Page 75 of With This Witch
Petra sips at her tea, enjoying the floral notes mixed with the added honey. She notices Gammy’s breathing is particularly labored this afternoon. “Gammy, how are you doing?” she asks, her body flooding with concern. It’s only been a few months since Gammy first told Petra of her illness. It seems like so long ago, and yet, as if no time has passed, making her decline seem all the more sudden.
“I’m okay, love, just tired. It’s been a long day.”
Petra doesn’t fully believe Gammy, but she accepts the lie anyway. “I’m not sure how much you know about everything that has happened with me in the last week or so. It’s okay if you don’t. I have been a shitty granddaughter by not visiting often enough.” She raises her hands, stopping Gammy’s protest. “No, I have. I have been wrapped up in my own things, and I’m scared. Scared of watching you fade away. I’m not ready to lose you, so I’ve been keeping some level of distance, telling myself that you needed the rest and had help and I would only be getting in the way. For that, I want to apologize. I love you and love everything you have done for me. Taking me in when you didn’t need to, helping me to develop into the witch I am today. I will never have the right words to capture how much you mean to me.”
Petra picks up the napkin on the table, unfolding and wrapping a corner around her index finger, using it to dab away the tears that have surfaced. Admitting her negligence as a granddaughter is hard. Acknowledging that she is losing Gammy is harder. She’s not gone yet, but the crack in her chest is already opening, creating space for the inevitable earthquake of grief that will shatter her world and hollow her out.
“My darling granddaughter, I know this,” she says, motioning to herself, “is not easy for you. But know, I do not hold any harsh feelings toward you. I knew you would come when you were ready. Remember, I have also done what I can to try and keep you at a distance, so you are not the only one to blame. I can only hope that you will not have ill feelings toward me for doing so.”
“I could never,” Petra sniffles.
The two clasp hands over the center of the table, the teapot warm beside them. Not knowing how much longer she will be able to do this, Petra holds on as long as she can, wishing things were different and that she could change the course of destiny. Sometimes, the Fates are cruel, but she knows they have chosen to take Gammy away for a reason, whatever that may be.
Gammy uses her free hand to lift her cup and take another sip, her eyes closing briefly as she savors the moment. “Since I am behind on events, why don’t you fill me in? What has been happening with you, darling?”
Petra takes another sip and launches into everything that Gammy was unaware of, including the threats and that she has fallen in love with Lachlan. Gammy smiles at the admission. “I’m not surprised at all. There was always a spark between the two of you, and I wondered if there was more on his side when he offered to marry you.”
“It’s been wonderful getting to know him this way. The move from friends to something more was scary, but I realized I couldn’t keep him as just a friend anymore. I was continually drawn to him, my magic pulling me that way, knowing he was the one long before I did. Or at least, long before I would listen,” she laughs, embarrassed at her reluctance.
Petra explains why, aside from seeing Gammy, she wanted to meet today. “We— that is, Lachlan and I—had an interesting meeting with Sloan Wilks yesterday.”
“Really? How did that go?” Gammy responds, her eyes widening with curiosity.
“That’s the thing. It was… good. She offered to help me and Lachlan, and surprisingly, she followed through. That’s kind of what I wanted to talk to you about today. She informed me that the person behind everything is Grog.”
Gammy sucks in a breath.
“Gammy?” Petra asks, panic rising. “Do you need something?”
Gammy exhales, trying to steady herself. She shakes her head. “No, no. I’m fine,” she says, waving Petra off. “Yes, Grog and I have been on the council together for quite some time and have history that I have shared with you before. I was hoping this wasn’t him.” She twirls the ring on her middle finger, looking down at the table.
“Do you think there is any way to take him down?”
“I’m not sure. It is hard to be removed as a council member. These are typically lifelong appointments. If you could collect enough evidence of his wrongdoings, you may have a better chance of defeating him if you could orchestrate it so it is an ambush. Less chance of him running.”
Petra nods, making a mental note of this information, planning to talk to Lachlan later.
“When is your next council check-in?” Gammy asks.
“I am not sure. There should be a summons soon for a final decision about whether our marriage is allowed to stand and if we will be able to remain council members.”
“Okay. Let me know when you are summoned.”
As they sit in quiet for a moment, Petra’s brain fires with an idea. “Oh, and Gammy?”
“Yes, darling?”
“You said that council positions are lifelong. I know they are appointed based on bloodlines.”
“Yes?” Gammy responds, sleep threatening to taking over her voice.
“Is it possible to change that practice? Could we change the way that council members are chosen and create a more democratic and inclusive practice?” Petra asks as inspiration takes over her. Pink sparks at her fingertips, eager to create change. To prevent others from being subjected to this life like she has. Not that she regrets it now, but it still would have been nice to have had a choice.
Gammy is silent for a long time. So long that Petra is sure Gammy has fallen asleep. “That is an interesting proposition. I suppose it could be done. You would need to do some serious campaigning and sway the council to your side. But yes, I think it could be done,” Gammy responds, a proud smile blooming on her delicate features. “And I think it would be good for the community.”
Petra tucks that nugget of information into the back of her mind, into a place where it can continue to grow and take shape before she decides to move forward with it.
The noon sun has warmed the sunroom considerably since she first arrived. She notices a small bead of sweat at the corner of Gammy’s brow, and her eyes appear heavy. While Petra doesn’t know exactly what the treatment looks like that Gammy is going through, she imagines it takes a toll on her.
