Page 92 of Enchant the Dawn

“I was thinking of something a little more traditional,” she remarked, “but if you need it . . .”

“Maybe later.” Closing the distance between them, he drew her into his arms. “How would you like to go for a drive, or take a walk?”

“Either one sounds good.”

Dominic glanced at Ava. “Do you mind?”

“I’d appreciate some time alone. There are a few spells I’d like to review before we leave.”

Releasing Maddy, he kissed Ava on the cheek. “We won’t be gone long.”

* * *

It was a beautiful day. It had rained during the night, just enough to clear the air. Dominic drove to a secluded beach. After parking the car, he led Maddy down a winding footpath to the sand.

“We should have brought a blanket,” Dominic remarked. “The sand is still damp from the rain.”

“Not to worry,” Maddy said. A few murmured words, a few intricate motions with her hands, and a blanket appeared.

“Like my father always said, it pays to have a witch in the family.”

Sitting cross-legged on the blanket, she smiled up at him. “Remember that.”

“Oh, I will,” he said, dropping down beside her. “I never intend to go anywhere without one.”

“Except to Connecticut.”

“Maddy ...”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry.” She gazed out at the ocean, thinking how beautiful and peaceful it looked with the sun silvering the waves. Hard to believe in just a few hours, Dominic would be fighting for his life. “You will be careful.”

“I promise.” He drew her up against him, her back against his chest, his arms wrapping around her waist, his legs on either side of hers. “I love you, Maddy,” he murmured, his breath warm against the side of her neck. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. Nothing will keep me from coming home to you.”

She sighed as she leaned back against him. With the sun shining down on them like a blessing, it was hard to imagine that anything could go wrong.

* * *

Maddy fidgeted during dinner, too nervous to sit still or eat much. Sensing her distress, Ava started reminiscing about her second husband. “His name was Will. He was a wonderful man, very down to earth, but so very sweet. I never told him I was a witch.”

“Never?” Maddy exclaimed. “Why not?”

“He wouldn’t have understood. He’d been brought up by very strict parents who believed that all witches were demons. I just couldn’t bring myself to tell him. I was always careful to keep my magic under wraps, so to speak. We had a wonderful life together. He died shortly after Callie’s mother was born.” A faint smile curved her lips. “My first husband, John, was more understanding about my magic. I think I told you, he was a Knight of the Dark Wood.”

Maddy nodded.

“Members of the Brotherhood are forbidden to marry unless they leave the Order. He offered to renounce his vows, but I couldn’t let him do that. I knew how much being a Knight meant to him. And he knew I could never give up my magic. We were very young and madly in love and we married in secret. I promised I’d never betray the Brotherhood and he vowed he’d never tell anyone I was a witch. It wasn’t safe to be a witch in those days. Back then, people tended to be suspicious of anyone who was different. Actually, that hasn’t changed much.”

“I never knew you were married to a Knight,” Dominic remarked.

“It’s not common knowledge. I trust you will both keep my secret.”

“Sure,” Dominic said. He glanced at Maddy, who looked a little pale.

“Of course,” she said agreeably.

Dominic frowned. “You’ve been single a long time, Grams. How is it that you never married again?”

“I’ve been too busy,” she said. “First raising my own children, then looking after your mother and father. And now keeping an eye on you and Lily.”

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