“Is that so?” Zani arched a brow. “Then I guess we really have a lot to catch up on.” She shot a glance back over her shoulder at Will.
“You know I can head back to Boston,” Will said, suddenly feeling like the third wheel. “Maybe you two want to chat alone? I’ve got to get the van anyway…”
“No! Don’t you go anywhere, Will.” Zani wrapped a hand around his forearm. She gave it a squeeze. “I’m so grateful that you’ve stuck around this long. You’ve been an absolute rock today. I have an idea. I’d like to run it by you before you go.” Zani was tired, but emphatic.
“Okay, sure!” Will shifted Zani’s empty but weighty train case to his other arm, and attempted a nonchalant shrug. He hadn’t actually wanted to leave yet. But it seemed polite to offer. “I’ll just carry this up for you, then.”
“I’m so glad the two of you are finally getting to know each other. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me,” Maida said, grinning over her shoulder as they passed back through the center of the bookshop and toward the stockroom. “Follow me…”
She led them to a simple wooden bookcase on the back wall. Sitting on one shelf was an old, weathered copy ofThe Mudpuddle Manual of Natural Magic. When Maida tapped the tome, the case swung aside to reveal a simple wooden door.
Soon they were all winding their way up the spiral staircase to the third floor of the turret.
“The guest apartment is through here.” Maida gestured to a dark blue door with a brass compass rose eyehole set in the center. “It’s really lovely. There’s a wonderful view of the park from the couch in the living room. And the design on the fireplace tiles updates all the time. The house personalizes the art for whoever’s staying here. Arthur got a lot of pastoral scenes. It even served up a board game for Rosie once.”
“Great.” Zani’s monotone reply seemed perfunctory and a little impatient. “I can’t wait.” She was barely looking at the space. Maida, noticing her friend’s apathy about the apartment, appeared crestfallen.
“Wow! What a cool feature!” Will effused. He squeezed Maida’s shoulder and noticed the wallpaper in the hallway was lit with a million tiny pinprick-sized stars. They twinkled merrily at him.
The Mudpuddle’s magicality wasn’t as much of a novelty to a seasoned witch like Zani. Still, Zani could have been more polite.
Maida held the door open for them. As he passed by her, she met his eye and shrugged. They exchanged a glance that spoke volumes. Neither of them were about to make excuses for Zani’s rudeness, but they would not take it personally, either. She was clearly exhausted and none too thrilled to be told she’d need to stay longer than expected. It was awkward for everyone. Hopefully she’d be more herself after getting some rest.
Once inside, Zani walked straight to the window, staring longingly at the world outside.
“You know,” Will said, “it’s a great apartment. And it’s just for a little while. You won’t have to stay here forever.” He looked around for a good place to set the empty train case. “Why don’t I just put this in the closet? You don’t need it sitting out in the middle of the room.”
“Thanks,” Zani replied, without turning away from the view outside.
Will thought the apartment was lovely. Simple and more modern than the rest of the house, it had a clean, chic vibe that he’d describe as “Nordic bohemian.”
All the furniture was sleek and low slung. It favored a mid-century modern aesthetic. Faux fur throw pillows, hand-knotted woolen rugs and lamps with organic-looking blown glass shades were scattered about like jewelry. Not too much or too little of anything. It smelled clean and homey as well. Pine and lemon and a hint of wood smoke lingered in the air. The fireplace was lit. He walked down a short hallway, past a bathroom outfitted with a deep vintage soaking tub, and a coat closet. The door to the bedroom was ajar, and he showed himself in.
Will did not know what Zani was used to, but he didn’t think he’d mind living here if he didn’t already have his own place in Boston. And, of course, if Maida had invited him to stay. He wandered around in the bedroom, taking stock of the decor. He approved of the driftwood wall hanging and the simple upholstered headboard. The thick Berber rug was soft underfoot. The hand embroidered Uzbek quilt was another pleasant touch.
Will placed the train case on a tall shelf in the walk-in closet. Then he tested the bed. Nice and bouncy. Glancing back at the closet, he noted the blank back wall offered ample room for porting, should the need arise. And it was just a few steps from there to the bed…
Will pinched himself and stood up. He glanced out the window, but the view from the bedroom was more obscured by trees and the neighboring homes.
“I wonder how far it is from here to Fenway Park,” he called out into the other room. Neither Zani nor Maida answered.
When Will came back out, the women were seated on the long sofa in the living room, basking in the fire’s warmth. The fireplace tiles shimmered with an uncertain iridescence, like pond water before a storm. Zani was leaning back against the cushions with her eyes closed and a furry pillow on her lap.
“Aughhhh!” she groaned in frustration and then pummeled the pillow in her lap with her fists.
“I’m so sorry.” Maida looked like she felt sorry for the fluffy pillow, but she didn’t intervene. “I knew you and your family were estranged, but I did not know it was that bad! Are your other relatives any easier?” Maida tucked her legs under herself and leaned forward to search her friend’s face.
Will was struck by how different the two were. Maida, in her favorite work apron constructed from a mix of vintage prints, the very picture of the artistic, empathetic, free spirit. Her wild mane was sticking out all over. Her skin was pale, and her large violet gray eyes brimmed with sympathy and concern as she reached for Zani’s hands.
Zani, by comparison, was a study in careful, controlled composure. Everything about her was catalogued and contained. Her long, sleek, dark brown hair was still neatly corralled in a ponytail. Her black jeans and gray sweater demanded little attention, utilitarian as they were. She’d chosen her outfit to help her blend in, not stand out. The one exception was her elaborately embroidered boots. One of which, Will noticed now, was tapping out a frustrated, staccato beat.
“You thought that was bad?” Zani snorted. “Minodaura’s actually the most adventurous of the lot. Most of the rest of my family won’t even leave the lighthouse grounds. They had to form their own coven because they wouldn’t ‘risk’ going out to meetings.”
“No wonder you wanted to get away and attend an Ordinary school.” Maida sighed. “That must have been so difficult for you, Zani. I’m amazed that you blended in so well in college.”
“It wasn’t difficult for me. I’ve always been a bit of a chameleon.” Zani stretched and smiled. “Remember how I used to do tarot card readings for everyone in our hallway in the dorms? I didn’t have to hide my magic away entirely.”
“Of course I remember.” Maida laughed. “It was part of why I loved you so much. After being brought up constantly being told to fear and deny anything mystical or even remotely magical, you were my absolute hero.”
