Serendipity (Bayou Magic 3)

When she removes her sweater, he recoils in disgust when he sees the tattoos on her arms and back.

That won’t do.

“Why would you mark yourself up like that?” he asks and watches as the toy frowns and looks around.

“Is someone there?” she calls out and listens. He sees just a hint of fear in her green eyes, and that pleases him.

Yes, that pleases him very much.

As much as he wants to kill her right away, to watch her scream and cry and beg as he has the right to, he’s resigned himself to being patient with this one. He needs her energy. And he needs to teach them all a lesson.

“It’s just the two of us,” he says in a singsong voice. “I’m going to take very good care of you. Of course, before we’re done, you’ll have to lose those horrible tattoos. I don’t know what you were thinking. But we’ll fix it.”

He longs for his electric chair. For his bench. For his favorite knife.

And feels the anger surge in him once more, gaining in strength again as he pulls energy from this new toy.

“Now, let’s get started.”

Chapter Eleven

Daphne

“Let’s go check out where your new house will be,” I suggest to Mama when the meeting comes to an end. “Let’s talk about something fun for a bit.”

“Oh, I’d love that,” Mama says with a smile and then reaches out to take Miss Sophia’s hand. “Thank you again for this.”

“It’s absolutely my pleasure. Let’s go have a look, get the lay of the land, so to speak, and see what you think.”

The guys are all huddled over some books at Miss Sophia’s table, mumbling and talking. Lucien’s parents, Oliver, and Miss Annabelle have all left.

Now it’s time to take a breath and think about something good. Something that doesn’t scare the hell out of me.

We set off down the little dirt road that winds away from Miss Sophia’s cabin, through a little meadow, and then Miss Sophia gestures to her left.

“I was thinking this spot would be perfect,” she says and takes Mama’s hand to lead her into the meadow. “There are trees tucked here on the side for some good shade, but you’ll also still have a view to my place. Our ritual field is even nearby.”

“Oh, it’s just lovely,” Mama says with a contented sigh. “So peaceful. Can you feel it, girls? Take a deep breath.”

We all breathe deeply, and I do feel it. The calm, the peace that rests here.

“I cleansed the area,” Miss Sophia says. “It’s a safe haven for you, Ruth.”

“I’m so grateful,” Mama says and swipes a tear off her cheek. “I don’t think I can ever repay you for this.”

“And there’s no need to,” Miss Sophia says simply. “Now, how do you want your place situated?”

“We were thinking two bedrooms,” Millie says, walking farther into the meadow. “With a nice big bathroom that has a soaking tub. And a good-sized kitchen since you’re a hedgewitch. You’ll need plenty of working space.”

“Oh, it’s fun to think about, isn’t it?” Mama says in delight. She’s like a kid on Christmas morning. “Well, I think it would be lovely if the house faced toward yours, Miss Sophia. That would give a nice view of the meadow here, and the trees will be to the back of the house for shade. I could plant a garden right over there.”

She walks and points, her eyes filled with excitement as she considers all the possibilities.

“I think that’s a great idea,” Brielle adds.

We spend a good half-hour making plans for Mama’s new home and brainstorming ideas. When we walk back to see how the boys are doing, Mama slips her hand into mine and kisses my cheek.

“I love you, daughter.”

I feel the tears and don’t bother trying to blink them away.

I’ve waited my whole life to have a moment like this with my mother.

I smile over at her and soak in the pure happiness I see in her eyes. “I love you, too, Mama.”

* * *

“Why are you here?” Millie asks in surprise when I approach her at her counter at Witches Brew. Esme, her trusted employee, just grins at me. “Not that I’m not happy to see you. I just don’t usually see you in the middle of a workday. Did you shut down the store?”

“Jack’s there,” I reply with a shrug. “I know I’ve been hesitant to bring on help in the past, but there’s something to be said for leaving it in someone else’s capable hands so I can go fetch a cup of coffee that I didn’t have to make for myself.”

Millie grins. “I love that he’s there with you. That he’s been staying with you.”

“He’s hot,” Esme declares with a dramatic sigh. “Too bad he doesn’t have a younger brother. I’m going to go straighten up the reading area.”