Page 41 of The Accidental Witch

Robbie’d had everything taken away, yet, she’d taken the bull by the horns and started a new, much poorer life after her family abandoned her. And if that wasn’t enough, she’d been forced to take on an event that would alter her life forever. But here she was, finding out the paranormal were real, learning to control her magic and fly a broom.

Leaning on the reception desk, planting his head on his hand, he said, “You know, thereisa way you could see Josh…”

Robbie’s heartthrashed against her ribs as they all gathered outside St. Raphael’s in the dark parking lot, the cold night air making her shiver.

The trees carefully placed over the sitting benches to provide shade from the sun bent in the wind, the parking lot mostly empty at this time of night. The moon hung low and buttery, it’s soft white glow illuminating the group.

They’d decorated the hospital for Halloween with the children in mind. Pumpkins lined the entryway and ghosts made of sheets attached to the awning swayed in the breeze. There were cutouts of witches flying on their brooms plastered on some of the windows (hah!), beside cheerful pumpkins with smiling faces and a row of bats.

She loved the work St. Raphael’s did for children and their families. They were all-encompassing, offering a place to stay for those families from out of town, a warm meal, a quiet room where they could go to pray or simply take a moment to breathe.

There were playrooms for the children when they weren’t too sick to slide down a slide or put together a life-size puzzle of Dr. Seuss. She’d proposed the idea for a puppet show, where puppeteers came and performed twice a month. The laughter of those children, always so enmeshed in their pain and fear, had been music to her ears.

Most of all, St. Raphael’s brought hope, comfort, and peace of mind that no matter the outcome, the families with sick children wouldn’t have to worry about a thing but being with their ill loved one.

And her mother had fucked that up in a big way. The millions of dollars she’d stolen took away lifesaving procedures, research money, high-tech machinery…and it infuriated her.

Tottington came to stand next to her. “Miss?”

“I’ve missed this place, T. So much.” Her throat began to close up, her eyes welling with tears.

“Indeed,” he whispered. “And now, due to the miracle of your powers, you can see Master Josh. What a wonderous thing, Miss, don’t you agree?”

Looking down at her feet, she nodded. “Yes.” Sort of. Her powers might seem wonderous on the outside, but on the inside, she was a terrified mess.

However, if it meant seeing Josh, she’d risk the terror. He held a special place in her heart. All the children did, but Josh had been through hell and back these last several months, and she’d spent extra time with him because of it.

“You’re frightened.”

Clenching her fists, Robbie took deep breaths. “I am, T. I don’t want to get caught, but mostly, I don’t want to upset Josh.”

“You won’t, Miss. You’ll be cloaked in a spell.”

When Greer had proposed this, using a cloaking spell to get her into the hospital to see Josh, she’d jumped at the chance, even though they hadn’t touched on that part of her powers.

But as the day wore on, and her nerves began to get the better of her, she worried that if the spell faltered, she wouldn’t remember the words to keep it in place. Her notoriously bad memory, and the fact that she occasionally had a hard time securing her spells for long periods of time, could blow this whole thing up.

But Greer offered to go with her, making her feel much safer. He did that. Greer Winthrop made her feel safe. She’d never felt like that with anyone before, and it frightened her.

Rather than embrace it, she hid from it in typical Roberta Tisdale fashion. But if she looked logically at the situation,someonehad to go with her. She hadn’t been truly alone since she’d been swept off to the Lost Lands.

“Have I told you how proud I am of you, miss?”

Tottington’s voice brought her back to the present. “Proud?”

He cupped her cheek. “Indeed, Roberta. So proud. Your life’s been turned upside down, sweet girl. From your mother’s misdeeds to this whole new world you’ve been thrust into, you’ve handled this with the strength of a true warrior.”

She smiled, leaning into the warmth of his hand. “So do warriors alternate between laughing like a loon to screaming in fear?”

He winked, a soft sweep of his eyelashes against his cheek. “This warrior does.Mywarrior does.”

Her heart clenched in her chest. Having Tottington’s approval meant the world to her. “Thank you, T.Thankyou,” she whispered, reaching up to kiss his cheek. “I love you, T. Thanks for sticking by me, now and always.”

“And I you.”

Greer approached them, striding toward her, tall and handsome with a smile on his face. “You ready?”

They’d practiced this spell all day long. She’d been everything from a gas station attendant to Gwen Stefani, but her nerves were getting the best of her tonight.

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