Chapter 24 Town Pitchforks
"Hey sugar," Eloise greeted Bess with a smile and a spatula as she flipped the brie, strawberry, and dark chocolate grilled cheese at the stove. "Want a dessert grilled cheese?"
Bess's nose scrunched up at the thought of cheese and something sweet mingling together between bread. "Is that a serious question?"
"We do not joke about food," Ursula replied. She lifted her own to Bess's mouth.
Bess took a tentative bite, ready to spit it out, but then the burst of fresh strawberry wrapped in melted creamy cheese and a kiss of delicious dark chocolate and sea salt changed her mind.
"I am happy to be proven wrong. I'd love one."
"Hey, new friend?" Ursula asked.
Right, the cat. She still wasn't telling anyone about her hexed stalker.
"Picked him up along the way home from Black Cat." As little lying as possible was necessary. And she didn't feel great about lying to Ursula and Eloise.
"You have homework?""I have a report to finish for tomorrow."
"Ok, eat up and then get to it. Your uncle is coming over in a bit for dessert and a movie."
"And then more dessert," Eloise added with a waggle of her eyebrows.
Bess made a gagging sound and Ursula threw the thin paperback of poetry lying on the island at her.
"Hey! We do not throw books in this house," Eloise laughed.
"Hey, how's Tilly?" Bess asked as she unzipped her backpack.
Eloise looked to Ursula who shrugged. "I haven't seen much of her today. She left early for the inn this morning."
Bess took Ursula's sandwich for another bite. "Anyone ever going to tell me what's going on with her?"
Eloise and Ursula both looked at each other.
"If you say grown-up things I will hex your coffee to always be cold," Bess threatened.
"Diabolical," Eloise replied. Then she sighed. "The chief." She flipped the golden brown sandwich. "They started something, and then she saw him and that Astra woman kissing."
Bess gagged. "The freakishly tall woman with the tight bun that I am sure gives her a perpetual headache? The evil one threatening our existence?"
"That's the one."
"Ew," Bess said and both women nodded in agreement.
"That doesn't make sense. He likes Aunt Tilly.
Like a lot. I can see it. Every time she's within his sight, it's like he can't help himself but look for her.
A lot." She leaned her forearms onto the island adding, "And he's like super intense.
So his attention has to feel like a hundred birds looking at you. "
Eloise cocked her head and Ursula made a thoughtful face.
"Kind of weird analogy," Eloise said.
"I don't think I've ever felt birds looking at me," was Ursula's response.
"The starlings on Carol's roof?" Bess hedged.
Both women immediately nodded and Eloise snapped her fingers.
"Excellent analogy. Those beaked creatures were intense."
"Just give her some time."
Since Tilly's mood had turned gently somber, they checked on Tilly with texts and tender arm squeezes whenever she was near.
Ursula made her a bouquet of ivory roses and cream peonies and sprays of first snow aster.
Eloise had a constant stream of treats and mugs of coffee or tea going to Tilly, who accepted all with the most gentle, brave smile Bess had ever seen.
She watched Tilly get up exceptionally early yesterday, a large oversized sweater and her hair in a messy bun, glasses fogged up by the steam of her coffee clasped between both hands as she curled up in an Adirondack chair looking out over the early garden.
Bess had been up because she couldn't sleep. Her hexed suiter was taking up too much of her peace. She thought she'd be alone with the early-rising raccoons but then she sat in the kitchen window seat watching over Tilly.
She was the kind of woman who experienced life gently, taking bits and pieces into her hands carefully and then setting them back down, never accepting more than what she felt she was due. And she loved easily, smiled easily, hoped easily.
Bess found herself stopping and admiring that about her now that she lived at the house. She enjoyed her calm and optimism.
To think that someone could hurt her made something inside of Bess burn.
Tom Hanks meowed loudly, jarring Bess from her thoughts about Tilly. As she got him a bowl of food and water, the object of her thoughts rushed into the kitchen, her emerald and black hair coming out of her bun and her cheeks flushed.
"Guys!"
Three pairs of eyes shot to the back doorway where Tilly and Jen were standing with alarm on their faces.
"What's going on?"
"Town hall," Jen got out. She closed her eyes like she needed a moment.
They looked to Tilly who took over for Jen. "We were downtown. There was a town hall meeting led by Astra and her two minions." The way she said the woman's name was like something bitter had touched her mouth.
"I hate her," Bess championed. "Let's hex her to only be able to crawl."
