A Witch Like No Other Read online

Ted didn’t respond to that, though Dreamer smiled at him.

  “Look who’s softening.”

  “Dreamer, you- I… oh, I’m going to work,” he said huffily, as everyone laughed again. Sipping her tea, Dreamer said “You have a day off.”

  “No I don’t, silly. I’ve got to hand in a load of paperwork and if I’m completely honest with you, I didn’t even start any of it-”

  The house phone went off, Marlon picking it up. “Morning.”

  He listened for a moment, then he said “Dad, it’s your boss.”

  “You’re fired,” joked Pandora, and Ted smiled at her before taking the phone and saying “Morning John.”

  “Ted, this paperwork is extraordinary! Where did you find the time to…”

  Ted’s eyes widened as he listened to his boss rant and rave excitedly.

  “We thought we’d have to let our client down, but Ted, you really went for the kill, didn’t you!”

  “John, I-”

  “It’s amazing stuff! We’ll give it to Darius to use in court-”

  “But-”

  “The best I’ve seen this summer by far, no joke about it!”

  “Thank you John, but I didn’t-”

  “You’ve earned yourself a few days off for your hard work, Ted-”

  “Thanks again, but I’m trying to tell you I-”

  “We might just use this as an example for the trainees too-”

  “John, will you listen to me for a-”

  “How is the family, by the way?”

  “Never been better John. About that paperwork-”

  “Sorry Ted, I’ve got another call. Thanks for the hard work!”

  “Wait!”

  The line went dead, Ted placing the phone down.

  “But… I didn’t do any paperwork. I didn’t even hand it in-”

  Dreamer smirked. “Told you have a day off.”

  “Whoa,” said Pandora, Marlon as well. “That’s really cool!”

  “Don’t ever do that again,” Ted told Dreamer sulkily. “I wanted to do it.”

  “Even if you did do the paperwork it’d never be as good as mine, Ted. You know that,” Dreamer said smugly, and Ted scowled at her.

  * * *

  Pandora gazed across the lake in the park, deep in thought. Six boys walked past her, grinning broadly.

  “Hi Pandora.” Pandora didn’t react. “Where’s Marlon?”

  “Leave her alone, she’s crazy,” another boy advised his friend. “Did you know she has to go see a shrink?”

  “A shrink??”

  Pandora tried her best to pretend they weren’t there, but it was hard.

  “A shrink and she’s eighteen, can you believe that?”

  “Well I don’t know why she’s going- shrinks are for losers and-”

  “Mad people. Yeah, we know.”

  Pandora got to her feet, the idiots smirking at her. They only wanted to rile her because she’d blown each and every one of them off at her house, going up to her room when they tried to make conversation. This was their way of payback.

  “You should’ve come with me when I said, Pandora.”

  “Never mind him,” another guy interjected. “When I tried talking to you, you shunned me off. You shun off everybody.”

  “Because she’s mad,” chorused the other five. “Right Pandora?”

  Taking a deep breath, Pandora turned and walked away, ignoring the boys as they whistled and called after her.

  “We’ll stop by later, Pandora!”

  * * *

  Miriam sat inside the café, waiting anxiously. Ted was almost forty minutes late- if it became an hour she was leaving.

  “Can I tempt you with yet another tea?” the waiter asked, smiling at her. Miriam smiled back, saying “Make it two this time please.”

  “Expecting company?”

  “That’s right,” she said, turning to look out the window.

  “Miriam,” a voice said softly, and she looked at the speaker.

  It took all of her willpower not to scream her name.

  “Dreamer!”

  “That was weird,” mumbled Pandora, holding her mother’s hand. Both were seated at Miriam’s table. Pandora was in some black jeans and a black t-shirt, already looking bored to death. She didn’t acknowledge Miriam’s presence, didn’t even say hi. Miriam masked the hurt she felt.

  “Hello Pandora.”

  Silence.

