The back door opened, and Granny came barreling into the kitchen. “Anything good for dinner tonight?” she asked.
That distracted Mom well enough that she didn’t notice the sound of the front door opening and closing. “We’re having pot roast, and you’re welcome, as always, Mama,” she said.
Granny caught my eye and winked. “I brought some tea,” she said. “I think Owen might like it.
Where is he?”
“He’s resting, I’m sure,” Mom said. “He hasn’t been feeling well.”
“That’s why I brought the tea, to make him feel better.” She winked at me again and headed out of the kitchen. “I’d better go bring some to him.”
She was in on the secret, but I didn’t trust her not to go blabbing it to everyone, so I stood up and got in her way. “That’s okay, Granny. I’m sure he’ll be down in a little while. Now, why don’t you help me peel these carrots? That way I’ll have time to go clean up and look nice before dinner.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” Mom said, “I was going to get that lipstick for you. Mama, can you watch the roast and do those vegetables? Katie’s going out with Owen tonight, and I’d like her to look nice, for a change.”
“I think he likes her fine the way she is,” Granny muttered.
I figured this was the safest window of opportunity while Owen was outside, so I hustled Mom out to the living room and then up the stairs to her bedroom, where she kept her makeup samples. Mom jumped when I shut the bedroom door behind us. “I want to surprise him,” I said.
“Oh, good point!” she said with a laugh. “Now, sit here.” She patted the end of the bed, and then I had to endure her smearing and brushing stuff on my face. “See, you need to highlight your eyes more, and then some blush makes you look fresher and more alive.” She dug in her case for a tiny tube of lipstick. “I think Rose Blossom is the best shade for you. It’s pretty natural. Now, don’t you look nicer?” She waved toward my reflection in her dresser mirror with a flourish.
I cringed at the look but forced a smile. “It’s great. Now I’d better go help Granny peel those potatoes.”
When we got downstairs, Owen was sitting at the table with Granny, who was pouring him a cup of tea. His eyes went wide when he saw my painted face, and then they went wider when he tasted the first sip of tea. Then he frowned thoughtfully and forced himself to drink the whole cup. I took that to mean he thought it might be beneficial.
Granny took off immediately after dinner. Owen and I headed out next, after Mom approved of my attire, hair, and makeup. At least I’d look good, whatever happened in the battle. When we got into town, Owen parked in the public lot behind the square, then we walked over to the park where we would make our last stand. The same creek where we’d met the local magical creatures the night before ran along the back of the park, with a steep slope leading to the water. A walking path led from the park to follow alongside the creek all the way through town. A small gazebo stood in the middle of the park’s open space, and trees rimmed the park’s perimeter, sheltering it from public view. In short, it was the perfect place for a romantic picnic. Or a magical battle.
Owen opened his backpack and spread its contents out on top of one of the park’s picnic tables, then went about warding the sides of the park to keep out innocent bystanders and keep in any wizards we happened to trap. After he was done with that, he said, “We’d probably better summon our friends to give them time to get here.” He took my hand to help me down from the table, then we walked hand in hand toward the creek. I wasn’t sure if he meant to summon our friends the same way he had the night before, but I trembled in anticipation. I was sure he could feel it from holding my hand, and even if he didn’t feel me shaking, he had to notice how clammy my hand got.
If he noticed, though, he didn’t let on. We walked silently to the path that led down to the water’s edge, where I waited for him to do something incredibly disappointing like putting his fingers to his lips and giving a sharp whistle or chanting a summoning spell. Instead he turned pink and stepped toward me. “You, ah, um, remember how this worked last night?”
I faked a dramatic sigh. “If I have to suffer for the sake of our cause, well, I guess that’s just my cross to bear.”
He surprised me by grinning in reply. “I have to admit, it’s one of the least unpleasant things I’ve had to do in the line of duty.” I wanted to ask him why, if it was so not unpleasant, he hadn’t done it when it wasn’t in the line of duty since he’d been here, but he was already kissing me and I forgot about saying anything.