Chapter 11 #4
‘But then she started to get down, and really grumpy… That’s what worried me enough to make her promise to go to the doctor: Ma isn’t someone who gets like that.
And she did go, but the doctor didn’t do much.
Just ran a few blood tests and sent her home.
Said her symptoms weren’t specific and not especially concerning.
Blamed menopause. God, I wish he’d been right about that. ’
Mia didn’t really know what to say, so she just squeezed his hand again, reminding him she was there for him.
‘Nothing happened for months. And Mia, you have to understand I wasn’t here.
I only came back last year when things got so bad she had to give up work – before then I was living up north and working in accounts.
Boring as boring, but it paid well. But it meant I wasn’t here often.
Then one visit – probably her birthday or something, because it was definitely summer – I found it weird she was wearing trousers.
Turned out she’d fallen and scraped and bruised her knees badly.
More than once. Then the doctors paid attention.
They did more tests, and scans, and it took them a while, but they eventually came back with Huntington’s. A huge shock.’
‘There was nothing in your family history to indicate it?’
‘You know about that?’
‘That it’s genetic? Yeah.’
‘Nanna lived until her seventies. Grandad went in a car crash in his fifties, so we assume it came from him. His dad was in the navy and didn’t come back from the war.’
‘I’m so sorry.’
‘Thanks.’
‘Anyway, things got really bad last year and Ma stopped being able to cope – so I moved back in with her.’
‘For all that I’m sorry your mum ever got ill, can I be selfish and say I’m glad I got to meet you. I know it’s not much of a silver lining…’
‘That’s sweet.’ He tugged her close enough to drop a kiss against her hair.
‘You can say it, you know,’ she told him gently. ‘I won’t be offended.’
‘Sure?’
‘Yeah. And you know I probably can’t lie right now.’
‘As much as I love working with Ophelia, Rayenne and Cheryl, and spending time with you… I wish she wasn’t ill.
I wish we didn’t have this shitty gene in our family.
I’d go back to working spreadsheets and balancing books bored out of my brains tomorrow if it would take it away.
It’s agony, Mia. Seeing her slowly disappearing under the weight of this thing…
and wondering if it’s coming for me too. It’s fucking agony.’
He pulled away from her and doubled over, his shoulders heaving as he tried to shove down the emotions he’d been bottling up for so long.
Mia dropped to the floor and crouched in front of him. ‘Aiden, you don’t need to hide from me. It’s OK to let go.’ She used her free hand to push his hair back, pulling it around the back of his neck so she could see him better. ‘Please, Aiden, I’m right here. Let me be here for you.’
He didn’t remember when she wrapped her arms around him, or when the dam broke, releasing the anger, fear and bone-deep sorrow he’d been carrying for so long. He didn’t know how long it lasted, only that she stayed… holding him tightly… letting him be, until his tears ran dry.
She pressed a steaming cup into his hands. ‘Drink.’
He took a sip and looked at her in surprise. ‘Linden blossom?’
‘You’d know.’ Mia shrugged. ‘I just liked the smell. Did I pick well?’
‘Yes. It softens tension – emotional and physical.’
‘A lucky guess then.’ She nudged his knee with hers. ‘Or maybe you’re rubbing off on me.’
‘Can we go back, do you think?’
‘Back?’
‘To being friends.’
‘Of course we can. Unless…’
‘Unless what?’
‘Unless you wanted to ask me out on a date.’
‘Mia, I don’t think that would be a good idea…’
‘I know what you’re going to say,’ she interrupted. ‘But before you start reminding me of all the reasons we can’t or shouldn’t consider more, there’s a couple of things I think you should know.’
‘OK.’ He smiled.
‘Silly squabbles aside, I have more fun with you than anyone I’ve ever been with.
And I do trust you, and know you’d never hurt me, and I like who I am when I’m around you: you bring out something in me that I just don’t experience with other people.
You make me feel safe to relax and just be me.
Just thinking of you usually makes me smile. And Friday nights… wow.’
‘Yeah.’ He chuckled. ‘They were amazing. And I like being around you too. You honestly might be one of the best people I’ve ever met.’
‘How strong do you think Ophelia’s tea was? Do you think it’s worn off yet?’
‘Pretty strong, so probably not. Why?’
‘Because I want to abuse this situation and ask you something I don’t think you’d usually answer. Are you OK with that?’
‘No.’ He covered his mouth. ‘Make that very strong. No, I’m not happy about it, but you can ask your question.’
‘Thank you. I think, if you were being honest with yourself, the reason you prefer having your lady friends and playing, and having careful boundaries like Friday nights, is because you’re scared.’
