wicked witches 08.6 - a witch in time (18 page)

“Oh, no.”

“What?” Landon locked gazes with me. “Why are you laughing like that?”

“Oh, you’re going to hate this,” I said, grabbing his hand. “Please don’t dump me when you see this. Promise me.”

“Oh, see, I can’t make that promise now,” Landon said, bewildered. “What’s about to happen?”

“Oh, just watch,” I said, resigned.

Landon turned back to the patio and watched as a blonde – one who looked almost exactly like me (except her hair was a little longer) – walked out of the house. “That’s you. You’re here.”

“I am here.”

“Hey, Richard,” Bay said, flashing a huge grin at the man. “I’m so glad you found your way out here. You didn’t get lost, did you?”

“No, your directions were fine,” Richard said, pushing his black hair from his face. He was dressed down in simple jeans and a black shirt, but he looked handsome – and nervous. “I was looking around the property. It’s really gorgeous out here.”

“It’s very pretty,” Bay agreed. “Do you want a tour before dinner? My mother is excited to meet you, which means you should probably run now, but a tour might relax everybody.”

“That sounds good,” Richard said, extending his hand.

“No way,” Landon growled, glancing down at me. “Am I a going to have to watch you date some other dude?”

“Do you want me to lie?”

“Crud!” Landon uttered a string of expletives under his breath. “I don’t want to see this. You’re my girlfriend. That guy needs to get lost.”

“That’s not your girlfriend,” I reminded him. “She’s … his girlfriend.”

“Oh, I’m going to punch this guy,” Landon muttered. “Come on.” He jerked my arm and dragged me toward Bay and Richard, not bothering to hide the sound from his stomping feet. I think he was hoping Bay and Richard would hear us – even though I was fairly certain this wasn’t going to be an interactive memory – and somehow Bay would drop Richard on the spot and run into his arms. If that happened, I was going to be the uncomfortable one.

“So, how do you like Hemlock Cove so far?” Bay asked, flashing Richard a pretty smile as they walked along the property line in the direction of the bluff. “I know you’ve been here a few weeks now, but you really don’t talk about the town all that much.”

“I like it,” Richard said. “I honestly didn’t see myself landing in a place this small, but my degree is specifically geared toward hospitality for resorts, so I couldn’t turn down a job working for one of the top tourist destinations in the state.”

“That’s not really an answer to my question,” Bay said.

“I like the people very much,” Richard said. “I think the scenery is very pretty.” His comment was pointed enough to cause Bay’s cheeks to flush with color.

“I can’t believe you’re falling for this guy,” Landon muttered. “That was a line. Don’t you recognize that for what it is? It’s crap.”

Bay and Richard were oblivious to Landon’s rant even though he was directly behind them.

“Thank you,” Bay said. “I like the scenery, too.”

I cringed. “I was kind of a dating spaz, huh?”

“You’re adorable,” Landon said. “He’s a tool.”

I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. I found his outrage … well … sexy. Is that horrible to admit? I’m definitely going to need therapy after this.

“Do you think you’ll always want to live in Hemlock Cove?” Richard asked. “Do you see yourself going to a bigger city, or even another state, eventually?”

“No,” Bay answered honestly. “Hemlock Cove is my home. I’ve done my time away from here and it didn’t make me happy. I’m here for good.”

“It’s good you know what you want,” Richard said.

“I take it you don’t want to stay in the area,” Bay said, her smile slipping. “It’s okay if you don’t. I understand.”

“She understands, Richard,” Landon barked. “That’s code for get off the property … get out of town. You know what? Stop holding my girlfriend’s hand. I don’t like it.”

“You’re being overly dramatic,” I chided. “Richard wasn’t around for long.”

“I don’t care,” Landon said. “I always pictured you as a lonely spinster before I came along. I thought you were sad and depressed until I walked into your life and made the sun shine … and the birds sing … and your other parts sing, for that matter. Now I find out you were dating this guy? My whole world is in upheaval.”

“You’re definitely spending too much time with us,” I said, laughing. “You get more and more dramatic with each passing day. I kind of like it.”

“Why are you enjoying this?” Landon asked. “Look at this guy.” Landon moved to stand next to him. “I’m taller. I have a better body.” He cast a derisive look in Richard’s direction. “I definitely have better hair. What could you have possibly seen in this guy?”

“We dated for a few weeks,” I answered. “It’s not like we moved in together or got married.”

