Autumn Calling by T. Lynne Tolles Page A

me a single word.”
    “Sorry.”
    “That’s it? You’re sorry but you’re too
busy?”
    “I’m not sure what you’d like me to say. I
don’t have a car so it’s harder to get to you.”
    “I’m sure you could hitch a ride with Nick.
He’s been here every day.”
    “Naw. I don’t think I want to do that.”
    “You have a problem with Nick?”
    “No, well yes, actually.”
    “Like what?”
    “Well for starters he told me in so many
words that he’s the reason Jackson wouldn’t return my calls or
emails.”
    “So…You’re with Daniel now, aren’t you?”
    “Yes, I guess. It just makes me wonder.”
    “Wonder what?”
    “Did you have anything to do with
Jackson?”
    “Why would you think that?”
    “I don’t know. You’re with Nick now. He
obviously has issues with me. Makes me wonder, why?”
    “Why do you care if Nick likes you or
not?”
    “It’s hard to have a best friend whose
boyfriend doesn’t particularly like you. He’s always looking down
his nose at me and scrutinizing what I’m doing and who I’m doing it
with. It’s frustrating and annoying.”
    “So my boyfriend annoys you.”
    “Yeah. I’ve given him no cause to be that
way with me and now that I’m not with Jackson he seems to be
pushing me away from you.”
    “Oh? So it’s his doing that you’re not
here.”
    “Partially, yes.”
    “So what, in order to be friends with you I
have to give up Nick?”
    “I didn’t say that, you did.”
    “You implied it.”
    “Just making an observation.”
    “I see. Well fine. If I have to choose right
now, I’d have to say I choose Nick, since he’s been here for me
through this horrible situation and you’re being so
insensitive.”
    “Wow. I guess a lifetime of friendship
doesn’t add up to a hill of beans to you in the long run.”
    “Not the way you’re acting.”
    “Okay then.”
    “Fine.”
    “Fine.”
    Summer turned off her phone. She’d had
enough. The seed had been planted and the charade begun. Daniel
could see the pain in her eyes and took her hand, caressing it with
his thumb. She relished the warmth of his tenderness and forced a
smile his way. At least she had him to fall back on now that Tori
was out of the picture.
    * * *
    The following week Summer threw herself into
her lessons with such vigor that even Morti commented on her
enthusiasm, but it was all a facade. She was torn apart inside, and
working hard at learning magic was the only way to end this madness
and get on with her life.
    She’d even formed a fire ball for Morti
without singeing a hair on him, and they moved forward to
levitating. She snarked to Morti if this meant she could ride a
broom, to which he was not impressed.
    “Broom riding is a myth. Witches show great
respect to their besoms, but not as a means to travel,” he
stated.
    “But it could be done, right?”
    “Yes. I suppose if one had the inkling to do
such a thing, yes. It could be done.”
    “Cool. That’s what I want to do. If I have
to be thrown into the role of being a witch, then there will be
some fun even if it kills you or me for that matter.”
    Morti stuttered, appalled and astonished by
such a statement, but he didn’t go back on his word.
    Aunt Myrtle was another matter. She missed
Tori, almost as much as Summer missed her. Summer supposed she
enjoyed working with someone who had the same passion for gypsy
magic as she did. Knowing it wasn’t quite Summer’s cup of tea, they
covered the basics and moved on to potions, tonics, and charms.
    This Summer enjoyed. She got to use her
knowledge of plants and the herbology she’d learned the previous
summer from revitalizing the herbal garden and talking with Dr.
Stuart. He had become a valuable asset for finding lost old names
of plants and determining what they now referred to.
    Aunt Myrtle enjoyed puttering around in the
garden doing maintenance. She took daily strolls at twilight within
the confines of the estate in a huge hat held down with a pale
chiffon