  Dreamer looked stunning in a silver gown, as if she were attending a ball. Her diamond earrings sparkled with her bracelets and wedding ring- she looked amazing. Miriam suddenly felt very small in her comfortable jogging suit- small and unattractive.

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” said Dreamer, reading her mind. “You look fine.”

  “Everyone’s looking at you,” mumbled Miriam, and Dreamer shrugged.

  “Ignore them. How have you been?”

  “I’ve been… ok. Pandora made up for what wasn’t.”

  Pandora smiled but said nothing, looking at her mother.

  “About Pandora,” started Dreamer, and Miriam blurted “Don’t! I know what you’re going to say, I know it! You’ll keep her away like before!”

  Dreamer pretended to gaze out the window, oblivious to Miriam’s voice. Pandora smirked as she finally realised how much Miriam cared for her.

  “I didn’t know you cared so much, Miss Hughes.”

  “Pandora, of course I care for you, I’m your godmother- Miss Hughes??”

  “That’s your name, isn’t it?”

  Everyone looked over- only at Miriam. Miriam suddenly realised she must look demented, as if she was talking to herself or something. The waiter nervously came and set the two cups of tea down, asking “Anything else you’d like?”

  “No thank you,” said Dreamer, smiling at him. “We’re fine.”

  Feeling jealous as the waiter blushed, Miriam said “I’m hungry, actually.”

  Dreamer’s green eyes locked on hers.

  “Are you?”

  “Yes I am. I’m very hungry.”

  “In that case bring my friend your lunchtime special,” Dreamer said coolly to the waiter. “That would be your steak and kidney pie with fries, right?” The waiter nodded. “Please give her baked beans on the side and salad as well, and a large glass of cranberry juice. And a slice of your chocolate cake for dessert if there’s any left when she’s finished.”

  “Yes Ma’am.”

  The waiter walked away with his notepad, still red in the face.

  “Why did you do that?” hissed Miriam, and Dreamer smirked at her.

  “What kind of friend would I be if I let you starve, Miriam?”

  Pandora laughed quietly. “Mum, you’re wicked.”

  “Thank you darling.”

  Very hot in the face, Miriam said “I wouldn’t have starved, Dreamer-”

  “You said you were very hungry.”

  “I was only-”

  “Be quiet.”

  Miriam obeyed, closing her mouth. Pandora smirked, Dreamer smiled.

  “Good girl.”

  “This isn’t like before, Dreamer!” said Miriam angrily. “I’m not tailing you like a lost puppy anymore like I did at school and college, doing everything you said-”

  “Did I make you, Miriam?”

  “No, but I’m letting you know things have changed!”

  “I’ve been gone for three years,” Dreamer answered. “Obviously things have changed, Miriam. You’re stating the very obvious.”

  Pandora laughed as her mobile went off. Answering happily, she said “Pandora.”

  “Hey Pandora, it’s Alice!”

  “Hi Alice,” she said tonelessly. “I didn’t expect you to call so soon.”

  Dreamer looked at her daughter. “Have a bit of tact, Pandora.”

  Pandora shrugged, saying “I’m not used to callers.”

  “Was that Dreamer Black?” said Alice excitedly, and Pandora said yes.

  “How come you’re calling me, Alice?”
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  “Well… I thought we were friends.”

  Dreamer snatched the phone off her daughter, knowing full well Pandora was about to say something cutting, like “You thought wrong.”

  “Pandora’s feeling very under the weather,” she said gently. “She’s just about to have her lunch, Alice, so maybe you’d like to call back?”

  “Ok then. Yes Miss,” said Alice humbly. “Welcome back.”

  “Thank you,” said Dreamer, warming up to Alice instantly. She sensed Alice would be a good friend to Pandora, felt good vibes.

  “Would you like to come over for dinner, maybe six o clock?”

  “Yes please!”

