Fuck it.
I held his hands between us and stared into his eyes. The snowflakes falling around us distracted me slightly before I refocused the grayish blue coloring of his irises. It took a few seconds, but I managed to clear my thoughts of all noise, just like we practiced in class.
I didn’t need to look into a crystal ball, or tea leaves to see my future with Rylan. I just needed those eyes.
Flashes of bottles with labels I couldn’t read danced through my vision, and I knew it worked. I didn’t see Rylan before me, but I knew he was there via our clasped palms.
Then I saw it.
Him on one knee wearing the same tux. Piper laughing on the floor by a big Christmas tree near an elaborate fireplace. A flash in front of us as a family in matching ugly sweaters. Remy, Imogene, Piper, Rylan, me, Russel, and my noodle all smiled proudly for the camera. On my finger was a sapphire the size of a blueberry on a white gold band, because of course it was that big.
Then there were the visions of gray hair.
My head ached, and my eyes watered. The visions were beautiful but then my magic snapped like a rubber band, and I cursed.
Rylan was there with a glass of water, ready for me. I kissed him without a thought and gave him an answer to a question he’d ask me later.
“Yes, Rylan. Yes, to all of it, youcharming fool.”
Epilogue
Where’s my wife?
“Mom, the mouse wants another bagel!” Piper hollered from the back room, and I pinched the bridge of my nose. It was almost the one-year anniversary of the day magic entered my life. When I went back to the apartment to pack up my belongings to send to our new home, the mouse asked if he could come too.
I shrugged. He was part of my story to becoming a witch, and I figured why the hell not. Of course he couldn’t live in the house, but we gave him a tiny home outside to live happily in. He mostly hid when Remy and Jemison visited though.
“Okay, but that’s the last one!” I yelled as Remy finished setting up the security system for the shop. Since we finished our first year at McKenzie Institute a month ago, Remy and I talked every day, sometimes multiple times a day.
I was glad she came to visit for the shop’s grand opening this weekend.
“All set. Everything looks good. I’m surprised Rylan didn’t get you a bigger place,” she commented while looking around thesmall shop with the view of the river outside the window. It was a prime spot in Dinan, the French town we bought a house in.
I’d be able to set up a tent for the markets to sell my stuff. The regulations were still being drafted about witch apothecaries, so I was testing the waters. Potions were my thing, and if I could use them to help people with their ailments, then I’d give it a try. It felt right and I enjoyed it.
My teas, and cupcakes were the favorite amongst Imogene’s clients. They offered to pay double if I sent them the potions after we left school. I was still deciding on shipping or not. Magically altered items weren’t allowed in the typical mail carriers.
Remy shifted from one foot to another, and I realized I zoned out.
“I fell for the river view and there’s a spot in the back for tea. Really peaceful. I love it.” Rylan made the shelves himself, and I helped lift them up magically. We were a good team.
Rylan stepped into the door and eyed Remy first. “Where’s my wife?”
“She’s working, unlike somebody,” I teased as I stepped into his view. We both know he was making millions as he stood there but it was fun to mess with him.
“I’ll make sure to put in more hours tonight with my tong—”
“Nope! Nope! Lalalala. I’m staying at the house tonight before heading back to school. So no, ew. Plus!Iget Mom tonight.” Piper walked in with a finger pointed at her stepfather. “We’re having a girl’s night full of romcoms and cake. You can have her tomorrow.”
Piper and Rylan were thick as thieves, and both lived to mess with me. She had him wrapped around her finger. Anything she needed, he’d deliver on a silver platter.
A trait I wanted to hate but that was my baby. He spoiled her rotten and I loved every minute of it. Though I did make a face here and there to keep him on his toes.
“I just need like ten minutes.” Rylan waggled his eyebrows at me and my dumb heart still pitter pattered for him like it did when we first met.
“Oh my God. Fine. Gross. But if she can’t make it through the movies because she’s tired. You’re paying for it,Dad.” She said the last part in a threatening manner but her big green eyes were so doll-like that it made her threat comical.
“Ugh, you guys make me sick. Too much family love in this little space.” Remy groaned and packed up her laptop.
