Chapter 14

The dinner at Sig's had grown from the four of us to include Stan and Sidnee. ‘Why don't you see if Connor wants to come?' Gunnar asked indulgently. ‘You know Sigrid will have made enough food for a small army.'

I weighed it up. Stan and Connor could be a bit fractious and I didn't want them bickering in front of my mum, but even more I wanted to see Connor. Needed to see Connor. ‘If you're sure it's okay.'

‘Go ahead!' Gunnar grinned.

I excused myself to call Connor and he answered straight away. ‘Hey, Bunny, how's it going?'

I blew out a breath. ‘I've had better days. I've been rolling around the black market and stepped on Soapy's toes a little. And I found out Fluffy is cursed.'

‘Fluffy is cursed? With what?'

‘We're not sure. It's not a simple rune curse because he's been washed plenty of times. Anissa is working on it – but I have to go beyond the barrier for an ingredient.'

‘I'll come with you,' he said firmly.

‘I appreciate the offer but we're going to keep it small. In and out. The fewer people there are, the less chance we have of being spotted by the creature.'

‘You'll wear your vest?'

I wanted to say it wasn't going to protect me from having my head ripped off but he probably knew that. ‘Sure I'll wear it. Anyway, I'm going to Sigrid's for dinner to introduce Mum to Gunnar, Sigrid, Stan and Sidnee. You want to come?'

‘Of course. I need to see you anyway.'

‘Why? What's up?' I asked, worried.

‘Nothing. I just need to see you.'

‘Aww.' I melted. ‘You're so cute.'

‘Cute?' Outrage crackled in his voice. ‘I am not cute. I am sexy and debonair.'

I giggled. ‘Yup, those things, too. See you in half an hour at Sig's?'

‘Wild horses wouldn't drag me away.'

We rang off and I felt lighter. I loved that he'd offered to come with me beyond the barrier, and I also loved that he trusted me enough to let me go without him.

‘Connor's in,' I called to Gunnar.

‘Great. Why don't you head home and I'll swing by to pick you up in thirty minutes? That way you can warn your mom.'

I smiled. ‘Yeah, I should warn her it's not quite the cosy dinner she's expecting. Thanks.' I collected Shadow and Fluffy and we headed out. This was either going to be an epic disaster or a mild disaster – but definitely a disaster.

I walked into my house and found my mother sitting on the sofa watching TV. I didn't think I'd ever seen her watch TV – that had been something I'd done with my nana. It was oddly humanising – not that I thought she wasn't human now I knew that she was a witch. She was still my mum, my cold and aloof mum.

She clicked the TV off hurriedly before I could see what she was watching. It had sounded suspiciously like a soap opera. ‘How was your evening, darling?' she asked.

‘It was fine,' I said, brushing over the curses and the market. ‘Gunnar invited a couple of my friends to dinner with us. He's going to pick us up in about thirty minutes. Are you ready?' I asked to be polite because she was sitting there fully made-up and dressed for dinner.

‘Yes, dear, I'm ready. What do you do with your animals? Do you take them? I don't know the customs here.'

‘Gunnar loves animals – he has a husky. I usually take Fluffy so he and Loki can play. I'll let you decide about Arabella.'

‘Well, I can't leave her alone with that cat.' She glared at my innocent looking lynx kitten.

‘If you want to leave Arabella behind, I'll lock Shadow in my bedroom before we leave,' I offered, keeping my eye roll to myself. I couldn't imagine Arabella would get on with Loki any more than she got on with my pets.

‘Fine, I'll leave her here. She'd feel overwhelmed with two large dogs, poor darling.' She stroked her pooch, which was reclining on her lap. Uh-huh.

I prepared a cup of blood so I could enjoy my meal later. When the timer on the microwave dinged, I plugged my nose and downed the stuff that kept me alive. As I walked back into the lounge, Mum stopped talking. Fluffy was a few feet away from her, his gaze locked on Arabella. ‘Who were you talking to?' I asked, looking around.

‘Oh, you know me. I was blathering to Arabella.'

Fluffy gave a low growl: he had evidently decided that Mum was a threat, probably because she kept making me cry. He positioned himself between her and me. Arabella yapped at us and he growled again. ‘Stop it, you bully,' Mum snapped.

My temper flared and I felt the heat rise in my chest. He was cursed, he could be dying and he wasn't a bully. Before anything could happen that I'd regret, I took Fluffy with me to the bedroom to change my clothes. I figured I'd dress up for my mother's sake, although I'd have to change back after supper to finish the remainder of my shift.