Ursula gave her that look. Tilly smiled with surprise and Bess winked at her.
"Alright, don't love the start to this story," Eloise said leaning against the island as she passed Bess the grilled cheese and whispered, "Love your hex." Bess smiled. Eloise swung her attention back to Tilly and Jen. "Go on."
"So, the town has that petition going to recall Cora."
"Right. We won't forget. Hexes to all who signed it," Eloise said around a mouthful of food.
Jen pointed to her in agreement.
"Okay, so these three Sanderson Sisters held a town hall to announce a candidate to replace her."
Ursula frowned, sitting back. "They don't even live here."
"That's not the bad part," Tilly said. There was an intensity that had built like pressure and all of them were nearly hovering
"Hey," Jenson greeted from the other doorway.
"Shhh!" Bess hissed and pointed to a stool as they all turned back to Tilly and Jen.
"Everything okay?" he asked taking a seat warily.
"Brawny man, read the room," Eloise slashed the spatula through the air, and as he opened his mouth Bess shoved half of her sandwich into it and they gave Tilly and Jen their attention again.
"The bad part is," Tilly paused dramatically, and they leaned in.The house groaned. A cabinet slammed.
"Tilly!" Bess yelled.
"This is really good," Jenson whispered to Ursula as he ate the grilled cheese and she gave him a sweet smile and patted his leg.
"Rob Sandis," Jen blurted.
Silence filled the kitchen. No one moved. Jenson stopped chewing and Eloise stood with the spatula frozen in the air. Open mouths around the room. Even the old house sounds stopped.
"How?"
"What-"
"Like the guy who tried to take out Ursula?"
Everyone spoke at once, breaking the silence with such force that it felt like a balloon pop. Jenson had a possessive arm around Ursula as they fired questions at Jen and Tilly.
The chandelier swung violently with four of its lights flickering on and off in agitation.
One of the windows opened swiftly and Lady Macbeth along with Sulphur popped their heads up over the sill.
Casper's wise and sad eyes looked between Ursula and Jenson as he let out a baleful high-pitched sound.
Jen held up a hand, waiting until everyone stopped talking and moving.
"We don't know much more. But he's back. And he's going for the mayoral seat again."
"But you exposed him." Eloise still held the spatula in the air. "The town saw him for who he is. He drugged Ursula!"
They looked at Ursula. Her eyes were far away and her face was turned to the side. Tilly felt a pain in her chest and wondered if the anger she was taking in was from Jenson or Eloise, and realized by a glance at their faces it was probably both.
Then a gasp as Ursula abruptly left wherever her mind had taken her and she stood.
"Jessica."
Jen and Tilly nodded in unison.
"We sent Kelsea and Carol to the farm. We were going to head there next."
"We're coming with." Ursula turned to Jenson. "I don't know how long we will be, but will you stay with Bess?"
"What?" The teen shot out of her seat, upending a raccoon as she leaned mightily onto the kitchen island with anger in her eyes. "I want to come. I'm not a child!"
"We know," Eloise and Ursula said in unison, which got a heated glare from her.
Ursula softened. "Honey, I know. This isn't about you not being big or mature enough. But you have homework and school-"
"Fuck homework."
Jen looked at Tilly who mirrored her oh boy look before they mumbled about meeting them in the car out front. An uncomfortable Casper quickly followed them out the back door leaving a spitting-angry teen and three adults who loved her dearly to handle that.
"I do not want to be in that kitchen right now," Tilly murmured. The day was washing away and the air was cooling rapidly.
"Mmhmm," Jen agreed then smiled as they walked along the side of the black house. "Though I do admire that girl's gumption. She is going places."
"Yeah she is," Tilly said with laughter.
Jen's hand wrapped gently around her upper arm pulling her to a stop. "You doing alright? I've been very good, not bringing up chief cheater or satan's asshat sister. But - I need to check in."
Tilly looked down at the ground, a half smile at the nicknames before she breathed deeply and looked back up into her friend's light brown eyes.
"Yeah, I'm okay. I think. I just," she shook her head.
"I'm just glad we didn't get further into something.
" She shrugged. "And as for my sister, Tess actually said something the other day at the inn that stuck with me.
That sometimes it's the family still living that we have to mourn and bury. "
"Mmm," Jen hummed. "I like that."
They continued around the house, Casper loyally next to them. What Tilly didn't say was that she wasn't sleeping. Her sleep was irregular on the best nights with her perimenopause really leaning into the witching hour. But ever since she saw Astra's lips on his...