Chapter 7 Another Unexpected Invitation
Ursula was working on her laptop at the kitchen island, going over finances for her thriving garden business, when Eloise walked in and opened the refrigerator.
"Hey, pretty sea witch, how's it going?"
Ursula made a grunt, causing Eloise to turn and find her friend hunched over her laptop, concentrating and tapping her finger on the counter.
Ten minutes later, Ursula startled when a ghost mug of steaming tea and a plate of toasted french bread with pecan strawberry chicken salad lay heaping on top.
She rubbed her eyes, smudging mascara as she rolled her shoulders and made a groaning sound.
"Thought you could use a break. And some protein. And I chose the tea that you labeled: when Ursula gets that scrunchy face, and only communicates in grunts.
Ursula gave her a look as she picked up the hot mug. "I have no such tea."
"Maybe you should," she replied, then smoothed a thumb under her friend's eye, wiping away the grey mark of makeup. "You doing alright?"
"Yeah," she sighed. "Just owning a business is hard. Not the best with numbers."
"Mhmm, and how many times have I offered to help with that? I happen to be a witch with business numbers."
"You already have a lot on your plate."
"What is it that Crystal says?" Eloise tapped her chin with a thoughtful look on her face.
Ursula heaved a great breath out and answered. "If you don't have to do it alone, then don't."
"Mmm," Eloise murmured into her raccoon mug of tea. "That woman is wise."
"That she is. Okay, I could use your help. But I'm going to pay you."
"You pay me already by letting me live here and being my best friend. Now, if you decide to replace me with a different friend? I will charge by the hour. And my fee is exorbitant."
"That sounds like blackmail."
"No friendship is perfect," she smiled as she pulled a laugh out of her friend.
"Hey guys?"
At the sound of Bess's voice, they turned and waited until the teen walked through the hallway into the kitchen with Casper and Lady Macbeth on her heels. She was also holding a light blue silk dress in her hand.
"Oooh, pretty. What's it for?"
She set her backpack down on the island and picked up Lady Macbeth, who was holding out her arms and wiggling her black fingers for her.
"I was going to ask you. After my last class, I found this hanging in my locker with a note."
She fished it out of her back pocket and unfolded it for them to read.
"Looks like you're being invited to a dinner here at The Lost Souls," Ursula said and looked at Eloise, who shrugged, just as in the dark as she was.
A tinkling sound of bells, different than their doorbell, sounded, and they all paused, looking around the kitchen.
Eloise stood, scooping up one of Lady's kits, who was now a solid little raccoon and less of a baby. When she opened her bedroom door, she called out.
"Hey! I got one too."
Ursula and Bess joined her as she fingered the black satin cocktail dress lying on her bed, delicate spaghetti straps and a draping neckline.
"Bet you have one too," she said to Ursula, and moments later they were all gathered in the kitchen with their blue, black, and lavender satin gowns and invitations for a dinner party to be held here tonight in their friend's honor with directions to light candles in every room and a stern warning not to be late.
"I swear if this house makes dinner party food, dresses us, and then cleans up? I'm never moving."
Ursula smiled at her friend, and Bess nodded her agreement. "Yeah, I'm a little scared this house is ruining me for all future houses."
Hours later, with three women in satin gowns, candles flickering in every room, and music softly playing, they were joined by Kelsea in silver, Crystal in champagne, Jessica in dark pink, and Carol in the same blue as her dress at Jen's opening.
"Hey, blue team," Bess said to Carol, giving her a high-five.
Carol had been reading over Bess's English papers for this summer class, giving her a journalistic critique.
She wasn't sure if she wanted to go the journalism route, or any writing route, but she knew the skill would be helpful, and AP Journalism was not for the weak. Carol had been an immense help.
"So, we look like a coven taking on spring fashion week in Paris. What exactly is going on?" Eloise asked as they gathered around the living room, as the house prepared their dinner party.
"No idea," Ursula said.
Everyone else gave various shrugs and looks of uncertainty. "Hey, how's the pink sparkle business coming?" Ursula asked Crystal.
"I have a women's private practice of attorneys coming for a retreat. How lovely is that?"
