A Witch Like No Other Read online

  “Hot please,” Dreamer replied. “It was pretty nippy outside.”

  Miriam rushed to the kitchen and boiled the kettle, pulling out two mugs, tea bags and sugar. Dreamer looked around the house while she waited, taking in every tiny detail. Miriam knew she didn’t bother asking because she knew what the answer would be.

  “You have three bedrooms?” said Dreamer interestedly from the passageway, and Miriam called “Two are for visitors really. One of them hasn’t been used yet, and the other one’s for my parents when they visit from America. They came last year.”

  “Interesting.”

  Miriam set the coffee table carefully, wanting to impress her friend.

  “I always wonder where Papa is,” Dreamer said as she looked in the bathroom. “I’d love to have both he and Mama over.”

  Miriam smiled. “Why do you speak like that, Dreamer?”

  Dreamer was offended. “Like what?”

  “So perfectly. ‘Both he and Mama…’ wow.”

  Dreamer smiled as she walked back into the living room, stopping when Miriam’s jaw dropped.

  “What are you looking at?”

  “I didn’t notice your gown,” Miriam mumbled, embarrassed. “It’s lovely. And it looks very expensive too.”

  Dreamer smiled, looking at down it with pleasure. “It cost me five hundred pounds. A lady in the country has them made for me, all the time. I tell her the colour and she makes lovely gowns, all for Dreamer.”

  Miriam smiled, repeating herself. “It’s lovely, Dreamer.”

  “Strangers thought so too,” Dreamer replied, amused as she sat down. “Just before I came here an Italian man ran across the road, nearly getting hit by a bus.” Her smile grew. “Then he did this:”

  Dreamer placed a hand over her heart, saying in a deep voice, “Amore.”

  Miriam burst out laughing as she handed Dreamer her cup.

  “You’re lucky he didn’t try and abduct you, Dreamer.”

  “I’d have liked to see him try,” said Dreamer, placing her wand on the coffee table. It sparked menacingly, Miriam looking at it in wonder. The gesture was made on purpose, Dreamer clearly meaning that nobody could trouble her in any way.

  Swallowing some tea, Miriam asked “How’s Pandora?”

  “Pandora is fine,” Dreamer said with a smile. “Much happier.”

  “I knew she would be.”

  Dreamer nodded. “I knew Alice would be good for her.”

  “It’s more you than Alice, and you know that,” said Miriam, amused. Dreamer never wanted to hog the limelight. She preferred to blend in the background, though with her that just wasn’t possible.

  Dreamer shrugged a shoulder, Miriam saying “You know it.”

  “Alice has helped too,” Dreamer said in Alice’s defence. “She has.”

  “Yes, by ten percent. You’re the other ninety.”

  Dreamer chose not to answer that, simply sipping her tea.

  “How’s Ted?” Miriam asked bitterly.

  “Ted’s fine,” Dreamer said, sighing. “He’s just fine.”

  Miriam frowned as Dreamer stared into her cup. “Dreamer?”

  “No. Please don’t ask me anything.”

  “What’s going on with you and Ted?” Miriam asked, and Dreamer scowled as she looked at her. Were her ears not working?

  Miriam waited, Dreamer suddenly remembering she was a mentor. Her personal counsellor through the years, she thought amusedly. Maybe talking to Miriam would feel better than the talk with Denise Jessica.

  “I love Ted,” Dreamer said slowly and clearly, enunciating each word. “Don’t think I don’t, because I do. But-”

  “You don’t love him in the same way,” Miriam said, and Dreamer nodded. “Well, at least you know what you feel.”

  “That is true,” Dreamer answered, and Miriam smiled. Perfect English again. “I feel as if he is my brother, not my lover. I’m… not the same.”

  “Yes you are,” said Miriam firmly. “You just don’t feel the same.”

  “I suppose,” said Dreamer heavily. “I don’t know what to do, Miriam. I guess I’ve become bored of Ted now. I’ve been his lover for eighteen years- fifteen if you exclude the last three. I’m not satisfied anymore.”

