Mistaken Consequences

Chapter 18: Thirty-four weeks: Part IV

Hamish was back at her side an instant after Bitsy loudly announced that it was time for presents. He flashed her a weak smile, but she just rolled her eyes and nodded for him to find some place to sit down. The other disciples were already piling onto the available chairs and couches or finding spots on the rugs watch her open presents.

Vera noticed Selena trying to catch Hamish's eye, the spot beside her on one of the couches still empty. Hamish ignored his tutor, choosing a spot on the floor with the other wolves instead.

She let out a quiet breath. He was sitting too far away to pretend, not that she was even sure if she wanted to pretend anymore. She pushed Hamish Duke out of her mind and forced herself to focus on being appreciative of all the other people who had showed up to celebrate instead.

When Bitsy handed her the first of the gift bags, Alyssa sitting nearby with a pad and paper to record gifts for her, Vera didn't even look his way. She pulled out the white tissue bag and, not seeing anywhere to put it, handed it to Bitsy with a small smirk. Bitsy grumbled and turned to send someone to fetch a garbage bag.

Vera reached into the bag and pulled out a soft, tiny yellow striped onesie. Almost every girl in the room aww'd when she held it up. A round bumblebee was printed onto the front and even if Vera did not get the bee theme, it was cute.

Thankfully it was cute, because Vera got a dozen more bee-related outfits and bibs and blankets in the packages that followed. She was almost relieved when she pulled out the first non-bee outfit, but Bitsy choking when she recognized the blue and gold, infant sized school jersey that was sold in every Belgrave school store made Vera laugh instead.

Vera didn't really care. She hadn't been expecting any gifts, so even just running down to the school store at the last minute was more than she'd hoped for. And Belgrave had been a significant part of her life thus far. Even if the tiny jersey in school colors had been a less than carefully considered gift, she'd appreciate it. If she hadn't received one, she probably would have bought one herself.

She probably wouldn't have gotten five...

It still didn't really matter to Vera, but she could see that Bitsy was silently fuming. It was likely from embarrassment as much as anything. Bitsy had taken the responsibility of throwing this shower and so for any of the guests, who Vera knew Bitsy likely viewed as little more than magic slaves, to put such little thought into their gifts was an insult to her.

Vera just figured she'd return the extras and get them in increasingly bigger sizes.

Vera was happy with the presents overall though. There were finally a few that started to venture away from the bee theme and Vera silently made a note in her head of each of those students to pass on to the next Temple Magus. Those were the ones to watch, the ones who could think outside the little box they'd be given and find something, while maybe not original, different.

Gabrielle had been the first one to get her something, rather than just the baby, and Vera sincerely thanked her for the assortment of creams and lotions. There was also a small, black onesie in the package, with the words Wizard In Training printed across the front. Vera held it up, mildly amused.

"We're not wizards," she pointed out.

Randall rolled his eyes. "Well it's not like we could find one that says 'secret society of magical practitioners in training'."

Vera forced a tight smile. "Thank you," she said shortly, folding the outfit and putting it back in the bag.

She wasn't sure whether to be impressed or underwhelmed by Selena Durov's gift. The girl had presented her with a flat white box with several onesies inside. At least the bee theme had taken a slightly different, though very peculiar route, with the different colored stripes and random animals stitched to the front.