"That's incredible. And kind of hilarious.
I'm picturing suited power women throwing eggs of pink glitter with their safety goggles and war cries.
Can we come watch?" Bess asked, but before Crystal could answer, the front door opened and in came Tilly in red and Jen in emerald green satin gowns.
Tilly had pulled her long hair up into a bouncy ponytail, showing off her slender neck, and was wearing black sparkling flats, while Jen was showcasing her curvy figure with tall heels of green satin exactly matching her gown, leaving a few to wonder if she had them in her closet or if she had time to purchase them.
"Alright, we're here for Tilly's debutante," Jen announced with a hand on her ample hip.
"Pretty sure I'm well past that," Tilly said with a curious tilt of her head.
Jen flicked her words away with a hand. "It should be a thing. A coming of different age party. Hello world," she said, regally waving her hand through the air. "I've unlearned everything you taught me and fuck you."
"A coming of rage party," Kelsea supplied to Jen's delight.
The sudden laughter filled the Lost Souls' living room, adding to the celebratory ambiance.
A chime somewhere deep in the bones of the house sounded, making them all look up, around, searching.
Soon they found themselves in the kitchen. Dishes were soaking in the large farmhouse sinks and the smells of roasted meat and berries, baked bread, and something sweet in the oven filled their senses.
"Oh wow," Bess said in awe, and when she pointed out the back window they all looked, taking in what the large panes of glass allowed them to see and then they smiled as they made their way into the summer night garden where a round table had been set with gossamer green cloth, sparkling as the sun dipped low.
There was a dramatic brass candelabra with black taper candles lit, surrounded by thick and squat pillar candles of dark green, all burning and giving off a smell of juniper and vanilla with a hint of spice.
They took seats and poured drinks, and passed around serving dishes with pillows of lemon ricotta and chicken ravioli, fresh bread with herbed butter and black sea salt, verdant salad with bursting summer berries.
Their conversation flowed, and as their laughter filled the cozy garden space, the sky became darker and the twinkle lights above them shimmered lovingly.
Tilly had quietly given Ursula the black invitation she'd received with a timidity that showed in the hold of her shoulders and eyes bouncing between the two current tenants of this enchanting house.
Ursula looked to Eloise after they both had read it, and Tilly held her breath, ready to tell them she didn't want to intrude because that's what women learned without recognizing it at a young age, how to uninvite themselves from spaces they're afraid they're not good enough for. Or too much for.
But when Eloise threw her arms around Tilly and Ursula joined with a wide, honest smile, she felt a smidgen of that fear release on a breath.
"You do not have to-"
"Stop. Whatever you're going to say, just stop. You need a place, and this house," Ursula looked back and up at the black wood lovingly, respectfully. "It's not mine or Eloise's. It's for those it invites, and we welcome you without pause."
So that was that. They went back to their dinner party conversation, and a bonfire at some point was lit as cherry tarts with brown sugared pecans were passed around by Bess and Jessica along with Tilly's honey wine.
"You're going to have to tell us your perfect cocktail, now that you will be an official Lost Souls tenant," Ursula said.
"Coconut mojito," Jen replied with a wide smile for her friend.
Tilly laughed and winked at her. "I do go weak in the knees for a good, muddled coconut mojito. Not too sweet, and the perfect amount of mint."
"Oh, hell yes. Haven't had one of those in years."
"Perfect for the summer," Ursula agreed with Eloise. "We shall make a pitcher for your move-in day."
"And I love coconut and mint," Bess added with a hopeful look, which every woman shot down immediately, getting a dramatic eye roll from the teenager.
Her black combat boots bounced with her legs thrown over one wide arm of her chair, and all women around the fire had the sentimental thought of how glad they were that she was a part of this.
Such a tenderness with her sharp age wrapped around it made them reminiscent of their spent youth, whatever form it took.
Each young woman has her thumbprint; a coming-of-age, and though it may have looked different for each one of them, the common theme was the yearning to be seen and belong and understand that they make life matter.
The sweet cocoon was broken when a low, feminine voice pushed into their circle uninvited, drawing attention and frowns.
"I suppose we missed the meal."