Chapter 7 #2
‘Given that it’s Katie, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a scary one.’
‘Probably a bit of both.’ Mia was glad when Aiden chuckled with her. At least that was a bit more normal. ‘So, you’ve been baking?’
‘Yeah.’ He opened the box and offered it to her.
‘These look pretty.’
‘Hey, Mimi, what time did you want me to call tomorrow?’ Katie reappeared and put down a tray of drinks.
‘We’re meeting at seven, so maybe just after eight?’ She watched as her friend pulled out her phone. ‘Two alarms?’
‘In case I don’t hear the first one in the cinema. It’s OK… just a film with Phe. I can step out for a few minutes to call you.’
‘I can’t ask you to do that,’ Mia argued.
‘You didn’t, I offered.’
‘I’ll be fine.’
‘I can be your escape call, if you like.’
They both turned to gawp at Aiden.
‘What? I know you girls do it. I’ve had the “oops my Mum’s gerbil just escaped and I have to go home and help her find it because she loves that little rodent like it’s a second child” excuse used on me before.’
‘I find that hard to believe.’ Mia laughed.
‘The beloved missing gerbil or the fact that I’ve had dates ended by the call? I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, Mia, and I’m OK with that.’ He shot her a wink. ‘I find plenty of ladies thirsty enough to keep me happy.’
‘Ugh.’ Katie rolled her eyes.
‘Hey, I’m trying to be helpful!’ Aiden pulled a face at her.
‘You really don’t mind?’
‘Of course not. I’m a brilliant actor.’ He struck a dramatic pose and put on a silly falsetto.
‘Dahling, it’s Mama. I’m so sorry to disturb your tête-à-tête but there’s been the most terrible accident.
Grandmama has misplaced her glasses again and, well, long story short, she nearly climbed in the bathtub with the alligator and we need your help to find her missing toes.
You will come home and help us, won’t you, Maria dahling? ’
‘Why is there an alligator, and who’s Maria?’
‘Obviously it’s Grandpapa’s.’ He grinned broadly. ‘I assumed you were Maria.’
‘That’s not what Mia’s short for.’
‘Miriam?’
‘Nope, and I’m not telling you.’
‘She really won’t,’ Katie chimed in. ‘I only know because I countersigned her passport a few years ago. I knew her for years before finding out her real name, and I’m sworn to secrecy.
Anyway, I’d better get going. See you both later.
Message me what you’re wearing later, Mimi.
I’m nosey.’ She snagged a couple of biscuits before heading out.
‘I better get going too.’ Mia drained the last of her coffee. ‘Mind if I take one to go?’
‘Of course not. But let me know what you think? You are still my official taste-tester, right?’
‘Yeah.’ She smiled at him. ‘And thanks, Aiden, for not making this weird or anything.’
‘Not a problem, Princess. I’ll speak to you tomorrow. Just after eight?’
‘Yes please. Thanks again.’
‘Not a bother… Matilda?’
‘Still no.’ Mia shook her head, smiling to herself as she left.
A few hours later Aiden took a sip of the tea he’d just made, gagged and spat it back out. It tasted sour, bitter and dank. He sniffed and wrinkled his nose. It must have got damp somehow. He’d have to work out which one of the herbs had turned and throw it out.
Fire! Fire! Mist shot across the shop. Rayenne’s door flung open and he heard Ophelia’s footsteps clattering down the stairs as he raced for the kitchen.
Sure enough, smoke was billowing out from the oven.
Coughing and gasping for breath, he grabbed a towel, yanked open the oven door and pulled out the tray of biscuits that were hissing and popping, exploding great plumes of smoke with every bang.
‘What happened?’ Rayenne spluttered as she flicked her fingers and the windows sprung open.
‘I’ve no idea.’ He dropped the tray into the sink and ran water over it in a massive cloud of steam. After a few seconds he picked up one of the newly baked lumps of charcoal and hit it against the side of the sink. Completely solid. ‘The temperature wasn’t that high.’
‘I don’t think a high temperature would cause this. Not alone. What did you put in it?’
‘Nothing. Well, nothing untoward. Certainly nothing that should do this. They were just Mother’s Comfort Cookies. Well, they should have been. I must have screwed up the recipe. I’m so sorry.’
‘It’s OK.’ Ophelia peered at the sorry mess in the sink. ‘We all have our off days. And it looks like you’ve well and truly lost your focus. Do you want to tell us about it?’
‘About what?’
‘About whatever’s going on in your head – or your heart – that’s translating into your gift,’ Rayenne replied softly.
‘I don’t think it’s anything like that,’ Aiden argued.
