Chapter 25
The town wards have now been updated, and Emily made lunch for us. If I had been paying attention earlier, I would have smelt cooking. We finished lunch and had the buns I bought, then everyone left to go back to work.
Kean and I are in the children’s playroom the boys and Connie fast asleep in their cribs.
This room looks like a bomb went off; there are toys, blocks and books everywhere. I wave my hand, and the room is now tidy. It’s totally cheating using magic, but at the moment, I really don’t care. I flop down on one of the sofas with Kean next to me.
I take his hand. “How was your morning with Lyric?”
“It was actually good. I let him finish his breakfast, then we cleaned the floor of all the eggs, came in here and had story time, then, as you saw, we played. Not sure I like this angry side of him, though.”
“He’s just learning to express himself. Once we’ve established boundaries, he’ll be fine. Don’t forget he’s also dealing with feelings surrounding his parents. He’s too little to really know what they are, so it’s coming out in anger. Plus, he’s still getting to know us.”
“When did you get so wise?” Kean asks, grinning.
“Who knows,” I say with a laugh, then the smile drops from my face. “I’m sorry I got so angry.”
Kean moves around so he’s fully facing me. “Never apologise for wanting to protect our children, honey. You were amazing, slightly terrifying, but completely amazing.”
“I think I was channelling my inner Sly.”
Kean frowns a little. “Do you think he would do something like that?”
“In a heartbeat, if it meant protecting those he loves. To be honest, I think any witch would, no matter their colour.”
“What would happen to the witch afterwards, though?”
I think for a moment, what would happen? The karma backlash on something that horrific would be immediate and immense. “I honestly couldn’t tell you, but it wouldn’t be good.”
“So then maybe find another punishment,” he suggests.
I nod. “Yeah, that would be better. Thank you for coming. I should have called you myself, but I was hoping that if I saw her, she would leave as quickly as she came.”
“I understand, but I will always come, honey, you know that.”
And I do. I’m such a lucky witch.
Lyric wakes up not long later. He sits up and looks at us, a smile lighting his face. “Clean, Tus,” he calls out.
Kean picks him up. “Hey, little man, did you have good dreams?”
He nods and snuggles into Kean’s chest and sighs.
Just then, Connie starts to grumble. I jump up and walk over and pick her up. “Hey, princess, are your gums sore?”
She leans against me and nods, rubbing one of her cheeks on my chest. The poor thing is teething, but even though it hurts her, she very rarely cries. “Let’s go and get you a teething ring - your daddies put one in the fridge for you.”
“Nack Clean pees,” Lyric asks.
“Of course, little man, let’s see what we can find you.”
We’re sat in the kitchen when the doorbell rings. Emily goes and answers, walking back in carrying boxes, John behind carrying more.
“Titus, these are all for you,” Emily says, as she and John put them on the table.
“Thanks, Emily, John,” I say.
Lyric looks at John and holds his arms out. “Pop,” he says, grinning.
John picks him up and kisses his head. “How’s my Lyric? Let me say hello to Connie.”
As John walks over to her, I stand up and start opening the boxes.
“Just a bit of shopping, honey,” Kean comments, now holding Connie up to see her grandpops.
“Yep. River needed a proper bath, and then I saw other bits I liked.” I pull out the baby bath. Then toys, some for the bath and some not. Clothes and a little desk that Lyric can sit and draw at.
“What’s that one?” John asks, looking at the last long box.
I laugh as I pick the box up and open it. “This is a bath splash guard to go on the side of the bath, to stop Lyric from trying to drown us.”
“Nice,’ Kean says, looking at it, then smiling at Lyric. “No more getting wet.”
Lyric just laughs.
I see John looking at me.
“I’m okay, John,” I say softly.
“You know where I am if you want to talk.”
I nod and smile. “I do, thanks, John.”
“Pop play,” Lyric says to him suddenly.
John laughs. “Yep, come on then.”
Molly arrives just as dinner is being set on the table.
Lyric, Connie and River are all in their cribs, hopefully sleeping, after being fed and John giving Lyric a bath. The splash guard didn’t help, and John got soaked, but he loved every minute of it.
Everyone is sat around the table, including Jodie and John, Sly, Ebby and the boys, and Clarence and Callum, as Alfred closed the bookshop early.
As always, there is no heavy talk while we eat.
Instead, Ernest is talking about the town show.
Honestly, you would think this was a West End production rather than a town show.
I bet by the time the show is ready, Ernest would have created a custom-built theatre, but it brings much-needed laughter.
When there is a break in the conversation, Justice speaks up, “I was thinking we could have a family holiday.”
This announcement is greeted with great excitement.
“That would be awesome, where would we go and when?” Ben asks.
Justice looks at Ernest. “What week is your show on?”
I snort out a laugh, realising what he means.
“No, you don’t get to book a holiday over show week,” Ernest replies, glaring at him, while the others burst out laughing.
Justice shrugs. “It was worth a shot.”
“Have you and Alfred decided where you’re going on holiday yet?” Nix asks him.
“No, we’ve narrowed it down to a cruise in Egypt, a cruise down the Danube, or a cottage in the middle of nowhere,” he says.
“And I’m happy with anything,” Alfred says.
Justice takes his hand and kisses it “As long as we have time together and have fun, that’s all that matters.”
