A Modern Witch - By Debora Geary Page 0,73
there are visions of the future flying around. Not to mention she’s spent the whole week surrounded by witches. I want us to figure out who we are for each other without all that in the mix.”
“All that is already in the mix,” Lauren said. “She knows her own mind and heart better than anyone.”
“Then help me out here, so I can be around while she figures it out. I don’t want to pressure her, so I want a place to live. Month to month would be great. I can stay with Nash, but it’s hell trying to work at his place. Too many distractions.”
“I think I know the perfect place—I’ll check with the landlord.” Lauren grinned. “Walking distance to Nat’s studio; you can take her 6 am class every morning.”
Jamie groaned. “Can’t I just watch her? That’s a lot more fun than trying to turn myself into a pretzel.”
“If you want to truly know Nat, take her classes. I’ll arrange the rental.”
“Thanks. And one more thing.” Jamie waited until Lauren was paying full attention. “Don’t tell her. Please. It’s mine to do.”
Lauren contemplated him for a moment, and then nodded in agreement. “I hope it works out for you two, Jamie—I really do. She’s my best friend in all the world, so I don’t say that lightly. I like you, and I think you’re good for her.”
She paused. “Screw her up, and I’ll see just how much damage I can do with these new powers of mine.”
Now didn’t seem like a good time to talk about the ethics of witching. Jamie chose an expedient alternative. “I have to go pick up Sophie at the airport. Want to come?”
…
Jennie watched Aervyn in her viewfinder, waiting for that moment when light and small-boy grin meshed. It came, and she clicked.
Nell sat on the grass nearby, watching her youngest four play in Jamie’s back yard. “Thanks, Jennie. Today, it’s good to think of him as a little boy in a sandbox.”
It was always harder to be those who loved. “A camera in my hand is always therapeutic. Today, I’ll capture your small boy.” And tomorrow, she thought, I’ll capture the witch.
“Do you think they’re ready?”
Jennie knew what Nell asked. “I do. Aervyn is young, but he’s been well trained. Jamie is wonderful with him.”
Nell laughed. “He gets to let out his inner child.”
“I suspect you’re right. But Jamie is also innately cautious in his magic when he works with others. He’s passed that on to Aervyn. Your son is very careful to keep others safe. We both know he had lots of power left in the tank when he flew us. It wasn’t nearly as daring on his part as it looked.”
Nell reached out a hand. “Thanks for that. I keep telling myself the same thing, but it’s good to hear it from someone else.”
“He’s done plenty of small circle work. He’s ready for this, Nell.”
“And Lauren? If training makes you ready, she’s not even close.”
Jennie tried not to bristle. They’d done a lot of work in the last week. “She lacks practice, for sure. But she’s a creative and confident witch.”
Nell just raised an eyebrow.
Jennie sighed. “Not after the magic is done, and can you blame her for feeling overwhelmed? But during the magic—you’ve worked plenty of circles, Nell. If you didn’t know she was new, what would you have thought, watching her channel for your son?”
Nell was quiet a long moment. “I would have been deeply grateful he’d found such a skilled and sure partner.”
“Exactly. She works with the confidence of long experience.”
“Or the fearlessness of a newbie who doesn’t know any better.”
And maybe that’s for the best, thought Jennie. “Some of that, too. I think it helps the two of them, actually. They don’t really have any idea how strong they are together. They headed into completely unknown territory yesterday.”
“Were you as scared as I was?”
Jennie laughed. “Watching them do five kinds of impossible? Heck, yes. The two of them didn’t know any better, and the magic was free to sing because of it.”
Pride burst out of Nell. “I’ve never seen anything like it, Jennie. Never.”
Neither had she. “Maybe it’s best for Aervyn to work with a channeler who isn’t completely awestruck by his power.”
Nell suddenly smiled. “Yeah. She gives him hugs and feeds him cookies. She doesn’t forget he’s four.”
Jenny raised her camera and clicked. “She’ll take good care of him, Nell. And trust your son. He was born to do this.”
…
Lauren felt like she was eight years