  The words were unkind, but honest… and Miriam loved them. She was sixteen again, and she’d first heard of Ted Stone. She hated him more than anything for taking Dreamer away from her. And then she was back in the present, thirty three again… Miriam was shocked to find she was still hurting over everything that happened. Though she tried not to, she felt glad Dreamer felt this way about Ted, who had once been her sun, moon and stars. Without Ted Dreamer felt she was nothing- once upon a time. She’d finally gotten through that phase- finally!

  Miriam saw this as a payback opportunity for Ted’s taking Dreamer away from her all those years before. If Dreamer meant what she said, then Miriam could finally be back in her life- properly.

  Dreamer didn’t think anything of Miriam’s silence. She sipped more tea, then continued “I know it’s not good-”

  “Why- I mean, of course it isn’t,” Miriam said, catching herself just in time. She was just about to demand why it wasn’t good Dreamer was over Ted. “No it’s not good, not on Pandora and Marlon. But- but don’t think it’s not good for you,” she pressed on quickly, Dreamer looking at her. “Don’t even think about forcing yourself to stay with him for their sakes, because you’ll be unhappy. Pandora and Marlon will know you’re unhappy and it will make them unhappy too. Same with Ted.”

  Dreamer didn’t answer that. She didn’t look as if she’d even heard. Miriam watched her curiously, wondering what was going on inside that head of hers. Dreamer didn’t speak for almost ten minutes, her tea cold by then. Hesitating first, Miriam asked “Are you ok?”

  “Hmm? Oh. Me? I’m fine,” said Dreamer, smiling at her.

  Miriam smiled back as she raised the cup to her lips, made a startled noise, then she picked up her wand and tapped the side of the cup with an annoyed expression. Miriam’s smile grew as steam rose from the cup, Dreamer saying “Tea grows cold too quickly.”

  “I agree,” Miriam said, putting her own cup down. “Um…”

  Dreamer looked at her questioningly. “What?”

  “When are you going back home?”

  Dreamer glanced at the clock; it was only six thirty.

  “Maybe at eight, if you don’t mind me staying.”

  “No, of course not, why would I mind if you- you can stay, I…” Miriam trailed off, embarrassed as she realised Dreamer was frowning at her sudden speech impediment. Swallowing, she shook her head. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” said Dreamer, amused. “I suppose it’s been too long.”

  “So long,” sighed Miriam, nodding. “We’ve been apart for ages.”

  Dreamer nodded, thinking to herself.

  Really and truly, they hadn’t been together properly since they were sixteen. Miriam was in America half the time, she was besotted with Ted. Miriam had all the time for her, but she had none for Miriam. Dreamer recalled telling her friend she wanted to see her once every three months.

  “I’ve been cruel to you, haven’t I Miriam?”

  Miriam started to say no, then she nodded. “Yes you have.”

  “I didn’t mean to- well I did,” Dreamer said as an afterthought, making Miriam laugh. “I meant every word at the time, but-”

  “Now you regret it,” said Miriam, and Dreamer scowled at her.

  “Do you always know the answer, Miriam? What to say?”

  “It comes with the profession,” Miriam answered as a yes. “Why?”

  “It’s nice, but… annoying. Very, very annoying.”

  “Hey, I helped you a lot of times,” Miriam said defensively. “Every time you called with a problem or for advice, I gave you a good answer.”

  “True. We only stayed in contact because of the phones.”

  “If we didn’t have phones we’d never have stayed in contac
t,” Miriam said, shuddering at the thought. “I’d be a wreck.”

  “Mmm. How was you when you heard I died?”

  Miriam’s smile faded as she remembered. Dreamer waited, interested.

  “I… I cried every night for a year and a half. It near enough killed me, Dreamer.” Miriam’s eyes filled as she looked at her friend. “I wasn’t eating much, I was scared of sleeping because I’d dream of you.”

  “Hence my name,” said Dreamer amusedly, but Miriam didn’t smile.

