A Charmed Life (Coven Corner #3) Page 9

  Bryony wrinkled her nose.

  “Well, that sounds like an annoyingly grown up way to handle things,” she said.

  Sky stepped back with a sigh of triumph and gestured at the dress Hazel wore.

  “I’d say we couldn’t do any better than that if we tried,” she said.

  With a twirl of her wand, Sky conjured a full-length mirror for Hazel.

  The dress wrapped around Hazel’s body like spider silk. The bell-shaped skirt draped in loose, soft pleats past her knees. Sleeveless straps clung to her shoulders, the neckline dipping just low enough to show off her collarbones, maintaining a modest, dignified air.

  “Definitely not a school teacher look,” Bryony said.

  She drew her wand from the pocket of her jeans and zapped a spell across the room. The bobby pins that had kept Hazel’s hair up in a French twist flew out. Her hair came loose, tumbling around her shoulders in soft curls that framed her face.

  Silence descended on the room as Sky and Bryony stared at Hazel in that rose red gown.

  “I’ve never seen you like that before,” Sky whispered, plucking at Hazel’s skirts, smoothing her hand down the fabric.

  Hazel tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. She’d never felt so self-conscious in her life. But she’d never worn a dress like this either. It was always tidy, practical clothing, muted colors and neatly buttoned collars.

  A firm knock at Sky’s door broke the silence. Bryony shoved the last bite of her steamed squash in her mouth and pushed the plate onto the coffee table.

  “That’s probably Sean,” she said. “He told me he’d drop by with some tarts he was helping Seline and Basil make.”

  She hurried down the hall as Sky returned her attention to Hazel’s dress.

  “Do you like it?” she said.

  Hazel nodded. “I couldn’t have hoped for anything better.” She held up her own wand. “Now, we should get going on your wedding dress. No more putting it off.”

  Sky’s cheeks flushed pink and her eyes brightened with excitement. But before she could speak, a male voice in the hallway caught Hazel’s attention.

  “I’m looking for Hazel Aven. I was hoping to speak to her for a minute. She said she’d be here for a dress fitting.”

  Seconds ticked by that felt like agonizing hours as footsteps echoed in the hallway. Then Nick was standing on the threshold.

  He stopped cold at the sight of her in that velvet red gown, nearly black. He took off his baseball cap, twisting it between his hands.

  “You look…” Nick started. Then he stopped, his voice a dry rasp. He cleared his throat and tried again. “You look…amazing.”

  Hazel flicked her wand once with a prompt, efficient spell. The dress disappeared. In its place were her original clothes—a dark blue sweater, a white button-up blouse, and a brown pencil skirt.

  “What are you doing here?” she said.

  She tried to keep her voice neutral but she couldn’t stop thinking about that letter. And her voice came out a little icier than she’d intended.

  Nick nodded and glanced down at his hat.

  “I wanted to set the record straight,” he said. “Come clean about…what you saw in the garage yesterday.” He paused with an uncertain look at Sky and Bryony.

  “The letter,” Hazel clarified.

  “Yes.”

  Hazel gestured to the hallway.

  “Let’s step outside then,” she said.

  Nick turned back to the door. Hazel squeezed Bryony’s arm on the way past.

  “I won’t be long,” she said. “Go ahead and get started on Sky’s dress. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  “Sure thing,” Bryony said. “Call us if you need back up.”

  “Of course.”

  Then Hazel faced the short hallway to the door where Nick was waiting on Sky’s porch, hat in hand. Her heart squeezed at the sight of him.

  She loved him. Truly loved him. Not in a fleeting way either. It was a committed kind of affection that she’d never felt towards anyone else in her life before.

  And yet that letter’s contents had the potential to tear it all down. Within seconds, her heart could be broken.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Hazel and Nick stood on Sky’s porch in silence. It seemed a chasm of distance had arisen between them with that letter pushing them apart, even though it was only a few feet that separated them.

  Nick blew out a breath as if to steel himself for the conversation ahead.

  “Marissa wrote,” he said.

  “I understand that part,” Hazel replied. “Why did she write to you?”