“I don’t like him,” Landon said, flicking Richard’s nose. Richard remained oblivious as he chatted with Bay. “I want to kick him in the nuts. You don’t think he’s wearing a cup, do you?”

“Why don’t you investigate and find out for yourself?” Aunt Tillie appeared on the pathway behind us, her face full of mirth as she watched Landon’s meltdown. “You can earn your pervert merit badge if you check to see whether he’s wearing a cup.”

“You,” Landon hissed, extending a finger as he stalked in Aunt Tillie’s direction. “This is all your fault. I’ve put up with a lot today. I’ve even enjoyed myself for most of it. Seeing Bay born was delightful. Hanging out with little Bay was so cute I almost melted. Hanging out with teenage Bay freaked me out a little bit, but I managed. This, though? This is too much.”

“You’re crying like a woman,” Aunt Tillie said, rolling her eyes until they landed on me. “How can you put up with him when he acts like this?”

I shrugged. “I think it’s cute.”

“Oh, you like his jealous streak,” Aunt Tillie said. “It makes you feel wanted. I get it.”

“She is wanted,” Landon snapped, turning his attention back to Richard. “What is this guy’s deal? Why is he hiding in the woods instead of interacting with the family? I’ll bet he has absolutely filthy things on his mind. If that’s about to happen, I’m leaving. I won’t watch it.”

“Chill out,” Aunt Tillie said, making a face. “This is my memory. That means I witnessed it. Do you really think I sat around in the woods and watched Bay do the nasty with the twerp of the month?”

“Twerp.” Landon laughed. “That fits him perfectly. You’re a twerp, Richard. Or should I call you Dick? I think that fits you better.”

He was starting to act deranged. I didn’t know if it was exhaustion or the surreal situation, but it was beginning to grate on me.

“Tell me about your family,” Richard said. “I’ve met Clove and Thistle … and I love Clove … but I haven’t met anyone else from your family. What are they like?”

“Oh, they’re like any normal family I think,” Bay said, biting her bottom lip.

“Oh, puh-leez,” Landon intoned. “Why are you lying to this guy? Are you trying to impress him? You never lied to me. Well, you lied about the witch stuff. That was only at first, though, and you had to protect yourself. I understand that.”

I didn’t miss Aunt Tillie’s smirk. She was enjoying this. “You’re my Aunt Tillie, right?”

“We’re all your Aunt Tillie. We’re just different versions of her.”

A few feet away, Richard was still in the wooing mood. “I think you could be the prettiest woman in Hemlock Cove.”

“That did it,” Landon said. “I want this guy gone right now!”

“Why are you being such a whiner?” Aunt Tillie asked. “You already got your girl. You’re ignoring her for the younger girl. If you’re not careful, she’s going to get a complex.”

That hadn’t occurred to me. I shifted my eyes to Bay. “Maybe I should grow my hair long again,” I said, fingering my shoulder-length blond locks. “Do you think I look better that way?”

“I think you look perfect the way you are,” Landon countered. “Don’t listen to Aunt Tillie. I don’t want this Bay. I want you.”

“Aunt Tillie just told you that I’m all the Bays,” I pointed out.

“But … you’re not,” Landon argued. “Sure, you were technically baby Bay and little Bay … and I’m hoping really hard that teenage Bay was an exaggeration … but all those moments made you my Bay. This Bay isn’t my Bay. Not yet.”

The sentiment was unbearably adorable.

“Do you hear that?” Aunt Tillie asked. “He thinks you’re his property.”

“I do not!” Landon threw his hands in the air. “You’re already making this unnecessarily hard on us. We don’t need this, too.”

“How am I making it hard on you?” Aunt Tillie challenged. “All you have to do is watch. Is watching television hard on you, too?”

“That’s such crap,” Landon said. “Some of these memories have been great. Heck, some of them have been magical. I’ve watched the rest of them rip Bay’s heart out – and mine by extension. Do you really think I wanted to watch Lila bully Bay? Or Bay feel guilty about moving to Detroit for a few years? You’re making it harder than it has to be.”

Landon was on the verge of a complete meltdown.

“Aunt Tillie, I think it’s time we go home,” I prodded. “You need to wake up. We need to wake up, too. Landon wants his pot roast.”

“That’s right!” Landon hopped in front of Richard, who continued talking as if we weren’t encroaching on his personal space. “You didn’t feed this guy pot roast, did you? It will taint things if you did.”