  “Tony helped me get through it. Alice’s father,” she added, when Dreamer looked puzzled. “He was dealing with divorcing his wife and getting custody of Alice at the time, but he didn’t get to have her.”

  “What a shame,” said Dreamer dryly, not really interested.

  Miriam nodded, saying “Alice loves her father, though. As soon as she turned eighteen she came to live with him, because she was of age and she had a choice. She never really got along with her stepfather.”

  “So this man helped you get over my death?” said Dreamer, wanting to keep the subject on target. Miriam nodded again.

  “He didn’t want me to fall ill from depression, he was worried. He didn’t let me carry on working, but I still went to the clinic to see him.”

  Dreamer sat up straighter, eyes sparkling. “Really.”

  “Yes, and I- no,” said Miriam, as Dreamer smiled at her. “No, Dreamer! He was never a lover of mine; he’s not really interested in love since Elizabeth left him. We’re just friends. Friends! Friends,” she repeated in a spooky voice, and Dreamer burst out laughing.

  “You’re so funny sometimes, Miriam. I missed you when I came back six months ago, when I was staying with Mama.”

  Miriam looked doubtful. “Did you?”

  “Yes. I missed all of you.”

  “I’m glad, then.”

  “So you should be,” Dreamer answered, getting up. “I should go.”

  “What? So soon?” said Miriam disappointedly, looking at the clock.

  “It’s almost eight,” said Dreamer, looking around for her shawl. Miriam reached to pick up her wand for her- “Don’t!”

  Miriam froze, Dreamer picking her wand up.

  “I’m sorry, I was only-”

  Dreamer shook her head, saying “Never touch the wand, Miriam.”

  Miriam pouted, remembering their days at school, Dreamer’s brilliant silver wand. She said the same thing back then, and nearly went mental when Damon tried using it as a pencil at a homework club.

  Dreamer smiled, saying “Glad you remember.”

  “Will you come again, Dreamer?”

  “Yes.”

  “Promise?”

  Miriam knew she sounded childish, but she didn’t care. Dreamer pulled her into a tight hug, Miriam inhaling her sweet vanilla scent with delight. She even laid her head on Dreamer’s shoulder like a baby.

  “I promise I’ll come again,” Dreamer told her, letting go. “Ok?”

  “Ok,” said Miriam, feeling much better after the hug. Much happier anyway, because Dreamer Black never broke a promise. “Call me as soon as you get home. Tell Pandora I said hello too.”

  “I will.”

  Before Miriam could say something else Dreamer vanished in a flash of white light, startling her: it looked like a firework went off in her living room. Tiny lights shimmered before fading into darkness, Miriam sitting on her chair and smiling. What a way to go.

  * * *

  Pandora sat cross legged on the carpet cuddling Shadow, downstairs in her living room. She wasn’t going to bed until Dreamer came home. Ted brought her a mug of hot chocolate, placing it on the coffee table.

  “There you go, ‘Dora.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  Pandora put Shadow down and picked up the mug, sipping slowly. Ted watched her, a warm feeling spreading all over. That was his little girl right there. Pandora noticed him looking, pausing self consciously.

  “What?”

  “Nothing,” smiled Ted. “Nothing at all.”

  Dreamer appeared, Pandora instantly putting the mug down and getting up to give her a hug.

  “Hello sweetheart,” said Dreamer warmly, as Pandora squeezed her tightly. “Did you have a good day?”

  “It was ok. I missed you,” Pandora replied, standing on tiptoe to give her a kiss. “Where’ve you been? You’re always out these days.”

  “These days?” Dreamer repeated, amused. “I’ve only just got back.”

  “You know what I mean,” pouted Pandora, sitting back down. Shadow scampered up to Dreamer happily, looking up and twitching his nose.

  “Aren’t you a cute little bunny-wunny?” said Dreamer adoringly, reaching down and picking him up. “Yes you are. You’re gorgeous!”

  Ted smiled as Dreamer snuggled Shadow, then suddenly he felt jealous. Dreamer was giving the rabbit more affection than him. She hadn’t even acknowledged his presence. Trying not to sulk, he drank his tea as he looked at his daughter. Pandora was gazing at her mother as she sat, holding her mug. Shyly, she said “Do you want him, Mum?”