  “Phoebe.”

  Hazel’s breath hitched in her throat. But she forced herself to remain calm. Would Phoebe be taken away from her?

  “During the divorce,” Nick continued. “Marissa didn’t want to put strain on Phoebe by passing her between us every weekend. So she said Phoebe would stay with me and she would just…leave.”

  Hazel frowned. “A mother disappearing on her child doesn’t sound like less strain to me.”

  Nick put up a hand. “It isn’t. I told her that. But I think she just…needed to get away. I was the one who wanted to be a father and she wasn’t. When Phoebe came along, she panicked. Didn’t know what to do. She was certain that she was causing damage to Phoebe in some way. So she thought it was better that she just…left.”

  “And now Marissa changed her mind?” Hazel said. “She wants back into Phoebe’s life?”

  Nick didn’t reply right away. “Yes.”

  That one word was heavy, black, an ugly twisted thing with what it promised for the future—chaos, mayhem, stress.

  “She says,” Nick went on. “That she made a mistake years ago. She wants to see Phoebe grow up. To help out any way she can.”

  He sighed and passed a hand over his face.

  “I don’t trust her, Hazel,” Nick said softly in a tired voice. “You’ve been with Phoebe through thick and thin. But when the going got tough, Marissa bailed. I thought I’d forgiven her for it. I guess I still have some work to do in that department.”

  Hazel tipped forward on her toes, prepared to reach for Nick’s hand and provide comfort. But she needed to know more before she could make contact and allow him into her heart again.

  “Why did you hide the letter from me?” she said.

  Nick winced. “I didn’t mean to…hide it exactly. I’d just read the letter when you got home and I…I wanted to throw it away, to be honest.”

  That sent a thrill through Hazel’s chest. But she immediately squashed it.

  “I almost did,” Nick continued. “I didn’t want to give Marissa a second chance. And I certainly didn’t want to gamble with Phoebe. She’s doing so well, Hazel. She’s smiling. She’s happy. She practices spells all day long because she loves magic. And I’m afraid that if I let Marissa back into her life in any way that Phoebe will come crashing down again.”

  Nick met Hazel’s gaze, his eyes shadowed as if to say, I don’t know what to do.

  But Hazel couldn’t give him the answer. At least not the one he wanted.

  “Does Phoebe know about the letter?” she said.

  Nick shook his head. “No. And I have no intention of telling her.”

  It would be easy to take that road out of the problem. But Phoebe was strong. And she had Hazel and Nick in her life for support.

  “She needs to know,” Hazel said.

  “Why?” Nick demanded. “I just told you—”

  “Your concerns are perfectly reasonable, Nick,” Hazel cut in, attempting to soothe his objections before they could ignite. “But Marissa is still Phoebe’s mother. Phoebe has a right to understand what is going on and to put in her vote.”

  Nick turned away, scrubbing at the back of his neck.

  “No,” he said. “Sorry, but I can’t…I don’t agree with that.”

  “Why not?” Hazel said, calm despite Nick’s rising agitation.

  “Because she’s six years old. This i
s too big of a decision to put on her shoulders.”

  “I didn’t say we’re putting the decision on her shoulders. You face this as a family. You’ve been there for her through nightmares. You’ve been there to pick her up from school, on the good and bad days. You’ll continue to be there for her.”

  Nick stared at her, studying her face.

  “So will you,” he said. “You’re just as much a part of our family.”

  Hazel’s heart swelled until she felt as if she might burst. Now, finally, she reached out and took Nick’s hand.

  “Thank you for that,” she said. “We’ll both tell her and we’ll work this out.”

  “Together,” Nick said.

  “Together,” Hazel agreed. She rested her chin on Nick’s shoulder. He leaned his head atop hers. “Marissa is still Phoebe’s mother. I’m just as uneasy about this whole thing as you are. But if Marissa means what she says, if she truly wants to be there for Phoebe, then we can’t keep Phoebe from her mother.”

  “And what if Marissa up and walks out again? It would break Phoebe’s heart.”

