The Responsible Witch (The Ward Witches) (13 page)

"You're right. Goodbye, Martha. Thank you for everything."

Gage brought her hand up to kiss the back of it. "Thank you for sharing with me."

"You're part of the inspiration for me to open up to people, so it is only fair. Besides, I think that's all of my secrets."

"Good. Now let's go home."

"Yeah, let's. I think Justin wants to hear more about what you know about the Dark Order, and I'm sure Skylar is available to teach you more about your magic."

"Justin should talk to my mother. I'll call her when we get back home and see how her idea to move here is going. Perhaps she can fly up here for now and return to Miami to pack up our things later. I can't wait for her to meet you."

"Oh? I have to admit to being a bit nervous about meeting your mother. I know you two are close."

"She's going to love you. I know it'll be an adjustment for her to not have me single and nearby, but I know she'll approve of you."

"That's good. I'd hate to come between you and your mother."

"You won't need to worry about that. Just like I don't think I'll come between you and your brothers."

"No, you won't. They all seem to like you."

"And then we're going to meet your work friends tonight. If they like me too, I'll be good all around."

"I'm sure they'll like you. After all, I like you."

"And that's a good thing, considering you're stuck with me." He made a comedic gesture
as if
his heart
hurt
, and she laughed, just like he wanted her to. It seemed like visiting Martha had taken some weight off her chest, just like Leo suggested it would.

When they got back to the house, Skylar had some questions for Dymphna on her book for water witches, so Gage took advantage of the opportunity to call his mother.

"Denise Redman," she answered.

"Hey Mom."

"Oh Gage! I was just thinking about you. How are you doing?"

"I'm great. I'm still adjusting to life with Dymphna, but it's working out really well. I'm really happy to have met her."

"You love her, don't you?"

"Yes. I know I haven't known her long, but it seems like I've known her forever. I don't know if she feels the same, but I'm patient enough to wait until she does."

"I'm really happy for you." She paused, and her voice didn't sound as happy when she resumed. "I have been thinking a lot, and when this is all over, I'm going to turn myself in to the police."

"What?"

"I didn't directly kill anyone but your father, but I was involved in human sacrifices. The Order was based in Plymouth back then, so I'd be turning myself in to the Massachusetts authorities. Maybe they'll let me be in a place near enough you can visit. I've lectured you all your life about responsibility and doing the right thing. I need to heed my own lessons and do the right thing. I'll tell the Coven all I know about the Dark Order, and I'll watch until you've managed to break down that organization. Then I'll confess."

"What changed?" Gage didn't want to sound as hurt as he was by the news. She was right that she had always said to do the right thing. If this would ease her conscience, maybe it would be good for her. But he didn't need to be pleased about it.

"That's another confession, between me and you. When the Order gave you additional powers, they tainted you with blood magic. As a blood witch myself, I couldn't remove that. So, for your entire life, I've been performing rituals on you. If I didn't feed it at least a little bit, you would have died from withdrawal. When you were a child, I'd do a spell on you once a week at night after you slept. Then I found a way to put the spell in food, and I could make its effects last a full week. That's why I always had you come over for steak on Sunday night: to give your body just enough blood magic to keep you alive."

Gage stopped. His first instinct was to be horrified. She had been using blood magic on him? For his entire life? Without telling him? "Why didn't you tell me?"

"At first, I didn't know how to explain it. If you participated actively, there was a high chance of you becoming addicted in a way that could never be cleansed. I always meant to get someone to do the cleansing, but I didn't know how to ask for help without revealing what I had done. As you grew older, I was a coward. I thought that maybe if I just kept doing it surreptitiously that you'd never need to know."

"So when Fiona said that I'd been exposed to blood magic over a long period of time, she was right?"

"Yes, she was. I'm sorry I never told you, and I'm sorry that I didn't find someone to do the cleansing. I thought I was protecting you, but I probably had just been protecting me."

Gage tried really hard to get over the sense of betrayal. She hadn't meant any harm by it. But that didn't mean it wasn't still wrong, and he still felt dirty knowing about it.

"Now your new wife and her family have done the cleansing, and you don't need me for that anymore. So if I go to jail, you'll still be fine. I've evaded justice for so many years, and I've felt guilty about it for as long. This is something I need to do."

"In a way, I think I understand." He shook his head. "I don't have to like it, but I think I understand. What was your plan from here?"

"I was going to pack up all of your things, as planned, and rent a moving van. What can't fit, or what I won't need anymore, I'll sell. Then I'll get a motel room near your place until this is over. I have the feeling that the Ward family has been readying to take down the Order, and it probably won't be long until they do. At that point, I'll
go
to the police and tell them what I did.
Most of what I did was in the Washington D.C. area, so that's where I'll go.
"

"If you're sure." It was his mother's life, after all, and if she thought that confessing would make her feel less guilty, he wasn't going to stand in her way. "I know the Wards are trying to put together an offensive, and they could really use your information. Can you wait on all the packing and selling and fly up here now? When it's time, I'll fly back with you, and we'll handle it together."

