Rags To Witches Read online

  Mason jars with tea light candles glowing inside hung from white lights strung over the guest tables. They matched the ones included in the centerpieces filled with a mix of wildflowers and sprigs of gorgeous bouquets of pink and lavender from a local florist. A magnolia flower and leaf in front of every plate cradled individual place cards with the guest names scrawled in impeccable calligraphy.

  “Wow, when Azalea said she wanted Southern chic, I never had this in mind.” Cate examined one of the flowers of a nearby table centerpieces. With a slight smile, she cradled a flower nestled between sweet honeysuckle vines, leaned in, and whispered to the pink blossom. It brightened and bloomed a little more, settling into the floral design as its beautiful star.

  “I just love your touch with nature.” I hugged her shoulders. “Had I tried something like that, it probably would have shriveled up and died.”

  “Your fire magic doesn’t exactly blend well with my earth talents. No sense in setting the flowers ablaze. But you could help out with the candles.” She pointed me in the direction of a few darkened jars.

  “I’m on it.” Happy to be able to help with something, I cast a few small spells to make sure all of the candles would burn brightly until the celebration ended.

  As I finished casting a lasting flame at another mason jar, I flinched at the sound of someone clearing their throat. “I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t flaunt your powers in a space where mortals could witness it. You weren’t even aware of your surroundings.” Ebonee Johnson, the leader of the Crystal Coast coven I’d recently joined, towered over me with a disapproving glare.

  “It was just a few of us making sure everything was perfect for the reception,” I exclaimed, upset that my voice wavered with nerves. “I didn’t expect anyone to sneak up on us.”

  Instead of scolding me more, she stood in silent disapproval until I uttered a quiet apology. Her haughty habit of exacting her power at all the wrong times continued to be a thorn in my side. I searched the area for my friends to back me up and noticed other members of the coven walking around the perimeter with their hands up, clearly spellcasting.

  “Wait, aren’t they also flaunting their powers?” I asked with a little too much sass in my tone.

  Ebonee brushed her long braids off her shoulder. “Unlike you, I positioned someone at the entrance to make sure we wouldn’t be disturbed. And not that I need to explain myself to you, but they’re making sure the party will not be ruined by bugs or mosquitoes.”

  Although I wanted to push back and argue against the hypocrisy, I appreciated the attempt to make our night bite free. “Any chance you can throw in something to keep the temperature and humidity perfect?”

  The coven leader shook her head in dismissal. “If you had stayed after the binding ceremony like you were supposed to instead of taking off with your friends, you might have been included in talks about what we would and would not do. As it is, yes, some basic pleasant weather spells have already been spellcast at the behest of the bride’s parents.”

  “They actually wanted to do something positive for the wedding? That’s…” I trailed off, trying to come up with a more polite finish than surprising. “Good. I’m glad they didn’t ask you to find some sort of coven by-laws to prevent the union altogether.”

  Ebonee shifted on her feet and glanced away for a moment before reinstating her authority with crossed arms. “What I do or don’t talk about with other coven members is my business and strictly confidential. The same benefit would extend to you if you ever really committed to becoming a true participant. I’m beginning to think allowing you and your friends inside our circle might not have been the best decision. Having a Jewell in our organization hasn’t been as beneficial as I’d once hoped.”

  My jaw dropped at such a sudden turn in the conversation, but before I could spout off my list of grievances that had been growing since my first day in the coven, Luke approached us and stood by my side, his arm snaking around my waist.

  “Excuse me, ladies,” he interrupted, waiting with vampiric patience for Ebonee to acknowledge his presence. “Members of the band would like to get to the stage to do a final sound check, but they aren’t being let into the area.”

  “Exactly how did you get by my people?” Ebonee huffed, a load of judgment radiating off her in waves.

  Showing off his perfect teeth in a wide grin, Luke answered, “Oh, I’ve been told I can be pretty charming. Right, honey?” His fingers dug into my hip with purpose, and he pulled me closer and brushed his lips against my temple. Despite the situation at hand, my cheeks heated a little.