  “She’s a strong girl. And she won’t be alone.”

  Nick raised his head and turned to look at her. He brushed a lock of hair away from the corner of her mouth and his hand came to rest on her cheek.

  “I’d expected to have a fight on my hands over this,” he said. “But you seem pretty calm about the whole thing.”

  Hazel huffed. “I’ve been worried sick ever since I saw that letter.”

  “Well, you don’t show it.”

  “That’s part of being a school teacher. Show an ounce of weakness and the students will take advantage of it.”

  Nick skimmed his thumb back and forth over her cheekbone as he studied her.

  “So,” he said. “The dress you were wearing earlier. Is that part of your new school teacher wardrobe?”

  Hazel laughed. “Hell’s bells, no. It’s for Sky’s wedding at the Samhain celebration next week.”

  “Do you have a date yet?” Nick said with a sly little grin. “You can’t go to a wedding without a date.”

  Hazel looped her arm through Nick’s elbow.

  “I have a few ideas of who I’d like to ask,” she said.

  “A few ideas?” Nick said, indignant.

  Hazel laughed and kissed his cheek.

  “But there’s only one gentleman who I’m really hoping will accept.”

  Nick kissed the back of her hand.

  “I know for a fact he’ll say yes,” he said.

  Hazel bit the inside of her cheek to hide a smile.

  “Then I’ll ask him,” she said. “Later. Maybe after dinner and some dessert. After we talk to Phoebe.”

  Nick covered Hazel’s hand with both of his, as if she was precious and he wanted to protect her, hold her close and never let anything hurt her.

  “Tonight,” he said. “As soon as you’re finished here.”

  Hazel nodded. “I’ll be a couple more hours though.”

  “I don’t mind. Phoebe and I will keep dinner warm for you.”

  Nick brushed a stray lock of hair away from her cheek and thumbed at her chin before he tore himself away and returned to his truck.

  Hazel watched him leave and waved, waiting until he had turned the corner before she stepped back into Sky’s living room.

  Sky was wreathed in a pool of frothy white fabric.

  “I told you,” Bryony said, waving her wand around. “I don’t understand the appeal of a dress. How am I supposed to whip one up for you?”

  Hazel drew her wand from her back pocket.

  “I’ll take care of it,” she said.

  The quicker she finished Sky’s dress, the sooner she could sort out this mess with the Butler household.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Of course Phoebe wanted to see her mother again. But Nick was still reluctant to dive in head first, to welcome Marissa back into their lives as if three years of absence hadn’t passed.

  After a few phone calls back and forth, it was settled. Marissa would meet Nick, Phoebe, and Hazel for the first time at the Samhain celebration the following week.

  Hazel tried not to let the meet rule her thoughts, especially with Sky’s wedding and Samhain preparations to take care of. But she found her thoughts drifting back to Marissa.

  What was she like? Was she out-going and friendly? Easy going and charming? Would Phoebe go back to loathing Hazel’s presence as simply her dreaded school teacher again?

  Nick had done his best to reassure Hazel that she was part of the family. But she couldn’t stop the worries sneaking into her mind.

  Once the day of Samhain arrived, Hazel forgot to worry. At least for a little while.

  Pagan Posies was a chaotic whirl of colors, food, games, and laughter. Two buffet tables stretched the length of the clearing, full to bursting with baskets of crisp red apples, plate after plate of pies—from pumpkin to rhubarb to cherry—and dozens of bowls of handmade candy—toffees, caramels, marshmallows, and chocolates.

  As was the Samhain tradition for Wildemoor, ghosts were summoned to partake in the celebration. The holiday marked the time of year when the veil between the two worlds was at its thinnest and loved ones who had passed on were welcomed into the Samhain party to join in the fun and visit with their families.

  For one night, everything was normal. Perfect.

  Until Hazel looked up and spotted Nick and Phoebe standing at the top of the hill. Next to them, holding Phoebe’s hand, was a woman that could only be Marissa.

  She was the spitting image of Phoebe. Long dark hair, icy blue eyes that were nearly silver-white, and a pretty flush to her cheeks from the cold evening air.

