Page 83 of The Neighborhood Witch

“It’s dark. No one will see me.”

“Do it,” Hugo said. “Give the evening some of that Alice Primrose magick.”

Alice drew in close to Hugo. She raised her hand between the two of them to hide it from prying eyes. She closed her eyes and drew in the might of her arcane abilities. Alice snapped her fingers. The room illuminated back to life. The crowd clapped. The scoreboard resumed its countdown with only seconds to midnight.

“Oh. Oh! It’s almost time,” the DJ shouted. “Five… four… three… two… one. Happy New Year!”

Cheers of “Happy New Year” erupted. The colorful menagerie of balloons rained on the crowd below. Some drank from champagne flutes. Some kissed their significant others.

In the center of the room, Hugo and Alice embraced with a kiss to welcome in the New Year. Alice melted from the burning passion that flowed through her. She was lost in her bliss. She was welcomed into a community. She was lost in the arms of someone who loved her, not for what she could do, but because of who she was. She was Alice Primrose. She was a witch, and Hugo Dodds loved her for it.

Alice pulled back from Hugo, and their eyes met. “Happy New Year,” she said.

“Happy Witchy New Year,” Hugo replied with a wink. They hugged once again.

As Alice rested her head on Hugo’s shoulder in their embrace, she noticed Johanna enter the gymnasium from the darkened hallway. Johanna glanced back to the darkness and then at the light inside the gymnasium. Johanna’s mouth dropped into disbelief and shock.Johanna focused her scornful eyes on Alice. An unnerving and unsettling expression was on her face. Johanna snarled at her before she turned around and stormed out.

Alice thought for a moment that Johanna must be involved in the power outage somehow. She wasn’t sure why though or why she looked so angry the power was restored. Her heart sank. All feelings of happiness and joy disappeared. They were replaced with a solitary thought,Does she know?She stood there and held Hugo tighter.

Chapter 20

The Neighborhood Watch

Johanna Newes sat in her wingback chair with her eyes focused on the black door across the street. She sat, watching, waiting, plotting her next move. The room was silent except for the ticking clock. She sat upright and rigid, like a predator ready to spring into action. She took a sip from the tea cup she held in her hand. The saucer plate was in the other hand. The hot Earl Grey tea rushed over her lips, but she never broke sight of the door. She placed the cup down on the saucer and leaned forward in the chair.I know what you did. I’ve got you now,she thought, never breaking her gaze.

The door opened. Johanna placed the saucer on the table next to the window before grabbing the arms of her chair. “Right on schedule,” Johanna said.

Max pulled Hugo onto the porch. The excited golden retriever tugged and pulled at the leash, nearly dragging Hugo down the stairs. Johanna watched him say something to the dog, but she couldn’t really tell. His free hand pointed at a spot next to him. Max lowered her head and sat next to Hugo. The dog glanced up at him, awaiting her next command.

“Get going,” Johanna muttered.

Her fingers dug into the arms of the chair. She leaned forward in anticipation. Ready to leap into action. Hugo and Max jaunted down the steps and took off on their daily walk. Johanna sprung from the chair. She gave two taps to the cloak clasp pinned to her sweater. She rushed to the antique display table and turned the brass key.

“I absolutely love this table,”Elizabeth said as she rubbed her hand across the smooth tabletop. “Where did you get it?”

“An old friend,” Johanna replied. “A very old friend.”

Johanna smiled as Elizabeth inspected every inch of the display table. Her fingers ran across the smooth yet weathered surface. Elizabeth’s auburn hair flowed down her back, and her hazel eyes focused on each detail. It reminded her of an old friend. An old friend she had not seen in so many years, but thought about every day. Johanna’s true love. Her betrayer. Her Abigail.

“What period is this from?” Elizabeth asked before interrupting herself. “Wait, don’t tell me.”

She examined the intricate details closer. The fine carving of the wolf head handle. The oak leaf with a keyhole in the middle. Elizabeth tried to pull on the handle, but it was locked. She pointed to the keyhole and turned back to Johanna sitting in one of her two wingback chairs.

Johanna shook her head. Elizabeth frowned in disappointment.

“Lost ages ago,” Johanna replied.

“I’m going to guess, based on the age, the elaborate carving, the weathering, that this dates back to the early 1700s?”

Johanna shook her head, smiling. “Late 1600s.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “Close enough. What’s a decade or two?”

She proceeded over to a similar chair to the one Johanna sat in. A small table holding a teapot, tea cups with saucers, and a plate ofcookies, separated them. Johanna provided the tea; Elizabeth the cookies.

Elizabeth topped off her cup before sitting down. She took a sip. “I love the antiques in your house. Hugo never wants to buy any. He says they make modern furniture for a reason. I think he doesn’t want to pay for it.” They chuckled.

“Well, they can be expensive and come at a great cost,” Johanna replied before taking another sip. “I prefer the antiques. It keeps memories of the past alive.”

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