“I already told you that Richard lasted a couple of weeks and then left,” I said. “Speaking of that, I kind of remember this day. Are you telling me you were out here spying while we took a walk?”

“I wasn’t technically spying,” Aunt Tillie clarified.

“What were you technically doing?” Landon asked.

Aunt Tillie shrugged, holding her hands palms up. “Who can say? My memory isn’t what it used to be.”

Realization dawned on me and I peered over Aunt Tillie’s shoulder so I could confirm my suspicion. I snorted when I saw the second Aunt Tillie hunkered down behind a bush. She had a shovel in her hand and two potted marijuana plants at her feet.

“Oh,” Landon said. “You’re out here gardening. I wondered why you’d care about this. This guy is boring. He doesn’t merit spying.”

“He was boring,” Aunt Tillie confirmed. “That’s why I wanted to show him to you.”

“You wanted to show me Bay’s boring former boyfriend as part of some lesson?” Landon asked. “Why?”

“Because you both need to stop obsessing about the past and worrying about the future,” Aunt Tillie answered. “The past is over. The future will be fine if you relax and let it happen. It’s the present that counts, and your present is … magical … when you let it be.”

“You sound like a deranged talking fortune cookie,” Landon snapped. “I’m done here. I want to go home. My pot roast is probably drying out as we speak.”

“I thought you wanted to see yourself?” Aunt Tillie challenged.

Landon faltered. “Am I coming up next?”

Aunt Tillie smiled. “I guess you’ll have to wait and see,” she said. “I guarantee you’re coming up soon … and you won’t want to miss it.”

“What I don’t want to miss is my pot roast,” Landon grumbled, narrowing his eyes as he regarded Richard. “This guy.” Landon reached over and messed up Richard’s hair. Richard and Bay were in their own little world and didn’t seem to notice. “Stay away from my girl, Dick. Whatever happened to this guy?” Landon asked, grabbing my hand the moment the colors swirled again. “Please tell me Aunt Tillie gutted him and buried him on the property. I don’t want to risk him popping up again. I don’t like him.”

“Are you done?” I asked.

“Never!”

You’re on my list.

– Aunt Tillie … practically every day of her life.

Sixteen

^“
Holy crap!”

“You can say that again,” Landon groused. We’d landed outside again, only this time we were in an entirely new location. He hadn’t bothered to look around yet, though, he was still irritated with the previous memory. “Where did that Richard dude go? Is he still in town? I want to pound him.”

“I think you’re overreacting.”

“I think you’re underreacting,” Landon shot back. “Wait … is that a word?”

“No.”

“Thank you, grammar police,” Landon muttered.

“You asked,” I said, refusing to take his mood personally. “By the way, don’t you want to look around?”

“Not especially,” Landon said, refusing to meet my gaze. I think he knew how ridiculous he was acting. Hours of emotional upheaval were taking a toll. “Am I going to be forced to sit through another horrible date with some tool?”

“Kind of,” I said, smiling as I gazed out at the corn maze. “This one was a major tool.”

“Oh, well, great.” Landon scowled as he finally lifted his head. When he caught sight of the other me his expression deepened. When he caught sight of himself – and the drug-dealing biker gang he was undercover with the day we met – the corners of his mouth tipped up. “It’s me.”

“It’s definitely you,” I said. “Look at your outfit. You’re wearing leather.”

“I look good in leather, woman,” Landon said, slinging an arm over my shoulders. “Now this is what I’m talking about.”

“I wouldn’t get all high and mighty if I were you,” I chided. “If I remember correctly, you were a real jerkwad the day we met.”

“You definitely don’t remember correctly,” Landon said. “Watch and learn, little missy. This is how charm is done … and this is how charm is done right.”

“If you say so,” I said, interested despite myself as the other me approached the biker gang.

Landon wasn’t the first to speak. No, that honor went to the leader of his little gang. Speaking of tools, that guy was the Swiss army knife of tools.

“Can I help you?” The ringleader asked.

Despite his attempt to be intimidating, Bay wasn’t swayed. “Who are you?”

“The man of your dreams?”

Landon frowned. “I think I forgot this part.”

“It gets worse,” I said.

“You don’t look like Chris Hemsworth to me,” Bay shot back.

“Chris Hemsworth? I forgot about that, too.” Landon made a face.