‘No tea needed there. I’m terrified. I can’t put someone through what I’m going through with my ma… what I still have to go through. It’s too much to drop on someone and expect them to stay.’
She squeezed his hand. ‘That wasn’t my question.’
‘What is?’
‘Can you be brave enough to stop being scared and try this? To give us a fair chance?’
‘It wouldn’t be fair to you.’
‘I understand what your ma’s facing – I know she’ll have to be your priority a lot of the time – and I know what you might be facing. I’d be lying if I tried to tell you that doesn’t scare me, but the thought of not having you in my life is even scarier.’
‘You really want to try this?’
‘I really think I do.’
‘Even with…?’
‘Yes. Even with your mum.’ She smiled. ‘And your man-whore history. Because it is history, right?’
‘Ancient. I’d love to take you on a date sometime soon’ – he hesitated – ‘Emmeline?’
She snorted in amusement. ‘Not even close. But yeah, I’d love to go on a date with you. Soon.’
‘OK. Wow. You know I’m tempted to abuse this situation too and make you tell me your name, right?’
‘I do. I just think you’re smarter than that.’ She laughed.
‘Oh crap. Mia, there’s something else you should know. Before we… Well, there’s something else I haven’t exactly told you.’
‘What?’
Mia leaned forward, listening, and Aiden swallowed hard. He’d nearly lost her by lying – he had to be honest with her. ‘I’m not even sure if I’m allowed to tell you… It might try to stop me, but we can’t truly try with secrets between us. I just really hope this will work.’
‘That what will work?’
‘Please let me.’ His words were a whispered plea. Then he straightened and met her gaze. ‘Mia, this… The shop, Rayenne, Ophelia, the books, crystals, spells… Even my baking. It’s all real.’
‘Well, obviously. We’re sitting here talking, aren’t we?’
‘That’s not what I mean.’ Aiden shook his head. ‘I mean it’s all real.’
‘You said that already…’
‘I’m not doing a very good job of this. I wish Rayenne or Ophelia were here. They handled it much better.’
‘Handled what, exactly?’
‘Would you please help?’ He begged Mist.
I do not think she can hear me. But Ophelia is on her way back. Just speak truthfully.
‘If you’ve started talking to cats like they can reply, Ophelia must have really rubbed off on you.’
It was now or never. ‘Well, that’s the thing. She can, and they sometimes do. Talk back, that is. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. This really, truly is a magical shop, and magic really, truly does exist.’
‘What are you talking about?’
An ear-piercing wolf-whistle made her jump and spin round. ‘He’s talking about me, sugar lips.’
Mia glanced at the pumpkin then rolled her eyes. ‘Haha, very funny. You cued up some more recordings. Well done though… I didn’t even see you move to trigger it. I guess the truth tea has worn off.’
‘Take a look.’
‘Yeah, come play with me, sweet cheeks. You can candy my corn any day.’
‘I thought we were having a serious conversation.’ She frowned.
‘What’s up, baby? You don’t need to be scared of me. I don’t bite. Unless you’re into that type of thing.’
‘Seriously, this isn’t funny any more, Aiden. Stop it please.’
‘I wish I could.’
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake!’ She stormed across the shop and grabbed the offending pumpkin.
‘Oh yeah, baby. You can grab my stalk. Just like that!’
‘Knock it off,’ Aiden warned. ‘Or I’m roasting you and making pumpkin soup.’
The lid was clearly giving Mia more trouble than she’d expected. ‘Did you glue these in?’
Aiden shook his head. ‘Nope. They just don’t like to leave when they find one they like.’
‘Leave? They, who?’
‘They, me.’ The pumpkin vibrated in her hands – laughing – and she slowly turned it over. Something very, very strange was going on. She watched in growing shock as the gourd’s glowing grin morphed and changed, then it winked at her. ‘Boo!’
The pumpkin shattered on the floor and Mia backed away as…
something… swirled in the air around her, cold and heavy and definitely more than mere imagination.
It glowed and flickered before zooming away, leaving her standing in a pile of pumpkin guts.
Dark pumpkin guts. Where were the fairy lights that kept flickering and glowing different colours?
Now more curious than anything else, Mia nudged at the mess with her toe.
And the more she stared at the pieces on the floor, the more things started to come together, the thought tickling the edge of her mind.
When she met Aiden’s gaze she felt like the world suddenly made sense at the same time as it tilted beneath her feet.
It was like the moment she put on her glasses in the morning, and the world came into focus for the first time that day.
Everything looked the same but felt different. It wasn’t anything she could understand or explain, but she knew – right down to her bones – that everything he’d said was true. The knowledge settled over her like a comforting blanket.