The Westview Witch
Spring and summer seasons were a big deal in the Vidal-Harkness household. As soon as the ground thawed and mornings arrived without frost, Rio got to planting her flowers and produce around the house and wooded land they lived on, and Nicky begged for a camp out in the backyard nearly every night.
In the kitchen that morning, Agatha plates chocolate chip pancakes for Nicky kissing his head as she sets them down.
“Mama, when will Mami be back?” He asks swinging his legs from the stool.
For six years old, Nicholas ‘Scratch’ Harkness-Vidal was very smart for his age. Understanding that his Mami solved crimes and had to go away sometimes to help people. When Rio was gone Agatha always made sure to tell the little boy that his other mother would be home as fast as she could, often having multiple FaceTime calls as Rio got back to her hotel.
“One more sleep, honey. Then Mami will be back in time for your soccer game.” She pushes his long hair back with her fingers as she takes a seat next to him. “And I was thinking, we have a camp out while we wait for her!” She smiles at the little gasp he lets out.
“Smores?!” He asks with a mouthful of pancake.
“Smores,” Agatha nods with an adoring laugh. “Finish up now. We can set up the tent when you get home from school.”
After dropping Nicky off at school Agatha moves around the house cleaning up toys and books before settling with her laptop on the counter to start work. Typing away she glances up smiling at the picture of Nicky and Rio on the fridge, a very tired new mom Rio holding Nicky in her arm on the couch as they both slept. Throughout their entire marriage Agatha was grateful for many things, but Rio continuing to work as hard as she did so she could somewhat stay home with Nicky made her love her wife even more.
After a few hours of emails and a call with Jen about her new line of products, Agatha picks up an excited Nicky from school. Standing outside his classroom door in the warm spring air, the brunette beams seeing her little boy coming out the door. “Mama! We gonna camp?!” He hops holding onto the hem of her shirt.
“Yes we are,” she laughs picking him up, carrying him to the car. “Did you have a good day with your friends?” She asks as they drive through town, headed for the outskirts where their house stood.
“Sẽnor Scratchy cuddled on me while Ms Calderu did story time.” He beams.
“You like Sénor Scratchy a lot, huh?” She smiles at him in the mirror. “Maybe when Mami gets back we can talk to her about getting a pet.”
“Yes!” He happily nods along kicking his feet looking out his window.
After Agatha gives Nicky a bath dressing him for a night outside she stands In her own sweats and one of Rios academy hoodies while putting the green tent together a little ways away from the back patio that overlooks the wooded area that sits glowing gold between the branches from the setting sun.
Nicky buzzes around the backyard still full of energy, stopping to smell some of the flower pots that were already beginning to bloom with a dramatic “Ahh” making Agatha chuckle.
“Let’s go wash our hands, honey. Mamas gonna make dinner.” She calls him over stepping through the sliding glass door.
“Mama, can we have pizza tomorrow when Mami comes home?”
“I think that’s a great idea. A nice weekend treat.” She smiles Setting him on the counter to reach the sink.
Dinner is a success as usual, the little boy eats anything and everything so he can have his desert afterwards. With the sun down the two go hand in hand to the tent, sprawling out on their sleeping bags and pillows with their flashlight and s’mores stash made inside on the stove.
“Here, slowly.” Agatha chuckles when Nicky takes a huge bite getting marshmallow all over his face.
“‘S good mama.” He nods taking another bite.
Agatha glances at her phone screen hoping for at least a text from Rio at this rate.
“Is Mami calling? It’s almost bedtime.”
“Not yet, honey.” Agatha sighs, not having heard from her wife since early that morning. “She might still be working. If she doesn’t call mama will just have to give you extra kisses.” She leans over kissing his temple.
When the s’mores are shared and gone, Agatha tucks the little boy into his sleeping bag, little flash light in his hands. “Mama, cousin Billy said when you camp you have to tell scary stories.”
“A scary story?” Agatha chuckles. “What about your books we brought out?”
“No Mama, I want a scary story!” He smiles. “You have to do this.” He says flicking the flashlight on holding it under his chin.
“You’ve got this all mapped out, huh?” She chuckles taking the flashlight, chin glowing a warm yellow from the light. “A scary story.” She hums. Thinking of one she knows from her own childhood, she figured a watered down version would be fine.
“A long time ago, there was a witch that lived in Westview.” She starts, her voice quiet in the small space, Nicky’s eyes focused on her already paying attention with such wonder.
“She had loooong gray hair, and a big nose, and a laugh that terrified everyone that heard it.” She moves her hand dramatically. “One night a group of kids went looking for the witch,” Agatha pauses when Nicky gasps, tucking his hands to his chest.
“Did they find her?!”
“You’ll have to listen,” she whispers. “The group of kids went into the woods at dark trying to find the witch. They moved around quietly and stayed close together. They thought they were safe until the trees started to move in the wind and twigs on the ground snapped!” She gasps, Nicky’s eyes wide, “As the kids moved closer together, they heard-“
Before Agatha can finish her sentence, a cackle so long and loud breaks the quiet air outside the tent causing Nicky to jolt up gasping when the zipper of the tent door slides down and Agatha to brace herself before she realizes who it it. Being the tough boy he is he takes the flashlight from Agatha puffing his chest out.
“It’s okay, mama.”
When the tent door flaps open, a giggling Rio appears.
“The witch is gonna get you!” She lets out tickling their little boys sides as she climbs in.
“Mami!” He laughs.
Agatha beams watching the two, happily surprised to see her wife.
“You were ready to protect Mama weren’t you?” Rio glances at Agatha with a smile holding Nicky in a tight hug.
“When Mami is gone I protect Mama.” He nods pulling her to lay with him and Agatha.
Laying down with Nicky between them Agatha beams taking the hand Rio has offered to her. “How are you back already?”
“We finished up this morning and I wasn’t needed for any of the legal circus.” She smiles squeezing her hand. “And I missed my little flower.” She pulls Nicky to her, not caring about her slacks and button up becoming wrinkled.
“You’re a nice surprise.” Agatha grins playing with her wife’s fingers. Nicky lays between his moms, covered up by his sleeping bag almost asleep until his eyes shoot open as if he remembered something. Agatha can’t help but smirk at his antics.
“Mami can we get a bunny?!”