wicked witches 08.6 - a witch in time (7 page)

“My theory is right,” I said, narrowing my eyes when I saw Willa put her hand on Calvin’s chest. To my surprise, Calvin firmly removed Willa’s hand and leaned down to whisper something to her. Whatever it was, Willa didn’t like it. She said something back and then turned on her heel and stalked away. When I glanced at Tillie again, she was smiling. “That’s what she needed to see. She wanted to make sure Calvin wouldn’t betray her. She already knew it in her heart, but now she knows it in her head, too.”

“Do you worry about things like that, Bay?” Landon asked, his question taking me by surprise.

“Like what?” I feigned ignorance. I knew exactly what he was talking about.

“Don’t do that,” Landon said, wagging a finger in my face. “I’m asking a serious question. Do you think I would betray you?”

I answered honestly. “No. I’m terrified I’ll somehow lose you all the same, though.”

“Because of the witch stuff?”

I shrugged, unsure how to answer. “Maybe.”

“We’ve been over this, Bay,” Landon said, his tone calm and even. “I won’t leave. I don’t want to leave.”

“But … we’re stuck in Aunt Tillie’s mind,” I argued. “That can’t make you happy.”

“We might be time traveling,” Landon countered. “I haven’t given up on that yet.”

“Even if we are, that’s still because of my family,” I said. “Are you willing to put up with that … forever?” I almost choked on the word.

Landon was unruffled. “Yes.”

I swallowed hard. “Really?”

“Bay, I’m not going anywhere,” Landon said. “I’ll say it as many times as you need to hear it. I screwed up when I left. When I knew you were a witch and you refused to tell me everything, I reacted badly because I didn’t know what else to do. I’m over that now. I’m not leaving. I need you to believe that. When you do, then we’ll start talking about all of this.”

I knit my eyebrows. “All of what? The magic?”

“I don’t care about that either,” Landon said. “I mean all of this.” He gestured at the gathering. “When you believe in me and know in your heart I’m not going anywhere, then we’ll talk about weddings. Until then, I’m happy with how things are.”

“I … .” Holy crap!

“That’s what I thought,” Landon said, smirking as he dropped a quick kiss on my mouth. “Now watch your wedding,” he said. “We might have traveled through a crazy woman’s mind to get here. I want you to enjoy it.”

“You probably shouldn’t call her crazy.” That was probably the wrong thing to say given his admission, but I was at a loss.

“Oh, I’m over that,” Landon said. “If we tick her off, maybe she’ll wake up out of spite.”

“Huh. Well, stranger things have happened.”

“Like watching a wedding that occurred twenty-five years before you were born?”

I nodded. “Like that,” I said, resting my head against his shoulder. “Let’s watch it.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

For some reason, I believed him.

I don’t like kids. They’re only good for slave labor, kicking when I’m in a bad mood and setting on my enemies when someone ticks me off . Do you want to tick me off? If you do, all six of the girls I raised have deviant minds. You should see what they can come up with when pushed in the right direction.

– Aunt Tillie to a guest when asked why she never had children of her own

Six

T  he wedding was barely over before Landon and I shifted to a new memory. He gripped my hand, refusing to let go, and sighed when we landed hard enough to jolt both of us.

“I’m going to be in real pain when this is all over,” I muttered, rubbing my tailbone. “Seriously! Couldn’t she pick softer spots for us to land?”

Landon shrugged, but didn’t look any happier with the situation than I was. “She plopped us on a bed last time.”

“Her bed.”

“Yes, and I’m going to have nightmares forever,” Landon said, rolling to his knees and struggling to a standing position. “You know, if we’re really in Aunt Tillie’s head this stuff shouldn’t hurt. That’s why I think we’re time traveling.”

“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“Have you seen the time travel episodes of
Star Trek
?” Landon challenged. “They’re the best episodes, especially that
Star Trek: The Next Generation
one with the monsters in the cave and Picard meeting Guinan for the second time, which is really the first time.”

I was horrified. I opened my mouth, but no sound would come out.

“What?” Landon asked, glancing around. “Do I have something on my face?”

“Are you a Trekkie?”

Landon scowled. “Seriously? That’s what you’re worried about? We’re either traveling through time or stuck in a woman’s mind and you’re worried about my television habits?” He reached for my hand and helped me up. “I’m disappointed, Bay.”

