A Reckless Witch - By Debora Geary Page 0,34
deposited. We advanced you a month’s salary, so you should have plenty in there to take care of whatever you need. A transit pass—standard employee benefit.” At least it was as of today.
Nell dug into the envelope one last time. “Keys and a map to your new apartment. It’s about six blocks from here and a short walk from the water, so Lauren hopes you like it. You can start fixing it up next Saturday. We figured you’d want a few days to paint and things before you moved in.”
Sierra nodded dumbly, looking delighted—and hopelessly lost.
Nell had some ideas about that. Right on cue, three curly heads invaded the kitchen. “And this is your painting crew. All you need to do is pick a color.” She leaned over and whispered. “Don’t let them talk you into pink.”
“Mama!” three voices protested in unison. Ginia grinned. “Sierra can pick whatever color she wants. So long as it’s not boring.” She upended an entire backpack of paint chips on the table. “We hope you like one of these. We picked all our favorites.”
“I’ve never picked my own paint.” Sierra’s sniffly giggles arrowed right into Nell’s heart.
Mia sat down, reaching for a couple of paint chips. “Here’s two I like. Bikini Pink and Pearly Purple.”
Nell hid her amusement as fierce debate broke out. She had twenty bucks riding on Bikini Pink in the betting pool.
~ ~ ~
Lauren looked over at Sierra, breathing in the salt-misted morning air as they walked down the beach. She could feel the girl’s mind streaming relaxed gratitude as they walked. It was the same way Nat’s mind felt after yoga.
Nat smiled and copied Sierra’s breathing. “It smells good. I always wonder where the air’s come from, and where it will head to next.”
Sierra stopped and looked out at the water, tilting her head. “It’s blowing from the northwest, so…” She grinned. “I think it’s only the whales that have seen this air since it left Siberia.”
Lauren laughed and pulled down on the edges of her hat. “Well, that would explain the temperature.”
“Want me to warm it up a little?” Sierra wiggled her fingers. “It’s warmer right above this fog, so it wouldn’t take much. Just a little fire magic.”
Nat shook her head. “No, thanks. My belly bean here is finally sleeping, and fire magic wakes her up.” She grinned. “Lauren’s from Chicago—she can take it.”
Lauren was feeling like she had weak California blood now, but she was hardly going to insist on waking up the baby. She reached into her pocket to double-check that her phone was on. Good realtors knew emergencies happened when you weren’t prepared. If Nat went into labor on the beach, she wanted a teleporting witch available, stat.
Sierra was staring at Nat’s belly, fascinated. “How does it feel?”
Nat walked a little closer to the waves, daring the water to grab her toes. “Lately, like I’m really a bowling ball with toothpicks for my arms and legs.”
Sierra giggled. “Momma used to tell me she was seriously happy the whales came to swim with her when she was really pregnant, because they made her feel sort of graceful again.”
Lauren looked out at the ocean and tried to imagine a morning dip. Brr. “Did she do that often? Go swimming in the ocean?”
“Sure.” Sierra nodded absently, looking out toward the horizon. “We went out all the time. I haven’t gone out here yet, but when I swam in Oregon I had to be careful—it scared people if they saw me out there.”
She went swimming in the Pacific Ocean by herself? Lauren exchanged glances with Nat. No way that sounded like a good idea, but you didn’t just tell an eighteen-year-old what not to do.
Nat touched Sierra’s hand. “Maybe we can find somebody here who would like to swim with you.”
The girl shrugged, unconcerned. “It’s no big deal. I just swim far enough out so people can’t see me, and it’s fine.” She frowned. “It’s going to be harder here, though. More people on the beaches. In Oregon, the coast is pretty quiet in the winter.”
Lauren shook her head, sure her ears hadn’t heard that right. “You go swimming in the winter?”
“Uh, huh.” Sierra was still staring out at the horizon. “I use fire magic to stay warm.”
This was rapidly exceeding Lauren’s areas of expertise as a fairly new witch. Maybe ocean swims in the middle of winter were normal for someone with water talents. She’d freak out quietly for now.
Sierra started bouncing on her toes. “They’re coming. The