Chapter 5

It’s been a week and Ben is coming over today to get started on rebuilding the shed.

I hear a large truck coming down the driveway. The supplies for the shed are being delivered, finally. I was ready to get back to painting.

I’m glad they are here today because I am expected my mother tomorrow and it would just give her another reason to be snippy if they were late.

Two men get out and start unloading materials onto the lawn in front of the Bunkie.

I am eager to see Ben again, so I grab my phone and dial his number.

“I’ve been waiting for you to call” he answered right away.

“But how did you know if me was calling?”I asked a little weirded out.

“Lucky guess and I heard a large truck with a lot of supplies headed that way about twenty minutes ago” he said.

That makes sense he does live down the road.

“When can you start?” I asked.

“Lucky for you, right now,” he said, “I’ll be over soon.”

Shortly after we speak Ben shows up in on a big red motorcycle.

“Nice ride” I said.

“Maybe one day I’ll take you for a ride on her” he said smacking the leather seat behind him.

He gets off the bike and hangs his helmet on the handle. He sees the material on the lawn and jokes “Looks like we are going to be spending a lot of time together”.

“I guess it depends how long it takes you to build this shed” I joked.

“It’s going to take me long if I don’t get started” he said as he walks over to the pile of supplies.

Ben spends the rest of the morning measuring and cutting the frame for the new shed. After a couple of hours, I bring him out a sandwich and a pitcher of grape kool aid.

“This looks like a perfect time to take a break” Ben said when he sees me coming outside.

“I hope you’re hungry” I tell him.

He grabs the sandwich and takes a bite “I am famished” he said with his mouth full.

“How long do you think this will take you?” I asked pointing at the base of the shed.

“Probably about a week weather permitting” he said taking another bite and then a drink of juice.

He finished his sandwich and gets up to go back to work.

“I’ll leave you to it” I said but Ben was already so busy in what he was doing I doubt he heard me.

I spend the rest of the day cooking a spaghetti sauce to freeze while he works on the shed. I should be practicing my magic but it would feel weird with him here.

The sun is starting to set, and I decide to check to see how he is doing. He’s made a lot of progress and has started to build part of the frame for the new shed. It might not even take him a week.

“What do you think so far?” He asked walking up next to me. I could smell his cologne, and it smelt great.

“You’re doing an excellent job” I told him, “I made spaghetti for supper if you’re hungry.”

“If you don’t stop feeding me, I might never leave” he joked.

“It’s the least I can do while you work out here all day.”

We go inside together, and Ben sits down at my table. I serve him a plate of spaghetti and sit down with him.

“This is the best sauce I have ever tasted” he exclaimed after taking a few bites.

“Thanks, it’s a family recipe” I smiled.

When he’s finished eating, he looks at me with his piercing green eyes. I can’t help but wonder what else he knows but isn’t telling me.

“Come on you have to tell me something, how do you know about witches?” I pleaded.

He starred at me for a minute, and I didn’t think he was going to answer me.

“My best friend is a witch” he told me, “He trusted me with his secret when we were young, and I have always kept it for him.”

“What is his power?” I asked.

“He can make himself invisible” he answered, “he used to really mess with me before I knew about it.”

I’ve never met anyone with that power. Invisibility would be way cooler than setting things on fire.

“That’s really cool” I said, “I wish I could control my power.”

“You will learn eventually, you have to believe in yourself” he encouraged me, “you can’t be the only witch who struggles to control their powers?”

“I’m the only one in my family” I said.

“Stop worrying so much about it” he said.

“That’s easy for you to say” I grunted, “how many people have you almost killed?”

“Actually, a couple” he said dropping his gaze to the floor.

This seemed like a touchy subject.

“It wasn’t my fault though. Being a firefighter is a big responsibility and sometimes the decisions you make will cost people their lives” he explained.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize” I said.

“Why don’t we go outside and have a fire, you have plenty more burnt wood to get rid of” he suggested changing the subject. He was really good at that.

“Alright” I said.

We go back outside to the fire pit in my backyard. It’s one of my favourite things about this place. There is a beautiful sitting area and a garden back here.

“Show me how you do it” he said.