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She led me up the steps to the back porch and through the screen door. As she did, a fluffy, long haired white cat raced over to her side. Gigi was May’s cat, and she was a five-year old Siberian. The cat’s eyes were blue and green—two alternate colors—giving her a slightly surreal look. I leaned down and Gigi bounced over to me, rubbing against my hand as she examined me to see if I had hidden any treats.
Fancypants landed by her side and she glanced at him, then slowly headbutted him, knocking him over.
“Hey, watch the love, lady. You’re sweeping me off my feet!” Fancypants gave her an awkward pat on the head, then flew up to the counter. Gigi huffed, then wandered off, shaking her tail as if to sayI didn’t want your attention anyway!
Snorting, I sat down at the table as May handed me a couple of dessert plates, then brought over an angel food cake, along with a container of sliced strawberries and a can of spray whipping cream.
“That looks delicious,” I said.
“Then cut a good-sized slice and go to town. I’ll get the forks.” As she brought the silverware I cut two slices, one for her and one for me. Then, I spooned out the strawberries onto the cake and sprayed a dollop of whipped cream over it.
“So, your great-grandmother arrived?”
“Why do you think I’m here drowning myself in sugar?” I said glumly. “I’m glad she’s here, but heaven help me. May, she’s bought a house on the water. She’s living in Port Townsend now. I can’t believe she decided to move all that way. I’ll never be able to relax again.” I stared glumly into my cake. “Faron wanted me to introduce him.”
“Are you going to?” May asked, adding whipped cream to her plate.
“What do you think? He’s the King of his Pack. Wolf shifters and witches?—”
“Right. Maybe not the best idea, at least, not before you can warm her up to the idea.” May hesitated, then said, “You can safely introduce her to Bran, though.”
May had been walking a tightrope for some time. She was championing her son, of course, but she didn’t want to push me and I respected her for that. She understood the nuances that went into my dating arena, and that I wasn’t ready to make a choice.
“Right, I can do that.” Truth was, I wasn’t sure Iwantedto introduce her to Bran, given the fact that we were dating, he was a witch, and he’d immediately be the right choice in my great-grandmother’s mind.
“So,” May said, pushing back her chair. “What do you really think is behind her moving here? Is it as simple as she says, that she wants to watch over you?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think that’s all of it, but it’s all I’m going to drag out of her for the time being. I’ll have to visit her in Port Townsend when she gets her new house together. I haven’t been back since I left and I had no plans on it. But she made it clear that I’m to get my ass up there at some point.”
“And you don’t want to.”
“No, I don’t.” I wanted to cry, more in frustration than anything else. “I moved away from Port Townsend for several reasons. One, the memories. But two—my family. I love my mother, I really do. And my aunt and cousin. But they’re so nosy. They’re always prying into my business and I’m not prepared to give them that leeway any longer.”
“And you think that now that your great-grandmother is living there, the pressure will increase?” May asked. She cut another slice of cake.
“Iknowit will increase. I can do battle with my mother and aunt, but with Grams involved? Not going to happen. Fighting against her decisions is like banging your head against a brick wall. Unless you unearth a battering ram—and it better be a good one—she’s impenetrable.”
“I look forward to meeting her,” May said. “She sounds like a firebrand.”
“Try a raging inferno. Anyway, I needed to clear my head so thought I’d walk over. I went over to Bree’s this morning. She has a problem, but I can’t figure out what it is.” I told her about the energy in the graveyard. “It’s so tangible…I wanted to go take a walk through the graveyard but with Grams coming, I had to get home. And, I’d rather have backup, anyway.”
“Your great-grandmother is a powerful witch, isn’t she?” May asked.
“Yes, but do you think it’s wise taking her?” As I said the words, I heard how ridiculous they sounded. Yes, great-grandma was still capable of moving around and she was nowhere near death’s door. “Would you like to come, too? I’d like for you to meet her.”
“When were you thinking?”
“Well, maybe tomorrow evening? She expects dinner at seven, so around eight? In fact, why don’t you come to dinner tonight? That way you and Bran can meet her.”
“That would be lovely,” May said. “I’ll help deflect some of her attention.”
When I tried to protest, she laughed.
“I know why you’re asking me and it doesn’t offend me in the least. But I insist we bring Bran to the graveyard tomorrow evening. The serial killer’s still on the loose and while we’re powerful witches, your great-grandmother and I aren’t exactly spring chickens when it comes to protecting ourselves. I know you’re strong, but you can’t protect all three of us, either.”
I sighed. I wasn’t going to try to get out of that one. She was right. “All right. Sounds good.”
As I prepared to go, Fancypants buzzed May’s head and then landed on her shoulder long enough to give her a little smooch on the cheek.
