Nell tossed another layer onto the global soundproofing spell as she climbed the tree. The last thing they needed this morning were curious neighbors peeking over the fence.
She was still in the tree, trying to channel her daughters' artful talents, when Beth came into view on the front sidewalk surrounded by a procession of attendants, small children, and at least two of the neighborhood cats.
Nell didn't bother trying to get a mental read herself - she just pinged Lauren. How's she doing?
Fine, came the steady reply. And she'll probably stay that way so long as you don't fall out of the tree.
Haven't done that since I was seven. And that time was Jamie's fault. Or maybe Devin - it was hard to keep her brothers' nefarious escapades straight. Where's that kiddo of mine?
Beaming in for a landing. I think he aimed for the kitchen.
Doing his best impression of a cookie thief, most likely. Nell started to climb out of the tree, and then thought the better of it. She would have a good view of the power flows from way up here. An excellent vantage point in case something went wrong, and Kenna loved hanging out in her big oak tree.
She pushed away the continuing niggles in her belly. Worrywart witch. It was going to be a tiny baby circle with less power than Aervyn used cooling off his cookies.
She hoped.
-o0o-
It was a fairyland. Beth stepped into the back yard, Kenna tugging on one hand, Shay holding the other one more sedately. "The lights are beautiful."
Shay looked up, delighted. "Lauren said you might like them."
Concern flitted through Beth's mind. "We can't use them in our circles at home - they're too distracting." This was far from the quiet, dark room her coven worked in.
"Beauty enhances our work together." An Irish lilt floated out from behind enough flowers to outfit several brides. "Perhaps you'd help me put a few of these blooms out. Young Jamie particularly likes calla lilies for his call to air."
Beth had no idea what a calla lily was, but judging from the good-humored snickers, there was a joke somewhere.
"Calla lilies are the tall white ones," said Shay in a stage whisper. "And they make Uncle Jamie sneeze."
"Not these ones, my dear." Moira settled some of her armful on a convenient bench and began dividing them into four baskets. "Ginia's spelled them - we can't have sneezing in the middle of Beth's first circle with us."
Beth had never seen flowers in a basket before. She leaned over and rescued a floppy blue bud threatening to start an avalanche. "They're beautiful."
"A small offering, if you will." Moira beamed. "We old Irish witches tend to be rather traditional."
It was something Liri would love. Perhaps she'd found at least one small thing she could take back to Chicago. "Does it matter which flowers go with which elements?"
"Not at all, my dear." Moira paused, fingers holding a stem of something delicate and blue. "Or rather, the answer might change depending on the day. Flowers have a whole language of their own. So you might just choose a bouquet that feels lovely for the moment. Or you might plant a message or two in each basket." She nodded at the stem of tiny blue blooms. "These buttercups, for example, tell of the joy of being a child and celebrating simple things."
That was a big message for such tiny flowers. "What else do you have in here?"
Moira picked up the basket on the far right. "This one is for those of you calling fire. It's got a few of these pretty lilacs, and some geraniums, and a branch or two of this red sumac. Little notes of purity, steadfastness, and splendor."
Beth stroked a bold orange flower. "And this one?"
"Ah, that one's just a lovely bit of color." Moira reached up a hand to touch Beth's curls. "If you like, I can pin it in your hair."
It felt silly - but oddly, she wanted to say yes.
Aervyn bounded to her side. "Me too, Aunt Moira. Can I have a shiny red flower in mine?"
"Aye, and won't you be a lovely couple, with matching pretties in your hair?"
Hairpins appeared out of nowhere, and Shay climbed up onto the bench.