Page 20 of Eternal Love
“Are you okay?” she whispered.
He pulled her up and into his lap, clutching her so tightly like he didn’t want to ever let her go. She cupped his face in her hands. “You can see them, can’t you? Your family.”
He nodded. “But I don’t want to go ... I don’t want to leave you. It’s like every time I think about it, a piece of my heart cracks.”
Julia took a deep breath. She knew exactly what he meant. She opened her mouth to reply, but Camilla rushed back in.
“Who were those people? They were very rude, I tried to say hi, but they ignored me and just kind of disappeared.”
Julia’s eyes widened. Camilla really could see all spirits. Not just any spirits, but Theodore’s family. In typical Camilla fashion, though, she didn’t give her a chance to respond.
“Right,” Camilla began briskly, clearly in boss mode, but then she caught the looks on their faces and her expression softened. She walked to Theodore’s side and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t have to publish it. The choice is yours.”
“It’s both of ours,” he said, looking at Julia.
“I like him,” Camilla declared.
A knock at the door sounded.
“The witch, I presume?” said Camilla, shaking her head. “Honestly, I feel like I’ve walked into a parallel universe...”
She returned with Tabitha in tow.
“Hello again,” Tabitha said.
Julia offered her a smile. Tabitha’s gaze fell on Theodore. There was something unsure in her gaze, but Theodore rose, walking toward her with his hand out. “Tabitha, I presume. Thank you for coming.”
Tabitha took his hand and swallowed. “You should know I—”
He cut her off with a shake of his head. “I hold nothing against you.” He walked back over to Julia, and she wrapped her arms tightly around his middle.
Tabitha exhaled, and it was like a weight fell off her chest. Then it was like she was taking them in for the first time. She gave Julia a knowing smile that crinkled her features. She held her hand out for the instructions and nodded.
“Even so, I may have something I can do to make up for what my family had a hand in. A spell. I can tether you here, on this earth, until you wish to leave.” She looked pointedly at Julia. “Until you are both ready to go. You can age, you will be visible to people, but your soul will still be tied to this place, and you will need to remain here on these grounds.”
“Is it enough?” His voice cracked as he asked the question. “My soul, my heart, is yours, Julia.”
She had to stifle a laugh that turned into a sob. “Oh, is that enough? Yes, of course it’s enough. But you’d be binding yourself to this house again...” She trailed off.
He shook his head, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “The way I see it, I’m binding myself to you. And it’s my choice this time.”
She tugged his face down to meet hers. It was a desperate kiss, full of tears and truth.
Camilla cleared her throat. “Right, well, now that’s settled, can you two please leave each other alone for a minute so we can get this spell done?”
Theodore pulled back, gazing into her eyes. “I make no promises.”
Julia grinned, then turned to the group. “Um, there is also the small matter of the crime I committed...” she trailed off. If she were honest, she didn’t know how she wasn’t already in handcuffs. Clearly the Pitt family was one to hold a grudge.
A knowing smile passed over Tabitha’s face. “You won’t need to be worrying about them, dear. I took care of them.”
Camilla’s brows raised. “Took care of them how, exactly?”
“Well, I did what any nosy neighbour would do. When I saw the red and blue flashing lights outside their home and Luke and Sandra talking to a policeman, I just so happened to have a flask of my calming brew to hand.”
Camilla clasped her hands in glee. “So, you drugged them!”
“In layman’s terms, yes, I just slipped a little forget me spell in there. Quite a simple little thing, really, although its potency can vary.”
