About time
It was afternoon when anything of importance actually happened. Even then it was quite boring like her home life back with his grandmother. Only moving when her grandmother had sadly passed. The one who really understood her.
Of course she'd other friends but none of them were witches like she was. No one had any of the problems she had.
Hannah walked into the kitchen to grab a mug of tea that was made by Owen and Dani greatly received her coffee also made by Owen. It was only later that Jamie had decided to show herself.
Sure, they didn't completely know each other but they all felt like family. Conversation always flowed easily but so did silence. Nothing was awkward.
"So any updates, Dani?" The older woman looked at her waiting for some sort of answer but not in a threatening way.
"I've seen them a few times. Got some books in which I've started reading. Unfortunately, not got any further than that. But I still have time." Dani sighed with a hint of despair.
"You keep trying, dear, don't feel pressured, and don't tire yourself out. You're welcome here for as long as you need." The housekeeper looked brightly at Dani trying to give her some comfort.
Owen smiled at Hannah before returning to his position in the kitchen where he was cutting carrots for tonight's dinner.
Jamie was sat next to Dani and looked at Hannah.
"She's obviously doing something right...the children decided to show themselves to me."
Hannah raised her eyebrows to this in complete surprise. She could sense the second that Dani had walked in that things were going to change around here. And definitely for the better.
"Although, I do have one question." She looked around the kitchen trying to find the best way of wording this.
"Just the one. Thought you'd be a little more inquisitive." Jamie laughed at herself.
"I am...when it comes to certain things. But my question is...who is Peter Quint?"
Fair play, Hannah was internally clapping at Dani's bravery to ask that question in front of Jamie. Jamie had looked down to the mug of tea she was currently nursing in her fingers that has been calloused and strong and aged with time and effort and hard work. And Owen almost coughed to himself at the comment.
There was a list of reasons they never spoke or mentioned or gave much attention to Quint. A few to begin with were that he was a demon, he was crazy almost psychotic, he didn't care about anything or anyone unless it had a benefit to him, even when Rebecca was still here he had only attempted to act as if he cared. It was then in the silent hesitation that Jamie decided it would be best to answer the question.
"It's hard to explain but he's a demon, started off at the lower end of the demon hierarchy, slowly rose his way up becoming one of the most known names in the world of hell. He has cronies that do his dirty work for him. He's somewhat haunted the Manor and a certain someone named Rebecca Jessel. In which I hope she haunts that fucker forever. We reckon it was him who did whatever this is to the children. But of course Henry won't have anything to do with this other than for "someone to take a look at it" which I guess is you."
Everyone looked at Dani. Not in a alarming way or threatening way but in a way that suggested she wasn't in this alone. That they were all glad she was here. Granted some more than others but that was due to wanting no one else to endure the suffering and pain as well as loss in which they had handled.
Dani politely half smiled as if accepting the unspoken words. At least now she knew more of what she was getting herself into.
As people had come and gone out if the kitchen Jamie was the last to leave returning to the garden in which had been destroyed the previous night.
Dani couldn't help but feel sorry for her and aggravated by Quint at having had destroyed it. But it was the look in Jamie's eyes as she had watched Dani use her magic to attempt to fix it.
Even when she had said there was no need and she'd turned around to sense Jamie's jaw dropping as she walked away, she had definitely sensed that something was different between the two of them.
"You're doing a great job, by the way, I was supposed to mention that yesterday but we didn't really get a moment, did we?" Jamie looked almost longingly at her.
"I mean we had a moment but I don't think it was one that we wanted." Dani smirked.
"You know what I mean, Poppins, I think you know a little too well."
"And I haven't even done anything yet."
"You've given the children someone to trust, someone to talk to, someone to show themselves to. And you've allowed them to let me see them. I'd say you're doing more than you think."
The hadn't realized how close they'd gotten in the small space of the greenhouse. They were basically breathing in each other's oxygen.
"I just want to help. I never thought my so called gifts would ever help me, more people were scared of me for having them than wanted anything to do with me. The only person I ever had was my grandmother. I'm not used to having a lot of people caring. Wow, I've never said that to anyone before."
"Hahah, you mean to say that no one has ever been good enough to simply be there for you? You've been pretty much alone, dealing with the witchy side of the world, on your own, other than your grandmother and then you take this job to help people, the only thing I want to ask is why?" Jamie smiles waiting for the answer.
"I've always wanted to help people. I just constantly had that feeling that I couldn't control the powers that I have and I was scared of hurting someone. My grandmother had always said "trust yourself, you're better than you know" but I never really thought of that. It's hard to when you're in a world that's hardly forgiving." Dani looked down a little sadly.
"Last night...in the garden...when you used your magic, you looked like you knew what you were doing, controlled it, and you did it in front of me without hesitation. I'd say you better than you know. I'd trust that dear grandmother of yours. You're amazing, Dani, you're braver than people think. You're pretty weird but that's what makes you different from the rest. If you ask me that's a damn good way to go."
Dani started to rub at the hand in which she used. The mark of a witch on her right wrist that she'd had since birth. If she stared any harder she'd possibly set her own arm on fire. That was until Jamie had taken her wrist in her hand. Looking down at the mark. Slowly and carefully and gently kissing the mark.
Dani would never admit that with Jamie doing that her breath hitched. She felt suddenly calmer and relaxed. As if Jamie had out her under a spell of some sort.
Jamie had started kissing other areas of her arm. Noticing little scars on her arm as she trailed a path up where Dani had clearly been in accidents, maybe of her own doing, like trying a spell that hadn't worked.
With each mark or scar Jamie would kiss a little heavier. Until she'd made it to Dani's face. They looked at each other almost magnetized to the other.
"I forget to add something to that list... you're also beautiful."
Dani smiled and she almost ducked her head in embarrassment until Jamie gently placed a finger under her chin. Closing the gap between them it was almost as if fireworks had ignited in the two.
A giant explosion of good and light and right and fulfilment. Something, it felt, that they should have been doing long ago.
"Wow," both smiling into the kiss "that was..."
"You good there, Poppins?"
"Better than good. Better than I've been in a good time."
And if that kiss was anything to go by there was many more to come.