"Thank you for being so understanding."

"I don't know what else I can really do in this situation to be honest. It's your life, and I know that you've always worked hard to take care of me. If this is what needs to be done, I won't stand in your way. I'll admit that I wish I had known you were using blood magic on me, but I can see how you would think there was no alternative. Do you have enough money for a ticket up up here?"

"I do." She sniffed, and he could tell she was crying softly. But it
would likely
embarrass her to mention it, so he kept quiet.

"Then get on the first flight you can manage to Boston. Let me know when you're going to arrive, and I'll get Dymphna to drive me to the airport to pick you up."

"I will. Thank you again, Son. I'm so proud of you."

"I'll talk to you later, Mom."

Gage sat there and stared at the phone, trying to incorporate all she had just told him. He sighed. He wasn't going to get anywhere in such a short time, and he'd better go down and tell Dymphna.

When he got to the living room, Dymphna and Skylar stopped talking. Whatever they saw on his face, they immediately
stood up and
discarded what they were doing and gave him their full attention.

"What's wrong?" His wife asked.

He sat down, and motioned for the women to do the same. Then he told them everything his Denise had just told him. They too were stunned.

"Are you alright with that?" Dymphna asked, holding his hand.

"I don't know. On the one hand, I want her to do what she thinks she needs to. But on the other hand, I don't want her to go to jail. And I'm horrified that she's been using blood magic on me for years without telling me, but I understand why she thought it was necessary."

"She loves you," Dymphna said. "And she did what she thought she needed to."

"Exactly. Which is why I'm sure I can forgive her. But that doesn't mean I don't wish it happened differently."

"Of course not," Skylar said. "I'm sure you two need to get ready to go out with Maria and Jackie, so with your permission, I'll update the rest of the family."

"That would make it easier on me," he admitted. "And I told her to get on the next flight up here so that she'll be available for Justin's questions."

"I'll tell him that as well. You guys have fun tonight."

"Thanks," Dymphna smiled. "Good luck with your writing tonight. I'll do your infusion tonight if you'll remind me."

"I sure will. It's tiring being pregnant."

"I think it's supposed to be. And then when you have the twins, you still won't get a chance to rest."

Skylar laughed. "That's for sure."

Gage had noticed that they had over an hour before they had to leave for the restaurant. He was sure Skylar knew it as well when she told them to go get ready. But Gage agreed because he wanted that alone time with his wife. And if Skylar could update everyone else, he'd be grateful for that too.
He'd really rather not say the whole thing again if he could avoid it.

As they got into the room, he kicked the door closed behind him and reached for Dymphna. She returned his kiss with equal fervor, as if she knew he needed it.

"I want you so badly," she whispered, pulling on his shirt.

He didn't need to respond; he just reached for a condom and pulled off the rest of his clothes for her. When they were both naked, she tackled him onto the bed. He lay back and looked his fill. If she wanted to be in control, he certainly had no problem with letting her. She slowly impaled herself on him, and he couldn't stop his head from falling back, eyes closed. This was like coming home, and it felt great.

As she rode him, he reached between them and fingered her clit. Dymphna bucked when he did that, so he did it some more. It only took a few more moments for her to come, and hard. Then she rode out his climax, collapsing on top of him when they were both done.

"God you're so sexy," he murmured. "I keep planning to take it slow, show you every bit of how sweet love making can be, but as soon as I get my hands on you, I need to have it all."

"I'm right there with you. You're incredible."

"Right back at you." He curled her up against his side, where her head was resting on his chest. "Have you decided which condoms work best?"

"It needs more testing," she said coquettishly.

"Then let's do some. But this time I'm going to take my time and savor every moment of it."

125

CHAPTER EIGHT

When they got to the restaurant, Dymphna wasn't surprised to see Maria and Jackie already there. After all, by the time they had finished the slower-paced love making, they had to hurry to throw on clothes and be on time. Unfortunately, they
still
weren't on time. By the look on her friends' faces, they weren't surprised.

"He's gorgeous," Maria said in a stage whisper. It was gratifying to see Gage's eyes widen a little. "Can I be a witch so I can find a guy like that too?"

She barked out a sharp laugh. "I don't think it works that way."

"Some women have all the luck."

"Oh be nice, Maria," Jackie teased, smacking her friend lightly on the arm. "Dymphna deserves a good man. And if she managed to bypass the whole dating thing, then she's extremely lucky and we should be happy for her."

"If you insist."
But Maria looked like she was happy for her friend in reality.

