Page 28 of A Spell for Midwinter's Heart
Naomie had inherited her grandmother’s psychic tendencies and ran a string of successful social media channels where she posted tarot pulls of the day and astrological predictions. While Kel’s videos were more niche, Naomie’s attracted a wide audience. Her feeds were all glowing selfies and crystals on perfectly arranged altars set against clean white backdrops.
The two groups merged as Birdie migrated over to greet Rowan.
“Knew you’d come around on joining us,” said the old woman. “Well, I should saysheknew you would.” Birdie gestured her thumb toward Naomie, who trailed, cupping a mug of wassail in both hands at her center. “And I trust her instincts. Me? I wasn’t so sure. You’ve got that Midwinter stubborn streak. Did I ever tell you how when we were girls, your grandma once walked two miles with bleeding feet because she didn’t want to admit the shoes she borrowed from me were too small?”
“Sounds like her,” said Rowan, politely ignoring that Birdie had, in fact, told that story before. Many times.
Birdie chuckled fondly. “Never stopped insisting we were the same size, even if she was a full size bigger.”
“It is so good to have you with us, Rowan.” She set aside her wassail before reaching out to clasp Rowan’s hand between her own. “The circle’s complete.”
When Naomie touched her, Rowan was hit with an image—a small nook under her bed back in Orange County, where thingsoften fell. Her ring of missing keys was down there. She’d probably set them on the bedpost without thinking, and they’d jostled off in the night.
Lost things had a way of revealing themselves in Naomie’s presence.
“So, what did I spy when I looked across the parade earlier?” asked Stephan, looping his arm around her shoulders. “Why, it was you and Gavin McCreery—looking cozy.” Across the room, their mother’s face shot up from the stove.
Oh no.If there was one thing you did not mention in a room full of witches, it was the potential for juicy sexual intrigue. It was their catnip.
“We were just watching the parade,” she said. “I helped him find some things for his cousins.”
“Seemed a little friendlier than that,” needled her brother.
“Well, I say: Good for you, dear,” said Birdie, glancing Rowan up and down. “I can tell from your aura it’s been a while.” She paused. “And even longer since it was good.”
“Grandma!” said Naomie, putting a hand over her mouth.
Rowan’s cheeks seared.Is this really happening? Did I go off the road on the way here and die? Is this my eternal punishment?
“Didn’t you have a boyfriend until not that long ago?” asked Stephan.
“Would explain why she doesn’t have one anymore,” chimed in Uncle Drew, his words half mumbled through a mouthful of bread.
Her cheeks burned hotter. “I was dating someone, but…Look, I’mbusy…My work is important. It needs to come first.”
Birdie clucked her tongue. “It’s one thing for your job to come first, dear, but from the looks of it, you haven’t been coming at all.”
“Grandma!” repeated Naomie, shaking her head. Across the room, Kel shrank into the couch with wide, horrified eyes. The crow peered right at Rowan with its dark gaze, letting out a cackle of caws.
Great. Even the bird thinks I’m pathetic.
Birdie shrugged. “I have too little time left for artifice. It’s good to let yourself have a little fun, dear.”
“I’m not…We weren’t…” Rowan muttered, cheeks burning.
At that moment, Liliana stepped in. “You are all incorrigible. Leave her alone. It’s time to eat.”
Right as they settled at the table, Zaide burst through the door, saying, “Sorry I was late! Round one was Dongji with the family.”
She swooped in to settle a plate of red bean rice cakes on the table and grabbed a seat that Naomie had been keeping open. They exchanged a kiss, and Naomie pulled Zaide’s hand into her lap to massage it affectionately.
Wait, they were dating? The revelation caught Rowan off guard. There had been a time when Zaide’s every romantic update had prompted an immediate call or conference behind the bleachers—even when the revelation turned out to be “She offered me a piece of gum, what could it mean???”
As the coven launched into dinner, Rowan tumbled straight back into that place where she’d been at the start of the party—on the outside, looking in.
13
Rowan drummed her fingers against the bedpost, staring at the dusty bronze-banded cedar chest under the bed.