‘The problem with being gifted,’ Ophelia explained gently, ‘is that in order to get all the wonders that magic offers, we trade some things. Gifted people like you and me, energy workers like Rayenne, we don’t have the same luxuries when it comes to things like emotional outbursts as normal people. ’
‘I’m sorry if you think I’ve been grumpy today…’
‘You haven’t,’ Rayenne replied quickly. ‘But you have been a little quieter, and clearly not yourself. And some of the crystals are out of tune. I thought maybe we were about to get a poltergeist, or someone was casting the evil eye, but now I’m thinking they’re reacting to you. And whatever it is you’re bottling up.’
‘I’m not bottling anything up. I don’t think.’
‘Are you sure?’ Ophelia asked. ‘It takes a lot of repressed energy and negative emotions to explode biscuits. Have you noticed anything else?’
‘When I brewed tea, it tasted sour. I thought maybe one of the herbs had got damp, but now I’m wondering if I should rethink that.’
‘Can we help?’
There was nothing to help with. Nothing he needed to tell either of them about.
And certainly nothing that either of them could do.
That much had been made clear. As amazing as magic was, it couldn’t heal his ma, or fix the messed-up gene in their family.
Or change what Mia wanted – and deserved – out of life.
He didn’t want to have to tell them and see their pitying glances.
He wasn’t upset about Mia dating; he wanted her to be happy.
It was just everything else… and the stark reminder that he’d never have a future like that.
It wouldn’t be fair to even try. ‘I’m sorry, there’s really nothing. I’m just tired.’
‘Are you sure that’s all?’
‘Yeah.’
He didn’t miss the look they shared.
‘Go home,’ Ophelia told him. ‘Get some rest. Go for a ride on your bike. Take a few days if you need to and clear your head. And be kind to yourself. And then get some sleep, OK?’
‘Thanks. I’ll get tidied up in here…’
‘No you won’t. We’ve got that. Go home and look after yourself.’
‘And if you do need help, promise to let us know?’ Rayenne pleaded.
‘I will. And thank you.’
He headed back to the main store, trying to ignore the fact that the usually cheerful squeak of the floorboards now sounded more like nails on a chalkboard, and grabbed his gear, then headed home.
Aiden put the laundry in the machine and picked up his phone for Mia’s check-in call. ‘Hello, Amelia, dahling… it’s your cousin’s neighbour’s sister’s dogwalker here. I just wanted to double check something about sweet little poochie-woochie Pumpkin Snuggles.’
He heard Mia smother a laugh with a cough and cover the phone. A few seconds later she was back. ‘Pumpkin Snuggles? Really? What’s wrong with him – did he decide to play with Grandmama’s crocodile?’
‘Actually it was Grandpapa’s alligator.’ Aiden chuckled. ‘I take it you can talk.’
‘Yes, Phillip insisted I take your call. He’s gone to the bar.’
‘Sounds like you’re having a good time?’
‘Yes, I am, thank you. He’s really nice.’
‘Triple D material?’
‘Maybe.’
Aiden thought he could hear the smile in her voice.
‘So you don’t need an update call on Pumpkin Snuggles in an hour?’
‘No, but I appreciate it.’
‘Message me when you’re back home? Just to let me know you’ve got back OK?’
‘It’ll probably be quite late.’
‘I don’t care. I’m not going to bed until I know you’re home and safe.’
‘Thanks, Aiden.’
‘Night… Amina.’
‘Nope. Not my name either. Night, Aiden.’
He hung up, chuckling, mentally crossed another name of the list and went back to the laundry. It was a shame that, so far, he hadn’t found a spell to help with it. Or anything else really that worked outside of Hudsbury.
He tugged off the shirt he’d been wearing and added it to the machine before switching it on.
He scratched at his shoulder again as he headed upstairs.
It had been annoying him for a while. He twisted and contorted himself to peer in the mirror.
There, on his shoulder, amongst the twisting greens and blues, a new, darker swirl had appeared creeping over his skin.
He gritted his teeth, trying not to panic as he saw it grow another tendril.
He looked closer – squinting and trying to work out what the forming shape might be.
It didn’t feel like anything bad or threatening, and Rayenne and Ophelia had told him to trust his instincts.
Whatever it was, Katie was right – it was definitely cool.
‘Look at you, yawning still.’ Katie handed Mia a steaming mug. ‘You dirty, rotten stop-out!’
‘Oh, thank you.’ Mia took a big swig of her coffee. ‘You’re an angel.’
‘I’m really not.’ Katie grinned wickedly. ‘I want all the details – especially the sordid ones!’
‘Sorry, no sordid details to share.’
‘Bad date then?’
‘No.’ Mia sighed. ‘It was lovely. We talked for hours, about everything and nothing – you know how it can be sometimes when you just click with someone.’
‘Yeah, I do. The conversation flows, but if someone else asked, you wouldn’t be able to tell them half of what you talked about.’
‘Exactly. You get it.’
‘I do now.’ Katie nodded.
‘Since Ophelia?’
‘Yeah.’ There was another soft smile before Katie shook her head. ‘But this isn’t about me. This is about you and Prince-hopefully-Charming. Spill!’