  Phoebe was smiling from ear to ear as she held her mother’s hand, pulling her down the hill to the buffet table. Tucked under one of Marissa’s arms was a small container.

  Marissa laughed. “Hold on, Phee, I’m coming!”

  “But Mama, people are already eating. I told Seline I’d make her an extra cupcake. She might not be hungry anymore.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be plenty hungry for your cupcakes, Phee. Now, who is Seline and when do I get to meet her?”

  Hazel knew she should step forward and introduce herself. But she remained frozen to the spot.

  Cupcakes.

  Phoebe had asked Hazel to teach her how to make cupcakes. They never got around to it. They’d made other things—pancakes and cookies, fresh bread and pumpkin pie—but not those coveted cupcakes that Phoebe had been craving for so long.

  Marissa had taught her instead. Her real mother.

  I’ve been fooling myself all this time, Hazel thought. Believing I had a place in this family, that they had become my home.

  Phoebe spotted Hazel and released Marissa’s hand. She raised one arm high in the air until she was standing on tiptoe and waved. Then she hurtled down the hillside and careened toward Hazel.

  “Miss Aven!” she said, breathless. “Come meet my mama.”

  Phoebe caught Hazel’s hand and dragged her toward where Marissa was standing next to the buffet table, searching for a place to put the container of cupcakes.

  Marissa glanced up as Phoebe and Hazel approached. Nick, Hazel noticed, was still making his way down the hill. It seemed to be taking an unusually long amount of time. He was probably hanging back, granting them a chance to get to know each other. But at the same time, she wanted to ring his neck for dragging his feet.

  Marissa set the container on the edge of the table and stuck out her hand.

  “You must be Hazel Aven,” she said. “I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for my little Phee.”

  “Well, she’s a brilliant witch,” Hazel replied. “I merely nudged her in the right direction half the time and she took off on her own from there.”

  “It’s more than that.” Marissa ducked her head, fiddling with a corner of the buffet table cloth.

  Phoebe stood between Hazel and Marissa, glancing back and forth betw
een them. Her eyes were shining with delight that the two witches she looked up to the most were right in front of her.

  A small smile touched Marissa’s lips and she reached out and tickled Phoebe’s cheek.

  “Three years ago,” she said. “I made the biggest mistake of my life, walking out on Nick and Phee. I haven’t done right by either one of them. I’m hoping to change that.”

  “You sound…determined,” Hazel said.

  Her heart said she wanted to hate Marissa. To run her out of town. But her head said, no. Not when Phoebe was so happy to see her mother again.

  “All the determination in the world won’t make a bit of difference,” Marissa replied. “Unless Phoebe and Nick…” She paused and gestured to Hazel. “And you, decide that it’s best I kept my distance.”

  It was an olive branch. A gesture of peace and good will. A promise to start over and do better this time around. She wasn’t pushing into Phoebe’s life, demanding to reclaim the position of mother that she had abandoned years ago.

  She knew there was a long road ahead and it would require work. If she broke Phoebe’s trust again, she would have Nick and Hazel to contend with this time, backing up Phoebe, protecting her.

  Before Hazel could respond, Nick finally reached them. He stepped up beside Hazel and interlaced his fingers with hers. He glanced at her with a look that said, is everything okay?

  Hazel turned her head aside, hiding her face. She didn’t know how to respond to that. And she was feeling as if she was unraveling at the edges, a little frazzled. She wanted to be fair and grant Marissa the second chance, for Phoebe’s sake. But she was torn—she also wanted to turn Marissa away, to prevent Phoebe from any potential harm.

  A hand on her shoulder snapped Hazel out of her thoughts. Bryony came up behind her and whispered in her ear.

  “Sky is having some trouble with her dress in the house,” she said. “Could you come help? You’re better with dresses than I am.”

  An excuse to escape.

  Hazel grabbed it and ran.

  “I’m so sorry, please excuse me,” she said to Nick, Phoebe, and Marissa. “There seems to be a slight problem with some wedding details. I’ll be right back as soon as I can.”