mats, and vacuumed the studio already this morning." All done in a spirit of efficient drudgery that was numbing Nat's soul just watching. She sighed. "The truth is, being an intern here isn't a very demanding job. And you're someone who appreciates a lot of demands." Needed them, if Nat was reading the situation right. "Can I ask you something?"
Elsie's brow furrowed. "Sure."
"What do you need from me?"
Now Elsie looked entirely flummoxed.
Nat fingered her pendant. "It wasn't only you who made a promise. As you step out again on your WitchLight journey, part of my promise is to walk beside you. To help you. I'm not sure how to do that, but I suspect it's more than giving you the chance to become a world-class towel folder."
Elsie's hands fluttered toward the towels and then stopped. "I thought you said anything could be a form of meditation." Traces of lightness teased her face. "Even moving little bits of green tape on the studio floor."
Nat smiled. "Is Jamie still teasing you about that?" Her husband delighted in many little-boy things, and he'd been gently using some of them to work Elsie out of her shell.
Her intern's face flushed. "It's okay. It was a pretty stupid idea. I was out of my element and trying to figure out how to be helpful." She looked at Nat, a little sad and lost. "I think I still am."
Nat had a lovely little speech prepared about how to be okay with not knowing for a while. About moving and exploring and being open to possibilities. She'd practiced it for three days.
And she might have had a chance to deliver it if Jamie hadn't come crashing in the door. He skidded to a halt in front of the desk, glanced briefly at his wife, and focused on Elsie. "You'll be perfect. I need help."
The transformation in her intern was almost instant. Nat tried not to thump her head on the desk. Her husband usually had much better timing. The last thing Elsie needed right now was a new project.
Jamie froze, surveying her face. Sorry. What'd I step in?
Sometimes having a husband who could mindread was a very good thing, even if it was a little too late. Long story. Just don't give her anything serious to work on. Or at least anything too comfortable.
Damn. Okay. Jamie turned back toward Elsie, who was still watching him, increasingly puzzled. "I need a team. By six o'clock tomorrow night. Ginia and Aervyn have issued a challenge."
Now Nat was totally confused, too. "A challenge for what?"
"They're challenging my title as Water Balloon Fight King." Sorry. It was the best I could come up with on really short notice. And they really do want to have a water fight.
Nat tried not to giggle. It wasn't like Witch Central needed an excuse for total goofiness. And her husband's instincts were gold. Joining in monumental silliness might be exactly what her intern needed.
Forget "joining in." I'm going to put her in charge. He put on a sad-puppy face and grabbed Elsie's hands. "You have to help me. They've already claimed most of the good water and air witches."
"You want me to help recruit a team for a water-balloon fight?"
Jamie winced - Elsie's tone was at its stick-butt best. "Not if you've got other stuff to do." Nat held her pendant lightly and tried to keep her eyes off the towels.
Elsie stared a moment longer - and then cracked up laughing. "I have such a strange life now." She tried, fairly unsuccessfully, to sober up. "Do you have a strategy? Some guidance to help with recruiting?"
Nat committed the gobsmacked look on Jamie's face to memory - it was classic. Then, remembering her marriage vows, she tried to help him out with a little translation. "Do you have a plan to win this fight? Preferred talents for your team members?"
His eyes brightened. "Magic would be good. For the rest - good aim, fast feet, and hopefully they don't mind getting wet."
"I think that last one's a given." Elsie snickered. "If I might suggest you think a little beyond the obvious?"
Nat's pendant felt oddly warm for a second. She squeezed it and waited, curious.
"You have an idea?" Jamie pulled up a stool, doing an impressive job of rolling with Elsie's lightning-fast shifts of mood. "Okay, shoot."
Nat listened. Added a couple of suggestions. And made a mental note never to underestimate her intern.
Chapter 4
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