  The overt display of affection irritated the coven leader to her limits. “Fine. I’ll take care of things.” She stomped off and left the two of us alone.

  I pushed Luke off with a playful shove. “You are terrible.”

  He wiggled his eyebrows at me. “Terribly charming, you mean.” Before I could retort with a snarky remark, he planted his lips on mine and kissed me silly.

  A squeal of feedback from the speakers reverberated in the air and interrupted our romantic moment. “Let the woman breathe, man,” a voice teased through a microphone.

  My giggling response broke the romantic moment. “Hey, Hunter,” I called out to the lead singer of the band that Harrison had hired for their event.

  “Hey, Ruby Mae Jewell, get over here.” He gestured for me to approach the stage. “Me and the boys got a favor to ask you.”

  I nodded and took one step only to be held back with a light tug on my hand. Luke pressed my back to his front and kissed the sensitive spot on my neck, his hot breath tickling my ear. “They better not be asking for a dance tonight. Your card is full.”

  A tingle of excitement raced through my veins. “Don’t worry. I didn’t wear this dress for anyone but you.” Squeezing his hand, I let go and added a little extra sass in my sashay for him to enjoy.

  Hunter Ford and the rest of Tailgate Down were regular musicians at the Tiki during the summer tourist months when we’d opened the patio and doubled our monetary income every time they were booked. I greeted EJ and Mac with quick hugs and waved at Hart, their terrific drummer sitting behind his kit.

  “Hey, Rue, where’s my hug?” Hunter set his acoustic guitar on a stand and held his arms out wide.

  “Where’s my twenty bucks?” I shot back at him.

  His eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”

  I placed a hand on my hip. “Remember the bet I made with you? That Harrison would be the one to go home with that honey blonde thing that night y’all played at the Tiki and not you?”

  His mouth formed a small O as he recalled the situation. “Well, he was a major player back in the day. But I gotta tell you, I’m glad to see him settling down. Gives all of us bad boys hope that one day we might be tamed.”

  “Hey, I resemble that remark.” EJ played a few power chords before giving the bass player, Levi, heck for being late to the set up.

  Hunter ignored his bandmates and got down to business. “About that favor.”

  I snapped my fingers and stuck my palm out. “Twenty bucks first.”

  He groaned in mock annoyance and pulled his wallet out of his back pocket, slapping the money in my hand. “Here. Now, can you stop busting my chops and listen to my request?”

  “Sure. What’s up?” I asked.

  “Well, Harrison and Azalea requested Until I Loved You as their first dance together. Remember that time you sang with us?” His face morphed into an expression of innocent appeal while he batted big puppy dog eyes at me.

  Nervous butterflies took wing in my stomach. “I was tipsy and being dared by all my friends. No way. I can’t sing with y’all,” I insisted.

  EJ, too nosy for his own good, joined the conversation. “Of course you can. You’ve got an incredible voice.”

  I waved my hands in front of me. “No, you don’t get it. I mean, yes, I sing at karaoke night for fun.”

  “Then sing tonight for fun. And for the bride and g
room. You’ll be fine. But they’ve asked for us to add an extra verse at the end.” Mac, the keyboardist, handed me a sheet with the words of the song written down.

  Hunter picked up his guitar and strummed the intro to the song, ignoring my pleas. Without stopping, he launched into the first verse, raising his eyebrows when it was my turn to sing. Still sure the idea of me singing with them might be disastrous, I clutched the paper in my trembling fingers and joined in. The first notes were a little shaky, but as I got into the song and realized the beautiful significance of the lyrics, the desire to be a part of the important moment for Azalea and Harrison chased away the butterflies.

  Mac listened and stopped us a couple of times, making suggestions of adjustments to our harmonies or who should sing where. After a couple of run throughs, the first guests filtered into the space, so we had to stop.

