Page 66 of Which Witch is Willing?
Aunt Justine and Sunny served Tierra’s famous tea and Moira’s spicy, fried chicken pó boy sandwiches. Claire hoped their guests also appreciated the fresh fruit and vegetable trays since Tierra’s garden was the last dependable source of produce on the Olympic Peninsula.
After fifteen minutes, Aerin gestured to Claire to follow her, and they regrouped at the entrance to the parlor. “Time to open gifts, wouldn’t you say, and finish this farce?”
Claire wholeheartedly agreed. “Yes. The sooner we can get them out of here, the better.”
Claire headed to the kitchen and snagged the pink gift bag with sparkly polka dots and returned to the party. She leaned close to Aerin. “I’ll go first. We’ll have these bitches…I mean witches out of here in no time.”
Aerin laughed out loud, obviously not caring who heard.
Claire approached Tierra who sat in a circle with many of the party guests. By the look of sheer happiness on Tierra’s face, it was clear to Claire that Tierra had had a good relationship with many of the ladies, some of whom she’d likely known her entire lifetime.
Claire eyed the circle, wondering how many of them had known their mother, Mirelle. She also wondered how many had turned away, refusing to help their mother when others had sought her out for evil purposes. How many of these women might have helped, but didn’t, with the hunt for the poor woman about to bring four prophesied daughters into the world?
Also, how many of them had outright agreed the babies couldn’t live? And who among them had conspired to kill her and her sisters?
Claire couldn’t think of that now, or she’d likely lose her head and do something stupid. “Hey, sis,” she said brightly to Tierra. “Let me be the first to give my gift.”
Claire handed the bag to her sister and offered a warm smile. Claire’s cheerful interactions with most of the guests might have been phony, but her love for Tierra and baby Violet was as real as it came.
Tierra blinked back several tears of happiness. “Thank you, dear sister.”
She opened the bag and lifted out a frilly spring green dress with matching shoes and headband. “Oh, my Goddess, look. The shoes have amethysts on them.”
Claire smiled. “To signify my love and commitment to caring for little Violet.”
Tierra turned to her guests. “I’m not sure how many of you have met Claire, but I want you to know she’s a wonderful person and one of the fiercest fire witches I’ve met.”
Some in the circle smiled, and Gwen coughed into her hand.
Claire ignored her.
Tierra stood and pointed toward Aerin, who quickly shook her head. “Over there is Aerin, an awe-inspiring air witch. She’s unbelievably amazing and runs her own highly successful corporation.”
Aerin gave a half-hearted smile, while whispers circulated the room that some believed Aerin had learned to fly.
Jealous witches.
“My water witch sister, Moira, couldn’t be here today,” Tierra continued. “But she’s as gifted as these two and has the biggest heart I’ve ever known.”
Martha cleared her throat. “Your sisters are very lovely, I’m sure, but we’d really like to meet your new daughter. I hear she’s gorgeous, with astonishing eyes.”
Tierra’s pure joy faded into nervous happiness. “Of course. I know everyone’s eager. I’ve been waiting for her to wake from her nap. We don’t want a cranky baby.”
Some of the guests chuckled, but waves of expectation filled the rose-wallpapered room.
Tierra looked toward Aerin with a hesitant expression. “Would you mind checking on her for me and bringing her here if she’s awake?”
Aerin lifted perfectly-shaped brows and panic splashed across her face. “Me?”
Tierra smiled and nodded.
Aerin turned to Claire, silently pleading for help. Claire shook her head, not wanting to have to fetch the baby, either. Besides, if anything went wrong, Aerin was the one who could transport them both to safety in an instant.
32
The second Claire sensed Violet’s presence growing closer, all of the guests quieted. Claire assumed they must know the baby was nearby as well.
Aerin stepped into the room holding sweet Violet. The witches released a collective gasp, followed by comments on her beauty, how much dark cherry red hair she had, and how big she was.
