Over the Broom Read online

  “Let’s say we don’t open it. What would our next step be?” I asked.

  “We could just go in the back door and leave it there until Remy comes home,” Meri offered.

  “You did want some bacon.”

  “But that might be bad too,” Meri continued. “What if it blows up or something?”

  “You think it might be a bomb?”

  “Not like a bomb bomb, but maybe the magical equivalent,” Meri said.

  “Is that any better?” I asked.

  “Not really. Not for us.”

  “What if I cast a spell on you to shrink you down to the size of an ant, and you go inside the package and look?” I offered.

  “You’re not casting a shrinking spell on me,” Meri said.

  “It’s not like I can kill you,” I said. “You can’t die.”

  “No.”

  “Whatever,” I said and crossed my arms over my chest. “It’s not like you’ve come up with anything better. We’re still standing in the driveway staring at a pink package.”

  “Fine,” Meri relented. “I can’t die, so I’ll at least go up on the porch and look for a shipping label or card. But we’re not doing the shrinking spell thing.”

  He was about halfway to the house when a car turned onto my street. The vehicle accelerated until it reached my house. Meri had stopped and turned to look.

  The car turned into my driveway and stopped right behind me. My guard was up instantly, but relief washed over me when Amelda stepped out.

  “What is that?” Her eyes immediately went to the package.

  “We don’t know,” I said. “That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”

  “And my grandson just left you here to handle this on your own?”

  “He’s at work, and I hadn’t called him yet,” I said.

  “My dear Brighton,” she began, “then I will take care of this. You and the cat stand back. I’ll have a look.”

  I watched as Amelda walked up to the porch, waved her hands over the box, and then bent over and picked it up. She unwrapped the outer paper, and inside was a pink bakery box. The hair on the back of my neck stood up.

  “That’s not good,” I said.

  “There’s a note,” Amelda said. “It says it was a delivery courtesy of your mother. Congratulations on your new journey.”

  “That can’t be right,” I said. “I haven’t told her, and she’s not the type of person who would pay for same-day delivery from a bakery.”

  The killer wouldn’t have known that, though. If they were taking a stab in the dark, they probably would’ve assumed that my mother would be my first phone call after finding out I was pregnant.

  “I’ll call the bakery,” I said. “I can find out who paid for the delivery. What’s the name?”

  Amelda chuckled. “Big Buns in Winterfield.”

  I used my phone to search for the bakery’s number while we went inside the house. Well, Meri and I went inside. Amelda took the package out to the back yard. I assumed it was to destroy it.

  “Big Buns Bakery, how can I help you?” a cheerful woman answered.

  “Hi, my name is Brighton Skeenbauer. I had a delivery from your bakery today, and I was hoping you could tell me who sent it,” I said.

  “We didn’t have any deliveries today,” she said. “Uh, and there was just one large pickup order. Well, it wasn’t really an order. A woman came in and bought an assortment of cupcakes.”

  “Can you tell me who she was? It’s urgent,” I said.

  “I wish I could. She paid cash and didn’t tell me her name or anything.”

  “Can you take down my name and number and call me if she comes in again?”

  “I can, but I’ve never seen her before,” the woman said. “She doesn’t live here in Winterfield.”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  I gave her my name again and phone number. Before we hung up, the woman at the bakery asked me if she should be worried. I didn’t know what to tell her because I had no way of knowing if she was a witch or not. Amelda might have known, but she was outside. In the end, I reasoned that the killer was after me and my family, so even if the woman in Winterfield was a witch, she probably wasn’t in any danger.

  Amelda came through the back door as I was hanging up. Her hands were empty, so I assumed the cupcakes were gone.

  “Were they poisoned?” I asked.

  “They were. Just the icing though. She must have just put a little on top after picking them up because I don’t think the baker is the killer,” Amelda said.

  “They weren’t delivered either. The woman from the bakery said they had one pickup order today, but they paid cash.”

  “It was a pretty bold move,” Amelda said, “but it was stupid too. This killer has to know that we’re onto her. The cupcakes with a fake card from your mother seems desperate.”

  “I don’t like the sound of that,” I said.

  “For a good reason. Desperate people are dangerous.”

  “Did you find out anything while you were gone?” I asked.

  “Only that we’re probably dealing with someone close. There’s a fox in the henhouse, Brighton, but don’t worry.”

  “It’s someone from Coventry?” That thought chilled me to the bone.

  “It seems that way.”

  Chapter Six

  Over dinner, I told Remy about what I discovered at Martha’s house. He already knew about the cupcakes because Amelda had gone to see him after she’d left our house.

  “Am I going to have to hire personal security for you?” He was more agitated that I was used to seeing.

  “You’re mad because I went to Martha’s house,” I felt the urge to apologize, but I stuffed it down.

  I wasn’t going to apologize for not sequestering myself in the house. Besides that, the killer had been at our house, and the only reason I wasn’t there was because I was out checking on Martha.

  “I’m not mad at you, Brighton. I want to protect you, but I won’t treat you like a child. I just can’t believe they were here. Again.”