  “Promise me, if you think I won’t do it justice,” I pleaded, “then don’t call me up on stage.”

  “Girl, you’ll be great. Harrison and Azalea will be surprised and pleased,” Hunter insisted. “Now, go join your boyfriend before he gets the wrong idea that I’m trying to hit on you. Oh, and if you need a little extra courage, bourbon or scotch always works for me.”

  “Good advice.” With careful steps, I made my way off the stage and joined Luke to update him and get his help and reassurance in my singing abilities.

  With the timing perfect, the sun was setting and casting orange and red hues over the waters of the Bogue Sound behind the venue. Some of the professional photographer’s team circulated around, taking pictures of the gorgeous event space and guests enjoying themselves. Waiters passed by with trays of tonight’s signature cocktail of spiked sweet tea with lemonade mojitos while shiny buckets filled with ice and champagne bottles were placed at every table for future toasts.

  Two buffet tables full of comfort food appetizers opened, and my friends and I filled plates with fried chicken sliders and tangy coleslaw, individual servings of shrimp and grits, local oysters with muscadine mignonette, pimento cheese and bacon crostini, and deviled eggs.

  “You’ll ruin your dinner if you eat all that,” Dani accused.

  To shut her up, I held up a deviled egg in front of her mouth until she opened wide and ate the whole thing in one bite. “I gotta do something to distract my nerves and soak up the alcohol from the mojitos. I think I drank down that first one a little too fast.”

  Dani demanded to know why I was nervous, and she summoned the rest of our group to join us. I cringed at the suggestion of me singing the song for the first dance, but they all encouraged me with enthusiastic reassurances.

  Cate clapped with glee. “You’ll be perfect. Turns out the lead singer is smart and sexy.” She stood on her tiptoes to see over the crowd and catch a glimpse of Hunter.

  “If you don’t mind hooking up with a bit of a player, I can introduce you at the end of the festivities,” I offered, hiding my face behind my hands and wishing for my embarrassment to recede.

  The quiet music in the background stopped when Mac played a jingling chord on the keyboard. Hunter instructed us to ready our glasses as he announced the arrival of the wedding party. He introduced everyone and waited for the party to line up and make a tunnel for the bride and groom.

  “Y’all lift your glasses in honor of Azalea and Harrison Dobbs,” Hunter shouted.

  We toasted them and took sips. Someone clinked a knife against the glass until everyone joined in, forcing the newlyweds to kiss. The guests took their places at their designated tables, and we watched the groom accept a shovel and a microphone from one of the groomsmen before speaking.

  “Thank you for being here with us tonight. I look around and am feeling blessed to be surrounded by those who love us and wish us well.” He paused to accept the applause and random whoops of delight.

  Crystal leaned back in her chair to whisper to me. “Bet that was meant for her parents.”

  “Mm-hmm,” I agreed, proud to see Harrison stand up for what was his.

  The groom held up the shovel. “Some of you may not be aware of the Southern tradition of burying a bottle of bourbon. The story goes that if we buried it upside down before the wedding on an evening that matched the weather we wanted for tonight, we’d be sure to lock in beautiful weather for our reception.” He nodded his chin at the last colorful rays of the sun setting over the water. “I’d say it’s time to dig up that bottle and celebrate the success of holding onto tradition and giving my bride the perfect night.”

  Hunter and his band played background music while Harrison went to dig under a nearby magnolia tree. The groom held up the bottle covered in dirt, and servers placed bottles of bourbon and clean tumblers on all the tables.

  Once he opened the dirty-covered bottle and shared with the main wedding party, he lifted his glass. “To my wife.” His lips spread into a beaming smile while he gazed at her with burning adoration. “Azalea, I never knew love until I loved you.”

  I gasped, recognizing the words from the chorus of the song I was supposed to sing. Grabbing a tumbler, I tossed down the bourbon, coughing at the immediate heat of the drink at the back of my throat. Luke patted my back with an amused twinkle in his eyes.