  As Dreamer and Alice conversed Miriam and Pandora stared at each other, Pandora’s expression ice cold. Frightened by the look on her face, Miriam whispered “What have I done, Pandora?”

  “I don’t want to see you anymore. I don’t need you.”

  Miriam fought the hurt welling up inside her. Mentor technique!

  “Why is that, Pandora?” she asked as calmly as she could. “Because Dreamer’s back in your life, you want to kick me to the curb?”

  “Exactly. I only needed the counselling because she was gone.”

  Startled, Dreamer ended the phone call.

  “What was that, Pandora?”

  “I don’t need her,” said Pandora, looking at her mother. “Not anymore.”

  “Darling, she’s your godmother.”

  “I don’t care, and besides,” sniffed Pandora, “It’s not like I actually need her. More like the other way round.”

  Miriam’s mouth hung open: this wasn’t Pandora speaking.

  “What happened to her, Dreamer?”

  “I’m not sure,” Dreamer replied, frowning at her child. “Pandora?”

  Pandora’s eyes filled over. “It was Marlon’s friends.”

  “What about them?” asked Dreamer, concerned.

  “They said I’m mad because I have to see a shrink.”

  “When was this?”

  “When I went for a walk in the park after breakfast.”

  “Really,” said Dreamer, while Miriam said “Did you tell Marlon?”

  “No.”

  Dreamer wondered whether a curse was the solution to the situation. It would make them both feel good, but…

  “Why don’t we forget them for now,” she said gently. “Pandora?”

  Pandora said nothing, staring down at her lap. Then she nodded.

  “Good girl,” said Dreamer, as a large plate was set down on the table. “Now then, let’s see if Miriam eats all of this food.”

  Miriam stared down at the plate, feeling sick.

  “I- I cant eat-”

  “You said you were hungry,” Dreamer cut across, smile gone now. “So eat, Miriam. Or are you going to waste my money and upset me?”

  Miriam didn’t want to upset Dreamer at all. It felt so good being with her again, and apart from that she’d been on the receiving end of Dreamer’s hexes when she was in a very bad mood for as long as she could remember. Sighing, she picked up her fork.

  Pandora was amazed, but she held her tongue. She’d always seen Miriam as an independent sort of woman, who’d never take an order unless it was what she wanted. And it wasn’t, but she was taking it anyway.

  Dreamer couldn’t help feeling smug. Good.

  “So Miriam, you planned to meet my husband here?”

  He’s not your husband anymore, Miriam wanted to blurt out, but her mouth was full of steak and kidney pie. Swallowing hard, she gasped “That’s why you’re force feeding me, right? As punishment!”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” smirked Dreamer, as Pandora laughed. “Did you?”

  “Well… yes, but it’s not what it looks like-”

  “What do you want it to look like?” Dreamer quipped, still smirking.

  Miriam foolishly opened her mouth to say she wanted it to look like Ted was having some sort of affair with her, then she closed it. Instead she said “What it is. Just me mentoring Ted away from the clinic.”

  “Whatever problems he had this morning are gone,” Dreamer replied. “We sorted things out, which is why he didn’t bother to come.”

  “Oh.”

  Anger bubbled in the pit of her stomach. Ted didn’t bother calling to say he wasn’t coming- didn’t even care that Miriam could have been waiting a long time for him to show up. To make things worse, Pandora said “Do you have a crush on my dad or something, Miss Hughes?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Pandora,” said Miriam through gritted teeth: for the first time ever, she wanted Pandora elsewhere. “That’s absurd.”

  “Not really, I mean you-”

  “Hush,” Dreamer commanded softly, and Pandora closed her mouth. “Miriam, I hope you’re being honest with me.”

  Miriam swallowed, the she said “I am- I’m being honest-”

  “Look me in my eyes and tell me you’re being honest, Miriam.”

  Dreamer’s eyes became the only things she could see, dark green whirlpools glittering in a void of darkness.