  “Amelda said it’s someone from Coventry,” I offered. “I don’t know that I’m any safer at home than I am when I’m out, but I can protect myself. I’m supposed to be this powerful witch, right? And I’ve got Meri.”

  “I know,” Remy said and covered my hand with his. “I know, but I still worry.”

  After dinner, I had to go to bed. I felt like I’d run a marathon, and once Remy was home, I was finally able to relax. It felt like I hit a wall of fatigue as soon as I let my guard down. I almost took a nap on the sofa rather than having to drag my body up the stairs.

  “You look exhausted,” Remy said.

  “I am. I’m going to go to bed. I think this is one of those early pregnancy things. I’ll have more energy in the second trimester.”

  “Well, get some rest, my love. We have the first baby appointment with my aunt in the morning.”

  My bed had never felt so good. Before I climbed under the covers, I’d slipped into my favorite cotton pajamas. I pulled the sheet and blankets up to my chin, and Meri settled in right next to me.

  I fell so deeply asleep that I didn’t stir when Remy came to bed. The next time I opened my eyes, the sun was peeking around the bedroom curtains.

  It was time to get ready for my appointment. Remy sprung out of bed when I got up. “What is it? What’s wrong?” He looked ready for a fight.

  “Nothing, honey. It’s morning and we have an appointment at the clinic,” I said with a chuckle.

  “Oh, right,” he said and smiled sheepishly. “I guess I’m a little on edge.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

  “It’s okay, I’m nervous too,” I said. “I mean, I know that everything is going to be okay, but I’ve still got the jitters.”

  “Well, there’s nothing to do but get ready,” Remy said. “You can use the master bath, I’ll shower in the guest bath down the hall.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

 
“Of course, I’m sure. Nothing but the best for my girls,” he said with a smile.

  My hand instinctively went down to rest on my stomach. “So you believe Annika that it’s a girl?”

  “Annika is a lot of things, and right is usually one of them.”

  “Well, if it is a girl, I can only imagine how much you’re going to spoil her,” I said with a chuckle.

  I was done with my shower before Remy. That was the usual. It always amazed me how long he took, but I would just go downstairs and get started on breakfast.

  Meri had been waiting outside the bathroom door for me. He was lucky it didn’t take me as long to get ready as Remy, or his breakfast would have been seriously delayed.

  “What’s it going to be this morning?” I asked as we made our way down the stairs.

  “I think you know the answer to that,” Meri said.

  “Bacon?”

  “I don’t suppose I could have bacon and a little salmon?” he asked as we crossed the living room into the kitchen.

  “I think that could be arranged.”

  “Really?” Meri perked up.

  “I think I saw an article one time about making your pet feel special when a new baby is coming. I just want to make sure that you know that you’ll always be my baby,” I cooed at Meri.

  “Whatever.”

  “Whatever,” I said with a snort.

  After I fed Meri his plate of bacon and salmon, I got started on breakfast for Remy and me. It was going to be a light day as far as food because I could already feel myself getting queasy, and my nerves were on pins and needles over the baby appointment.

  Remy came downstairs as I was finishing buttering the toast and cutting up strawberries. “Toast and fruit?” he asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

  “I can fry you up a couple of eggs too if you want something more substantial,” I offered.

  “No, that’s okay. I’ll just pop some of that ready-cooked bacon in the microwave,” he said.

  “Oh, I didn’t think of that,” I said. “I’m sorry.”

  He kissed me on the top of the head. “You don’t have to apologize, my love. I can make my own bacon.”

  We sat down to eat, and Remy filled me in on some projects he was doing at the archives. Listening to him talk about the historical records he was working with actually helped relax me. Plus, I adored how much he loved his work.

  Once we were done eating, I decided to change into shorts and a tank top. It was still early, but with the sun coming up, I could feel the heat of the day beginning.

  “We can still make it on time,” I said as I came charging down the stairs.

  “Whoa, baby. Slow down. Of course we’ll make it. No need to run down the steps.”

  He was right, but I shot him a look anyway. Remy took my hand as we walked down the front steps and to the car. He got the door for me, and soon we were off.

  It only took a few minutes to get to the clinic. All along the way I watched people walking out to get their paper or getting in their cars to go to work.

  The clinic had a small parking lot off to one side. There were only two cars in the lot, but that left just a handful of spaces. I had never been in the clinic because I didn’t get sick that often, but when I did get a sore throat or sprained ankle, healing magic was enough to take care of the issue.

  I wasn’t even sure I needed to be going to a regular medical clinic for my pregnancy, but I wanted to take every precaution. Plus, Brigid was witch and midwife, so perhaps it wasn’t even going to be a regular appointment.

  Remy started to come around to get my door, but I’d already flung it open and hopped out. He looked like he was about to say something, but instead, he took my hand and we walked to the door.

  And when I say the door, I mean the back door. We didn’t go through the front. We stopped by the back door, Remy sent a text message, and a few moments later, the back door opened. It all seemed very clandestine.

  “Sorry about all of this,” Brigid said as we stepped inside. “Amelda asked that we not make a spectacle of you being pregnant.”

