Kathy's responding frown and narrowed eyes let them know what she thought. Anyone was welcome here, and as they were all residents she couldn't turn them away. But she did lift her chin and in a small defiance said, "No cats allowed. Or raccoons," she added, her frown deepening.
Eloise put two biscuits on the ground underneath one of the red benches for the creatures. Lady Macbeth had been in her life for less than a full day and the raccoon had already become attached to her. She'd spent part of that day napping on the back patio with a large, floppy hat on and a blanket tucked in around her legs. Lady had curled up where Eloise's legs had rested on another chair, and when she woke some time later, with her skin deliciously warmed by the sun and the smell of buttercups blooming, she smiled when she saw the pregnant racoon asleep at her feet with one, black hand gripping her toes.
She hesitated leaving Lady Macbeth but then Sulphur curled up and Lady followed suit, understanding which animal was in charge.
Kathy clutched her cross necklace and passed them each a paper reluctantly, trying her hardest not to touch any of them.
"We're not vampires, Kathy," Jen said pointing to where the woman was holding dear her necklace.
"Though if I ever meet one, I will be sure to introduce you," Tilly teased.
Kathy stared wide-eyed at them as Eloise lifted her hand and wiggled her fingers toward Kathy drawing a gasp from the woman. Ursula bumped her shoulder, whispering to their small group, "Was that necessary?"
"Yes," Jen whispered back.
"Good point," she replied with a half-smirk.
They found a row of seats open and kept their faces and body language pleasantly unbothered by the whispers weaving around them.
Unkindness undeserved had a stickiness about it, sandburs that cling to clothing hoping to be carried around before being dealt with at the end of a long day with a sigh of frustration.
But these women, together, could hold each other accountable to not accepting anyone's unkindness that tried to catch an unpaid ride. So, they sat in their ladder back seats, offering smiles in return for glares and silence for whispers.
Bess had stayed behind, still not ready to face more of the town than necessary. When Eloise asked if they could talk later, Bess paused in a way that lent to weighing anger and hurt. Finally, she agreed but said she had promised to spend time with her uncle and asked if she could spend the night the next evening. Eloise and Ursula readily agreed and promised a 90's movie night with maple blondies and popcorn.
"Here to support the Fabulous Salem Coven," a voice said drawing six pair of eyes up to a friendly face.
"Jessica!"
She smiled and gave hugs and hand squeezes down the row taking a seat next to Ursula on the end.
"Not afraid to be seen with the witchy outcasts?" Jen leaned forward asking Jessica.
Jessica snorted, the unladylike sound beautiful. She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder. "I happen to have a penchant for outcasts. They're far more interesting company than the ones doing the outcasting."
Cora Acosta, town mayor, took a seat behind the podium and winked at Jen who winked back. The chief was next to her, and his stoic eyes clocked all of them before turning to someone who sat next to him. The man he was talking with was someone Eloise didn't recognize but when Jen leaned forward and made a 'pssss' sound, Eloise looked at her.
"That's Graham," she whispered, her hand cupping her mouth in a secret while the other pointed to the man next to the chief.
She looked back at the front. He was handsome, in casual business attire and talking easily with the chief. Then her heart lurched when a familiar figure joined them, taking the last seat behind the podium. Taylor shook hands with a few people, talked easily, his body language at ease. When he settled into his seat his eyes found hers, like they could feel each other, and she gave him a small smile with an equally small wave. He nodded raising his hand the slightest. Her eyes shifted to Graham again and she pulled her lips between her teeth.
She looked back at Jen and jokingly asked, "Think Graham would be up for a date redo now that I've been outed as a full-blown witch?"
Jen grinned.
"Alright! Let's get started. Kristen will be taking our minutes tonight as Jolene is out with a sore throat and no voice." The woman speaking was Carman Jones. She came into the coffee shop every morning exactly at seven for a white mocha with an extra shot. Her eyes found their row pointedly with accusation, and Eloise felt it personally.
"Who is Jolene?" Eloise whispered to Ursula who shrugged. She rolled her eyes. "Every cough and sniffle will be blamed on us until this is cleared up," she groused.
"I move to ban The Lost Soul Witches!" someone stood up in the second row, their voice clear and carrying over the room. The number of eyes that landed on them were so many that it was heavy.
"Wow, that was fast," Tilly commented.
"Right?" Eloise asked. "I'm almost flattered."
Jen waved at everyone around them with a sweet and wide smile. Crystal looked serene and unbothered.
Chief Landry had a look of calculation on his stern face and Taylor looked as though he was holding himself back. Though his eyes he could not hide, and they were angry.
