“I...” he started, taking a deep breath out of his nose. “I’ve been working on something important.”
“...Which is?”
“Looking into your mother’s stalker,” he replied. Thea sat straighter in her seat. “I have a contact in Chicago. He’s a fellow officer and he’s been helping me look through some files and documentation. It’s been a lot of work so far, especially since this happened so long ago, but he was down for the task.”
Taking his eyes off the road, he gazed at Thea. Her tired expression made his heart flutter in his chest. He was enamored.
“I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone about this. It was a very classified investigation. That’s why I acted so... weird whenever you asked me about the topic,” he said. “I’m sorry about that, by the way. I never meant to make you feel left out or uncomfortable.”
“You didn’t,” she reassured, shaking her head slightly as the thralls of sleep made her eyes close longer than she wanted them to. “You never made me feel that way.”
He hummed, brushing the hair out of her face. “It was going to be a surprise. I was going to tell you all about it once I figured it out.”
Thea laughed. That was good enough an explanation for her. The exhaustion in her limbs was finally getting to her and she decided to stop fighting it.
Blaine said nothing as he watched her fall asleep. He simply turned the radio off and continued to drive her home in silence, thankful for the fact that she was alright.
Chapter 30
Her back let out a satisfying pop as she stretched out in her bed. She was woken up by the pleasant sunlight poking through her curtains, coaxing her to open her eyes. Once she did, she was reminded of the night prior. The haunted house, Annie’s arrest, and the aftermath.
That was enough to wake her up completely.
Noises from downstairs made her get up and investigate. Her footsteps gave away her presence immediately. Blaine, Granny, and Sybil turned around with relieved expressions on their faces.
“I told you guys she’d be up soon,” Sybil remarked, hopping on the dinner table where a full continental breakfast was waiting for Thea. “Even Sleeping Beauty woke up eventually.”
“What’s all this?” she asked, raising her brow at the fresh flowers on the table as well as the food. Her stomach grumbled at the sight.
“It’s a little bit of a gift,” Blaine replied, pulling out her chair for her. “We’ve got some news to tell you.”
“After everything we went through last night, I’m a bit worried about receiving any more news,” she admitted, sticking a piece of bacon into her mouth. The three of them seemed to be bursting at the seams in silent excitement, which made Thea narrow her eyes. “Unless it’s good news, of course.”
Blaine took the seat adjacent from her. “I’ve been talking a bit more with my friend from Chicago. I told you about him last night, remember? We still don’t know who your mother’s stalker was, but we found out that there was a warlock named The Sorcerer who was in contact with your mother and who had the power to trap people in other dimensions.”
Thea blinked. Her mouth was left slightly ajar as she realized what that meant.
“I know that it’s not a complete answer, but it’s a clue we can use. If he was after your mom, then it’s clear that he found her again. That would explain their disappearance,” he said, glancing at Granny before continuing. “And if your parents are in another dimension right now, there’s a chance we can get them back.”
“I hope so,” she whispered out. “I would do anything to get them back. Anything.”
Blaine nodded, taking her hand in his. “I know, Thea. And I’m gonna do everything I can to help you get them back.”
Sybil’s tail was high in the air as she paced around Thea’s leg. With so much excitement in her tiny body, she felt as if she was about to explode. The words slipped out on accident. The giddiness got to her head.
“We have a surprise for you, Thea! An important one!”
Granny shushed her. “Sybil, what’s wrong with you? Don’t spoil things prematurely!”
“I didn’t spoil anything,” the familiar countered. “I’m just moving things along more quickly than we anticipated.”
Rolling her eyes at the kitten, Granny stood up and beckoned them all to follow her into the living room. In the middle of the space, a ritual circle awaited them. Sybil’s exhilaration was evident in the way she flew from the dining room to the living room. Thea expected the familiar to step into the circle and demonstrate a spell.
However, it was Granny who assumed the spot instead.
“There’s a way to visualize old memories with this spell,” Granny explained, closing her eyes as she focused her energy on the task at hand. “The past... it never truly dies.”
“You’re gonna love this,” Blaine reassured, rubbing her shoulders. “You deserve it. You were amazing last night.”
Thea shrugged off his compliment. However, the tips of her cheeks turned a faint pink hue.
“A lot of things happened last night, actually,” he admitted, scratching at the side of his neck. “It helped me realize a lot. And I talked to Freya about what you said. The differences between our family lives and all that. I think she figured out a way to fix that.”
“What do you mean?” Thea asked, laughing lightly at his comment. “H-How can that be fixed?”
“Shush, you two!” Sybil cut in, seated in front of the ritual circle. “It’s starting!”