  “Hmm? No darling, he’s yours.” Dreamer smiled at her. “Keep him.”

  “You can have him you like him so much.”

  “Keep him,” Dreamer repeated gently, putting Shadow down and walking into the kitchen. “I need something to eat.”

  Shadow squeaked, running after Dreamer happily. Ted watched the woman he thought of as his. Her gown was beautiful, he remarked. Black silk, clinging to her body as if it was part of her. Dreamer’s brown skin shone as she moved around the kitchen, making Ted’s mouth water. She was his, definitely. His own Galaxy chocolate.

  Ted chuckled at his thoughts, Pandora looking at him.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Your mother,” Ted answered, hoping Dreamer would look up, but she didn’t. Her back was toward them as she made a sandwich. Pandora waited curiously, and Ted said “Never you mind, ‘Dora.”

  “Fine.”

  Inside the kitchen, Dreamer smiled to herself. In the living room, Ted’s face fell. How in the world was he going to win her heart again?

  Dreamer walked into the living room and sat down with a tray, staring down at her sandwich as if wondering what to do with it.

  “You eat it,” explained Pandora, and Ted and Dreamer burst out laughing as they looked at her serious face.

  “‘Dora, she knows what to do with it,” chortled Ted, and Pandora pouted.

  “I’m only trying to help. What’s in that sandwich, Mum?”

  “Cheese and ham, but… I don’t want it cold,” Dreamer replied thoughtfully, then she smiled and pulled out her wand. Pandora nearly dropped her mug, eager to see her mother perform a trick.

  Ted opened his mouth to protest, then decided against it.

  Dreamer whispered something inaudible to their ears, tapping the sandwich with her wand. Pink smog furled from the tip of the wand, covering the sandwich totally for a good four seconds before unfurling. Soon it became part of the living room air, completely transparent. Pandora gasped as Dreamer smiled at her plate, satisfied.

  “A cheese and ham toasty is much better.”

  “Dad, isn’t she great?” said Pandora happily, and Ted nodded.

  Dreamer bit into her toasty slowly, thinking of Miriam now. She really was cruel to her in the past, wasn’t she?

  Shadow was tired. He wandered about the living room looking for a place to sleep, finally settling on Ted’s feet.

  Pandora laughed, saying “He did that earlier as well.”

  “Are you sure Shadow’s a boy?” Ted said jokingly, making her laugh again. “Because a lot of girls like your old man’s feet, ‘Dora.”

  “Not me,” Pandora said, smiling at him. “Never your feet, Dad.”

  Dreamer didn’t take part in the conversation, her mind on Miriam. Remembering she had to call, she quickly finished her food and got up. The plate slid off her lap and hung suspended in the air, Pandora wowing again. Even Ted seemed impressed, t
hough he tried to hide it. The plate followed Dreamer into the kitchen as she dialled on her mobile.

  * * *

  “Hello?”

  “I’m home,” Dreamer said, making Miriam smile.

  “I didn’t think you’d really call.”

  “Well I did, and-” Dreamer paused, saying “Miriam says hello, Pandora.”

  “Tell her I said hello back,” Pandora said in the background, Dreamer saying “She says hello back, Miriam. What are you doing now?”

  “I’m curled up on the sofa with hot chocolate and a bag of cookies.”

  “Isn’t that nice.”

  “Yes it is, Queen of Sarcasm. What’s wrong with that?”

  “Nothing, I just wish I could relax like that sometimes.”

  “Well, you can always come over one day- maybe stay over.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes,” said Miriam, amazed. “Dreamer, what’s the matter?”

  * * *

  Pandora mouthed goodnight to her mother, who smiled and held an arm out. Pandora rushed into her warm embrace happily, Dreamer kissing the top of her head.

  “Sweet dreams,” she whispered, Pandora nodding with a smile as she left the kitchen. Stopping by Ted, she reached down and picked Shadow up.