Tor’s arm curled around me, he pulled my back tight to his front and I lifted my fingers to my cheeks to brush away the wetness.
“Do your magic, witch,” Tor demanded, I looked at Noc and Clarabelle and fresh tears came to my eyes.
Clarabelle lifted both hands to the sky.
I held my breath.
Then I shouted, “Noc! When Phoebe gets here, look her over. She’s my best friend, she makes great dirty martinis, she’s a little crazy and she really likes shoes but, trust me, no joke, she’s loyal, she’s funny and she’s awesome!”
Tor’s arm tightened around me as I watched Noc grin at me and shake his head.
“Seriously!” I yelled.
The air turned pink.
“Shut up and go home, babe,” Noc shouted back.
“You be happy too, Noc,” I yelled in return.
His face split into a smile and I heard his deep chuckle.
Clarabelle’s hands started to glow and I looked at her.
“Thanks, Clarabelle!” I yelled.
“My love, be quiet and let the witch concentrate,” Tor growled in my ear.
“We have to say thanks, Tor, she’s –”
His arm squeezed the air out of me.
“Quiet,” he grunted and his arm released.
“Bossy,” I snapped when I had air in my lungs.
The pink mist started at Salem’s hooves and moved up.
I pressed back further into Tor’s strong body and tried to control my escalating breathing.
“We’ll be fine,” he whispered in my ear.
The headlights bumping down Clarabelle’s muddy lane lit us from our other side. I turned my head and saw my Dad’s Volvo followed by Phoebe’s Mazda.
Jeez, Dad drove the Volvo. It was a wonder they made it out of the city.
That thought made my throat burn and my nostrils sting. The pink mist had covered most of Salem and was at our waists when I lifted my hand to my mouth, touched it to my lips, curled back my fingers and blew my kiss.
Salem had disappeared and the pink mist was to our chests when the cars stopped, three doors opened and three beloved bodies urgently folded out.
“I love you!” I yelled, raising my hand high to wave over the advancing mist. “Always!” I yelled before my throat closed and the mist masked them from view.
“Always!” I heard Phoebe yell.
“Always, my funny girl!” Mom shouted.
“Always, sweetheart!” Dad bellowed.
The sob tore out of my throat and I closed my eyes. Tor buried his face in my neck as his arms squeezed tight and Salem threw back his head and snorted.