  Whether it was the drinks or my friends surrounding me, I settled into enjoying the rest of the reception as best I could. The incredible wait staff place plates of the main course in front of us at the same time, and I appreciated the meticulous presentation of unpretentious food. Most of my friends at the table gobbled down the generous portion of pulled pork with Eastern North Carolina vinegar sauce, sopping both up with crumbling cornbread. Although my plate was loaded with food I loved, the upcoming song and dance occupied my mind as the moment drew closer and closer. When servers whisked away the empty dishes, I’d barely finished half.

  The soft music Tailgate Down had provided during the meal stopped, and Gloria’s brother and best man Wesley stood up with a microphone in his hand.

  My stomach clenched, knowing that the dance would come after the toasts. While everyone else listened, laughed, and got emotional over stories that revealed more about Azalea and Harrison and their journey to tonight, I found the wrinkled paper with the lyrics and went over them in a panic.

  Luke scooted my chair closer to him and rubbed my tense neck with his strong hands. “You’ll be fine, cara.” He kissed the top of my head.

  The microphone got passed down the line of the wedding party until it reached Azalea’s parents. Her father glared at it, and I feared he would refuse to take it and toast his daughter and her new husband. The weighted hush of everyone waiting expanded into long seconds of tense silence with a few whispers here and there. Closing his eyes with a sigh, Azalea’s dad accepted the microphone.

  He reached his hand out for his wife and took a deep breath. “We thank y’all for coming and supporting our daughter on her special day. Azalea, your mother and I would like you to know that, just like when you were little, we will always be here for you. Through the good and the bad. No matter what happens in your future, you will always have us. We love you.”

  Rage obliterated my nerves, and I stormed my way around the tables full of stunned guests to the stage. Hunter offered his hand to help me up the stairs. “Wow. Harrison wasn’t kidding when he said Azalea’s parents didn’t like him.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think any of us knew how bad it was. They’ve both been hiding it. I guess they wanted to try and deal with it on their own.” I regretted not knowing the truth of their struggle so maybe I could have done more than just get her drunk the night before her wedding.

  “Well, how about you help us out in making the newlyweds feel a little better.” Hunter winked at me and held up his finger, asking me to wait on the side. He walked to the center of the stage and took command. “Thank you to everyone for your kind words in support of this wonderful couple in their future together. And now, we’d like to invite them to the middle of the floor for their first dance together as Mr. and Mrs. Dobbs.r />
  The crowd brightened and cheered, happy for the couple but also probably relieved for the awkward moment to pass. I pressed my hand against my middle, trying to keep those butterflies contained again.

  Hunter waited for Azalea and Harrison to take their place and give him the signal they were ready. When he had their attention, the lead singer indicated for me to join him at the front with a tip of his head. With hesitant steps, I did my best to ignore the immense pressure of being watched. When I arrived at center stage, I attempted to smile and look out at the audience but managed a weird grimace.

  Holy hexes, so many people had turned their attention on me, waiting! My knees knocked together underneath the skirt of my pretty dress.

  Hunter covered his mic and leaned in my direction. “Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let it out. Then when you’re ready, focus on the look on the bride and groom’s face. I’ve got the first verse like we’ve rehearsed. You’ll do great, Rue.”

  His acoustic guitar picked the intro of the song, and the rest of the band came in with flawless precision. After one more deep breath, I opened my eyes and found Azalea elated and euphoric being held tight in Harrison’s arms as they began their first steps of the traditional dance. My friend and former co-worker mouthed a thanks over his wife’s head, and Azalea gave me a quick thumbs up.

  Hunter got closer to finishing the first verse, and I steadied myself to join him in the chorus. Grasping the mic with both hands, I gathered my courage and sang with absolute conviction to the words.

  You are everything I wanted

  And more than I deserve

  You have filled the empty spaces of my heart

  And now that I have found you

  We will never be apart

  From all that I have learned,

  this much is true

  I didn’t know love until