him. Finally, he blurted it out. “I’m going to ask Bay to marry me.”
If Winnie was surprised, she didn’t show it. “Okay.”
“I want your permission to do it … soon.”
Now she was surprised. “Shouldn’t you be asking her father?”
“She loves her father. But you’re the one who matters. I want to make sure it’s okay with you.”
Winnie carefully dried her hands as she regarded him. “Before I answer, may I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Why did you wait so long?”
“Because … .” He cocked his head to the side, considering. “Because at first I was afraid she would say no. I know now that was irrational, but I felt real fear. Then Clove got engaged and I didn’t want her to think it was a reaction to that. I want Bay to be the center of attention like Clove has been since she announced her engagement.”
“I figured as much.” Winnie’s face split into a wide grin. “Of course you have my permission.”
Even though he expected the answer, Landon exhaled heavily. “Thank you.”
“It’s not my place to grant permission, though. She’s her own woman and you’re all she wants. You don’t have to be nervous about asking her. She’ll say ‘yes.’”
“I certainly hope so. I won’t be able to stop myself from being nervous. It goes with the territory.”
“Well … I think it’s sweet you asked.” She patted his shoulder. “When will you do it?”
“Soon. I want to plan something special. I need you to keep it a secret until then. I know that’s not always easy for you given the way this family gossips, but I don’t want her surprise ruined.”
“I won’t tell anyone. You have my word.”
“Thank you.” Landon leaned forward and gave her a hug. “I love her. You know that, right?” The question came out on a whisper.
Winnie briefly pressed her eyes shut. “I know.” Her voice choked up. “I’ve never doubted that. If you need help setting up something special, I’m at your disposal.”
“I just might take you up on that.”
She gave him another squeeze and then released him. “Now, go dance with Bay. If you call it a night within the next hour, you’ll probably miss the naked dancing.”
“Thanks for the tip.” He saluted and headed toward the door, slowing when his fingers wrapped around the handle. “Thank you for raising her to be what she is.”
“Thank you for loving who and what she is.”
“How could I not love her? She’s … everything I never knew I wanted. We’re going to be happy together. I promise.”
“Oh, honey, I’ve always known that. You don’t have to worry about me. Terry, however, might be a little angry about being cut out of the loop.”
“He’ll be fine.” Landon smiled at the prospect. “It’s going to be a great life.”
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About the Author
I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my novels. I have a particular brand of humor that isn’t for everyone – and I know that.
If you liked the book, please take a few minutes and leave a review. An independent author does it all on their own, and the reviews are helpful. I understand that my characters aren’t for everyone, though. There’s a lot of snark and sarcasm in my world – and I know some people don’t like that.
Special thanks go out to Heidi Bitsoli and Phil VanHulle for correcting the (numerous) errors that creep into a work of fiction.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Books by Amanda M. Lee
An Avery Shaw Mystery
Who, What, Where, When,
Die
If it Bleeds, it Leads
Buried Leads
Shot Off The Presses
The Preditorial Page
Misquoted & Demoted
Headlines & Deadlines
Misprints & Mistakes
Bylines & Skylines
Off the Record
Unwritten & Underwater
Extra! Extra! Dead All About It
On Deadline & Under Fire
Above the Fold & Below the Belt
Oracles & Obituaries
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery
Any Witch Way You Can
Every Witch Way But Wicked
Witching You Were Here
Witching on a Star
Something to Witch About
Witch Me Luck
Life’s a Witch
Charms & Witchdemeanors
The Trouble With Witches
Murder Most Witchy
A Witch Before Dying
A Breath of Witchy Air
Witch, Interrupted
Flip the Witch Switch
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short
Careful What You Witch For
Wicked Brew
On a Witch and a Prayer
You Only Witch Once
The Christmas Witch
Bewitched
A Solstice Celebration
Witchdependence Day
Happy Witchgiving
Merry Witchmas
Four-Leaf Clover
Thistle While You Work
Landon Calling
I Dream of Twila
How Aunt Tillie Stole Christmas
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fantasy
Witchy Tales
A Witch In Time
Make A Witch
A Witchmas Carol
All My Witches
Close Encounters of the Witchy Kind
An Aisling Grimlock Mystery
Grim Tidings
Grim Offerings
Grim Discovery
Grim Reunion
Grim Expectations
Grim Holiday
Grim Rising
Grim Tempest
Grim Vows
Grimlock Family Shorts
Grim Like Me
Grim & The City
Now & Grim
Grim & Bear It
Grim & The Dead
Death Gate Grim Reapers
Only the Lonely
Only the Quiet
Only the Lost
A Mystic Caravan Mystery
Freaky Days
Freaky Lies
Freaky Hearts
Freaky Games
Freaky Places
Freaky Rites
Freaky Witches
Freaky Reapers
A Charlie Rhodes Cozy Mystery
The Bigfoot Blunder
The Chupacabra Catastrophe
The Werewolf Whoops
The Megalodon Mix-Up
The Undead Uproar
A Moonstone Bay Cozy Mystery
Witchin’ USA
Witch Out of Water
Freaky Deaky Tiki
To Spell With It
A Spell’s Angels Cozy Mystery
Bad to the Crone
No Crones About It
Covenant College
Awakening
Whispering
Conjuring
Waxing & Waning
Graduating
Living Covenant Trilogy
Rising Covenant
Dark Covenant
Eternal Covenant
Dying Covenant Trilogy
Haunted Covenant
Desperate Covenant
Everlasting Covenant
2019 Shorts
Wolf on the Job
Luke on the Loose
Cupid in Crisis
Millie on a Mission
Elemental Witches of Eternal Springs
Bat Out Of Spell
Spell on Earth
Hotter Than Spell
Spell or High Water