We don’t say much as we walk, concentrating on not slipping in the wet mud. I’m wondering if he’s feeling a bit weird about the whole “left my fiancé because he cheated on me” thing. I mean, I hardly know the guy, so I don’t know why it’s bothering me, but it is. Sam seems sweet. Sweetness is something I need more of. I’ve spent far too long with people who would back stab you for a Louis Vuitton.
We reach the driveway and make our way to the house. The trees around us loom over like huge shadows of darkness. The sight of them feels uncomfortable.
He walks me up the garden path, past the picket fence and flowered borders and to the front door.
“Are you going to be OK getting back?” I ask, genuinely concerned for him in the darkness.
“Oh yeah, no one will mess with me. They know who my nana is.” He laughs.
“Well, thanks for showing me round and everything.” I feel so awkward.
“No, it was fun.” He too looks awkward.
I brush my hair behind my ear and smile. I open the front door with my key and step inside. He grabs my arm just before my foot hits the hallway, causing me to jerk and the piece of hairI had tucked behind my ear to fall in front of my face.
“Harri…” He clears his throat.
“Yeah?”
“Your fiancé… well, I think he’s a complete idiot for doing that to you.” He tucks the piece of hair back behind my ear. “A real idiot.” He smiles and turns to walk away. “I’ll see you Saturday,” he shouts behind him.
I stand watching him walk away into the darkness. Butterflies fill the pit of my stomach. The night air is freezing cold but warmth creeps up my face. I turn to go inside and shut the door behind me. A stupid childish grin fills my face and makes my cheeks ache. I feel like a giddy teenager.
“How was it?” my aunt and granny shout from the kitchen.
“Good.” I smile.
Nine
“I really don’t think I’m ready for this, Granny. I don’t even know where to start.” Granny has been determined to “try out” my powers. That’s if I even have any.
“Nonsense. Nobody knows where to start. We just follow our hearts and feel the magic within us.”
She has been trying to get me to move a salt grinder on the kitchen table for the last hour. I feel nothing short of ridiculous.
“Feel the magic, Harri,” she says soothingly.
I pull my chair closer to the table and adjust myself to concentrate. I close my eyes and breathe. My shoulders drop and my tongue falls from the roof of my mouth. I can do this, right?
I open my eyes and look at the salt grinder. I imagine it with all my might moving. I put every ounce of mindfulness into making this salt grinder move. Nothing.
“Urgh.” I break the concentration. “It’s just not working. I’m sorry.” I sigh, feeling defeated.
“Why are you sorry?” Granny softly rubs my arm, peering around me to look at me.
“Well, I’m not a witch, am I? Like the rest of you.” I slump my head onto the table and melt into it. If anything would have been a bit of a pick me up right now, it would have been being able todo magic.
“Oh, sweetheart, just because you can’t move something doesn’t mean you’re not one of us! Aradia can’t use telekinesis, but she can read minds. Your power may be something else or your magic just needs a little time to warm itself up. We just need to figure it out and we will.” She stands from the table as I lift my head to look at her. Her big blue eyes meet mine. Slightly milky with age but still, like looking into a deep lagoon. She kisses my forehead and heads to the Aga to continue making potions to sell at a market up north that her and Aradia are heading to at the weekend.
“You sure you don’t want me to come with you this weekend?” I mutter, my head still lying on the table, which makes her chuckle.
“Oh no, sweetheart, you stay here and enjoy the peace. We’re only away one night anyway.” She pauses for a moment and looks concerned. “Unless you need us to stay? It’s OK if you don’t want to be left here alone.”
I pick myself up from my slump. “No, it’s not that. I just don’t want to not be pulling my weight.”
Her face falls back to relief. “You do plenty around the house. You don’t need to do any more than you’re doing. You are sure you’ll be OK?”
I nod. “Well, I think I’m going with Lois and Hannah into Ravenswick. They invited me and I think I’m going to take them up on the offer.”
