“So mote it be,” Brenna whispered, followed by the rest of the women. Bright lights appeared, dancing in the air. The lights started chattering and laughing. Brenna saw faces she recognized from her dreams and many she didn’t. Isabel’s smiling face hovered in the air before tumbling to the shimmering water. Hawthorn smiled at her with twigs and leaves hanging from her hair. Brenna laughed and smiled. Rowena and Jonathon were dancing together in the moonlit sky. They looked down at her with wide smiles.
“Thank you all.” Rowena looked directly at Brenna and disappeared with Jonathon. Just when Brenna couldn’t be any happier a bright blue light appeared in front of her. The light faded, allowing Brenna to see three people standing before her.
“Mum! Dad! Gran!” She tried to hug them but fell right through their transparent bodies.
“Brenna, we are so proud of you. Thank you.” Her mother’s voice was sweet and soothing. Her father smiled at her lovingly.
“Tell Jeff that I’m waiting for him.” Annwyn winked at her.
“Where’s Grandad?”
“Oh, he found somebody else a long time ago.” Annwyn smiled at her with glistening eyes. Brenna turned toward her mother wanting to say so much but didn’t know where to start.
“Get on with your life, my child. Know that we are happy and free because of you. We love you always.” The three spirits turned into tiny white sparks and entered the pool.
Maggie walked up to Brenna and placed an arm around her. “Are you okay?”
Brenna nodded, wiping her cheeks with her sleeve. “I am.”
“Oh! You’re going to want this back.” Maggie took the moonstone from around her neck and handed it to Brenna.
“Why don’t you hold on to it? It looks good on you.”
“Bren, it’s a family heirloom. It’s freaking magical.”
“My family are in here.” Brenna placed a hand over her heart. “And, she’s standing right in front of me.”
Maggie’s eyes glistened with tears. “Love you, Bren.”
“Love you, Mags.”
The coven said their goodbyes and left Brenna, Ronan, Maggie, and Kiba alone in the cave. “Ready to get going?” Maggie asked.
“I wouldn’t mind staying here for a bit longer. If you don’t mind,” Brenna said.
“Come on, Kiba, let’s head outside and check out the moon.”
Ronan put an arm around Brenna and pulled her close. “This place is beautiful,” Brenna said.
“Almost as beautiful as you.”
“I…” Ronan interrupted her with a kiss.
I love you, Brenna.
Brenna smiled and leaned into his warmth.
“I love you, too.”
Chapter Eighteen
Oakwoods 1651
Rowena watched Jonathon running around outside in the sunshine with their daughter. It still felt strange to think of herself as a mother. After all she had been through, becoming a mother was the most magical experience she had ever had.
“Miss Isobel Ravenwood have you done your chores yet?” she called out. The little girl trotted over, her bright red hair flowing behind her.
“What chores, mummy?” she asked.
“For starters, you haven’t given me a hug today! Oh, I also need you to pick me some thyme.”
Rowena bent down and Isabel hugged her tight.
“Okay, Mummy.”
“Thank you, Isabel. Where’s your sister?”
“She’s riding Buttercup.” Isabel bounded off toward the herb garden.
Jonathon stood beside Rowena and drew her in close. “How are you, my love?”
“I’m perfect.”
Buttercup trotted around the side of the cottage with Isabel’s twin straddling her. “Mummy!” Brenna jumped down and ran to Rowena. She almost knocked her over as she jumped into her arms.
“You’re excited!”
“I saw a red mushroom with white spots!”
“My goodness. You didn’t touch it did you?”
“No, but I think Buttercup might have eaten it.”
“Well I’m just going to have to keep an eye on Buttercup, aren’t I? Go find your sister. She’s picking herbs for supper.”
“Sure.”
Rowena and Jonathon watched the red-haired twins fossick around in the garden. “Thank you,” Jonathon said.
“For what?”
“For them. For you. For making me the happiest man in the world.”
Rowena leaned against him, feeling pretty happy herself.
Chapter Nineteen
Oakwoods Now
Brenna had to search for a park when she arrived at Jeff’s motel. “What the heck? Is he having a garage sale or something?” She found a park near the back and headed for the office. People milled outside motel rooms, drinking wine or coffee, chatting.
Jeff was pouring coffee at a table laden with hot drink supplies. His face lit up when he saw Brenna. “Brenna!” He put down his drink and pulled her into a hug. “I don’t know what you did, but I’ve been flat tick since you did it.”
“I can see that. I almost couldn’t get a park out there.”
“Tell me about it. I’m completely cooked out for the first time in years.”
“I’m really happy for you, Jeff. I have a surprise for you outside.” Brenna couldn’t contain her smile. Jeff looked confused.
“Come on!” Brenna hurried him outside. After a short walk to the back of the carpark, Jeff laid his eyes on a shiny red muscle car. He whistled. “That’s a beaut. Hold on a minute,” he said, walking closer to the car. “That’s my car! Well, it was… Looks a lot different now. How did you get this?”
“Maggie and I sold our shop in the city. We’re moving here. Going into business with some other witches in town. We’re also thinking about having historical tours in the forest.” Brenna grabbed her handbag out of the car and handed Jeff the key.
“Want me to park it up somewhere for you?”
“No, silly! I’m giving it to you!”
“You’re kiddin’!”
“Nope. Tracked it down and had it fixed up. I thought you’d appreciate it.”
“You thought right!” Jeff hopped into the car and placed his hands on the wheel.
A horn tooted behind them as Ronan pulled into the carpark.
“I have to get going. Come have dinner with us on Saturday?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
“See you then.” She pecked him on the cheek and headed for Ronan’s car.
“Thank you, Brenna,” Jeff said, his eyes tearing up.
“No. Thank you.” She turned back. “Oh, by the way. Annwyn says hello.”
The tears spilled from his eyes. He smiled with trembling lips. “You can’t just say somethin’ like that and run away!”
“Tell you all about it at dinner!”
She hopped into Ronan’s car, leaned over and kissed him. A disgruntled meow from the backseat. She turned around. “Oh, Tiddles. You haven’t been in there for that long.”
Kiba wagged his tail at the cage.