A Modern Witch - By Debora Geary Page 0,98
Maybe I can co-opt you to pick up some party supplies for me, too.”
Lauren grinned. It was good to be here. “I can most definitely do that. Did Jamie tell you we bought the girls laptops?”
Nell groaned in mock protest. “Just what we need around here—more computers. What did you get them?”
“Some seriously souped-up Macbooks. Jamie said you’ll be jealous. He’s setting login spells that only the girls can use.”
Nell snorted. “That might keep Aervyn out, but anyone else in this house who can’t crack a login spell is a changeling.”
Lauren laughed. “Far be it from me to defend Jamie’s prowess. He’ll have to do that himself.”
“So, how’s he doing, anyway?”
Nell sounded entirely too casual. Lauren paused before she spoke, not sure how to navigate sibling waters. “He’s really in love with Nat. I think he must go to yoga class every day. He can touch his toes now and everything.”
“But?”
Cripes. “But he misses his family something terrible. And I think he really misses the magic.”
Nell frowned. “He can do magic in Chicago.”
“Tried that.” Lauren told Nell about the motley coven meeting they’d crashed.
Nell shook her head. “Jamie’s not exactly tactful, especially when someone’s blowing it magically. He’s a wonderful trainer, but he’s best with kids.”
“So, you sent him to me?” Lauren asked, laughing. “Thanks a lot.”
“That was different. We didn’t even know for sure that you were a witch. He was available. If I’d known he was going to find Aervyn’s channeler and his future wife in Chicago, I might have sent backup.”
Aervyn’s channeler. No one had called her that for weeks now. It felt unexpectedly good.
“Speaking of his future wife,” Nell said, “how is Nat? Jamie mentioned something about buying a building.”
Lauren was pretty sure the baby was going to throw a bit of a wrench in those plans. Was it bad to spill a secret Jamie and Nat didn’t even know yet? Then again, Aervyn knew. Making up her mind, Lauren reached for Nell’s hand. “I need you to help me plan a surprise.”
Nell raised an eyebrow. “Buying a building’s a pretty big surprise.”
“This is bigger, in a way. Aervyn says Nat’s pregnant—he told me on the plane. Jamie and Nat don’t know yet, I don’t think.”
Nell’s face nearly split in two. “They will soon. Aervyn can’t keep a secret any better than your average four-year-old.”
“That’s what I figured,” Lauren said. “So, if the news is going to leak anyhow, I wanted to take advantage of it. Will you help me put together a baby shower while we’re here? So long as the girls won’t mind—I don’t want to overshadow their birthday.”
“You’ve got to be kidding. They’ll be your happy party-planning minions.”
“Minions will be necessary to pull this off in two days.”
“We’ll dragoon them to the planning committee after dinner. I hear Aunt Jennie’s car pulling up, so I think the next item on your agenda is training in the back yard.”
...
Jennie watched her three trainees with no small pride. They were doing some fine tricks today. Magic worked best when fueled by strong emotion, and the delight in the back yard this afternoon was strong, indeed.
Aervyn had plenty of power, happy or not, but he was very pleased with himself today. As he should be. It was a fine bit of witchling maneuvering he’d done to get Lauren back with him. He’d missed his mind-training buddy something fierce.
They had already played four rounds of Grab the Thought, and Lauren hadn’t lost her edge lazing around in Chicago. Round five was the tiebreaker. Ginia was openly cheering for Lauren. Jennie was too, although quite a bit more quietly. It wouldn’t do for her trainees to know she sometimes took sides.
Ginia was buzzing with the happiness of her upcoming birthday and Nat’s impending arrival. Ginia loved Nat with all the ardor of a young girl who has met the woman she wants to become. She had chosen well. Nat was a wonderful role model.
It was Lauren’s delight this afternoon that pleased Jennie most, however. After channeling power for the most spectacular magic Jennie had ever witnessed, Lauren had gone back to Chicago and largely disappeared.
Oh, she’d sent some nice emails, and they’d even had a couple of lovely video chats. But she’d tucked her magic away. Jennie had pressed Jamie on this, and he’d agreed.
Until today, Jennie had been unsure whether Lauren was just taking a sizeable breather, or running away for good. Today suggested they might well gain her back. The witching world would be glad. Not