A Reckless Witch - By Debora Geary Page 0,68
voice. She sank down into the couch between Nell and the older woman she remembered from her last visit to the Witches’ Lounge. Moira.
“Welcome to your new home, darling girl.” Moira smiled, deep welcome in her eyes. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet, but you look just like your mama. You have her twinkling eyes and those same hands that are always moving. Your mama could tell a story just with her hands.”
And with those words, memory drilled into Sierra. Momma’s hands painting pictures in the night shadows, telling one more tale before they drifted into sleep. Tears spilled over even as she felt herself cuddled into a warm shoulder.
“Let them out, sweetheart.” It came as a gentle command. “The Irish have always believed tears are a blessing.”
She cried. And when she finished, wiped her eyes, and looked up, discovered half the room had cried along with her. Somehow, that felt just fine.
She took a moment, appreciating the home they’d made for her. Her hands traveled over the soft fabric of the biggest couch in the universe. Ginia grinned. “It’s called The Monster. It used to be Uncle Jamie’s.”
Sierra sniffled. “It’s totally gorgeous.”
“Ugh.” Jamie groaned, eyes twinkling. “Don’t insult The Monster. He’s already feeling all dolled up and girly.”
Ginia stuck out her tongue. “Maybe The Monster’s really a girl.” Then she doubled over laughing as both her uncles started tickling her ribs.
They were so goofy. And it was a totally awesome couch. Sierra reached out again, running her hands along The Monster’s curves—and her fingers touched magic. The knitted throw was beautiful, but that’s not what had called to her. She wrapped her hands in the soft folds, letting her power hum with delight. “What is this?”
Moira smiled, eyes filled with pleasure. “Just a small gift from my hands to your house. I put my great-granny’s best blessing spell in there. She was a water witch of some repute.”
Magic flowed out of the blanket and into Sierra’s soul. It was like… floating in warm ocean waters. Sierra cuddled the throw to her cheek, completely unable to put it down.
Mia tugged on her hand. “There’s a bigger one on your bed—come look!”
Sierra let herself be swept along by the friendly crowd into the lavender haze of her bedroom. The blanket that covered her bed was the last thing she expected. Dizzy squares were stitched together in a drunken mess of uneven color. Mia put her hand on a bright red square. “This one is mine.”
Ginia was next, on a square that was pink and glittery. “And this one’s mine.”
Devin grinned and touched a blue not-quite-square. “Mine. It’s been a while since I did any knitting.”
A woman Sierra didn’t know elbowed him. “That’s pretty obvious, my boy.” She touched a square that spoke of warm fires and looked at Sierra. “I’m Caro, and this one’s mine.”
One by one, the crowd of people in the room each laid a hand on her blanket. Aervyn squeezed through and plopped down in the middle. “Not everybody could come tonight, so they sent squares to cuddle you until they can show up.” He stuck his finger into a large hole in a fire-engine-red square. “This one’s mine. Sorry ’bout the hole, but Caro says that way you won’t forget which one I made.” He held out his arms for a hug, all innocent boy.
Sierra hopped onto the bed and pulled him into her lap, looking up at the sea of faces. Total strangers had made her a blanket. The most beautifully ugly blanket in the world. She had no words.
Nell leaned over and touched her hair. “It’s a welcome blanket. We usually make one for new babies in the witching community, but we didn’t know about you until now, so we’re a little late. Welcome to our world, Sierra Brighton.”
Six years of ice in Sierra’s soul simply melted, and she let her heart float on the swells of love in the room.
She had a home. With an ocean for walls, patchwork love on her bed, and pink pigs in the kitchen. It was every kind of awesome.
Aervyn wiggled in her lap. “Sophie and Elorie and Nat are having babies soon, so you can make squares for them if you want. I can show you how, or Caro can. She’s the bestest teacher.”
Very slowly, she nodded. It felt like a promise.
~ ~ ~
Lauren followed the flood of people exiting Sierra’s apartment and found herself standing on the sidewalk beside Devin, shivering slightly in the