  “I didn’t know I was supposed to keep it a secret,” I said.

  “Oh, darling, you don’t have to do that,” Brigid said. “I think Amelda is just trying to be cautious, but all of the witches in this town already know. But, look at me being rude. I’m Brigid Skeenbauer, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Brighton.”

  She put her hand out for me to shake, and I took it. That, of course, wasn’t enough, and Brigid pulled me into a tight hug.

  “It’s nice to meet you too,” I said when she released me. “Thank you so much for fitting me in on such short notice.”

  “You are most welcome. Please come back to my office so we can have a chat,” she said.

  Brigid led Remy and me to what looked like a regular office and not an exam room. There was a desk in the middle with a computer on it, and opposite that were two chairs that Remy and I sat down in. The walls were covered in watercolor paintings of dreamscapes. A dreamcatcher hung over her desk, and on the wall behind her, hanging next to the window, was a purple ceremonial broom.

  “Don’t we need to go into an exam room?” I asked nervously as Brigid sat down at her desk.

  “We’ll do that in a bit, but I want to talk to you first,” she said with a warm smile. “Tell me how you’re doing with the news. Are both mom and dad feeling excited for this new arrival?”

  “Yes, we are,” Remy spoke so I didn’t have to ask him.

  I knew he was happy about the baby, but it was still a relief to hear him answer. We’d both wanted to have a child, but I wasn’t sure either of us had expected it to happen so soon after we married.

  “Brighton?” Brigid asked.

  I hadn’t realized that I’d spaced out thinking about Remy and me. “I’m so happy,” I said. “I always wanted to have a family, but I’d been told I was infertile.”

  “Well, obviously that was by a regular doctor., Brigid said. “But it was because you were meant to have this baby with Remy.”

  “I just wish there wasn’t a witch killer on the loose,” I said. “It’s horrible timing.”

  “I don’t think the timing is horrible,” Brigid said. “What’s happening is horrible, but I think it’s completely intentional. Whoever this is wants to keep your baby from being born, and that means that the word got out that you were going to have such an important child before you were even married. Thank you, by the way. I’m only here because you guys saved me at the wedding.”

  “Oh,” I said. “I’m sorry that we didn’t meet at the wedding. I mean, other than me saving you. I’m sorry, it was all such a blur.”

  “You don’t have to be sorry. Like I said, you guys saved me. You saved so many of us. It was your wedding, and there was no way you were going to meet us all and have a good time. There are just too many Skeenbauers in this little town.”

  “Well, I’m glad to be here now,” I said. “I’m trying to focus on how happy I am to be having the baby and not get too scared about the killer.”

  “That’s an excellent attitude to have,” Brigid said. “It’s so important for you to keep your stress level down for the baby. We can protect her, but it’s just better if you’re as happy as possible.”

  “She?” I asked. “Everyone keeps saying it’s a girl, but how do you guys know?”

  “It is a girl, Brighton. I can feel her energy. You probably would be able to as well, but you’re just too close.”

  I put my hand over my tummy protectively. My little girl. I would have been happy either way, but I was excited to find out it was a girl. At least I knew what to do as far as taking care of a girl. If it had been a boy, I would have been lost. Happy but lost.

  “I want her to be healthy and happy too,” I said.

  “That’s what I’m here for,” Brigid said. “It will be a little different with you than most of my patients. That is if you want.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

&nbs
p; “Well, you always have the option of having me run the full spectrum of medical tests I do for my regular human patients, but I don’t feel like it’s necessary for witches. Since I can read most of what I need through energy work, I don’t need to do a lot of lab tests or invasive exams. Unless you want those things. It’s totally up to you.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. I’d been so nervous about the exam portion of the visit. Not because I didn’t trust Brigid, but just because it made me feel so uncomfortable. Finding out I didn’t have to go through it was good.

  “We’ll do it your way,” I said.

  “Okay, but if you ever change your mind, just let me know. I’m here for you. If you find yourself nervous because we’re not doing all of the traditional medicine tests and exams, you just let me know.”

  “I think I would like to have the sonogram,” I said. “The one where you get a picture.”

  Brigid smiled. “We can do that. That sonogram happens at about five months along. So, I’ll schedule it for then. For now, let’s go into one of the rooms, and I’ll check you and the little one over.”

  The exam room wasn’t what I was expecting at all. It was warm and welcoming with walls painted a rich shade that was somewhere between yellow and orange. The air smelled like spice, and in one corner sat a fountain that added soothing sound to the atmosphere. There was an exam table in the center of the room, but the lighting and ambiance made it feel far less clinical.

  “Okay, I’m just going to have you hop up there, lie back, and relax. Dad, you can sit in the chair or you can stand next to her. Either way.”

  “No paper gown?” I asked.

  “No,” Brigid said with a chuckle. “Unless you really want one. I’ve got them.”

  “I’m good,” I said as I scooted up onto the padded exam table.

  Brigid put the back of the table thing down, and I was lying down. She pulled something out of the foot end to extend the table, and I could relax fully.

  “Okay, this shouldn’t take too long,” Brigid said.