A Witch Like No Other (50 page)

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Authors: Makala Thomas

Tags: #love story, #romance novel, #sorceror, #fantasy novel, #fantasy about magic, #fantasy about a witch, #romance 2014, #a witch like no other, #makala thomas

BOOK: A Witch Like No Other
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Oh love,
I’
m so sorry,” she said
gently, as Baby Julian sobbed into her shoulder. “I
didn

t
mean to scare you, I-”


Here Miriam,
I’
ll take him,” Ted said
gently, reaching for the baby. Miriam shook her head, saying “He
hardly knows you, Ted-”


Miriam,
it’
s ok. I promise,” Ted said,
as she looked down at the baby. “Let me take him down to
Dreamer.”

Baby Julian reached for Ted as well, eyes
filling over. Feeling a little betrayed, Miriam handed him
over.


Hey, little
man,” Ted said softly, holding him in one arm. “You ok?”


I want Mummy,”
wept Julian, his green eyes full of anguish as he looked at the
stairs. “I no like Minnyam
and
Dorwa anymore.”

Pandora and Miriam glared at each other, Ted
saying “Did they shout?”


Yes, and I
cry-” The baby burst into tears again. “I want Mummy!”

Pandora wondered whether she should
apologise, then she decided not to. Instead she turned and went
back into the spare room, slamming the door shut behind her.

Miriam realised she was cutting her palms her fists were
clenched so tight. Taking a deep breath, she said “Ted,
I

m
sorry I shouted at her. But… she really-”


Never mind,”
Ted said reassuringly. “Um… dinner’
s cancelled.”


I kind of
realised.”


Come
downstairs,” Ted said, already walking down. “You too,

Dora.”


I’
m not
coming.”


Now,” called
Ted, and Pandora sighed and got up.

 

* * *

 

Marlon smiled at Miriam, who blinked at him
as Dreamer reached for her baby boy.


Suddenly you
like
me again?” she said,
under the voices of Ted and Dreamer, and Baby
Julian

s giggles as Dreamer tickled him lovingly.

Marlon shrugged, saying “If Mum and Dad
forgive you, then I do too.”


Really.”


Yeah. And I
don’
t forget when you helped
us get back home.”

Pandora walked in the living room slowly, Marlon and
Miriam

s smiles fading as she sat as far away from everyone as
possible.

Dreamer didn

t look with her eyes, instead feeling
everyone

s energy. Laying on her back, she lifted Baby Julian high
in the air, looking up into his delighted face as he squealed
excitedly.


Mummy Mummy, I
fly!”
he said happily,
flailing his tiny arms and legs. “Look, Marlon! I fly, see? I
fly!”

Marlon smiled and nodded, Dreamer saying
“Should I call Mama and Papa, Ted?”


Uh…”

Before Ted could decide whether that was
necessary Agnes and Paul Black appeared, taking their seats across
the room.


Let’
s begin,
then.”


This is what
I’
d like to call a family
meeting,” Ted said nervously, and Agnes scolded “Dreamer, sit
up.”

Dreamer sighed, doing as she was told. Baby
Julian beamed at Paul, Paul winking at him. Baby Julian
giggled.


Well,
it’
s not exactly a
meeting
meeting, but… it

s to do with the kids,
and I um… Paul?” said Ted, swallowing. “Stop looking at me like
that.”


Paul,” said
Agnes, swatting her husband on the arm. “Stop that.”

Paul was annoyed. “I

m giving my full
undivided attention to the boy, Agnes. Would you rather I make
objects fly around the room?”


Go on Ted,”
said Agnes, ignoring Paul’
s
question. “Continue.”


Well,
everyone’
s been reunited and
such, and… well, we have to make some decisions about what happens
next.”


Well said,”
said Paul, agreeing totally. Agnes nodded too, ditto
Miriam.


Dreamer and I
had a talk,” Ted said, looking at her. “She isn’t
moving out of her home for my
benefit. I… I don

t mind that.”

Agnes smiled, knowing that Ted minded a
whole lot more than he was letting on.


So um… well,
really and truly I uh…”

Dreamer smiled at him. She

d never seen Ted so
nervous.


Look, Marlon
and Pandora- we’
re going back
home. Baby Julian isn

t used to you yet- isn

t used to so many people
in his home.”

Ted waited for the blow, but none came. Pandora and Marlon
didn

t
react to their father

s declaration, not for a few seconds
anyway.


Can we like…
arrange something?” Pandora asked tonelessly. “I mean, I want to
stay with my mother.”


Yeah,” said
Marlon, looking at Dreamer pleadingly. “Mum?”


How about they
come on weekends, Dreamer?” Paul said, looking at his child.
“Ever
y other weekend
isn

t
a bad idea.”


And they can
visit on their days off,” Agnes added, and Dreamer looked at Ted
before saying “That sounds fine, Mama.”


What about
Julian?” demanded Marlon, hurt. “How come he can stay?”


Julian
isn’
t Ted

s son,” Paul reminded
him, and Marlon closed his mouth. Then he asked “What about you and
Mum, Dad?”


Don’
t worry about that,”
Dreamer said, a small smile on her face.
“Everything

s ok between me and your father.”


