A Witch Like No Other (56 page)

“
We’re going out with Teddy, ok?”

“
It’s fine,” Dreamer said softly. “Everything will be
ok.”

“
What if the baby’s Dad’s?” Pandora asked quietly. “Will it
be ok?”

“
And what if he isn’t?” Marlon asked as quietly as his
sister had. “Will it still be ok?”

“
Of course,” Dreamer repeated. “Everything has been fine so
far even though we all thought Julian wasn’t Ted’s. We put it
behind us, remember?”

Dreamer gently put on
Julian’s tiny puff coat and shoes, then his little
hat.

“
Don
’t you look
cute.”

“
I’m ready,” Ted replied hoarsely, and she realised how
nervous he was as he said “Dreamer- me and you- I mean if the test
is negative… will we-”

“
Don’t worry,” she said softly. “No matter what happens, I
promise me and you will be ok.”

“
Hello Alice,” Ted said, distracted for a split second as
they all put their bags down. Then, remembering that James was
Pandora
’s boyfriend and Alice
was Marlon’s girlfriend, he said “No switching with James when you
go to Pandora’s room, Alice. If I check on you and find James in
there instead-”

“
So he could be Ted
’s,”
whispered Miriam, Denise awestruck as Dreamer held the envelope.
“Open it, Dreamer!”

“
Both of you need to go,” Dreamer said, as Denise ended the
call. “I’ll call you both in a few days and we’ll definitely see
each other.”

“
Yes,” she said quietly. “Come inside, all of you. It’s
freezing.”

“
Don’t know,” said Julian shyly, and everyone laughed again,
Dreamer saying “Pandora, Marlon, take Julian upstairs to the play
room. He has a lot of toys in there and there’s a television you
can watch, just while I talk to your father.”

“
I’ll be up soon, baby. I just need to talk to Teddy,
ok?”

“
Soon,” Dreamer promised. “I’ll be up soon.”

“
Dreamer,” said Ted quietly, and she joined him in the
living area. “I haven’t thought of anything else all week. I
haven’t even been able to sleep properly- I kept waking up in the
night and then I couldn’t sleep until dawn. And then I had work,
where I couldn’t concentrate-”

“
No,” he admitted. “I’m scared, Dream. Scared
stiff.”

“
There’s nothing to be scared of,” Dreamer said softly.
“Things wont change if Julian isn’t your son.”

“
Little one,” said Paul firmly as he looked at Dreamer.
“Pull yourself together and talk to your lover.” He looked at his
wife, then he said “You too, Agnes. Pull yourself
together.”

“
It
’s good news,”
whispered Agnes, Paul saying “Pretty excellent news.”

“
Ninety nine point nine percent,” whispered Dreamer, and
Paul wiped her tears away as he said “He’s yours, Ted.”

“
He
’s mine?” Ted
repeated amazedly, and they nodded.

“
He’s your son.”

“
What’s going on?” demanded Pandora, and Ted said “He’s
mine, ‘Dora! Julian- he’s my son!”

“
Seriously?” said Pandora amazedly, when Marlon punched the
air with joy. “He’s our full brother?”

“
He’s your Daddy.”

“
Come give Daddy a hug,” Ted said as his eyes filled over,
and Julian reached for him, beaming. Tears trailed down Ted’s face
as he held Julian to him, stroking his curly hair.

“
So we’re definitely going to be all together for
Christmas?”

“
Super brilliant,” smiled Paul. “We will leave you now,
little one, to spend time with your family. You’ll see us at the
weekend.”

“
That
’s totally up to
your mother,” Ted replied as he put his arm around Dreamer.
“Whenever she’s ready, we will.”

Baby Julian was making his toy horse ride around the
carpet
by itself, beaming as
Dreamer said “Are you still against magic, Ted? Baby Julian is too
little to control his power, and I cant stop being a
witch.”

“
Of course I
’m not
against it,” Ted said warmly. “After that fiasco with the police
and the stadium, how could I be? I love you for what you are,
Dreamer, and I’d never wish that you’d change.”

“
Don’t get all mushy,” Pandora said, scowling as Ted smiled
at her mother dreamily. “You’ll make me chuck up.”

“
Spicy chicken and rice,” Pandora said before Marlon could
reply, and Ted said “Sounds great. You want me to make it,
Dream?”

“
If you
’d like,”
Dreamer replied, taking a deep breath. She felt so relieved about
the DNA results and so happy as well. Now she could truly put the
memory of Damon Stile behind her, properly. They all
could.

“
Quadruple,” Ted said instantly, and he laughed as she
pouted. “You cant win this, Dreamer. I love you more than you’ll
ever know.”

“
Nah. Well, not until Julian wakes anyway.” Ted sighed
contentedly, then he looked at her. “Can we put the whole memory of
Damon Stile to bed? Once and for all?”

“
Of course,” Dreamer said softly.
“I want to tell the same to Pandora.”

Dreamer
’s bedroom door
opened, and they saw Pandora creep in nervously.

“
It’s ok, ‘Dora. Don’t worry about it.” Ted smiled at her.
“Want to snuggle down with us?”

Pandora
’s face lit up
and she looked every bit a six year old. “Can I?”

“
Of course,” smiled Dreamer, and Pandora stepped out of her
slippers before she ran and joined her parents in bed, snuggling
down in between them.

“
Yes,” Dreamer said softly. “Pandora, I know he frightens
you and he has for years. Even since being in prison. I don’t want
you to feel that way anymore.”

“
I
cant help it,” whispered Pandora. “He could escape from prison and
get me again. Or hurt you like before, or kill you
again-”

“
I’m going to erase Pandora’s memory of Damon Stile,”
Dreamer replied, and his jaw dropped.

“
Of course I can. We’ll have our old Pandora back, the
Pandora who is confident and not scared of socialising,” Dreamer
said. “She can call her old friends and patch it up with them. I
know they’ll be shocked and pleased to hear from her after such a
long time.”