A Modern Witch

CHAPTER 25



Lauren walked the streets of downtown Berkeley, munching on a bagel. She’d woken at the crack of dawn, one of the hazards of a brain that was still on Chicago time. Unable to talk herself back to sleep, she’d decided to get a head start on her shopping list.

Instead, she’d been sucked into the vibe of downtown. Berkeley’s inner core had a fascinating mix of people, buildings, and modes of transportation. She’d seen more bikes in the last hour than taxis. Chicago it wasn’t.

As a realtor, she made a habit of walking her neighborhoods, getting a feel for the attitude and pace of life, the amenities or lack of them, the forces of change. Downtown Berkeley didn’t have Chicago’s arrogance or high-rise worship, but you felt the people here. Kind of like summer in Chicago, but minus the tourists.

It was a neat little town.

Lauren spied the real estate office and cut across the street. She loved to look at the listings realtors always posted in their office windows. Occupational hazard.

She finished off her bagel as she satisfied her curiosity. The listings were as diverse as the people of Berkeley. Angular modern homes, colorful and funky ranch houses, some great Craftsman bungalows in the downtown arts district. That must be nearby.

There was an open house at ten o’clock she was tempted to wander through. You didn’t get much chance to tour historical bungalows when you worked the Chicago condo market.

Lauren almost missed the Business for Sale sign.

Her breath stuttered as she read the small print. Well-established real estate practice for sale. Owner retiring. Credentialed and experienced realtor required. Inquire within.

As Lauren stared at the sign, memories swirled in her head.

… Mind-witch yoga class with giggly Aervyn and grumpy Jamie. Cat Woman. Nat at a dinner table full of family that adored her.

… Her first training circle, flying high on sunshine-bright power. Sweet, spinning Jacob cuddled in his mama’s lap. The outer circle of candles and love at Ocean’s Reach. The inner circle of power

… Jamie’s desperate longing for Aervyn. Her own joy at the giggly boy behind her couch. A toddler and a snowman.

Drowning in emotion, Lauren felt her decision form somewhere deep inside. It looked like buying party hats and streamers would have to wait.

…

Many hours later, Lauren stood in Becky Temko Tot Park and waved goodbye to the caterers. They’d done an amazing job on zero notice.

The tiny neighborhood park was normally a happy place for toddlers, with a play structure, sand, and shade trees, all safely fenced in. Tonight, it held the makings of a party.

The grassy area was covered with blankets and a few very nifty portable picnic tables. Lanterns hung on the fence and from a line strung between two of the bigger trees. One of the tables was piled high with fried chicken, sandwiches, chips, fruit, and some really awesome brownies.

Now all she needed were her guests. A honk from the street suggested they were here. Aervyn hopped out of the van and ran into the park, closely followed by his three sisters. He danced briefly around Lauren and ran over to the slides.

Nell walked over, carrying a couple of chairs. “What’s up? That was a fairly cryptic message you left.”

Lauren grinned. “I figured you were the only person I knew who could herd witches without a good reason.”

Nell laughed. “Food’s enough reason for most witches. Everyone should be here in a few minutes. Good thing you got too much food. We have a few extras.” She gestured toward the street, where Jamie and Nat were helping someone out of Jamie’s car.

It had been a rollercoaster of a day, and apparently the ride wasn’t over yet. Lauren felt her heart stutter one more time. Moira’s face glowed with pleasure as she carefully made her way across the park. She waved off the chair Nell had ready. “I’m not that creaky yet, my dear. I’ve been sitting all day. Lauren, child, let me look at you.”

Lauren wrapped Moira in a hug. “You came here all the way from Nova Scotia?”

Moira nodded to the young woman beside her. “My granddaughter Elorie brought me. When Nell called yesterday, I wasn’t about to miss all the excitement. Birthdays and babies are some of my favorite things. I’ve always had a very soft spot for Jamie, and I wanted to meet his Nat.”

Lauren looked at Nell and lowered her voice. “Do Nat and Jamie know, yet? About the baby?”

Nell shook her head. “I don’t think so. I thought I was going to have to bespell Aervyn today to keep him quiet, but he’s managed to hold the secret in without splitting in two. The girls have been really giggly, but I think everyone figures that’s just the pre-birthday sillies.”

“Perfect.”

“Is that what this is, the Chicago version of a baby shower?”

Lauren laughed. “Not exactly. You’ll just have to wait along with everyone else. Get some food. I’m not going to spill the beans until after dinner.”

She went to fill a plate for Moira and ran into Tabitha over the platter of chicken. “I hope you don’t mind that I came. Jennie said you were in town, and I really wanted a chance to say hello.”

