“I haven’t changed much. I still think of the room as his, even after so many years. Not that it’s a shrine to him or anything so sacred. I’ve just wanted to preserve this little space he spent a great deal of time in. I can still picture him sitting in thechair, his head in a book or writing in his journal,” I reminisce, nostalgia washing over me.
He scans the room as I speak. When his attention returns to me, there’s a wistful smile on his face, matching my own. “Your father was an impressive witch. Both of your parents were.”
“He’d be happy someone was doing such important work at his desk. He’d have been honored,” I quaver.
“I think he’d be proud that his daughter fearlessly confronted a fae and held her own until most of her coven arrived to capture it.Thatwas important,” he stresses, taking my hand and squeezing it when I blush and look away. It brings my gaze back to him. “Your quick thinking saved the town, Ada. If the fae was allowed to get away, who knows what worse could have happened?”
“Clearly I wasn’t very successful,” I argue, waving my free hand toward myself.
“Victory isn’t only measured by coming out of a battle unscathed. The most important battles are rarely won easily. You were courageous, you didn’t flinch when everything was on the line, including your life. And you turned the tide for all of us because of it. Your battle wound is a sign of your bravery. You’re still standing, still helping, even at such a great cost to yourself,” he commends me, his weighty tone brooking no argument.
Staggered, I nod, the lump in my throat leaving me unable to speak. Sometimes it’s hard to accept praise, even from a friend, especially knowing I went into the fight on a wing and a prayer. I didn’t have any notion of courage or bravery or any of these pretty words he used. I did what I had to. There wasn’t any other choice for me.
I turn my gaze again to my father’s desk, breaking eye contact with Niven. He still watches me for a quiet moment. With one last comforting squeeze, he drops my hand. I wipe the wetnessfrom my eyes and cross my arms over my torso, taking a few ragged breaths to gather myself.
“You know I saw them that night? My parents. My long-gone family. They were there. They protected me and the rest of the coven too when they arrived. I wouldn’t be here without them. Probably shouldn’t be,” I whisper hoarsely, my throat still tight.
“They’re a part of you. Their magick is a part of you. And always will be. They did all they could to save you through the ward.” He exhales deeply, like his own words are affecting him as much as they are me. “I’m here to talk if you need to, anytime. I’m never too busy for you. Okay?” There’s an uncharacteristic gentleness in his voice.
“Okay.” With a brittle smile, I add, “Well, I’ll let you settle in.”
Before I thoroughly embarrass myself and blubber like a baby in front of him, I turn on my heel and walk back downstairs to the comfort of my kitchen.
There’s a lull while my first two guests unpack. I need it after that unexpectedly sentimental talk with Niven. My hands shake, slowing me down, as I slice lemons for the pitchers of sweet tea and lemonade I made earlier. I push the cutting board away from me as a jumble of memories from that night rush through my brain. Turning around, I lean against the kitchen counter and wrap my arms around myself, willing them to go away. Soon enough, Aurelia and Niven chat animatedly as they descend the stairs. I wipe my face and hurry to meet them in the foyer so I can show them around.
They must have finally piqued the cats’ interest because Vanny and Earl Grey tear around the corner, racing toward ournew guests like they’ve been dipped in tuna. Earlier, I’d given them strict instructions to be on their best behavior. Clearly it was in one ear and out the other, as they batted at and then rubbed against the accusing finger I had pointed in their direction until I gave them scritches.
“Who are these two munchkins?” Aurelia coos as she picks up Earl Grey and scratches under his chin.
A snort of laughter bubbles out of me at how adoringly they stare at each other. “These lover boys are Vanilla Paws, or Vanny as I call him, and Earl Grey,” I say, gesturing at each. “They’re brothers and best friends. This is their house and I’m just living in it.”
Niven bends down to run his hand along Vanny’s back and up his tail. After walking in circles, rubbing himself on Niven’s pantlegs, Vanny lays down at his feet stretching out on his back for belly rubs, which Niven immediately obliges.
“Well, I see they won’t have any trouble with strangers invading their space,” I jest. “But I will warn you they have no sense of propriety or boundaries. What’s yours is theirs.”
“I see no problem with that. I think we’ll be as thick as thieves,” Aurelia remarks, making me chuckle at this ridiculous love fest.
“We’ll bring them on the house tour. Too bad they can’t lead it themselves. I’m sure they know all the best spots to nap. First, would you like sweet tea? Coffee? Lemonade?” Both opt for coffee.
Leading everyone into the kitchen, including Vanny who hops along closely at Niven’s heels, I pour their coffee into mugs to bring along. Since this will be a very long, stressful day, I take a mug as well.
“The kitchen is fully stocked with groceries and even some new kitchen gadgets, so feel free to eat or use anything here. You can go out to the garden through these doors whenever youplease, there’s plenty of seating out there,” I tell them as I point out the various elements.
The tour continues as we walk through the succeeding doorways into the richly painted terra cotta dining room and dark pine green living room. Wide-plank antique wood floors run throughout. I point out the wide, light gray marble double-sided fireplace that sits between them that I light during the short chilly season.
Exiting the living room into the foyer, matching double doors on the opposite side of the house lead into the salon, an over-sized formal entertaining room painted a dark, muted blue that runs almost to the back of the house. It once held balls and dances, but now it only serves as a meeting space for the coven. Tucked away at the back of the house is a workroom stocked with everything needed to make potions and enchantments. The attached short hallway with the downstairs powder room and a butler’s pantry leads back to the kitchen.
“This house is something! No wonder these two act like little princes,” Aurelia remarks.
“Just like me, the kitchen is their favorite room. As you can tell, they love to eat,” I joke as Vanny lopes between my legs toward his food bowl.
“There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a good meal, Earl Grey,” Aurelia whispers into his ear, making all of us laugh. He could not care less about our conversation as he contentedly purrs in her arms, oblivious to anyone but her.
Stepping back into the foyer, I take them upstairs once again to point out all the bedrooms and bathrooms. Luckily, they’ll only have to double up on bathrooms. And everyone will have their own room except Aurelia and Cyrinda, who I learned are close friends.
“That’s about everything there is to see. I do have a musty old attic, but I’ll spare you. It’s a lot of old furniture collected overthe generations. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll go through it,” I say with a shrug.
“I had no idea your house was so impressive,” Niven remarks as we head downstairs again.
