Page 5 of All My Witches
“I didn’t even know you were here,” I said, flashing a warm smile. Chief Terry was one of my favorite people – I even preferred him to most of my family members at times – and he would make a nice distraction while I tried not to obsess about the weather. “I’m glad you were there to save Clove andSam.”
“That makes two of us,” Sam said, sitting at the table and pouring a mug of coffee. “I hate snow. Did I mention I hatesnow?”
“That makes northern Lower Michigan a fabulous place for you to live,” Thistle drawled, wrinkling her nose as she checked her phone. “Marcus is on his way.” She flicked her eyes to her mother. “We’ll need to stay here. I told you that, right? Our furnace isout.”
Twila, who was all aflutter thanks to Chief Terry’s presence, smiled. “It will be nice to have you with us tonight. We’ve missed seeing you as much as we used to.” Her expression was fond as she touched Thistle’s hair. “It will give us a chance to talk about what a stupid idea it was to dye your hair multiplecolors.”
Thistle scowled. “Oh, geez. I walked right into thatone.”
“You certainly did,” Clove agreed, plopping herself on the floor and pushing her stocking-clad feet toward the fire. “I think we’ll have to stay here, too. How many rooms do you haveopen?”
Clove’s mother, Marnie, answered. “They’re all open. Thankfully this happened early in the week. We have guests arriving Wednesday, but the roads should be cleared beforethen.”
“Yes, we can be snowed in two full days together,” Twila addedenthusiastically.
Thistle’s face at the suggestion was nothing short of hilarious. “That’s a terrifying thought, isn’t it?” She cast me a dubious look. “Still, you should stay here tonight, too. If we’re all stuck … it will be more fun if we’retogether.”
“Oh, yay!” Clove clapped her hands. “I like thatidea.”
“You only like that idea because you want me to suffer as much as you guys,” I groused. “It’s not as if you want to spend that much time with yourmothers.”
“I heard that,” Marnie warned. “Don’t make me call your mother to deal withyou.”
“Where is my mother?” I craned my neck and stared through the opening that led to the lobby. “I haven’t seen her in a bit. She took off because we were plotting against Aunt Tillie and I haven’t seen hersince.”
“She’s at the front desk balancing the books,” Twila replied. “She always does that when she feels like the inn is closing in on her. That’s her way of getting away from itall.”
“It’s only going to get worse when we start drinking,” Thistle noted. “If she thinks this place feels small now, she hasn’t seen anythingyet.”
“Good point.” Marnie grinned as she poured Clove a mug of coffee and delivered it to her in front of the fire. “Still, I think it would be fun if everyone stayed here tonight. We have a big dinner planned and we can add a big breakfast.” She offered up a saucy wink for Chief Terry’s benefit. “That goes for you, too,Terry.”
Even though he was often uncomfortable given the sustained interest from my mother and aunts – they were all vying for his attention – I had significant doubt that he would know what to do with any of them if one managed to land him. Of course, several weeks ago I pressed him on the issue and told him it was okay to make a choice. I was still waiting for him toselect.
“I’d love to stay,” Chief Terry said, taking me by surprise. “I don’t think I have much of a choice. Getting back to town will be perilous. I hope people have the good sense to stay off the roadstonight.”
That was about all I could take. I hopped to my feet. “I need to call Landon,” I announced. “Maybe he can find a hotel close to wherever he’s at. He shouldn’t keep trying to get here. It’s toofar.”
Chief Terry’s expression softened. “You’re worried. I should’ve realized that. Bay, Landon will be fine. He knows what he’sdoing.”
“You just said that people shouldn’t be on theroads.”
“I didn’t meanhim.”
“But … .”
“Bay, he’ll be fine.” Chief Terry rested his big hand on my shoulder. “Don’t get yourself in atizzy.”
“He’s right,” Thistle said pragmatically. “Do you see me freaking out because Marcus is still out there? No, because I have faith he knows what he’s doing and that everything will be fine. You should try looking on the bright side ofthings.”
I stared at her, convinced a second head was about to sprout. “Who are you and what have you done with my pessimisticcousin?”
“Ha, ha.” Thistle rolled her eyes, snapping her head in the direction of the door when the sound of stomping footsteps filled theroom.
I jerked my head in that direction and couldn’t stop the disappointed roll of my stomach when I caught sight of Marcus. His shoulder-length hair was covered in snow, his cheeks flushed from the chill, and the look he shot Thistle was one of surprised pleasure when she launched herself athim.
“What’sthis?”
“I thought for sure you were dead in a ditch,” Thistle announced, her voiceshaky.
