Chapter 16
Leah stood by the window, her gaze resting on the mountains beyond the cliffs, her arms folded loosely across her chest. Erica couldn’t tell if her sister found the view peaceful or too much.
Either way, she was quiet in a way that felt heavier than usual.
On the rug, Maisie giggled as Lucky batted at the hem of her jumper, tiny paws catching in the soft knit. A downloaded princess film flickered on the television, filling the cottage with bright colours and gentle, tinkling music.
Erica dropped marshmallows into their mugs, the hot chocolate steaming sweetly.
“I still can’t believe you have a black cat,” Maisie said, scooping Lucky into her lap. “You just need a broom and a pointy hat and you can both go guising!”
“Guising?” Erica laughed and passed Leah her mug, studying her over the rim, but things didn’t sit right. Leah’s smile came and went too quickly.
Leah cleared her throat but her mouth twitched like she was trying not to laugh. “Maisie, that’s not how you ask, is it? Remember what we talked about?”
Maisie pouted for a moment, then climbed to her feet and clasped her hands dramatically.
“Auntie Eri, please will you come guising with me on Halloween?”
Erica pretended to consider it, tapping her chin, before breaking into a grin. “Of course I will.”
Maisie squealed and threw her arms around her. “I’m so happy!” She spun in a little circle. “If we both take a bag, we’ll get twice as many sweets!”
Leah sighed, trying not to smile. “That’s not how it works, you greedy wee thing. Only children get treats.”
Erica winked conspiratorially at Maisie, who attempted to wink back and instead fell over sideways, sending Lucky scrambling. Erica laughed, warmth spreading through her chest in a way she hadn’t realised she’d been missing.
She settled into the sofa, cradling her mug. The cottage smelled of chocolate, toasted marshmallows, and the pumpkin-spice candle she’d lit earlier. Outside, the wind rattled the last of the golden leaves against the windows.
She took a sip too fast and winced.
Maisie giggled, now completely absorbed in the princess on the screen.
Leah sat beside Erica. “Are you sure you want to come guising? It might be boring for you.”
“I’d love it,” Erica said. “Besides, I think someone’s already decided what I’m going as.” She nodded at the kitten. “Lucky will stay here though. He wouldn’t enjoy knocking on doors.”
Maisie looked down at the cat. “That’s okay. I’ll bring him back some treats.”
Erica nudged Leah gently. “Everything okay?”
“Yes,” Leah said quickly – too quickly. She glanced back at the window, the cliffs misted in pale grey beyond the glass. Then, more softly, “I still can’t believe what you found today. And you think this witch – Isobel – actually lived here?”
“I do. The carvings … they felt real.”
“But anyone could carve initials.”
Erica shook her head. “Maybe. But it doesn’t feel like nothing.”
Leah studied her for a long moment, as if weighing not just the words but the way Erica said them. “So what are you planning to do about it?”
“Well …” Erica hesitated, turning her mug slowly in her hands. “I’ve contacted a few podcasts. I’ve started a blog about witches in Scotland. And I’ve got a meeting tomorrow about a remembrance memorial.”
Leah blinked. “A memorial?” A small surprised laugh escaped her. “Eri, that was fast. You’re meant to be resting.”
“I can’t relax when something grabs me like this,” Erica said, shifting in her seat. “And I feel like I owe it to them – to look into things properly.”
Leah tilted her head. “You owe them?”
“Yes.”
“That’s … a strange way of looking at it.”
“How?”
Leah stared down into her mug. “Eri … they’re gone. What happened to them is awful, but it’s finished.”
“Maybe someone should still care,” Erica said quietly and looked down into her mug. “I thought you’d understand … you’re a midwife. Why do you do that job? For the money?”
Leah snorted. “It barely covers the bills.”
“So why do you do it?”
“Because …” Leah shrugged. “Because I want to help women. Because I don’t want them to be scared or alone.”
“Exactly.” Erica leaned forward. “Women like Isobel were doing the same thing. Helping. Healing. And they were punished for it.”
Leah went very still. Her fingers tightened slightly around her mug.
“Well,” she said after a moment, “it’s lucky we don’t live back then.”
“But doesn’t it upset you?”
“Of course it does,” Leah said, a little more sharply. “But it happened. You can’t undo it.”
“Things don’t just disappear because time passes.”
Leah let out a soft, breathy scoff. “You’re spiritual now?”
Erica stiffened. “No. I’m not. I’ll never be.” Her voice lowered. “I’ll never be like Mum.”
Something passed between them then – a small, brittle silence, weighted with old things. The television hummed in the background. Lucky kneaded Maisie’s jumper, purring, blissfully unaware.
Leah looked away first. After a moment she said, gently, “Is this about her?”
“No.”
Leah didn’t look as if she believed that. She leaned closer. “Then what is it about?”
“It’s about … everything,” Erica said. “I can’t pack it up into neat little boxes the way you can. My brain doesn’t work like that. I just need to follow this, wherever it goes.”
“And if it goes nowhere?” Leah asked.
“Then at least I’ll have tried.”
Leah watched her, her expression softening but also troubled. “And what about your own business? And … him?”
“Please don’t say his name,” Erica said quickly.
Leah sighed. “Have you even spoken to him?”
“I will. Just not yet.” Erica swallowed. “I’m starting to feel okay again, Leah. I don’t want to lose that.”
“Okay?” Leah said.
Erica didn’t answer straight away. She traced her thumb along the rim of her mug, eyes fixed on it.
On the rug, Maisie burst into laughter at something on the screen, completely oblivious.
Leah reached out and nudged Erica’s knee gently. “I just don’t want you running from something without realising it.”
Erica gave a small, crooked smile. “Maybe running is exactly what I need right now.”