“That wasn’t an answer,” I pressed. “Are you a Trekkie? And, if so, how have you managed to hide this from me for so long?”

Landon shrugged. “I have to watch something when we’re apart,” he said, completely unbothered by his admission. “
Star Trek
is fun, and it has hot chicks in little outfits. Sue me.”

“Oh, this is terrible,” I said, rubbing my neck. “Do you like … go to conventions and stuff?”

Landon made a face. “If you don’t stop that, I’m going to make you watch episodes with me and reenact them as part of a game.”

“What kind of game? Do Trekkies play weird games?”

“Not that kind of a game,” Landon snapped. “One of the other games we play. You know the ones I’m talking about.”

“You can say the word ‘sex.’ You know that, right?”

“Shh.” Landon slapped his hand over my mouth. “If you’re right, Aunt Tillie is listening. I’m trying to talk in code.”

I jerked my head away. “Good job, Mr. Spock,” I said, awkwardly trying to turn my fingers into the odd salute I’d seen on television. What? Aunt Tillie is a Trekkie, too. I’ve seen a few episodes. That doesn’t make me a hypocrite. Seriously, it doesn’t! “Aunt Tillie will never break your genius code.”

“You’re not longer my favorite person in the world,” Landon said, crossing his arms over his chest. “You wound me with your derision.”

I faltered. “I’m sorry. I’m sure it’s a … fine … lifestyle. We’ll just keep it a secret, like we do the witch thing. It will be fine, Mr. Spock.”

Landon’s eyes were dangerous slits when they locked with mine. “For your information, missy, I’m Captain Kirk.”

“I’m sorry.” I really wasn’t.

“Mr. Spock,” Landon muttered, dusting off the seat of his jeans. “He’s not sexy. Captain Kirk gets all the women. I’m definitely Captain Kirk.”

I patted his shoulder as I moved up beside him. “I’m just glad you’re not wearing a red shirt. I don’t want to worry about you dying on an away mission.”

“Ha!” Landon swiveled and pointed a finger in my direction. “You would only know that if you’re secretly a fan of the show.”

Crud. “I prefer Picard to Kirk.”

Landon’s expression was full of disgust. “He’s bald. I’m not bald.”

“Captain Kirk wears a toupee,” I pointed out.

“That’s never been proved. I happen to believe that’s his real hair.”

I realized what Landon wasn’t saying. “Don’t worry, sweetie,” I said. “I’m sure you won’t lose your hair.”

“I can’t even look at you right now,” Landon said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Look, we’re back at the house again. When do you think this is?”

I shrugged. “I have no idea. Let’s move closer, though. We’ll try to stay hidden and see what’s going on.”

“That’s because you’re starting to think I’m right about the time travel, right?” Landon asked, as he followed me through the thick foliage. “I’m right. Admit it.”

“I’m right,” I argued. “You’re just … a Trekkie.”

“I’m never going to live this down,” Landon muttered.

“Don’t worry; if you’re good for the rest of the day and we get out of this unscathed, I’ll let you play with my Tribbles.”

“Bay, you can’t mock me for being a Trekkie when you have all of this geek knowledge of your own,” Landon said. “You’re a Trekkie, too. If you try to make fun of me, I’ll tell everyone about that Tribble comment. Your mother will be horrified.”

Crap! Why do I always paint myself in such obnoxious corners? “Fine. Your secret is safe with me.”

“That’s good,” Landon said. “That means your secret is safe with me.” He pulled up short and extended a hand to hold me back, pushing me down behind a bush and pressing a finger to his lips to warn me to be quiet.

“What?” I whispered. “If someone is over there, they’ve already heard our
Star Trek
argument. There’s no reason to hide now.”

“It’s Calvin,” Landon said. “He’s sitting on a log. Look.”

I followed the direction of Landon’s finger, taking a moment to soak in the scene and realize what I was witnessing. “It’s Mom.”

“It’s all of them,” Landon said, gesturing toward the giggling girls as they danced in a circle around Calvin. “Look how small they are.”

“Look at Twila’s hair,” I marveled, grinning. “I guess Mom wasn’t lying when she said her natural color was blond. I’ve never seen anything but the Ronald McDonald color. She looks … normal.”

Landon chuckled. “What are they doing?”

“I have no idea,” I said. “It looks like they’re having fun, though, doesn’t it?”

“Is this before or after your grandmother died?”

“Before. I think everyone lived here together, though.”