Alfred leans into his side. “Yep.”
“It would still be good to have a family holiday, though. Can you imagine the fun we could have?” Jude asks.
“John and I could cover the shops for you,” Jodie offered.
“No way. If we’re doing a family holiday, you two are coming as well. As well as you guys,” Kean says to Sly, Ebby and the boys. “And you, Molly, Callum, Clarence. By family holiday, we mean family holiday.”
“I can close the shop for a week,” Nix says.
“I can close the bookshop or look at getting a shop sitter,” Alfred adds.
“Molly, are you going to come?” Adhan asks, looking at her.
“No, I’ll stay behind and help look after the town,” she cackles out.
“What are you planning to do while we’re away, cuz?” Ernest asks her.
I’m wondering the same. That was her ‘I’ll be up to something’ cackle.
“Nothing, young’un. We’ll just be enjoying a peaceful holiday. With you being away, the crazies should stay away.”
We all burst out laughing at that.
“Nice, cuz,” Ernest grumps out.
We’re just settling down when we hear Connie crying.
“I’ll go,” Jude says, standing up. “She’s probably in pain.”
“Rub a drop of this on her gums,” Molly says, holding out a small bottle. “I found this in Constance’s herbal book.”
“Thanks, Molly,” Jude says, taking it from her. “Be back in a bit.”
“Wherever we go, it will have to be somewhere child-friendly,” Sal says.
“We could get somewhere with a swimming pool,” Nora suggests.
“That would be fun,” Xander says, grinning.
“It will have to be during the school holidays,” Cam adds.
“I don’t mind missing school,” Nora tells him.
“We can school from anywhere,” Enoch says.
“Show off,” Nora says, screwing her nose up at him.
Enoch just laughs.
“I’ll have a search for something suitable,” Adhan says, “and run it by you all.”
“Alright, Doobs, say goodnight to everyone, it's bedtime,” Nix said to his sister.
“Okay. Thank you for dinner, Nana. See you all tomorrow,” she gets up and hugs her grandparents, then she, Nix and Cam leave the kitchen.
I look at Xander and Enoch. “Do you two want to go and watch films in the lounge?”
Xander shakes his head. “No, I’d rather stay and hear what Molly found out. Me and Enoch can help look after our little cousins.”
“What he said,” Enoch added, grinning.
Jude walks back into the kitchen. “That potion worked wonders. I put a bit on her gums, and it took the redness away and she fell straight back to sleep,” Jude says, sitting down. “I looked in on Lyric and River, and both were fast asleep.”
“Thanks, bro,” Kean said, smiling at him. “Hopefully, Lyric will stay asleep tonight and not try climbing gates.”
I shake my head. “I still can’t believe he climbed over the top one.”
“You should probably buy him an outdoor climbing frame,” Temp suggests.
“That’s an idea,” I say happily, pulling my phone out to have a look.
Kean’s hand covers my screen. “We can look later and get one that all the children will enjoy.”
I nod. “Okay.”
As we’re talking, Cam and Nix come back into the kitchen and sit down.
I look at Molly. “What did you find out?”
Molly sighs. “Your mother was going to hold the boys hostage until you returned her missing magic, as well as giving her Septamus’ and Norris’ magics.”
“I’ve told her we don’t have her magic. Septamus has less than a gnat, and even that is bound, and Cassie has Norris’ magic,” I say on a sigh.
Molly looks at Cassie.
“I gave it to him. I didn’t want Norris going after Titus or Cassie, so I took his magic and gave it to Cass,” Temp tells her.
Molly nods. “Good. Lizzie has now realised that she will never have her magic back, or any other magic. Now she says she wants to be a grandmother to them.”
“Hell will freeze over first,” Kean shoots out.
“What he said. Mother is abusive, physically and verbally, there is no way she is ever getting near our boys,” I add.
“She knows that as well. Once she leaves town, you shouldn’t have any more problems with her. I reminded her that she is now basically non-magical,” Molly cackles out a laugh. “I might even have used my old teacher tone on her.”
“Nice, Molly,” Cassie says.
Molly sobers and looks at us. “But Septamus is still around and looking for payback. Lizzie said she doesn’t know where he is, only that he’s out for revenge. You’re safe behind the wards, but you have the funeral on Thursday.”
“Sly and I have already offered to go and watch their backs,” Ebby says.
“And we thank you for that. But Ebby, what about your Easter orders? Pretty sure you can’t lose that much time and still get the egg orders finished in time,” Kean asks.
“The boys will help,” Ebby replies.
“How about if Sly and I come?” Temp offers. “Elaine won’t mind, that way Ebby can fulfil his orders without rushing.”
“I’ll come as well, in case you need another wolf,” Ben adds.
Yeah, I couldn’t see Ben letting Temp go without him, especially with the threat of Septamus. “If you’re sure, then thank you,” I say, then look at Ebby. “Is that okay with you?”
He nods. “That will work.”
“Good. I’ll let Lizzie go in the morning, unless there is anything, Sonny, Laddie, that you want to say to her before she leaves,” Molly says.
“Nope, I’m quite happy to never see or speak to her again,” I reply. Really hoping against hope that I never have anything to do with her again.
“Same with me,” Cassie adds.