Page 12 of Catalyst


Font Size:  

“It’s only rude if we’re talking about you, and we weren’t.”

“Well, I can’t verify that since I can only hear what comes out of your mouth. If you weren’t talking about me, what were you talking about?”

I wished I could roll my eyes.It might come as a shock to you, Mary, but the world doesn’t revolve around you.Winnie’s lip twitched.

Before Mary noticed Winnie’s amusement, she told her, “I was asking how her visit to Charlie’s house was today. Charlie was having guests, so Clawds, being the old-fashioned lady she is, took him a flower to put on his table.”

Mary rolled her eyes. “Wow. And he still thinks she’s a normal cat?”

“He was dating Lydia recently, so she may have told him, but since they split up, probably not.”

“Lydia?” Mary hummed thoughtfully. “I wonder if she’ll be getting involved in our …” She looked down at me and chose her word carefully. “… project.”

My ears pricked up at the mention of a secret they’ve kept from me. Winnie shrugged. “She hasn’t spoken to me about it. But she’s a good witch, and she’s ambitious. I imagine we might see her there.”

My ears pricked up.

You’re going away?

Winnie hadn’t spoken to me about it, which told me she didn’t intend to bring me with her. I huffed, upset. What was I supposed to do in the house on my own?

She looked down at me guiltily. “Only for about a week.”

When?

“In a few days.”

So soon? Were you going to tell me or just go when I wasn’t looking?

“No! I was going to tell you, just not so soon. You’ll ask questions I can’t answer.”

Mary interrupted, “You’re doing it again.”

Oh, bugger off, Mary.

“Clawdia!” Winnie’s head whipped to glare at her girlfriend. “Mary, not now.”

“Don’t ‘not now’ me. I hate being left out. What is she saying?” Mary snapped.

Winnie took a deep breath and calmly told her, “She’s upset because I didn’t tell her we’re going away.”

Mary crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow. “Why would you need to tell her? She’s just your familiar. She doesn’t get a say in what you do.”

“No. That’s not—You’re so wrong, Mary. Clawdia is my familiar, but she’s also my friend and my roommate and has a soul just like yours or mine. She feels and thinks, and she’s not a pet. She’s entitled to the same treatment from me as any human that I care about. I’ve explained this to you, but you don’t get it. She’s not just a cat. I have to think of her, too. That’s why not telling her about this … project … is killing me. I shouldn’t have let you talk me into it.”

There was a shocked silence. Winnie wasn’t an argumentative person, but she had just stood up for me. Happiness and gratitude overwhelmed me. I was so thankful I had a second chance at life with her by my side. I was also relieved to hear that the secrets between us weren’t just hurting me.

Thank you, Winnie.

She gave me a small smile.

Then Mary began, “You told me you wanted this as much as I did. That you wanted to be a part of witch history. Isn’t that right? Didn’t you say that?”

Winnie sighed. “I did, but—”

“I didn’t push you into anything. I wanted to do this, and you came with me.”

“I just—”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
Articles you may like