They were shown to their seats, and Dymphna closely watched Gage's reaction. He seemed somewhat in awe of the restaurant. But it somehow stood to reason that if he was on a teacher's salary back in Miami, he probably didn't eat out in places quite this fancy. Since Dymphna, Maria, and Jackie were successful lawyers, bringing clients or other lawyers somewhere like this made a statement. She had forgotten that he might feel out of place.

But by the time they got to the table, he had gathered his composure again. If she hadn't seen the little tells in his first reaction, she wouldn't have known he was even slightly daunted. She certainly had to admire that in a man. Then, while they ate, she watched him charm her friends. It took him surprisingly little time to read them and make them smile. Dymphna almost forgot to participate in the conversation because she was so fascinated by Gage's ability.

By the time they finished dessert, Maria and Jackie were thoroughly in his grasp and dazzled by his conversation skills. For that matter, so was Dymphna. She left with air kisses for each of her friends and a promise to not keep him to herself.

"How did I do?" Gage asked as Dymphna pulled out of the parking lot.

"You were amazing. I don't know how you did it, but you read them like you had a book. They loved you."

"Well thank you. I've worked on that skill for years. I imagine that Leo would say it comes partially from being an air witch, but I have practiced it deliberately as well."

"Whatever brought it on, it was great. You charmed them."

"And I don't charm you?" He asked the question with a cocky smile, but Dymphna had a feeling that her answer would be important.

"You do, actually. But it's different when you're charming me and I'm unaware than when you're working on them and I can watch it happen."

"I'll just have to try harder then."

Dymphna was getting a little uncomfortable with the subject. She knew she needed to figure out just how she felt about Gage, but now wasn't the time. Feelings had never been an easy subject for her, and she wasn't sure how to go about it really. So she'd change the subject and procrastinate again.

"How did you like the restaurant?"

"I don't think I've ever eaten in such a fancy restaurant. It's not that I have anything against it, I just never really had reason to go in and spend so much on a meal."

"In my line of work, going to a place like that kind of shows off your success. We're well known there for bringing clients in after we win a case."

"I kind of got that after they called you by name."

"We tip well."

"I'll admit that it kind of made me wonder where I fit in your life."

He was serious, but that was another question she wasn't ready to answer yet. She wasn't sure if she'd ever really be able to answer, but it would need to be thought about later.

"You fit in right where you are," she responded cryptically.

Gage looked almost hurt by her answer, but she didn't know what else to say. She'd really need to get her thoughts in order. Later.

He didn't speak for the rest of the trip home, and neither did she.

When they got home, Dymphna saw Leo get up awkwardly from the couch. He was clearly unsure of how she'd respond after he railroaded her with the memory of Martha earlier. In response, she ran up to him and gave him a hug. He seemed startled.

"Hello, D."

"Thanks, Leo. You always did seem to know what's best for me."

"That's part of my job as your brother. You've looked out for me when I needed you, and I did the same. Did it help?"

"I think it really did. I did some thinking, and I have to agree with what you've always said about it."

"Remind me again? What did I always say?"

"That I shouldn't feel guilty. Martha wanted to commit suicide, and she wouldn't have wanted me to die trying to save her. I must have tapped into some kind of guilt for our mother when I tried to save her, and it all just left me empty."

"I'm glad you've finally realized that. Martha wouldn't want you feeling
that way
about what she did. And thank you, Gage, for helping my sister get to that conclusion."

"I'm happy to help."

Skylar clearly didn't know what was going on, but she didn't ask either, for which Dymphna was grateful. "What are you watching?" She asked instead.

"Well, since Fiona married Seb, he's been showing her the best of corny horror movies, starting with the sixties. So she in turn thinks that I need to watch them all," Skylar explained. "The latest one she wants me to watch is a Vincent Price movie called The Last Man on Earth. I'm not very far into it, do you want me to restart it and we'll all watch together?"

"Alright," Dymphna answered. "If that's fine with you, Gage."

"Sure. I haven't seen many of those."

"Then watch out when you talk to Fiona or she'll give you a movies to watch list like
the one
she gave me."

Gage laughed, and he sat down on the couch next to Dymphna, stretching his arm out behind her back like it was the most natural thing in the world. In fact, everyone acting like him being next to her and holding onto her was the most natural thing in the world. Why did it feel so strange to Dymphna alone? Could the problem maybe be with her?

She'd seen the movie before: it was one of Seb's favorites. He had gotten the whole family into it at one point, and now it looked like all the new spouses would be going through the old movie collection. Dymphna didn't mind because she actually enjoyed most of them for what they were. But she didn't need to pay attention to know what was going on, so she let her mind wander. This was probably as good a time as any to really think hard about how she felt about Gage.

