Her lower lip trembled as she was overcome with emotion. “Here.” She shoved it into my hand.
I carefully untied the gold ribbon and unfurled the parchment paper. It was a diploma. My name was written in fancy black calligraphy:
CENDRINE WEST
has achieved the designation of
SENIOR WITCH
by completing the necessary study materials and achieving a passing grade in
SORCERY AND SPELLCRAFT at
PEARL’S CHARM SCHOOL.
The signature in gold glitter felt pen in all caps was signed PEARL WEST in giant letters.
I squinted at the line written in tiny italics at the bottom: Pearl’s Charm School is an accredited academy of witchcraft authorized by WICCA, Witches International Community Craft Association.
“Thank you, Aunt Pearl. I had the best teacher.” Part of me was thrilled to finally achieve the next step as a witch and have Aunt Pearl recognize my abilities.
Another part of me knew that I had met the Senior Witch qualifications some time ago.
No matter what, it was a thrill to receive my Pearl’s Charm School diploma and have Aunt Pearl acknowledge that my growing supernatural powers exceeded those of a junior witch.
Of course, I knew myself some time ago that I had mastered my spells and was practicing as a fully competent witch. I also knew better than to say anything. It was obvious to both of us that, in some cases, my powers had actually surpassed Aunt Pearl’s.
Some secrets were best kept under lock and key.
“You know, Witching Hour Red Merlot may have won Best New Wine and Wine of the Year, but there is one wine that is even better,” Tyler said.
“Mom won fair and square,” I protested. Why was he insulting Mom’s wine?
Tyler pointed to the railing of the gazebo, where a bottle of chilled white wine stood in an ice bucket, surrounded by 4 wineglasses. “May I present the latest offering from the Westwick Winery? It’s so new that it missed the entry deadline for the wine festival. Spellbound Chardonnay, created especially for our newly graduated senior witch.”
My hand flew to my chest and I turned to Mom. “You created this wine just for me?”
She shook her head. “Not me. Tyler created it with a little help from Antonio and me. That’s why Antonio got a little behind. He was helping us get it ready on time.”
“That was the surprise.” Tyler uncorked the wine and poured each of us a glass.
Aunt Pearl added, “Now I can reveal my secret mission, Cen. I’ve been busy organizing this special shindig for you. It’s your senior witch ceremony!”
I was touched. “Aunt Pearl, that’s so sweet! You went to all this trouble for me?”
She held a finger to her lips. “You know we can’t exactly tell people that you’re a witch, so I’ve disguised it as a fake wedding. That way you can still have a big party. You’ll have to get fake married and everything, of course...”
Tyler laughed. “I’ll fake-marry you any day of the week, Cendrine West. Do you agree to have me as your fake-husband?”
“I do.”
Love Witching Hour Dead?
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Check out Colleen Cross’s other books at www.colleencross.com
Also by Colleen Cross
Westwick Witches Cozy Mysteries
Witch You Well
Rags to Witches
Witch and Famous
Christmas Witch List
Witching Hour Dead
Witching for Love on Valentines Day
Katerina Carter Fraud Legal Thrillers
Exit Strategy
Game Theory
Blowout
Greenwash
Red Handed
Blue Moon
Nonfiction
Anatomy of a Ponzi Scheme
