Familiarity Breeds Witchcraft Read online

  “Seems practical.” Fox grinned. “I miss you, babe.”

  Gemma adjusted her device as she sat down again. “Miss you, too. Things are very quiet here without your bubbly presence.”

  After the ritual, Fox had returned to Seattle like she’d said she would; after all, she needed to get things wrapped up back there before they could decide what to do next.

  In the two weeks since Enid cast the love-seeking spell, Gemma and Fox talked daily the way they always had…only now the conversations were better. Gemma knew what she felt for Fox, and she knew Fox felt the same way, so now they could send each other sappy messages that Gemma read aloud in a dramatic voice for Enid’s benefit.

  Enid always made disgusted noises. Getting on her sister’s nerves felt great after what she’d been through.

  Gemma heard a door open downstairs.

  An adult voice called her name, and a child’s voice made a joyful, wordless noise.

  “Upstairs!” Gemma looked down to Fox. “Looks like alone time’s over for the moment.”

  “Broomsticks!” Fox said. “Guess the time has come to start on my next comic. I should be happy to have a girlfriend with a schedule that allows me a lot of time to work.” She winked. “Now why did I think that would be a good idea?”

  Gemma grinned. “I know. I’m so mean…and you’re such a slouch.”

  Fox made a kissy face. “We’ll talk tonight, babe. Love you.”

  “Love you.” Gemma’s face relaxed. “If you’re lucky, I might call you before dinner.”

  Fox clapped her hands. “Does that mean we could watch TV together?”

  The sound of footsteps grew ever closer. “There aren’t any big coven plans tonight.” Gemma looked up to see Orianna at the top of the stairs. “Right?”

  “None that I know of,” Orianna said. “Is that Fox?”

  Fern whooshed past Gemma and ran circles around the room.

  Nodding, Gemma held up her tablet so Fox and Orianna could see each other.

  “Perfect,” Fox said. “Talk to you soon. Bye, Orianna!”

  Orianna smiled and waved. “Bye.”

  “Later.” Gemma shut down the program and closed her tablet as she looked up at Orianna again. “Just what brings you to Ash Academy on this fine day?”

  “We wanted to see the progress you’re making. Well, Fern did, anyway. And I thought I was excited about her school.” Orianna grinned toward her daughter, who’d stopped running and now spun in circles with her arms out to the sides. She seemed nothing like the child she’d been before Rowan returned home all those months ago. “Would you like to take a break and do lunch? I’ve noticed you sometimes forget to eat…and that isn’t good for you.”

  An initial surge of anxiety swept over Gemma as she realized Orianna was being nosy and meddling.

  But anxiety quickly turned to gratitude.

  If Gemma wasn’t going to take care of herself, then someone needed to do it. And luckily, the coven was filled with people who wanted to do exactly that.

  “Sure, I’d love some food,” Gemma said. She tucked her tablet into her messenger bag and looked around the room to be sure she had everything. Just in case she decided to head home for the day without coming back.

  Orianna wandered to the window and looked out over the lawn. In a casual, sweet, and oh-so-innocent voice, she asked, “So…how is Fox?”

  “You saw.” Gemma slung her bag over her shoulder. “She’s good.”

  “Visiting Secret Hallow again any time soon?”

  Gemma shrugged.

  “Come on, Fern. Time to go.” Orianna held out a hand for her daughter while watching her friend. She heaved a frustrated sigh. “You’re too good at keeping things to yourself. Don’t make me ask your sister for a progress report.”

  “Enid will tell you the same thing.” Despite being annoyed at her sister, she knew Enid to be loyal. Both the Ash sisters had been getting rather intense questioning since the town figured out their visitor had stolen Gemma’s heart.

  Of course, the whole coven was very happy for them.

  As Orianna and Fern headed for the stairs, Gemma did one last check of things before following, making extra sure to brush her fingers over the plane ticket she’d started keeping in her tablet case for fear she’d lose it.

  What Gemma wasn’t telling Orianna was that she and Fox did have plans in place. The website where they’d met, the one for queer witches, was having a convention in Florida in a few weeks. Orlando, to be exact. Lots of fun things to do there. Gemma and Fox planned to go and do those fun things together and meet all their friends they’d made on the website over the years. The trip would be a perfect vacation.

  Gemma hummed to herself as she stepped outside into another beautiful autumn-like day.

  ☆★☆

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  Stranger Than Witches

  Kimberly Leif’s Story!