Page 25 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part Two

These were my thoughts when the next sliver of light appeared. I’d done what Jeff said and fully committed to what I would do when the light came.

I hadn’t finished saying,Be there, in my mind before I was there and somehow managed to get my hands wedged into the opening. It felt semi-solid, like clay. Resistant to the pressure I applied, but there was movement. Enough to encourage me to continue straining until my hands and forearms were through and feeling the warmth of light.

I was realizing that, if I could be super-fast, I could be super strong, too. I pushed with all my might and screamed, “HOME!!

When the darkness suddenly fell away, I gasped at the flood of light that hit my eyes. I sat straight up in bed as my soul grabbed onto the presence of the most beautiful, and astonished, people. My husband, daughter, clerk, and witchy friend.

I looked around and said, “Where’s Jeff?” just before I burst into tears.

It only took an instant for Keir to get over the shock of my fully conscious return. He was on the bed gathering me into his arms almost faster than a human eye could see. I slumped toward him as my body tried to absorb great racking sobs. Of relief. Of joy. Of release.

I knew the enforcer found himself out of his depth at moments like these. He was probably looking at the others helplessly, silently asking, “What do I do?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Evie step close to the side of the bed. She yelled, “MOM!” and I went instantly still. I sat up straighter, looked up at Evie as I wiped tears away and said, “What?”

All those present seemed to let out the breath they’d been holding.

“Thank the powers that be,” Lochlan said.

Keir said, “Do you feel like standing up? Are you hungry? Do you want to talk about what happened?”

I took his face in both hands, smiled a little through tears, and said, “Yes. Yes. And yes.”

“Olivia?” Keir called.

There’d been no need to raise his voice. Olivia had come to the door when she’d commotion and was using her apron to wipe at something in the corner of her eye. “I’m here.”

“Will you please make tea and…” He turned to me. “What do you want?”

“Pistachio muffins,” I said without hesitation. Who knows where cravings come from? Out of all the food in the world, that was how I wanted to be welcomed home. “Make enough so I don’t mind sharing.”

Lochlan and Evie offered tentative chuckles.

“We’ll meet you in the kitchen in a few,” Keir said to the little group.

As they filed out of the bedroom, Keir whispered, “I missed you.”

“Not as much as I missed… everything. You. Evie. Our house. My bed. Warm clothes. Tea. My dogs.” I knew there was something crucial missing in the picture. I looked around. “Where are my dogs?”

“Just a second.”

Keir trotted down the hall to the kitchen door. “Lochlan. Release the hounds. Forthwith if you please.”

Lochlan was up and out the door by the time Keir finished that sentence.

When Keir returned, he said, “I had to send them to stay with Lochlan. They made a never-ending fuss that could drive a rock insane.”

Within minutes the whole house could hear claws scrabbling for purchase on wood floors as the pups raced toward the bedroom. As soon as Lochlan had opened the door for Fen and Frey, they’d bounded out, jumped the stone fence, crossedthe lane, headed around to the back of the house, and charged through the mudroom dog door. Apparently, they thought Lochlan moved far too slowly.

I’d just made it to my feet with Keir’s help when I heard the commotion. It was music to my ears. I smiled up at Keir.

“Sounds like hounds,” he said.

“You made a rhyme.” I’d barely finished that thought when border collies jumped against me so that I had no choice but to fall back and sit on the side of the bed laughing.

It didn’t seem possible that four-legged creatures could wiggle so hard or so rapidly. It didn’t seem possible that I could love animals so much.

“Think they’re glad to see you?” Keir asked.

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