Fluffy whined at me. ‘What's up boy, why are you so upset? Is it about the curse?'

He couldn't answer me, but his expressive eyes were trying to tell me something. I sighed again. ‘Sorry, boy. I don't understand.'

He huffed and lay down with his head on his paws. Shadow came out from under the bed and jumped up on it, then gave one of his kitten squeaks. I scratched behind his ears. His fur was dense and soft, and his presence calmed me. I smushed his face and kissed him. ‘Okay, I'm sorry to say it but you're staying home, little one, so be good. No taunting Arabella!' His little golden eyes promised nothing.

I went into the bathroom to brush my hair. I usually wore it in a long braid for work, but now I undid it and twisted it into a knot at the back of my head. I still didn't have much in the way of jewellery since the fire, but I'd bought a pair of silver stud earrings to dress up my look. I applied the barest amount of makeup and then, when I was ready, I shut the bedroom door behind me leaving Shadow inside. He was quiet, so I hoped he'd curl up and have a nap.

Gunnar knocked on the door as I was pulling on my shoes. Perfect timing. I opened it with a warm smile and, when he walked in, I introduced him to my mum. This time I did it properly and addressed her first. ‘Mum, this is Gunnar Johansen, my boss. Gunnar, this is my mother, Victoria Barrington.'

‘Pleased to meet you, ma'am,' Gunnar said, his big voice rumbling out and filling the house. Mum blushed a little, smiled and took his hand. What was it with women and Gunnar? Even my mother was blushing over the brawny Viking-esque man.

We followed him out to the Suburban; his truck wasn't the best vehicle for climbing into while wearing a dress so it was much more date-friendly.

We made polite conversation until we pulled up outside his home. As always, I admired the red-painted house with the little painted flowers and beautiful front garden, but I wondered if Mum thought it was kitsch rather than whimsical and homey.

Gunnar led us into the house, usually Loki barrelled into us full of exuberance, but today he remained stretched out on his bed. Fluffy went to go and see him, and Loki gave a wide yawn. Gunnar frowned. ‘Odd,' he murmured.

‘That's not like Loki,' I said.

‘No,' his frown deepened. ‘It's not. We'll keep an eye on him. Maybe he's just feeling lazy, but if it carries on a day or two, we'll take him to the vet.'

Fluffy laid down next to Loki and Loki yawned and licked him. Loki's tail gave a happy tap tap, but he still didn't move to get up to play.

The smell of Sig's cooking wafted through the house making my stomach rumble; her food wasn't super fancy but it was always divine and somehow comforting. Mum gave an appreciative smile.

I could hear Sidnee and Stan in the kitchen laughing about something, so we walked through the living room and joined them. They looked up at us as we entered.

‘Hey, everyone, I'd like you to meet my mum. Mum, this is my best friend Sidnee. Stan is a friend and one of the councilmen and the shifter leader.' I knew that even though I called him my friend, she would care more about his leader status.

‘So nice to meet you, Mrs Barrington.' Stan held out his hand.

Mum looked up at him. ‘Gosh they grow everything big in America,' she said, eyes wide.

He grinned, his ego happily massaged. ‘Well, thank you, ma'am. I'm even bigger in my other form.' He winked. Was he flirting with my mum?

I narrowed my eyes at him. ‘Behave,' I mouthed.

He gave me an innocent look. ‘What?' he mouthed back.

Mum turned to Sidnee. ‘I'm so glad that you are here for my daughter,' she said, a genuine note of gratitude in her voice. My heart warmed; she did care about me, even if she was terrible at showing it most of the time.

Sidnee virtually bounced up and down in her seat as she beamed at my mother. ‘I am so glad she came to live here! She's so wonderful – and I'm super-happy to meet you!' Her exuberance coaxed an answering smile from Mum, and once again I was so grateful for my friend.

Finally I introduced Mum to Sigrid. ‘This is Gunnar's wife, Sigrid.'

‘Pleased to meet you,' Mum said. ‘The food smells delightful. Elizabeth said you were a hearth witch, but I could tell that right away from your lovely home and garden. It's perfect.'

It was Sigrid's turn to blush. ‘Thank you.'

Mum was making friends everywhere and I was impressed. I'd underestimated her, and I didn't know why: if there was one thing my mum could do, it was socialise.