Granny finally opened her eyes, slightly glowing from the ritual. As she stepped out of the circle, she motioned towards it as the mist began to emerge and drift upwards.
“I know that you miss your parents, Thea,” Granny said. “I figured that this would be a great way to remember them fondly, despite all the years that have passed.”
As the haze disappeared, an image materialized. The image of her parents, laughing and smiling. They were young and happy, spending time together in the same room they were all standing in.
It didn’t hit her that she was crying until Granny wiped away her tears with a tissue. She felt Sybil purring gently as she rubbed against her leg.
Granny smiled, cupping her cheek. “It’s only fitting that they be here in this moment, after all.”
Before Thea had the chance to ask her what she meant by that, Granny pointed behind her. Blaine was on one knee, holding a small velvet box. His hands trembled slightly as he opened it.
“Freya was kind enough to give me her blessing to do this,” he began, exchanging a quick smile with Granny. Thea’s vision was muddled by the tears forming in her eyes again. “Will you marry me, Thea?”
Thea dropped down to her knees and engulfed Blaine in a hug. She sniffled loudly as she buried her face into the crook of his neck.
“Of course I will,” she replied, wiping her tears with her sleeve as Blaine pressed a kiss to her temple.
Glancing at the ritual circle and the image of her parents, Thea felt her heart swell up. It had been a while since she had felt that way. A genuine happiness that encapsulated her entire being.
She was surrounded by the ones she loved. What more could she ask for?
“End the spell, Granny,” Thea said, motioning towards the circle.
Granny furrowed her brows. “You don’t want it anymore?”
“I do. I love it. But you’re not able to hug me while that circle is activated,” Thea explained, reaching out towards Granny. “And I really want to hug you right now. Please.”
There was a brief moment where Granny gazed at the ritual circle and hesitated. It had been so long since she had seen Selena and Alistair that she had almost forgotten what they looked like. And all of a sudden, there they were again. Young and jubilant, just as she remembered.
However, Thea was waiting for her embrace. Within a few seconds, the image disappeared into the air. Just like that, they were gone once more.
And yet, they were still left in high spirits. Nothing was going to take
that away from them. They were grateful for each other’s presence. Granny clutched onto Thea more tightly than usual as they hugged, with the smiling images of Selena and Alistair still fresh on her mind.
Don’t miss the next book in the Tabby Kitten Mystery Series:
Shadow Magic
Thanks for Reading
I hope you enjoyed the book and it would mean so much to me if you could leave a review. Reviews help authors gain more exposure and keep us writing your favorite stories.
YOU CAN FIND ALL OF my books by visiting my Author Page.
SIGN UP FOR CONSTANCE Barker’s New Releases Newsletter where you can find out when my next book is coming out and for special discounted pricing.
I NEVER SHARE OR SELL your email.
Visit me on Facebook and give me feedback on the characters and their stories.
Catalog of Books
The Farmer’s Market Witch Mystery Series
Charmed to Death
Third Crime’s a Charm
A Devilish Charm
Hard Knocks Charm
Secret Charms
Magic Charms
Tabby Kitten Witch Mystery Series
Familiar Magic
Creature Magic
Adventure Magic
Spooky Magic
Ghoulish Magic
Shadow Magic
IVY’S BOTANICAL SHOP Cozy Witch Mystery Series
Brewing Up Trouble
Brewing the Midnight Oil
A Storm is Brewing
Back to the Brewing Board
Brewing Up the Wrong Tree
Brewing Down the Hatches
WITCHES BE CRAZY COZY Witch Mystery Series
Down the Hatch
Down But Not Dead
Down and Out
Down and Dirty
Down in Flames
Down for the Count
THE HOCUS POCUS COZY Witch Mystery Series
Spooks and Spells
Freaks and Felons
Crooks and Crystals
Graves and Goons
Brooms and Brains
THE HAPPY BLENDINGS Cozy Witch Mystery Series
The Potion Commotion
A Pumpkin Potion Explosion
A Drop in the Potion
A Notion of a Potion
A Deceptive Potion
A Formidable Potion
A Risky Potion
CALAMITY CORNERS COZY Witch Mystery Series
Calm Before the Witch Storm
The Witch is in the Details
Better the Witch You Know
A Witch Axe to Grind
A Cauldron of Witch Tricks
TRIPLET WITCH SISTERS Mystery Series
Two’s Company, Three’s a Coven
Resting Witch Face
Bewitched and Bewildered
Triple Toil and Trouble
THE WITCH SISTERS OF Stillwater
Hoodoo and Just Desserts
A Shade of Murder
That Ol’ Black Magic
A Whole Lotta Witchin Goin On
The Beast Cometh
Secrets and Sorcery