Free A Different Witch (A Modern Witch Series: Book 5) by Debora Geary

what awaited them at home.  Beth watched their mannerisms, their faces, and tried to guess how they felt, what they wanted.
    People could be such a mystery.
    “And?”  The prompt was gentle, but it came with her partner’s understated tenacity.
    “The usual.”  The sigh came out all on its own.  “Hard to navigate in a strange world, especially when they want things from me.”  From an airline-ticketing agent to Caro’s silent delivery of homemade lentil soup for dinner, the day had been a constant stream of people with faces saying something she never knew how to read.
    “Try room service and a movie.”  Liri smiled—and then frowned, squinting at the screen.  “Wait, where are you?  That doesn’t look like a hotel.”
    Beth looked around, taking in the funky decor and bright colors for the first time.  “It’s a short-term rental.  A kind of bed-and-breakfast thing.”  It occurred to her that she wasn’t clear on the details, which wasn’t like her at all.  “Lauren suggested I might find it more relaxing than a hotel room.”
    “That was thoughtful of her.”
    Beth smiled—she knew that overly neutral tone in Liri’s voice.  “I believe they really are trying to help.  Lauren’s assistant used to live here.  The landlord seems very nice.”  She looked around.  The space was quite soothing.  “I can come and go as I please, and you’d like the front gardens, I think.  Flowers in December.”
    “Beats shoveling a foot of snow.”  Liri grinned.  “Your crew of helpers showed up bright and early to take care of it—that was very sweet.”
    It wasn’t often she got to surprise her very attuned mate.  The glow of it soothed Beth far more than the colorful walls.  She’d put Mellie’s grandsons on more than snow patrol, but perhaps that would be an unexpected gift for another day.  “Good.  You have plenty to do without dumping snow on tourists.”
    Liri’s laughter was warm and lilting.  “I only got the one, and that was last winter.”
    Beth grinned.  The poor guy from Florida had been dumb enough to stand directly behind someone with a snow shovel.  His fiancée had giggled for an hour—and bought out half the store.  “Then again, it might be good for business.”
    “Careful what you wish for,” said Liri, repositioning the computer and lying down on the couch.  “It was a very busy day.  Too many more of those and we’ll run out of stock before New Year’s.”
    They had enough to last through spring, but to her lovely partner, the ways of inventory were varied and arcane.  “Did Mellie come in to help?”
    “Yes.”  Fingers reached out to touch the screen.  “We’re fine here, sweetie.  You take care of you .  Find the space you need and negotiate the witching world there at a speed that allows you to be happy.”
     It felt a bit like looking for a calm spot while standing in the path of a hurricane, but she could try.  Beth stretched out her fingertips to touch Liri’s, and held up the tiny crystal dragon that had ridden in her pocket all day.  “I miss you.”
    She was pretty sure hers weren’t the only eyes wet with tears.

Chapter 6

    Nell waded through the pillow fort blocking her front door and sighed.  So much for hoping her newest trainee had accidentally fallen back asleep.
    When she’d called Beth an hour ago, the house had been both spotless and quiet, at least by Walker standards.  She pulled open the door and smiled at the new arrival.  “Come on in.  And please excuse the chaos—I was foolish enough to let my kids out of bed this morning.”
    Fleeting puzzlement crossed Beth’s face.  “Do they sometimes stay in bed?”
    “Nope.  Except for the oldest—I think he’s turning nocturnal.  Apparently some teenagers are like that.”
    “I had unusual sleep patterns for many years.  My parents—”
    Whatever Beth had been about to say drowned in a flood of sound beaming from the back of the house.  Nell