Chapter 28
Twenty-eight
-GRAYSON-
When I arrive at Amelia’s place, Milo answers the door. He looks hopeful and straight away I fear we’ll let him down, even though I’ve seen the barking cat. So, I clutch him tight and close my eyes. His lips meet mine.
This kiss needs to linger. It’s the confidence jolt I need.
I melt. This simple loving act stirs so much warmth from within it’s as if a secret language is being shared between us, without the use of words. Because I’ve felt how each kiss, hug, and snuggle deepens our feelings.
My healthy addiction for Milo has been formed.
I need this to continue. That’s why Doris’s hypnotic solution must work. And I’m quietly confident as we end our embrace.
“I convinced Mum she needed condiments,” he tells me. “So, she’s out shopping.”
“Condiments?”
Milo’s face contorts. Then he shakes off whatever he’s thinking.
“Why condiments?” I ask again. “Oh. To make the taste of human flesh...” I don’t want to think about it.
“She had a spring in her step when I suggested it.”
“So, she knows you know about her diet?”
Milo shakes his head. “I was subtle, suggesting sauces and relishes that go with meat.”
“Did she expect you to go with her?”
“Fortunately, no. She was licking her lips so hard at the thought of spicing up her meals, she couldn’t wait to go shopping.”
I ignore my sudden nausea and step inside. “I guess we should get to work.”
After he closes the door, I pull out my wand. With one wave, a stream of glittery stars envelops the entrance and the revolving door to the magic realm appears in its place.
“Glitter?” Milo smiles at me. “How gay.”
“Absolutely. I’m embracing more than just my wizardry.”
The door rotates and Maude, Penelope, Doris, and another woman enter. They all hold black umbrellas with white markings on them.
“Is it raining in the magic realm?” I ask.
“We need these for the task,” says the mystery woman.
“This is Petra,” Penelope tells me, perfectly sober.
Petra extends her hand. Milo and I take turns shaking it. “Do you need a jumper?” she asks. “Or a scarf, perhaps?”
Doris pulls out a measuring tape from the pocket of her bright red pants.
“And this is Doris,” Penelope says to Milo.
“I wouldn’t mind a funky cardigan,” Milo replies.
“Since when are cardigans funky?” I’m intrigued.
Maude eyes me, like I should know better. “The classics are always funky.”
“Says the woman who had the latest witchy fashion catalogue in her domain the last time I visited.” I raise a brow.
Maude smirks, conceding defeat, then turns to Milo. “Now, where’s your mother?”
“She’s gone shopping.”
“So how much time do we have?”
He shrugs. “I’m not sure.”
“What is she buying?” Petra asks.
“Groceries,” he replies.
Doris lifts her umbrella and aims it forward. “To the kitchen!”
I exchange playful glances with Milo because like him, I find these witches enchanting. I wave my wand and restore the entrance to Amelia’s house, then we lead the guests past the formal dining room which they stop to admire.
Maude is in love with the garden view, and Petra is carefully handling the lace tablecloth. I remind everyone that we don’t know how much time we have, so we continue our trek to the kitchen.
Doris taps the tip of her umbrella on the unobstructed section of the counter. “Is this where she unpacks groceries?”
“Yes, that’s the spot,” Milo replies.
Maude peers back down the corridor. “We can’t hypnotise her in the kitchen. We have to gang up on her at the front door, otherwise she can escape to any other room in the house.”
“But she can still run up the hall if you catch her at the front door,” Milo says.
“Not if we split up.” Maude wanders down the passageway.
We follow. She stops just before we re-enter the loungeroom.
“If two of us are stationed here, while the other two confront Milo’s mum from the living area, then we’ll have her cornered.
” She strolls to the front door and opens her umbrella.
There’s a white spiral painted on its surface, and when Maude spins it, the swirling pattern becomes trippy.
“Are you sure that will hypnotise her?” It seems too basic to me.
“Zombies have short attention spans.” Doris joins Maude and twirls her umbrella. “If we all whirl as she enters, we’ll distract her before she knows what’s going on.”
Petra and Penelope spin theirs, so Milo and I move into the living area to give them space.
Milo is beaming, convinced by their plan, but I have concerns. What if Amelia doesn’t go into a trance and takes a huge bite out of one of the witches?
“It’s just a waiting game now,” Penelope says, closing her brolly.
“Keep it open,” Doris tells her. “We have to be ready the moment she enters.”
Penelope does as she is told.
“Would anyone like a glass of tap water?” Milo asks, being a good host. “I don’t know if there’s anything else to drink but...”
“You don’t want to open the fridge to find out,” I say, finishing his sentence.
