It’s #bookqw & nothing is ‘usual’ for Fern’s first #Solstice celebration with a wizard family.
More of the excerpt:
Fern piled the good lights into a laundry basket and kept handing him the next from the box. Two strings didn’t work so she dropped them behind the couch and retrieved two boxes of new ones from a bag there. “These are enough for the tree outside.”
“You’ll repair the others later?”
“Well…” She hated to admit this. “It’s hard to find the burned-out bulbs or broken wires. We usually just get new. It’s a waste, I know.”
He snorted and retrieved a wad of the faulty lights. Fingers aglow with magic, Raven unrolled it while feeling along the wires. The strand began lighting without electricity.
Fern gasped and immediately felt foolish. Of course he can do this. “You better not let Mom see.”
He chuckled. “I notice you’re not yelling, ‘Stop it,’ this time.”
He was so exasperating, but after weeks of arguing, she was taking a cue from Beri and ignoring most of Raven’s comments.
At a spot that didn’t light, he pinched either side of a chew in the plastic. The wires slunk out like worms and welded to each other. The lights lit. He twitched the cord, and the plastic flowed over the repair, creating a lump. “I assume it doesn’t need to be a pretty fix?”
“Uh, no. Thanks.” She retrieved the other strand and traded him. He worked along this one, and it seemed safe to bring up his earlier complaint. “Sorry you’re upset we aren’t celebrating at Dad’s. I’ll support doing that next year, and Mom should agree.”
Raven glanced at her before returning to his study of this strand. “It’s not that so much. We can still magic the lights at home and invite the birds into the greenery. They like it a lot. We hide seeds for them, so it’s like a game.” He drew a breath. “This year…it’s a reminder of other Solstices growing up when I wondered why my mom left. I know why now, that it wasn’t my fault, but…” He shrugged.
Fern bit her lip. Mom’s reasons for leaving Giuthas had been incredible.
“There’s still a part of me that is a bit angry that I missed…stuff.”
She knew just what he meant. “Having both your mom and dad there, like other kids.”
* * *
Solstice Gifts
A new wizard boyfriend.
Different holiday traditions.
First gifts for each other.
What could go wrong?
Fun, friendship and fantasy! Fern & Beri navigate their first holiday together, with their new family causing trouble and tugging at their heartstrings!
This holiday short story follows The Witch of the Meadows. You don’t need to have read Book 1 to enjoy this bonus story…though it will contain minor spoilers!
* * *
I am jumping ahead of myself by including this story’s quote this week. My new cover for this magical holiday short story is in progress and I’m still inserting copy edits. But within the week, I should be able to announce Solstice Gifts‘ release, published on all my usual platforms. Watch for that news here and on my social media.
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