Page 15 of Love's a Witch
“I’ve missed you,” I blurted.
Raven looked up from where she’d begun to unbox sachets of lavender.
“I haven’t gone anywhere, have I, then?”
“No, that’s on me,” I admitted, moving farther into the shop, the coziness easing some of the tension at my shoulders. “I was so busy taking care of Lyra and Nova that I was horrible at keeping up with everyone. It felt like one too many things to handle, you know?”
“I don’t, at that. But I also don’t have an impossible mother and a disappearing father. So for that, I’ll be giving you a wee pass.Thistime.” Raven gave me a stern look. “But next time you just up and disappear on me, don’t expect me to be so welcoming.”
Tears threatened, surprising me, and I turned away so she wouldn’t see them. Forgiveness, coming so easily, touched my heart.
“Understood.”
“The Charms could use you, as well.”
I whirled, surprised. “You’re a part of the Charms?”
Raven put both of her hands beneath her chin and fluttered her eyelashes. “Never harm, always charm!”
I snorted. “How did they rope you into that?”
“All the women in my family have been in it. Kind of a legacy seat situation, like yours. It’s not so bad if you can get past Mandy’s head cheerleader mentality.”
“She’s terrifying. Her smile never breaks.”
“It’s a real feat.” Raven chuckled. “Not to mention her strict adherence to the rules. We bringthiscasserole for Mabon andthiscasserole for moon baths. She’s wound so tightly I’m surprised she doesn’t explode into a ball of pink glitter.”
“I really don’t think I want to be a part of a coven, Raven. It just doesn’t sound like something that’s for me.” Joining, well, anything, really, was far outside my comfort zone. I’d made the mistake of joining a netball team once in high school, only to have to miss several practices due to my unreliable parents. And by the time I’d finally gotten them to pay enough attention to what I needed, Mum had uprooted us from town. After that, I’d found it had just become easier to abstain from group activities than to become a part of a community.
Raven gave me a knowing look. “I hope you’ll change your mind. It would be nice to have you at the meetings.”
I shrugged, noncommittal, picked up a green vial, and held it to the light. “Broca’s had hip replacement surgery and doesn’t much want to take any pain meds for it.”
“Sure, and she has the right of it. The pain lets us know when we’re doing too much. Nevertheless, I have some things to aid the healing process, which will in turn ease her pain.” Raven strode to her shelves and began to gather a few jars and bottles. “This one, the arnica cream? Great for aches and pains. I’ve added a dose of thistle, harvested under a full moon, to aid its power.”
I leaned against a wall as Raven went to work, picking up a strand of amethyst stones and running them through my fingers like worry beads.
“How’s it been here?”
“Since you’ve left?” Raven glanced over her shoulder. “Same. And not the same at all, I guess. Obviously, Briarhaven basically shut down for a year as we completely rehauled the downtown and turned it into what you see today. That was kind of a wild time, everyone picking colors for their buildings, voting on shop names,that kind of thing. It was fun, in its own way, even though it took ages to make decisions. I swear, everyone has an opinion on something. Och, it went well enough, though, I suppose, considering how quickly it moved. Knox did a good job with it.”
“Did he?” I twisted the strand around my finger. “He’s young to be provost, isn’t he?”
“Is he?” Sloane shrugged as she brought jars over to the counter. “I guess, not too much older than us. He does a good job, and people really love him.”
“I don’t.” I closed my hands tightly around the stones.
Raven glanced up at me, a considering look in her eyes.
“I didn’t say you did.”
Caught, I looked up at her and then gently unwound the strand of beads I was mangling between my hands and put it on the counter. “He tried to kick us out yesterday.”
“Ah.” Raven’s lips quirked and I stepped forward.
“What’s that look for?”
“Nothing… och, it’s just…” Raven waved a hand in the air with a laugh. “Didn’t you fancy the lad a bit back in the day?”