Lauren handed over a chicken leg and grinned. “You’re totally welcome. What do you really want?”

Tabitha laughed. “Never try to hedge with a mind witch. I really want to tell you that you did an amazing thing for Jacob and his family. Now that he’s not spinning all the time, they’re learning about each other. Jacob likes bulldozers and being tickled, and he’s learning how to play.”

Lauren looked over at Aervyn chasing a purple-haired toddler. “Sounds like what kids are supposed to do. I’m glad I could help.”

“I have another child,” Tabitha said. “If you have time while you’re here, maybe you could drop by and spend some time with her.”

Lauren grinned. “If you ever want a new career, you’d be great in real estate. I think you could sell just about anything. I’ll come by right after the big birthday bash.” And then we can talk about a long-term volunteer schedule.

She turned at the hand on her shoulder. “Cripes, did everyone fly in for today?”

Sophie blushed. “I was already on my way, actually. It was a good excuse to come visit Mike.”

“Oh really? Moving fast, are you?”

“We earth types actually move pretty slowly most of the time.” Sophie smiled and looked over at Mike, who was pushing some unknown toddler on a swing. “One of my best talents is getting things to grow a little faster, though.”

Sophie was a tricky witch, thought Lauren, fingering her lapis pendant. You’d never guess it, but she definitely had a way of getting what she wanted.

Lauren looked around again. Almost everyone had arrived. Jamie waved her over. “Hey, Lauren, come meet my parents.”

Jeepers. Had Nell sent out a witch SOS?

Pretty much, dear, said a voice inside her head. The woman beside Jamie reached out a hand in greeting. “When Nell says come, we all listen. I’m Retha, and this is my husband, Michael.”

Jamie’s mom was a mind witch? Lauren clamped down hard on any thoughts of grandbabies in Nat’s belly. If Aervyn could keep a secret, so could she, dammit. “It’s great to meet you. You have an amazing family.”

Retha looked around at the gathering in the park. “I surely do. Nat will be a wonderful addition.”

Lauren risked a peek at Retha’s outer mind. Obviously she wasn’t sneaky enough. Retha quirked an eyebrow and opened a channel so Lauren could see the truth. Jamie was theirs, so Nat would be theirs, too.

“Thank you,” Lauren said.

“Never try to sneak up on an old mind witch, my dear. And you’re welcome. We’d love Nat just because Jamie loves her, but she’s a treasure. I spent most of the afternoon with her. I had no idea my son had such exquisite taste.”

Lauren laughed. “Just wait until you meet her mother.”

Retha sobered. “I’ve picked up a little from Jamie. Not all families love well.”

“She’ll be well loved now, and that’s all she’s ever wanted.”

Aervyn interrupted. “Lauren, is it time for the surprise yet?” He hopped from one foot to the other. He obviously couldn’t contain himself much longer, and honestly, neither could she.

Mind-amplifying her message, she called for everyone’s attention. Savoring the moment, she took a deep breath. “Thank you, everyone, for coming. I know the message I left Nell was pretty cryptic.”

“There was food,” said Jamie. “Good enough.” Nat elbowed him in the ribs.

Now Lauren knew how to go on. “A few weeks ago, this guy came into a sushi restaurant in Chicago and levitated plates.”

Jamie grinned in memory. Retha just rolled her eyes. You’ve always been a show-off, my boy, she sent loud enough for everyone to hear. Jamie levitated his mother a foot off the ground in retaliation. Aervyn levitated himself in excitement.

Before anyone else could start defying gravity, Lauren continued her story. “It changed my life. Within a few days, I was out here in Berkeley doing mind-witch boot camp, and my best friend was falling in love with a witch.” Jennie and Jamie’s smug grins were a matched pair.

“Then Aervyn flew me in the sky.” Not now, sweetie, she sent to Aervyn, wanting to keep her feet on the ground.

“I don’t know if those of you who’ve always lived in witch central can understand, but I didn’t grow up in a world where witch-powered flight is possible. The magic was incredible. It was all the moments in between that were hard. I’m the first to admit I was glad to be back in Chicago.” Her audience sobered considerably.

Jennie spoke. “Not all witches get thrown in at quite the speed you were, child.”

Lauren nodded. “I know, and for a while, I was a bit grumpy about that. I needed to be away for a while. But I’ve come to realize that only a very few really lucky people get thrown into something this wonderful.”

She had everyone’s complete attention. Even Aervyn’s feet were back on the ground. “Until I came back, I didn’t realize how much I missed being here. I’m a witch, and not, I think, a solitary one.”

She looked at Moira. “Someone told me that with power comes responsibility. She was right. It also comes with this amazing family of witches and those who love them.” Moira was in tears, and she wasn’t the only one.