“Girls! Come inside for lunch.” Ginger appeared in the doorway. I could barely make out her features, but her smile was evident as Twila and Marnie scampered in her direction. Mom lingered behind, clearly waiting for Calvin.

“Aren’t you coming?” Mom asked.

“In a minute,” Calvin replied. “I have something to do first. You go on ahead. I’ll catch up with you.”

“Okay,” Mom said, skipping toward the house. “You’d better hurry if you want cookies.”

“Don’t you dare eat my cookies.” Calvin feigned a stern expression. “I’ll tickle you if you do.”

“I’ll do my best,” Mom said, her blond hair bouncing. “I can only do so much, though.”

“I have faith in you,” Calvin said, smiling as he watched Mom enter the house.

Landon and I kept our heads bowed, inhaling quietly and working overtime not to alert Calvin to our presence.

“I know you’re there,” Calvin said.

My heart rolled. Was he talking to us?

“Bay Winchester, I know you’re there,” Calvin said.

When I risked a glance over the bushes I found Calvin staring at me. I straightened, smoothing the front of my shirt, and glanced around for a sign of Aunt Tillie. She was nowhere to be found. “How did you know we were here?”

“I heard the very enlightening
Star Trek
conversation,” Calvin replied, seemingly unperturbed by our appearance. “Tell your friend to stand up, too.”

Landon reluctantly did as instructed. “Hey, man.” It was the lamest greeting ever, but it made Calvin smile.

“Hey,” Calvin said. “You definitely have more in common with Kirk than Spock. I have no idea about the other people you mentioned, though, so I’ll have to side with your boyfriend.”

Landon smirked. “I told you.”

“That doesn’t count,” I said, picking my way through the foliage so I could close the distance between Calvin and myself. “Picard doesn’t exist yet. He doesn’t know what he’s missing.”

“Don’t push me, Bay,” Landon said. “I can only take so much.”

Calvin was chuckling when we finally made our way to him. “You guys are funny. I’m glad you found someone funny, Bay. You deserve to laugh.”

“I don’t understand,” I said, glancing around. “How do you know who I am? And where is Aunt Tillie?”

“She’s close,” Calvin replied. “My Tillie is in the trees over there watching. She hides from the girls when they get boisterous. Your Tillie is in the trees behind me watching. You can’t see her yet. You’ll be able to soon, though. I have to have a talk with you first.”

“About what?”

“Do you know what’s happening, Bay?” Calvin’s brown eyes were serious. “Do you know why you’re here?”

“I think so,” I hedged.

“We’re time traveling,” Landon offered.

“
Star Trek
isn’t real, son,” Calvin said. “You need to let that go.”

Landon scowled.

“I told you,” I muttered.

“You might try being more gracious, Bay,” Calvin admonished. “I know you have it in you. You’re Winnie’s daughter, after all.”

“How do you know who I am?”

“I know what Tillie wants me to know,” Calvin answered. “She’s … conflicted.”

“Because she’s hurt and in the hospital and she’s hiding from her pain, right?”

“Yes.”

“Ha!” I glanced at Landon. If I was expecting applause, I was about to be disappointed. “I mean … I graciously say that I was right and you were wrong, and I’m doing it in a way that’s not annoying.”

“Try again,” Landon muttered, although I didn’t miss the brief smile on his face. “Why doesn’t she want to wake up? Do you know?”

“I know that Tillie feels badly about what happened,” Calvin said. “She’s doing her best to heal herself, but she’s fighting the urge to wake at the same time. It’s important that she wakes up, Bay. Do you understand why?”

“Because she hasn’t finished her plan of world domination yet?” What? That’s a legitimate answer. She’s been telling me about her plan since I was five.

“No,” Calvin said, chuckling. “It’s not her time.”

“Do you know when her time is?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know it’s not her time?” I pressed.

“Do you want it to be her time?” Calvin asked, switching gears.

“I don’t think I would be here if that was the case,” I replied. “I just … I don’t know what to do. We haven’t seen her. Not the real Aunt Tillie, I mean. I’ve seen younger versions of her.”

“You’re going to see your real aunt very soon,” Calvin said. “You’re almost ready. You only have to open your mind and see what’s right in front of you.”

“You’re right in front of me.”

“I see you have the Winchester penchant for arguing,” Calvin said, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I shouldn’t be surprised. That’s the one thing that never skips a generation.”