Milo nods, eyeing me warily.
––––––––
Half an hour later, we’re still waiting for Amelia. She must be buying up big.
I’ve conjured a security camera which is positioned on the unused chimney, showing us the path leading up to the front door. The image is being fed to the television.
Everyone’s had at least one glass of water, and Maude and Petra’s open umbrellas have been placed on the carpet. Penelope and Doris are in one of the bedrooms, practicing their twirling and reciting what needs to be said for a zombie’s conversion to veganism.
The rest of us are keeping an eye on the TV. Milo is standing with his arm extended because Petra is taking his measurements.
“Can you crochet a chimp face on the cardigan?” he asks. “Just a small one, like it’s a logo on...” He points with his free hand to a spot on his chest.
“Your boyfriend has a spirit animal,” Maude says, seated next to me on the sofa.
“Yes, he’s cheeky like a monkey,” I reply.
Milo gives me an eye roll and I realise how corny I sounded. I guess lovebirds make these statements thinking they’re being cute. Then he gives me a silly smile, so I wink back at him. Yes, true love makes you goofy.
He breaks eye contact when Petra measures around his neck.
Penelope and Doris can be heard rehearsing, but we can’t make out what they’re saying. By the sound of their murmurs, they’re deeply engaged. Here’s my chance to understand more about Maude’s treatment of Penelope.
“She’s given up drinking,” I say.
“Who?” But Maude gives me a cold stare. She knows who I’m talking about.
Petra eyes me briefly with a single nod, encouraging me to continue.
“She’ll be a better mentor to me now.” I overwork my smile when I return my gaze to Maude.
“I hope so.” Maude eases back into her seat and thinks.
“She’s always been a good mentor to you, Grayson,” Milo adds. “She was there the moment Hugo appeared. And she got us off our obscenity charge in court.”
“Did she tell you she was keeping an eye on you, Grayson?” Maude asks, sternly. “As if she was waiting for you to discover you were a wizard?”
“Yes, but...”
“But what, Grayson?”
Now I’m not sure we should have this conversation.
“Finish what you want to say.” Petra gives me another subtle nod.
“For some reason, there’s a lot she didn’t know about me.”
“Like Albert, your ex-boyfriend.” Maude softens her gaze.
“Grayson, I’ve been spying on you the most.” She pauses, allowing this fact to sink in.
“I have a cauldron which acts like reality TV, giving me insight into your life. I knew about Albert. I knew how you avoided your workmates. I just wasn’t watching when you sneezed and Hugo appeared.
I was with my knitting circle that day, and Penelope came to tell me. ”
“How did she know?” Milo asks.
“She passed out at my place the night before. She must have peeped at my cauldron at the right time, then was pleased with herself when she caught Grayson’s magic moment.”
“But she came straight from a party when she first visited me,” I say. “She wasn’t at your place.”
Maude grumbles. “I guess she needed Dutch courage before she met you.”
“But she was there instantly when I sneezed.” Then I remember Penelope can stop time. How long was I in suspended animation before she stumbled into my life? “Why did she drink?”
Maude catches Petra’s accusing stare. What’s going on? Now Milo is turning his head back and forth, trying to read their faces.
“I’ve gossiped about her too much, Grayson.” Maude’s eyes are still fixed on Petra.
“It’s not gossip,” Milo states. “It’s concern.”
“Penelope has mother issues,” says Petra.
“Huh?” I’m even more confused. “Milo and I have mother issues and now you’re telling me Penelope is part of our club?”
“Her mum criticised her endlessly,” Maude explains.
“So did you,” I counter.
“Out of love. I didn’t do it for any other reason.” She glares at me. “Okay, Grayson. I was tough on her, but I could see her potential.”
I don’t know what to say.
“We once did a social post from a soup kitchen.” Milo grins widely, trying to lighten the mood. “There were a lot of alcoholics there.”
“Summer took a selfie feeding the poor?” I’m intrigued. “I bet she didn’t stay long. Drunk people aren’t her brand.”
Milo nods. “After Summer got her selfie, I stayed and chatted to a counsellor. Apparently, some people get smashed because it’s easier than believing in themselves.”
“That’s just their silly fear,” Maude says. “There’s nothing wrong with building a child up with tough love.”
“Unless the negative comments just become negative reinforcement,” Petra blurts. The look she’s giving Maude is more chilling than Amelia’s ravenous hunger.
“People are creatures of habit,” I reply, recalling advice Penelope once gave me. “Even if something doesn’t feel right, people stick with their circumstances, too frightened to leave their comfort zone.”
“But they should be strong enough to lift themselves up,” Maude says. “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”