Lauren held back her sniffles, dropped her barriers, and finished. “So I choose to stay. I bought a real estate practice today. You’re looking at Berkeley’s newest realtor.”

“I love you, Lauren.”

She caught Aervyn in mid-leap, and held on tight as he spun them both around several feet off the ground. “I love you too, sweet boy.” And I want to be here as you reach for your future. I will stand for you with everything I have.

Now put me down, cutie. There’s one more part to the surprise.

Soaking in every bit of the love and welcome radiating her way, Lauren took Nat and Jamie’s hands and walked over to the park fence. She mind-amplified her voice so the whole crowd could hear. Witches weren’t big on privacy.

“I’m Berkeley’s newest realtor—and you two are my first clients.” She gestured at the house across the street, the one with a big For Sale sign on its front lawn.

Barriers down, Lauren felt when comprehension finally dawned for Jamie. The storm of feeling almost took her under. Love, relief, gratitude. Then he started to laugh.

Nat, along with everyone else, was still confused. Lauren, like every great realtor, knew her pacing. This was Jamie’s moment, and she waited for him to take it. He clasped Nat’s hand. “Take a good look at the house, Nat.” He reached for power, and the whole exterior lit up with witchlight.

Nat studied the house a moment longer, and then she got it. “It’s the precog house,” she said softly. “It’s here.”

Jamie held her tight and looked at Lauren. “I guess this means Berkeley will have the snowstorm of the century in a few years.”

Maybe a little sooner than that, thought Lauren.

Ginia was all confused frustration. “Uncle Jamie, I don’t get it. What’s the big deal about the house?”

Nat tried to explain. “Do you remember when Uncle Jamie and I first met, and he had those precog visions?”

Ginia pouted. “The ones where you live in Chicago. Yeah.”

“That’s just it, sweetie. We all thought it was Chicago because of the snow.”

Ginia looked the house, and then back at Nat. “You’re going to live here? Your house is here?” There was no joy quite as bright as an almost nine-year-old girl’s. And no bedlam quite as noisy as a park full of very happy witches. Flowers burst out of the ground around Nat’s feet. A lot of witchlings were having trouble containing their magic tonight.

Nell joined Lauren at the fence. “I’m sure there’s a really great story behind all this, and I’m definitely going to dig every last bit of it out of you. But for now, just let me say thank you. You made a lot of Walkers very happy today.”

“When you’re ready to dig, ice cream will work.” Lauren thought about the savvy old man selling his real estate practice, and how it had taken him about three minutes to find Nat and Jamie’s house once she’d gotten smart enough to ask. She had a line on a couple of locations for Nat’s yoga studio, too.

Once she’d finally realized she didn’t have to pick whether to be friend, realtor, or witch, the rest had fallen into place with shocking ease. Except for one small detail.

“So, can I crash at your house? I don’t have anywhere to live just yet.”

Nell snickered. “Lauren, there isn’t a person here who wouldn’t move out of their bed for you right now.”

They both looked up as an airborne Aervyn started shooting sparks. “Say yes, Auntie Nat, say yes!”

Jamie grabbed Aervyn’s foot and pulled him down. “You have to let me ask her first, punk.”

He let go of his nephew and looked at Nat. “I’d meant to do this somewhere quiet and romantic, but if you take me, I guess you get this rowdy, nosy family of mine, too. Marry me, Nat.”

Lauren was enough of a romantic to broadcast Nat’s answer for everyone, since Nat was far too overwhelmed to actually get the enormous “yes” in her heart out through her lips.

Jamie’s grin was priceless. “Are you sure? You’ll be giving up your privacy for life and surrounded by a bunch of witches.”

Nat looked like that might be her definition of heaven.

Aervyn couldn’t keep it in any longer. “Auntie Nat’s going to have a baby.” Noise and love broke loose one more time. Lauren had thought Nat couldn’t glow any brighter. She’d been wrong.

Aervyn went over and laid a hand on Nat’s belly. She leaned over and kissed his head. “Is that your playmate in there, sweetie?”

“Nope—she’s a girl. It’s okay, though. I can play with a girl; I don’t mind. I can teach her magic and everything.”

Jamie picked him up. “This baby might not be a witchling, cutie.”

Aervyn cuddled in. “Sure she is. She likes to play with fire. If she keeps doing that, maybe it will make her split in two or three. Then I could have lots of cousins.”

The number of surprises had reached comic proportions, thought Lauren. A tiny fire witchling? Life was not going to be boring. With her work and her best friend here in witch central, the only thing missing was her couch.

Lauren heard Aervyn’s giggle, and then a big thunk right behind her. Scratch that. Apparently the couch was here, too.