"We could do something with them for the summer solstice," Tilly said around a mouthful of scone.
"Ah, Litha," a voice entered the kitchen, drawing eyes to where Crystal carried Lady Macbeth in her arms. "What a lovely time of year. The time when the sun stands still and the days lengthen. Abundance of life and crops." She kissed the top of Lady Macbeth's head as she bent low to set her on the ground. Her flowing kaftan in a rich cream fluttered around her. She somehow always looked elegant, like she had struck a deal with gravity that made her glide everywhere she went.
Ursula kissed her cheek and pointed to the tea kettle. "Had an inkling you would show up. Spearmint and lavender tea ready for you."
"You are a gem. Now, I'm making my way into town, but felt a stirring."
"A stirring. What kind of stirring?" Eloise asked as she pulled down a small plate with a rook on it for her.
"I'm not sure yet," she replied thoughtfully. "But let's plan the summer solstice. I think we should welcome the season."
"Dance under the moonlight naked?" Eloise suggested with a smirk.
Tilly raised her arms and wiggled them, mimicking their earlier, friendly spat, drawing a laugh from her friends.
"Hey," Eloise tilted her head thoughtfully at Crystal. "Women's bodies. What's your take?"
Without hesitation, she replied, "Oh, glorious things. Art," she waved her hand through the air. "Industrial. Life-giving. I have lived long enough to know that the most precious and misunderstood things in this world are attacked." She sipped hersteaming tea. "The perfect balance is food worth moaning over, movement to keep us strong, and as many orgasms as you want."
The three women smiled at the honesty and the forgiveness in her words.
"So! Food, bonfire, dream pillows, gathering an offering of herbs," Crystal said with a wave of her slender hand. "Simple things for Litha?"
"Oh, Jen's new store is opening tonight. I'm bringing the flowers; Eloise is bringing the treats."
"I'm bringing my tarot cart."
"And I will bring my elbow grease and sunny disposition," Tilly added.
"It's supposed to be a whole big thing. Even the fire department is coming out for support."
"Oooh, maybe a big, strong firefighter will catch Tilly's eye," Ursula said with a wink.
"I don't know," Eloise tilted her head, looking at their friend thoughtfully. "I think a certain, mysterious police chief already has her eye."
At the mention of Chief Landry, Tilly's insides somersaulted. She hadn't spoken to him since the evening she brought him that basket of goodies, thanking him for saving Bess's life.
An evening she had played over in her mind on a nightly basis for the last two months.
3. Two Months Ago
It had been a task finding the chief's address, and not simply because he had only moved to Salem a few months prior. No, he had gone to great lengths to keep his home private. But working in radio offered her a few background privileges she rarely used.
She put her car in park and peered through the windshield down the long gravel drive, which was grown over in places by tall bull thistle and patches of fuzzy grass. She took in what looked like a miniature stone castle, mouth open and eyes wide.
It looked like someone had taken one portion of a large medieval structure, whisked it away to this northeastern sea town, and then placed it lovingly here in a thick patch of woods for safekeeping. There was one turret connected to a tall rectangular, light grey stone structure with three windows across its face. The porch, not what she would consider welcoming, was a large, dark cavern. No lights were on, save for a flickering yellow glow in the top window of the rounded turretwith iron bars. The lanterns mounted on either side of the porch looked like they would burn real fire, but were empty.
She gave herself a moment, then nodded and grabbed the wooden basket, making her way up the gravel drive to the porch.
She paused in front of the stone steps and drew in a deep breath. The doors were French, large, and heavy wood with one small window that showed the dark foyer beyond it. There was a stone bat standing sentry to her right, and she almost laughed.
Almost.
She took a moment as she gathered her courage. The sun had started its descent, and the spring-thin tree branches scraped along its light as the night creatures stirred. The smell of the woods waking from winter filled her senses, the reminder of life giving her the courage she needed. She couldn't explain it to anyone, least of all herself, but there was something about the chief that had drawn her.
Since Bess's bonfire confession about that night, the night she had left this world and was then brought back to it by her account, and what she thought she had seen as if in a fever dream as the chief had gently carried her to the couch and watched over her, Tilly hadn't been able to keep thoughts of him at bay.
She took the four steps up onto the wide, cool porch and lifted her hand to knock.
