“All right, everyoneshush,” Maxine said as the candles were lit. “Now, we’re going to all be silent—especially you, Neety—and your little dog too!” She cackled a little and Callie couldn’t control her own giggle as Cherry muttered, “Spoken like a true witch.”
“She’s not really a witch is she?” Callie asked Fiona, suddenly nervous. It was, after all, Wicks Hollow.
“No one’s ever said she was,” Fiona replied off-handedly. “But no one’s ever said she isn’t. But besides, witches aren’t necessarily mediums. They don’t do séances.”
“I wouldn’t put it past her—”
“Hush,” Maxine said, and there was something different about her voice. It was strong and calm without being as sharp and annoying as it usually was. “Shhhh. Everyone quiet down and let’s hold hands, all right? Bare hands—take off your gloves.”
Callie couldn’t help but glance at the picture of Brenda Tremaine, which was directly across the room from where she was sitting. Fiona took one of her hands, and Cherry took the other. Maxine sat across from her, with Iva on one side and Juanita on the other. Orbra sat between Cherry and Iva.
The room fell silent and Callie felt an icy shiver run down her spine. Could have been from the fact that it was after dark on a December day and they were in a room with no heat…or it could have been because she was more than a little nervous.
The candle flames swayed and bounced casually and Callie found herself staring at the dancing lights. The scent of the incense Cherry had lit smelled nice, and Callie relaxed a little as she breathed slowly in and out.
“Now…we welcome any benign and benevolent spirits that wish to join us tonight,” said Maxine. “On this Winter Solstice…”
Callie’s eyes popped open and she looked at Fiona, but her friend’s eyes were softly closed and her face seemed peaceful in its repose.
Winter Solstice…that was a Wiccan celebration, wasn’t it? Maybe Maxine reallywasa witch.
“If you are here, please make your presence known.” Maxine’s voice continued to be smooth and almost hypnotic. “Jean, that includes you,” she added a little more abruptly. Cherry suppressed a soft snort but immediately subsided.
Callie felt the air move and her eyes opened again. Try as she might, she was not going to be able to keep them closed. She looked up at Brenda Tremaine’s portrait and gave a quiet gasp when she thought she saw the woman’s hair moving as if in a breeze. She blinked, and then the impression was gone.
Maxine spoke again, “Jean Fickler, if you’re there, please—”
Thunk!
Callie’s attention whipped to the window, but nothing was there.
Thunkity-thunk!
“So you remember our special knock, do you, Jean?” Maxine said. There was a smile in her voice, though it was a little too dark for Callie to see it on her face.
Thunk-thunkity-thunk!
“Yes, it’s definitely you. I hope you’re doing well over there on the other side.”
Thu-unk!
“Glad to hear it! Well, I’m sure it’ll be a long time before I’m ready to join you, but it’s nice to hear all is well up there. Now, we need your otherworldly help with a problem. Iva wants to get married—”
Thunk! Thunk! THUNK!!
“I know, I know,” Maxine went on. “She swore she never would, but then Mr. Right came along and she threw all her feminism out the window—”
“That’snottrue,” Iva hissed. “Don’t be telling Jean that!”
“Well, you can’t deny Hollis came along and swept you off your feet,” Juanita said practically. “And—”
“I swepthimoffhisfeet,” Iva retorted, a little louder now. “And we’ve been together almost two years now, and we just decided for practical reasons that it makes sense to join our households. Don’t be shaking your ghostly finger at me, Jean Fickler,” she added, looking up and around the room. “You were happily married for a couple of decades.”
Thunkkkkk…
“Anyway,” Maxine said, her voice taking on its regular, strident tone. “Iva wants to get married here on New Year’s Eve, Jean, and one of your co-ghosts seems to have a bug up her supernatural butt about—”
Brenda’s portrait crashed to the floor, and everyone jumped except Callie, who’d seen it fall. But Maxine was the only person who didn’t turn to look, even though her back was to the painting.