  “If you aren’t, I’ll know. If you’re planning to get your hands on Ted, I’ll find out.”

  “I… I…” Miriam felt like she’d pass out. “I’m not… he’s a friend.”

  “I can see that. You’ve helped him with Pandora.”

  “Yes I have,” said Miriam, heat rising. “While you-”

  “You know nothing about what I’ve been through,” hissed Dreamer, making Pandora and Miriam recoil. “Nothing.”

  “I know enough,” Miriam said bravely. “You don’t deserve Ted.”

  The green eyes vanished, leaving Miriam staring into darkness.

  “Miss? Would you like your bill?”

  “What?”

  Miriam blinked: she was back in the café. Dreamer was sitting in front of her, Pandora playing with her phone.

  “I’m paying,” Dreamer said quietly: the waiter blushed again as he handed her the bill, hands shaking. Dreamer took the paper and looked at it, then she snapped her fingers. A crisp ten pound note appeared with five pound coins, the waiter yelping. Smiling at him, she said “There you go. Keep the change for putting up with my friend here.”

  “T-thank you Ma’am,” he gasped, taking the money and backing away. Dreamer frowned, thinking.

  “Miriam had four cups of tea, each ninety pence, the lunch special is five pounds, plus baked beans on the side which cost seventy pence, and a large glass of cranberry juice cost two pounds…”

  Pandora’s jaw dropped. Dreamer wasn’t even looking at a menu, and it was her first time here in this town. Miriam was gaping as well.

  “That makes eleven pounds thirty,” said Dreamer, looking at the waiter. “Three pounds seventy isn’t much of a tip, is it?”

  “What? Oh no Ma’am, it’s fine,” blurted the waiter, his face bypassing red and turning purple. “Please, it’s the biggest tip I’ve got here-”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, I promise you- it’s no problem at all. Thank you,” he gushed, Dreamer still frowning at him.

  “Are you sure that’s all you-”

  “Yes Ma’am it is. Thank you very much, I-” he tripped over a chair as he backed away, then he said “Please come again um… Miss Black!”

  “How do you know my-”

  Dreamer’s eyes landed behind him, her jaw dropping. The television in the corner of the café had her beautiful face on, and her mother’s as they took a call. Dreamer’s name streamed along the screen, a voice saying “Please do not attempt to call Dreamer’s hotline, for she is unavailable for the time being. For further information, please go to AmazingAgnes.com.”

  Everyone turned in their seats to stare at Dreamer, then talk broke out.

  “Call the press, call the press!”

  “We’ve got a celebrity in our town!!”

  Miriam was pleased to see the pained look on her friend’s face as she said “I don’t want any publicity- I’m on vacation.”


  “Vacation?” said Pandora, hurt. “I thought you was here to stay, Mum?”

  “Darling, I-”

  Dreamer wanted to say she was staying, but she couldn’t.

  “Mum?” said Pandora anxiously. “Aren’t you staying?”

  Dreamer chose her words very carefully.

  “I will stay, Pandora, after I do one more thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Never mind for now,” she said, Miriam scowling at her. She knew that look on Dreamer’s face: she was up to no good.

  “And they needn’t know I’m staying either,” Dreamer said under the babble of excited people looking her way. “Ok sweetie?”

  “Ok.”

  * * *

  “Yo Stile, it’s lunchtime.”

  “I’m not hungry,” Damon answered, making the officer laugh.

  “What, so you gone starve up in here?”

  “That’s right.”

  “My Mama always say who don’t eat, dead. Who dead, bury.”

  Damon glared at him. “Get lost, Dwayne.”

  “Hey, come eat. You still gone be a murderer after some turkey ham, and your woman still gone be dust. Come have some.”

  “I should knock you out, you spangled little-”

  “Knock me out if you will, just don’t prick me with a knife now.”

  “You-!!”

  Dwayne slammed the cell door shut just in time, locking it back.