Dymphna liked to be logical, so she should apply logic to the problem at hand. Gage was a good person. He cared about people, from whether his mother was doing well to whether Dymphna was happy. He really did seem to want to make her happy, and she hadn't seen any sign that it wasn't genuine. He taught kids, and she thought he was probably a good teacher. After all, if he cared about his students as much as he seemed to care about her family, he would
make
a good teacher.

But she wasn't supposed to be evaluating his career abilities. She was supposed to be thinking about how he was as a husband, and more specifically, as her husband. But there was no metric for how he fit as a husband. And maybe she shouldn't even be trying to evaluate that.

Dymphna thought about Leo and Skylar. At first, they seemed wary of the connection between them. Leo hadn't been a serial dater like Justin had, but he had been in relationships before. Skylar had almost gotten married
before
she found her
that
fiancé cheated on her. They hadn't gotten married to save someone's life like she had. But the call of their magic united them, like it had united her other brothers with their wives. And in each case, her brothers had struggled with their new status as a husband. But each of them had fallen in love with their wives, and their wives had fallen in love with them.
Besides, she could claim that she was saving his life through the bond's magic, but that wasn't the only reason to create something like this. She had to have felt something for him before she could do it.

So then it was down to the million dollar question: did she love Gage?
Was that why she assented to the plan? Had what she felt for him matured lately to the point that she loved him now?
How would she even know? Dymphna continued to think, then realized that over-thinking might just be the problem. She had always thought out solutions before, and it had mostly worked. But then again, she'd cut herself off from other people to a pretty solid degree. If she was going to move forward with letting people, and specifically Gage, in to her life, she needed to stop thinking and just feel. It was harder than it sounded.

So, did she love Gage? She closed her eyes, and tried to open herself to emotions. Finally, she came to a realization, and it startled her.

She did love Gage. Unequivocally.

Every time he walked into a room, her heart thumped harder. When he smiled, he made her want to smile with him. He was funny, and kind, and he cared about people. He cared about her.
He was the kind of man who would take his brother and his father's evil as something that he personally needed to remedy.
He made her want things like forever. She wanted to wake up every day for the rest of her life and see him in bed with her. She wanted to end each evening with a kiss from him. She wanted to grow old and
more
crotchety while he grew older and kinder. He completed something utterly integral in her, and she wanted to keep him doing that forever.

She loved him, and the realization made her heart lighter. After all, they were married, and they had both committed that they would be together forever.
It was certainly a positive step that she loved him, and it would make their whole relationship brighter.

But what if he didn't love her? He was rather forced into th
is
marriage as well, and while she had no doubt that his honor or pride or something would mean he'd stay with her, that didn't mean that he would love her. And if she loved him, he damned well should love her. Anything else might just kill her.

Dymphna took a surreptitious glance beside her. Gage was enthralled by the movie, keeping his eyes on the screen even as he rubbed a thumb along her shoulder. Damned if he wasn't handsome too. She got lucky in that aspect. Well, there was only one thing for it: she'd have to make him love her. Dymphna was bound and determined that she wouldn't be the only one doing that in their relationship.

Her parents had been so unhappy together, and she wasn't going to make the same mistake. Of course, everyone had been saying how little her relationship with Gage had to do with her parents' relationship, but that didn't mean that she couldn't learn something from their experience.

Gage would love her. Now she just had to figure out how to make him do it.

Dymphna could go for the reciprocal idea: tell him she loved him and hope he said it back. But that seemed too anticlimactic for this big change in her life. She was going in big, and she needed a big gesture.

Dymphna could buy him something nice and thoughtful, then tell him it was because she loved him. But that seemed almost like she was trying to buy his love, and that wouldn't set a good precedent at all. She wanted him to love her for her and not for her bank account.

She needed a gesture, some kind of thing she could do to show him how much she loved him without making him feel guilty if he didn't say it back. But what to do?

She had an idea: if Gage was learning about his fire magic, he should be able to use some of the same techniques to master his air magic. Or at least, the basics of air magic. Then Leo or Seb could tell him more about using it. But what she'd do is she'd open herself to him. She would let him take a thorough reading of her, and he'd be sure to feel the depth of her emotions for him.

Dymphna considered some kind of elaborate poem or sign or something, but she wasn't much good with poetic words or gestures. So she'd lay herself bare and be totally honest with him. About everything. That would have to do. And if, at that point, he said he loved her back, she would be a happy woman. Especially since she knew him well enough that she knew he wouldn't lie to her about something that important. She'd do it tonight, before she lost her nerve.

She figured that plan out right about as the credits started to roll. It was amazing how long it took her to come to terms with what was going on in her heart. Hopefully it wouldn't take Gage as long.

"How did you like the movie?" Dymphna asked, trying to keep her voice light.

"I liked it. It's definitely different."

"Don't be too enthusiastic when you talk to Fiona," Skylar warned. "I'm serious about that movie list. She typed it up,
saved a copy of her computer,
and everything."