Promise?”
asked Pandora dubiously, and Dreamer said “I promise.”

Ted clapped his hands, feeling much better
after getting that load off his chest.


Well then,
that’
s living arrangements
sorted. Marlon, Pandora- it

s your day off tomorrow.
We

ll
go in the morning.”


You
don’
t even have your car,”
Pandora pointed out, and Dreamer said “Miriam can drop you back
home if it

s all right with her.”


Tomorrow?”
Miriam said, surprised. “Dreamer, I cant stay the
night-”


Why
not?”


Well,
I…”

Miriam felt she

d outstayed her welcome. She
didn

t
want to be around Pandora, anyway.


Come on
Mir
iam,” coaxed Dreamer.
“I

ll
make you hot chocolate.”


No,
I’
d rather-”


Hot chocolate
with a muffin.”


Dreamer-”


Hot chocolate
with a muffin and cookies.”


Cook-cook!”
said Baby Julian happily, and Paul said “No, son.”


Peas?”


No.”


Papa,” started
Dreamer, then she remembered Miriam. “Miriam, stay.”


I
cant.”


Ok, hot
chocolate with a muffin, cookies and a slice of apple
pie.”


No
, I really have to get
going. I

ve got work tomorrow and-”


That’
s even better,
because Ted does too. You can drop him and the kids off on the
way.”

Miriam looked at Ted, who shrugged a
shoulder.


It’
s up to
you.”


She’
s staying,” Paul
said, rising to his feet with Agnes. “Right Miriam?”


Yes,” she sighed, and Dreamer smiled.


Papa scares
you, doesn’
t he?”


He scares
everybody,” muttered Marlon, and Paul smiled at him.


That’
s right, my boy. I
scare
everybody.”


It’
s not Halloween,
Paul,” Agnes said, amused as he laughed. “Come,
let

s
go home.”

Paul kissed Dreamer on the forehead, saying
“Bye, little one.”


Goodbye
Papa.”


We’
ll come by at the end
of the week,” Agnes said, kissing her as well.

Baby Julian lifted his arms happily, saying
“Paul-Paul!”


Hmm… this baby
boy adores me,” Paul stated, reaching down and scooping him up.
“Don’
t you adore your
grandpop, son?”

Baby Julian giggled, throwing his arms around
Paul

s
neck.


I’
ll take that as a yes,”
smiled Paul, and everyone laughed.

Marlon

s mobile rang. Answering quickly, he said
“Marlon.”


Hey,” said
Alice gently, and Marlon smiled. “Is everything ok?”


No,” he
confessed, going into the kitchen. Pandora followed. “I saw my best
mate snogging my little sister, that’
s newsflash one. The woman who helped wrecked my family is
here- the mystery lady. Miriam.”


Miss Hughes?
No way! Pandora didn’
t tell me
that-”


Yeah, well
Pandora and her got into an argument upstairs-”


I caught a bit
of it. She was real angry.”


So was
Miriam,” Marlon answered. “You know, I’
ve never heard her lose it before, especially with
Pandora-”

Marlon broke off, sensing her behind him.
Taking a deep breath, he fixed his face with his dirtiest look
before turning around.


What?”


Marlon, we
need to talk about… what you saw today.”


What, are you
going to tell me I was hallucinating?” sneered Marlon. “Because
seriously Pandora, you’
ll need
to think of something else.”


Why are you
being like this? I don’
t have
a problem with you and Alice, and I didn

t have much of a problem
with you and Janice-”


I
wouldn’
t have cared if you
did!”


What’
s wrong with me
going out with James?” said Pandora, hurt. “Marlon,
you

re
overreacting. You

re acting like-”


Like what,

Dora? Like I just witnessed
one of the four people I love so much it hurts kiss one of the
other four? Like it came as a massive blow because I see James as
my brother, meaning I thought he saw you as a sister? Like I feel
like all of it is really wrong?”


But
it’
s not wrong,” Pandora said,
then she took a step backwards as Marlon stepped forwards, face
murderous. Everybody was still talking happily in the living room-
Dreamer, as usual, was the centre of attention. Nobody noticed that
the kitchen door was closed.


How the hell
is it right?” spat Marlon, then he realised Alice was still on the
line. “Um… can I call you back
after I talk to my sister?”


Sure,” Alice
sa
id gently. “Marlon,
she

s
right: James-”

Marlon hung up angrily, saying “She

ll always side with
you.”


Good, seeing
as I knew her first,” Pandora answered, her usual flat drawl
returning. “Marlon, me and James-”


I
don’
t want to have this
conversation, Pandora.” Marlon slipped his phone in his pocket and
turned away. “We

ll talk later.”

Pandora glared at him. “Don

t pull your big brother
act on me.”


I am your big
brother,” snapped Marlon, turning back round.
“You’
d better remember that
from now on.”


Ok, look: how
about I tell you to get stuffed?” Pandora said, heat rising.
“I’
m seeing James whether you
like it or not.”


Then we have
nothing to say to each other from now on,” Marlon answered, making
her stop short.


What?”


You heard me,

Dora.”


Marlon,
please- you cant do this to me.” She was a little shocked, but she
hardly showed it. “I need you just like I need Mum and
Dad-”

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