Page 60 of The Trouble With Spells
My eyes strayed to the spark from the thin silver and amethyst band on my left hand, when the sunlight streaming in from the window hit it. It was still new and strange seeing it there, but every time I did, I couldn’t help the huge grin that broke out across my face as I remembered that day.
I loved that Michael had researched and gotten the ring in silver and not white gold, which he had admitted was his first choice. When he realized that witches believed silver to be a symbol of the moon, that it had the ability to repel evil spirits, and was often used in magical spells and could enhance psychic abilities, he had quickly decided to commission the ring in silver.
Michael had proposed a little over a month ago, nearly a year to the day he had walked into my shop. And he’d done it in the middle of the Witch Memorial while I’d been helping Macy with a tour. I’d been placing flowers on the benches, and when I had turned around Michael had been down on one knee, holding out a ring box. There had been more than just our walking tour going on at the time, but most people’s attention had been glued to Michael and me. I’d been so stunned I had nearly sat down on the bench I had just placed aflower on.
I had barely heard anything he had said to me, my heart pounding so wildly in my ears it had drowned out all other sounds. I do remember nodding, my hands over my mouth, and happiness flowing through my body as he slipped the ring on my finger. Pulled me up and into his arms and kissed me within an inch of my life, in front of everyone. Cheers had erupted around us, but I’d only had eyes for the man I loved.
Macy, cheering the loudest, had rushed over, hugging me tight. Declaring that yes, she absolutely would be my Best Person at our wedding, before I had even asked.
He'd surprised me with more than just a proposal that night. Taking my hand, he had led me a few streets over to Washington Square, to a large, newly renovated, Queen Anne Victorian. It was painted light gray with white trim, and he’d tugged me up to the wrap around porch. When he had pulled out a key, I could do nothing more than gawk at him, speechless. Ushering me into the grand foyer, woodwork gleaming around us, I had gazed around me with wide eyes.
“I bought it,” Michael stated the obvious, and all I could do was nod and gulp. “I know it’s big, probably bigger than we need, but hear me out.”
“Oh, I’m listening,” I had mumbled, walking slowly through each updated room. The house was stunning, completely modernized, but the previous owners had–thankfully–kept all the original woodwork andbuilt-ins. Everything sparkled around us, and I fell in love with it instantly.
“It’s six bedrooms and four and a half baths, with space for my office,” he tugged me through the gorgeous kitchen, to a pair of French doors that led to outdoor space. There were already two nice sized garden boxes waiting for next spring. “I thought we could try our hands at planting some veg, or maybe some herbs? I don’t know. But there’s a two-car garage, and an amazing sunken tub off the master, and…”
Wandering the fenced area, I smiled as he tried to point out all the house’s wonderful selling points. “It’s beautiful, Michael.”
He looked unsure of himself. “I know we should have done this together–house hunting–but my mom sent me this listing from a realtor friend of hers, and I just knew this was our house, Callum. Let me show you the upstairs.”
I let him pull me from room to room, until we stood outside the double doors that led to the master bedroom. “Close your eyes,” Michael insisted, and I laughed, but did as he asked. He was like a kid on Christmas morning, and this was our package we were unwrapping together. Holding my hand, he guided me into the room. “No peeking!”
“I’m not,” I laughed, even though I really wanted to.
“Open them up.”
Blinking my eyes to take in the room, my mouth fell open in surprise. “It’s purple!”
“It’s lilac, thank you very much,” Michael corrected me, his tone teasing. “As soon as I saw this room in the pictures, I knew I had to see it. We can change whatever we want, but honestly, they did a fantastic job with this house. Maybe some paint, here or there, that is more to our liking, but–”
Framing his face with my hands, I kissed him soundly, shutting him up. “It’s perfect just the way it is.”
The house hadn’t been the only surprise that night. Michael had turned in his resignation, which had shocked me more than being proposed to and having a house bought for me. While he had drastically cut down his hours in the year we had been dating, spending most weekends in Salem, I knew he loved his job. We had never even discussed him quitting, and he hadn’t said anything about being unhappy there.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while now,” he had explained, sitting on the perfectly made king-sized bed of our new house. Taking a seat next to him, I entwined our fingers together between us.
“Really since meeting you and the Marcone thing.” Which was what we had taken to calling our kidnapping. The Marcone thing sounded better than when we were kidnapped and thought we were going to die.
“And honestly, I was ready for a change. Working those hours just wasn’t what I wanted anymore.” He broughtour hands up and kissed the back of my hand. “My time belongs to you. To the life we are building.”
“But–” It all seemed so sudden, and I worried he was making decisions he was going to regret. Michael loved the city, his condo, and despite what he said, I knew he loved working on those high-profile cases, and seeing justice served.
He shook his head. “No buts, Callum, and no regrets. I have been wanting to make changes for months. I hate it when we are apart. I can’t sleep in my condo when you aren’t there.” He snickered derisively, “Which is funny, considering that me not being able to sleep with someone is what led to us meeting. I asked to cut back at work, to not be assigned so many cases, and Harry nodded and then would hand me five more. It’s just not what I want anymore. I love the law, that won’t ever change, and I still want to fight for victims, but in a different way. I’m going to open my own practice, right here in Salem. Actually, I plan to have my office here in the house to see clients. I think I’d like to do family law for a bit, see how that feels. I talked it over with my Dad, and while he’s still a little bummed that I refuse to go into corporate law, he’s happy to have me back home, and practicing what makes me happy.”
Giving him a warm smile, I caressed his cheek. “I think that sounds amazing. I know you’re going to be wonderful.”
“And, best of all, I managed to sweet talk Maggie into coming with me and being my office manager here. Though there won’t be much to manage, besides me.”
I was startled out of my memories by the slamming of the front door, and Daphne declaring loudly, “I’m here! And I brought the sage!”
Michael’s eyes went wide, and he whispered, “Sage?”
Shrugging, I listened as Daphne wandered the downstairs rooms. “If we stay really quiet, she might not find us.”
Derek snort laughed, then asked, “Who is she and why does she have sage?”
Shaking my head, I muttered, “It’s what she does. And that’s my sister.”
