I look at him like he’s sprouted vines more magnificently than Acton. “Why not? Are there not humans here? We shouldn’t let those warlocks’ nonsense infect our thinking.Besides, you already worked for the town and transformed our parks here. Now Kiernan Lykander has taken over, and you helped instill that similar vision in him. You’ve already left a strong legacy. And you have so much more wisdom and insight to offer. I promise you will always have plenty of time to spend on your connection to nature. And all the connecting you do with Acton in nature,” I encourage with a cheeky wink.
“Oh shush.” He laughs playfully. “What do you expect when two outdoorsmen find love?”
“Well, I stand by what I say. You’ve lived here for half a century. I know you have opinions on how things should be run,” I press.
“I suppose you’re right. I’ll put my hat in the ring,” he concedes with a shy smile.
“Oh Walt, I’m tickled pink! We’ll get to spend even more time together!” I clap my hands in glee.
“That’s what I’m looking forward to the most,” he adds, holding out his coffee mug for a toast. I pick mine up and we clink mugs, taking a long fortifying sip afterward.
“Did you see Acton outside?” Walt gestures his mug in that direction. “I will say that deliriously delightful dryad has been awfully obsessed with transforming the back garden. He’s even looking into water features. Fish will be a step too far, Ada! I have to draw the line somewhere. I’ll just insist we go kayaking if he wants to be close to aquatic life.”
“He was looking at the fence when I got here. I didn’t have a chance to peek at the back garden.” I pause, grimacing. “I’m not sure about the fish either.”
“It’s not much to look at right now. Most of it’s torn up to make room for his new design. We replanted anything native in the woods if we thought it might thrive. The rest we gave away to the neighbors. He has some grand design in his green noggin.I’m just letting him run wild with it.” He smiles fondly and shakes his head.
“Moon and stars, you’re going to have an entire eco-system back there. I can’t wait! Send him over to my house next.”
We finish our coffee and make plans to go over his campaign later this week. I know Clancy and everyone on town council will be on board. Hopefully the other two vacancies will be easy to fill.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Walt’s expression turns troubled. He exhales raggedly as he folds his arms over his chest. “I worry with those two warlocks still out there. That they’ll cause trouble for us if they aren’t caught by election day. Even with Weatherby in custody, they’ve been smart enough to evade capture.”
I bite my lip, unable to hide my own concern that they’ve cloaked themselves powerfully enough to hide from our law enforcement. “They’ll slip up soon enough. They can’t keep this up forever.”
“Desperate and evil is a volatile combination,” he observes, frowning.
As I get ready to leave, he puts a warm hand on my shoulder. He steps in front of me, his eyes studying me.
“You look depleted, Ada. Thinner than usual too. Believe me, I know you don’t need another old man hounding you, but you look like you’re running yourself into the ground. How are you feeling? Are you getting enough sleep?”
I sigh pitifully. “Sleep has not come easy recently. I just notice myself feeling low. Low energy, low spirits, you name it. I don’t know how to describe it. There’s been this nagging emptiness in me since my magick was taken.”
“Is it that blue devil? I saw him the other day, but I tried to avoid him. Figured if I didn’t have anything good to say, why say anything at all. But if I need to talk to him…” he starts.
“No,” I interrupt. “It’s not him. Or notjusthim anyway. We had a painful conversation yesterday, for me at least. I think for him too. But something else is going on. Maybe I’ll go back to the healers clinic if I don’t feel better soon.”
“Did the conversation give you closure at least?” he asks in a gentle tone, knowing firsthand how broken I was.
“The opposite, in a way. He was still evasive like always, but he tried to tell me that he was forced to leave without me to lead his clan due to their politics. And that he regrets not telling me about it at the time and simply… leaving. Now he feels beholden to help me to make up for it. Ashes, the whole conversation made me feel more muddled than ever. I’m still so angry at him. He thought he knew what was best for me then. He’s doing the same now. He hasn’t changed as much as he thinks,” I share with a wry smile.
Walt whistles low in surprise. “Oh boy, he went ahead and opened that can of worms.” He did indeed.
There’s already a line at the counter when I hurry through the door of my shop. Ashes, Sunny would have only just opened. Before I get sucked in to the day’s work, I craft a quick email to the farmers market organizer to ask about the vendor application process. I wish I spoke to him last night. But that outing derailed right quick before I had the chance. Hopefully he’ll have good news for me to pass along to Sunny if she’s interested.
Finally, Sunny and I get the morning rush out the door. It gives me time to set out a display of winter-themed charms and enchantments that should be popular this month. The Warm Hug charm feels like just that, perfect for the colder months.No coat is necessary while wearing it. The Fuzzy Slippers spray insulates any footwear against the cold, leaving feet nice and toasty even while wearing sandals or high heels. The door chimes as I busily arrange the items.
“Ada! You weren’t home so I figured I’d find you here.” Aurelia’s voice catches my attention, so I spin around to greet her.
“Oh, Aurelia! I think it’s been a couple days since I’ve seen you.” I exaggeratedly widen my eyes. “You don’t even want to know what’s happened since then. Well, yes you do, but I’ll fill you in later. What can I do for you?”
“Of course I want to know!” She barks a husky laugh. “Well, I wanted to see your shop while you’re here, and I finally have some time this morning to pop by. We had some long days of meetings recently, but they’ve been good so I shouldn’t complain.” She swivels her head, looking around the shop. “It’s so lovely in here, Ada. You must be so proud of it. The décor is the right blend of moody and cozy, exactly what I’d hope for in a magick wielder’s shop. I feel like I could sit in here all day and read a book.”
“You are most certainly welcome to,” I tell her with a wink. “You know, the shop has probably looked like this for a century. Luckily, it never fully went out of fashion.” A laugh bubbles out of me.
“Well, I really am impressed by it. I better get back for the next meeting, of course, but I’ll return at lunchtime to take a closer look at your wares. Maybe we can grab a bite together?”
“I’d like that,” I tell her. We make plans to meet back up in a few hours.
