Page 6 of Home Is Where the Witch Is
“I’m fine,” she lied, not wanting the ‘I told you not to do a single thing for yourself’ lecture people always wanted to dish out. It was nice to have good intentions, no matter how misplaced they might seem to Rosie at times.
“Didn’tsoundfine,” her husband replied astutely, narrowing his gaze at her. “What did you do?” It was only then that he saw the envelope on the floor at her feet. He looked back at her accusingly, before swooping to grab the envelope with an ease that was infuriating.
“What?” she replied, her defensive side prickling up like a porcupine. “I have to be able to do something other than sit on the porch swing or on the couch!”
“Not until that wee’an arrives,” Declan said, waving the envelope in her direction. “And then we’ll both have so much to do we won’t know where t’start.”
Rosie resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose as she reminded herself that her husband—and all her other loved ones—reallydidhave her best interests in mind.
“Honey,” she began, in as patient a tone as she could manage.
Declan reached out with a huge hand to rub her upper arm comfortingly. “Yes, darlin’?”
“I love you, but can youpleaseopen the letter that came through the magically glowing mail slot before I die from the suspense?”
“Glowin’?” he asked, intrigued himself. He tore the end of the exquisite envelope open and drew out a card that was pitch black against the creamy white missive. A fancy but legible handwriting was scrawled across the page, alternating with bold block letters.
Electionto the Council of Witches
We hereby give notice that the following Council Seats are open for election.
Medea Florakis and Alain D’Louncrais will contend for the European Line.
Tya Yarran and Aata Taylor will contend for the Australian Line.
Each candidate will competein the Arcane Ordeals, which will take place at 9am one week from today at the Hayes Sugar and Syrup Mill - Mosswood, Georgia. A secure camping location for candidates and spectators has been arranged adjacent to the venue.
“An election?”Declan screwed up his face in disgust. “Bleh!”
“I mean, it’s not unexpected. We’re two Council members down and Dracula can’t fill in for Europe forever. He must have his own legacy to be dealing with.” Rosie made a mental note to ask him about it the next time she saw him. What did the world’s most famous vampire do when he wasn’t popping out to visit Salem during the time of the actual witch trials or standing in on the Council of Witches.
“Why are we only just hearing about this now?” Rosie asked. “We’re on the Council. Shouldn’t we have been involved in setting this up?”
“An election is called as soon as there are two nominees for each Line,” Declan explained.
Rosie frowned. “Why only two?”
“I don’t know. Why only seven Lines?” Declan shrugged. “It’s just the way it is.”
“Fair enough. So now what?” Quirking a dark brow, Rosie began to rub the small of her back with her hands gingerly. A little ibuprofen would go a long, long way right about now.
“We attend the nomination ceremony, I guess,” Declan groaned. “This is gonna be a ruddy nightmare. The last election took?—”
“—forty-two years,” Rosie interrupted. “I know.Surelyit won’t take that long this time? Things have improved since my great-great-great-grandmother Violet’s day. We have women’s rights, for one thing. And computers. And really strong coffee—and wine. For the stress.”
“It’s not just all that love,” Declan assured her. “How are we going to maintain the Secrecy with hundreds of witches converging on Mosswood for an election?”
Rosie’s brain was suddenly flooded with a vision of Mosswood overrun with strange-ass witches from all corners of the globe. Eating hotdogs in Granny’s Diner. Shopping for toothbrushes in the Go-Go Mart. Holding naked ceremonies in Lee Park on the night of the full moon… formonths. Maybe years.
“…crap.”
CHAPTER THREE
The followingweek passed in a blur. Rosie was busy making her final plans for Nourish. The families had both made the reluctant decision to close the cafe for the rest of the summer, given that both Rosie and Tammy were going to need time to recover physically and both families wanted to enjoy the challenges of caring for newborns.
Tammy was due any day, which had everyone on edge but especially Myles. He took daddy duty very seriously and had helped Tammy pack and repack her hospital bag numerous times, while also making sure everything in their fancy home was baby-proofed. Rosie called and texted multiple times a day too, and while she was sure it was annoying to Tammy in some measure, her friend also seemed grateful to have the regular check-in.
As she got herself ready to attend the nomination ceremony the strange card had informed them of, Rosie realized there was so much about the election process she didn’t know. How would the candidates each put forward their campaigns? How did everyone cast their votes? And, more critically, who was going to run her business while she and Declan were fluffing around with the whole dang process? While she was sure it couldn’t last for decades in this day and age, she still had a niggling feeling it wasn’t going to be straightforward.
