Page 71 of Witch You Weren't Here

She walked up to the open door and when she glanced back, Harry was in the driver’s seat, waiting to see her safely inside. Just in case she’d been swept off by the left-over winds on the way up the garden path? For the first time in over twenty-four hours, she was going to be separated from him and she shouldn’t feel quite so forlorn about the prospect.

She waved once more from the doorstep and he waved back and drove off.

Shaking the rain off the umbrella, she stepped into the warmth of the house, struggling to pull her emotions back in order. It was a ritual for crossing the threshold of that door, something to both help her mother not become overwhelmed and also maintain a sliver of privacy. But she was too exhausted, everything raw and bright within her.

Kay hung her coat up and went down the short hallway to the kitchen. She was surprised to find only Joe in there, bustling about making coffee. ‘Where’s Mum?’

‘Finishing up a phone call. She’s ringing around all the guests to get them to Ashworth Hall instead. We’ve had to move it to 4 p.m. instead of 3 p.m. now, did Harry say?’

She nodded, leaning forwards on the counter. She didn’t want to sit after spending so many hours in the car already today, her butt was numb.

He poured a coffee into her favourite mug, which still lived in the cupboard over the kettle, and slid it across the island towards her. ‘So, everything good between you two now, is it?’

‘Yeah,’ she said, briefly.

Joe nodded, his eyes dipping down briefly, seemingly to her folded arms on the island, before raising to her face with a smirk. She glanced down, belatedly realising she was still wearing Harry’s shirt.

‘I didn’t have anything clean …’ she started, but he just laughed and shook his head.

‘Squirt, I haven’t got time to tease you. There’s too much to do.’ He lifted his mug and took a big mouthful despite it still being hot. ‘That place is going to blow Sandy’s mind. She’s already so happy and she’s not even seen it yet.’ He shook his head, like he’d got distracted. ‘I’ve already called Dad and got him dealing with the people at the old venue and the catering company and a removals firm, convincing them to help us move the extra furniture we need to the Hall. Don’t pull that face,’ he scolded her gently. ‘This is my wedding, Kay. We’ve paid for their services and he’ll only use his gift if he absolutely has to.’

She nodded and held up her hands, pushing away her reflex to find it icky when her father went around ‘motivating’ people to do stuff. She remembered how Sandy had said her dad had responded to the suggestion to use magic to get their first venue fixed and accepted he wouldn’t be doing it if it was any harm to anyone. ‘What can I help with?’

‘It would be great if …’ he paused and flicked his fingers to indicate his throat. ‘May I?’

‘Go for it.’

When he spoke again, Kay felt the faint wash of her brother’s magic so that the logistics made sense to her easily. ‘Could you go over to the Hall and help when people start arriving? Actually, Sandy and the other bridesmaids are at the hotel she stayed at with her parents and Harry said he’d sort out rooms for the wedding party to get ready in, so swing by the hotel on the way and take them all over. I’ll text you the address. You can use my car. No. Mum’s car – she can go with Auntie L because they’re going to be getting ready here. Sandy said the hair and make-up person and the photographer need to be there in an hour or so.’ He checked his watch. ‘If you’re there you can meet the minister too and show him where the ceremony will take place and basically help Dad with anything that crops up.’ He paused, and even though he’d been rambling and jumping from subject to subject, Kay understood precisely what he wanted of her.

‘OK, done.’

‘Thank you.’ Joe paused with his coffee cup halfway to his mouth and clicked the fingers of his free hand. ‘Oh, the flowers too. Did you know Jaz is doing them?’

‘I didn’t.’ Kay smiled at the thought of seeing her old school friend. They had kept in touch, but after going to different universities and Jaz starting her own business up in Biddicote, while Kay moved to London, visits, phone calls and even texts had become more sporadic. ‘You need me to meet her?’

‘I think Michelle, Sandy’s mum, said she’d help out there. I’ll call you if she can’t for any reason.’

‘Right, I’ll keep it on my radar.’

‘Great.’ He checked his watch again. ‘Shit. I have to go.’ He put his half-drunk coffee down and moved around the island to head out of the kitchen, holding his hand up for a high-five. ‘Seriously good to have you back, Kay.’

She gave his palm the slap he was requesting. ‘Good to be back.’ Part of her felt like she didn’t just mean in the village or the country. She was a mess, and she was exhausted, but there was also something which felt lighter inside her too. A weight easing back, or that she’d grown stronger from carrying.

The letter box rattled as Joe slammed the door behind him and there was the distant murmur of her mum’s voice from upstairs, where she was still on the phone. Other than that, the house was quiet, and it felt like the first time in days when Kay could take a deep breath. It turned into an enormous yawn. She tipped the coffee down her neck and wandered into the pantry, which doubled up as a still room, seeing if there was anything in there that might help her recoup some energy. She was going to need it.

She examined the jars and herbal plants growing on the shelves, not knowing quite what she was looking for. It had been a while since she’d turned to healer remedies to help her with a physical ailment.

‘Sweetheart, there you are.’ Her mum stepped inside the small room, wearing her old pink fleece pyjamas. Her greying chestnut hair was back in a messy bun, fastened with her black tourmaline hairpins. All signs that she was seeking some inner peace. She held her arms out to Kay and when they hugged, she felt her mum’s sharp intake of breath, no doubt getting the full brunt of the emotions Kay couldn’t temper. ‘Goodness, has it been stressful, my darling?’

‘You have no idea.’

‘Well, I might. It’s not been an easy ride here either.’ She patted Kay’s cheek gently as she eased back.

‘How did it go last night?’

‘I survived.’ She gave a weak smile.

Kay shifted, looking back at the shelves. That seemed like an odd response to have to what looked from the photographs to be a lovely evening. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask about whether her parents had spoken, but she didn’t really want to get into a session demonising her dad’s behaviour when there was so much to do and she had so little energy.

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