‘Mine’s from when I first met you, Effie,’ said Theo, his green eyes gentle as they met Effie’s. ‘I remember the way the fairy lights on the patio hit you just so. Like magic. You were so proud and so strong and so curious to me, and I desperately wanted to get to know you.’
Effie smiled. ‘I remember.’
‘I remember, too,’ murmured Bonnie, giving Effie’s hand a squeeze.
With their memories spoken aloud, Effie collected them, together with a sprig of rosemary, in a special obsidian mortar, which she set down on a small decorative wooden table grooved around its edge so that it could easily hold a ring of black salt. Lighting a match, she set the notes aflame. The fire licked slowly at them, casting a gentle curl of smoke up in the air.
The smoke alarm beeped, but Effie shut it down with a click of her fingers.
Theo’s eyes widened, but he said nothing. Apparently he knew enough about magic to keep his mouth shut during a spell.
Effie reached for Theo and Bonnie, and they stood, hand in hand, in a small ring around the table.
‘Pen, paper and rosemary,’ Effie intoned, ‘may my truth return to me.’
The smoke from the folded pages started to change colour, from black, to grey, to purple, and in it flickered images of smiling people, sun-kissed places, and, of course, of Mom.
‘Pen, paper and gifted detritus,’ Effie intoned, ‘may our truths return to us.’
The smoke spun around them, growing thicker and more colourful. Effie’s own magic sparked alongside, her wrists afire with the Chalmers gift that coursed in every vein, every cell, every heartbeat. Through the hand clasped around her sister’s, she could feel her own magic twining with Bonnie’s, the tentative purple that marked her sister’s less practised efforts streaming gently from Bonnie’s tattooed wrists and into the air around them. Theo’s hand, in contrast, was cool and calm, a grounding element that kept the sisters’ magic focused. His strong, unflappable presence soothed Effie, helping her stay attuned to the spell.
The magic reached its apogee, then suddenly exploded out through one of the glass bricks above them. It shattered, and would’ve showered down upon them if it hadn’t been for Effie’s quick magical reflexes. Dropping the others’ hands, she clicked her fingers, directing the shards to land in a nearby trash can.
‘Wow,’ said Theo, clenching and unclenching his hands. ‘I feel like I was just gently and lovingly electrocuted.’
‘Did it work?’ asked Bonnie, staring up at the hole in the wall above them, through which a possum looked curiously down at them.
The possum’s face was promptly replaced by Bobby’s. He looked down at them, extremely confused. ‘Bonnie? Are you all right?’ Rubbing at his forehead, he sniffed. ‘Has someone been smoking down there? In thelibrary?’
‘Bobby! Oh my goddess, I’ve never been so happy to see your stupid face!’ Bonnie exclaimed. She seemed as though she was on the verge of jumping up and down. ‘I’ve missed it so much. You have no idea.’
Bobby blinked, then broke into a delighted smile. ‘Wow, really? Are you sure?’
‘Yes I’m sure!’ cried Bonnie, clapping her hands to her throat. ‘Are you okay? What are you doing up there?’
‘I have no idea,’ Bobby admitted after a moment. His voice was thick, and he sounded dazed, as though he’d just woken up from a deep slumber. ‘For some reason I was in the car with Kirsty. Neither of us had any idea how that happened. I pulled over and let her out so she wouldn’t have to let her friends know she’d been anywhere near me.’
A huge grin broke across Bonnie’s face. Then, with a quick glance at Effie, she said, ‘Bobby, I promise it’s the last time I’ll ask, but could you do me a favour?’
‘For you, Bon? Always.’
Effie felt herself grinning as well. It was about damn time that Bonnie realized Bobby was as good as they came. Not to mention that in addition to the endless moral support, he also came with a lifetime’s supply of pastries.
Bonnie cupped her hands around her mouth. ‘Can you help Alana hold things down at the bar, just for a few minutes? Effie and I need to have some words with Uncle Oswald.’
Bobby gave her a thumbs up. ‘On my way. By the way, I have a ton of supplies for you in the back of my truck. For some reason I never dropped them off. Must’ve slipped my mind. Oof, do I have a headache, though.’
‘There’s some Tylenol behind the bar,’ said Bonnie. ‘And some stronger stuff, if you need it. I call it the Sunday Morning Tonic. But stay away from the purple cocktails, whatever you do.’
‘Got it. See you in a bit!’ With a cheery wave, he disappeared from view. ‘Don’t burn the place down!’
There was a roar and a chug as he started up his truck, then rolled down the street towards the square.
‘Ready to give Uncle Oswald what for?’ Effie asked Bonnie.
Bonnie frowned at the ashes left in the mortar.
‘I can’t remember what I...’
