Page 102 of Bewitched & Bewildered
If Juniper is worried about her sister seeing us together, she doesn’t show it. We’re holding hands as we approach the front door.
OZAN
Taking him inside is a risk. My sisters are lurking everywhere… but they are as glum as I am. We’re all saying goodbye to a piece of our mother, even if Ozan insists we’re not. They’ll understand why I have a friend over. I need someone to cheer me up.
They may be less understanding about the cheerful person in question. I still can’t believe Ozan is my friend, but he is. He may even be mybestfriend, aside from Maple, but I’ll never tell him.
My actions speak for me. Inviting someone into our house is an act of trust.
I don’t trust many people around my sisters, but Ozan has done everything to help us as a family. When Laurel was having a bad night, he helped me care for her. When the heater was broken, he fixed it.
And he’s here with me now when he could have left. Hell, he could have let me walk home alone. Of course, he wouldn’t do that. Ozan is present in my life, fiercely fighting for a place in my heart, and I still don’t know how to accept that he’s already there. He more than earned that place.
Our living room is less cluttered these days. It’s mainly because I’ve had more time to clean, but there’s more to thestory. The current round of renovations and repairs is over. My sisters cleaned up most of their mess… and much of my mother’s clutter, too.
We’re letting go of her, and none of us know how to feel about it.
There’s still a stack of books on the coffee table. The room still smells of cedar and sandalwood. Some things will never change. It’s warm thanks to the crackling fire, and we still don’t have central heating. A red, handmade quilt is folded on the couch, with a crochet blanket on top.
It’s home. No matter how many boxes we put away, my mom is still here.
I think she’s happy for me. This may be the first time I’ve felt it—her spirit, the thing everyone says Ishouldfeel. Whether witch, vampire, werewolf, or mundane… they all say her spirit is still with me.
It’s not until Ozan looks at me, with his hand in mine and his eyes crinkling with warmth, that I feel it.
A powerful rush of emotions runs through me, and even during my most morose hour, I find myself smiling back at him. It’s small and feeble, but it’s there.
“Sit here,” I say. “I’ll make us some hot chocolate.”
He opens his mouth like he wants to argue, but I won’t hear it. I push on his giant shoulders, and down he goes.
“Let me know if you need help,” he says.
I’m already halfway to the kitchen.
To say I’m bad in the kitchen would be an understatement. Our mother tried to teach all of us to cook, to various degrees of success, but I’m spoiled by Maple. I hardly know how to make a thing…
I can make hot chocolate. I make it by hand, too, putting on a saucepan of milk and adding chunks of dark chocolate.It’s better than the powder. Maple won’t allow powdered hot chocolate in our home, anyway.
I sprinkle in ground cinnamon, stirring clockwise to add intention. I may not be a kitchen witch, but this is practically a potion.
It’s an intention for joy.
And, if Aphrodite allows it…
For love.
When I return with our hot chocolate, Ozan is still there. I sit with one leg tucked under the other and turn to face him.
He leans forward, reaching for a saucer on the coffee table.
“It’s hot,” I say.
“But it looks so good.” He wets his lips. “I’ll risk it.”
“No!” I laugh and grab his hands. “You’ll burn yourself.”
The energy between us softens. His head tilts to the side, and his warm eyes wander over my face with gentle interest. Neither of us pulls our hands away.
