TIME AFTER TIME

septum.

SEVEN:

"Iridescent Gratitude"

SABRINA.

Because I had spent most of October in my head, including my birthday, we decided to have a special dinner for Thanksgiving. 

"There's a lot to be grateful for," Salem had said when she invited Aunt Pearl and friends to our home in the human realm for an official sit-down dinner.

Romeo quickly objected, "Thanksgiving isn't a witch holiday."

"Well, we're not just witches," Salem had countered.

"No," he agreed, "You're demons too. And I don't think they celebrate that holiday, either."

At some point, they resolved the issue, and even though Salem threatened his invitation, he and Anubis were the first to arrive on the human holiday. Salem had just begun setting the table, Scarlet was plating the sides, and I was frosting the cake I baked. It felt good to have the house full of heat, joy, and great smelling foods. More than anything, I was grateful to be cooking. It felt good to be a part of a solution rather than a problem for others to solve. While Scarlet and I worked on cooking, Salem focused on setting up. I breezed through the kitchen to retrieve the warm mug of tea I left on the table, only to pause when I counted the seats around the table. 

"You're forgetting a seat," I told Salem when I counted eight rather than nine seating placements. She paused from retrieving the wine glasses from the case behind her. 

After a moment, she said, "Minerva isn't coming."

A wave of mist confirmed Salem had already seen what would happen. Our absent Primrose would continue her pattern. I sighed and glanced back in the kitchen, where Scarlet continued to eat the frosting I asked her not to. "Does Scar know?"

Salem shook her head, "not yet."

I sighed and went back to the kitchen to continue my culinary responsibilities. Scarlet noticed how I didn't swat her hand away. Before she could ask, Anubis and Romeo waltzed into the kitchen. The duo looked dapper in their clean shirts and wrinkle-free pants with no holes in them. 

"You two look great," I beam. 

Scarlet's eyes cut across the two, after looking past them and seeing nothing, she demands, "Minerva?"

Anubis scratches the back of his head, "Came down with a cold."

Romeo gives him an unconvinced glance before saying a brief hello to me and going to find my other, less ferocious sister. I returned to the sides I had been finishing. The green beans and corn continued to boil just as Scarlet's temper did the same. "She couldn't have taken a remedy potion?" I hear her hiss to Anubis, and before she could get another word in, she stormed in the opposite direction. "You are the worst liar, Anubis."

As I spooned the mashed potatoes slowly, Anubis sighed from beside me. I glanced at him before gently offering, "I'm a bad liar, too."

He raised his head to offer a small smile, "Lying is overrated." 

While I laughed in agreement, Salem returned to the kitchen, Romeo draped around her arm. She looked to Anubis with her professional hostess gaze, "Anubis, I'm about to give the tour. Join us."

"With pleasure," he pushed himself off the counter to follow the two out of the kitchen and down the hall. After a moment, Scarlet returned. She pushed the frosting aside and instead turned her attention to the oven. With a small tug, she eyed the bird then began bathing it with broth. I watched her from the corner of my eye.