YOU'RE ALL MINE - ch 24

YOU’RE ALL MINE - ch 24

(the magic of Midnight)

^ ^

Mia, her parents and Finola, quickly walked to the corner where Midnight’s food bowl always lay. Morena had washed the bowl clean, and it was still on the kitchen counter, however, in the corner was a large mound of live, squiggly maggots.

Morena picked up the small food bowl and examined it carefully. “Brian, the bowl is clean. There is no sign of food scrapings. Where did they come from?”

Before Brian had a chance to answer, Finola waved her hand and instantly, the maggots were gone. Brian and Morena looked at her oddly and Mia picked up her frightened cat. However, before anyone could speak, Finola spoke, “These nasty pests weren’t real. They were caused by a spell to frighten. I need to find out who cast the spell, why, and how far it’s been spread. I’ll be back within the hour.”

As Mia cuddled and calmed the feline, she said, “Tabhar faidh me’ aire duit. Socro’idh me’ e’ seo.” (I will take care of you. I will fix this.) Mia’s eyes temporarily flared with the fire of anger, but before her parents could notice, she quickly extinguished the bold look in her eyes.

As Finola turned to leave, Mia called out, “Aintin, can I walk with you a bit?”

“Of course, my lovie.”

Once outside, Mia slowed her pace and declared, “Aintin, while I have no proof, I’m positive I know who did this and I’m going to take care of it.”

“Mia, mo stor, you and I think alike. I didn’t want to say anything to your parents, especially your father. You haven’t seen it yet, but I’m sure, under the circumstances, his Irish temper would blaze a whole through the entire household.”

She stopped walking, turned, and reached for Mia’s hands. “What do you have in mind, mo chinn luachmhara (my precious one)?”

“Aintin, I’m sixteen now and have rarely used my power. My ‘witch’ power that is. I’m going to cast a spell and direct it to Tim. Aintin, I refuse to stand by and watch him hurt my family, whether it be mental, emotional, or in the worst case, possibly physical. Will you help me?”

Finola’s eyes twinkled with delight. “Oh, Mia, mo mhuirnin (my darling), You are definitely of the Diehl heritage. Of course I will! But, please, be wary. You don’t want his magic to bounce back to you.”

Mia smiled as she turned to walk back to her house and called out, “Don’t worry, Aintin. I think I have the perfect idea. When mom and I come back from shopping, I’ll stop by, if it’s okay.”

“Honey, it’s more than okay. I’ll have the tea ready. Oh, and put on the intuitive bracelet that Francis gave you. He should have told you to never take if off, so I’m telling you. Later, then, mo ghra (my love).”

^ ^

Mia and Midnight, now aware of any possible danger, stayed acutely alert of their surroundings. Midnight sat quietly on Mia’s shoulders and purred contentedly. “Mia, I don’t feel anything amiss. How about you?”

She answered, “Midnight, it’s all calm and quiet, but please, don’t get too comfortable.”

“Mia,” her mother asked, “do you have anything special in mind? Color? Style? Material?”

“Mom, at first, I thought I wanted blue. Then thinking of the color of Francis’ eyes, I thought green. Now, without a doubt, I want red. Red, with a lacy scoop neckline and sleeves that come just to above my elbows.”

Morena laughed. “Wow, nothing like being too particular! Okay, then, here we are, Mrs. Lerner’s Dress Shop. Our first stop.”

Mia placed her hand gently on her mother’s arm. “No, mom. Not here. I won’t find my dress here. Let’s walk down the street a bit.”

As they walked, Mia felt a slight tingle in her arms and looked across the street. “Mom, over there. That’s where I’ll find my dress.”

“Mia, honey, that store only carries consignment items. I think you should have a new dress.”

“Mom, trust me. My dress is sitting there, waiting for me.”

As they turned to cross the street, Mia quickly grabbed her mother’s arm and yanked her backwards at the same time Midnight screeched.

“Mia, oh lord! That car almost hit us. You pulled us out of the way just in time. Whoever is driving, never slowed. It’s almost as if the driver was aiming at us.”

“Mom, he was and the bracelet that Francis gave me, heightened my intuition. Mom, let’s get my dress and go home. I have something important to do.”

^ ^

Inside the store, Mia walked to the far corner where the dress clothes were situated. She saw it immediately and pulled the hanger off the rack. “Mom, this is my dress.” She walked inside the changing room and upon exiting donned in the lacy red dress, smiled as she saw the gaping look on her mother’s face.

“Mom, now THIS is my dress!” Morena, still in awe, finally said, “Yes, Mia, it definitely is. I would say, we’re done shopping, unless you want to shop for shoes to go with it.”

Mia held up a pair that she’d tucked inside her bag before they left the house. “Mom, I think these will do. The black of the shoes will match the black belt of the dress.”

Carrying her new purchase, they left the shop and although Morena offered to buy lunch for them, Mia, not to disappoint her mother, said, “Mom, can we wait until after the dance? Then, if you have time, we can have a full ‘girl’s day.’ Is that okay?”

Morena smiled and said, “You know, I like that even better. After the close call with that car, I’m still a bit shaky. Yes, let’s get home.”

As they drove out of town, Mia allowed her strong thoughts to carry in only one direction. “Aintin, I’m on my way.”