The Witch Box Read online

  Chapter Two

  Joshua ran his fingers through his light brown hair, curly and thick. He checked his skin in the bathroom mirror. He was still pale, but his brown eyes were bright. He had lost weight, which made him look even less filled out for his age. His face had an angular look, his upper lip more prominent than the bottom. His ears were small and close to his head. In jeans and a T-shirt, he could disappear in a crowd of teenagers. However, he did recognize his home, a remodeled farmhouse, Joshua’s bathroom across the hall from his upstairs bedroom.

  He had no recollection of school. His friends, graduation, meeting Colbie, were nonexistent in his mind. He still had some of his school books around, but no graduation pictures or gown. He owned a game system and TV in his room, along with a PC and a smart phone. He even had an iPad but, on inspection, didn’t seem to use it much.

  He was checking his phone when it rang in his hand, a picture of a cute, dark-haired girl appearing on the screen.

  ANNA

  He answered. “Hello?”

  “Hey, Josh. Are you home now?”

  “Yeah.”

  She was silent for a moment. “Is Colbie there?”

  “No. Brenda says she’s at her grandma’s house.”

  “Really? I heard she’s all settled in at your place. I wasn’t expecting that...”

  “No?”

  “I’m glad you’re getting better. We were all worried here at the plant. The crew all got together and signed a card for you.”

  “I got it. Tell ‘em I said thanks.”

  “Are you coming back to work?” she asked.

  “As soon as I can.”

  By the time they ended their conversation, Josh still couldn’t completely recall Anna.

  “Josh! I’m back!”

  He heard footsteps up the stairs, then down the hall.

  Colbie entered his room. She was wearing a loose T-shirt and knee-length shorts, worn sandals on her feet. At five months pregnant, her baby bump was shaped like a melon. When Josh looked up, he saw a girl with hair so blonde, it was almost white. Her eyebrows were dark, her skin tan. A splash of freckles over a small nose. Pale lashes surrounded green eyes. She was striking, her height making her look older than seventeen.

  Josh realized that this was the mother of his unborn child. He had sex with her at least once, but did not feel any infatuation, his heart was still. When he looked at this blonde girl, he saw nothing more.

  She gave him a warm smile and he noticed her dimples. “Sorry I didn’t come to visit, but I hate hospitals. And then I needed to get some things from the trailer. I had no room for a nursery there. Brenda said I can use the guest room. She’s going to help me paint. I’ll show you the ultrasound pictures at dinner.”

  Joshua nodded. “Boy or a girl?”

  “A boy. Haven’t come up with a name yet. You think of anything?”

  “Um...no.”

  “Well, you were too sick. How’s your blood sugar?”

  “Fine. I’ve checked twice already.”

  “Are you hungry?”

  “I’ve already eaten. I’m fine.”

  “Did Brenda tell you about me going back to school? I’m a senior this year. Of course, the baby will be here by graduation, but Brenda said she would babysit while I’m at school.”

  “What about your grandma?”

  “She’s too old to look after a baby. Besides, I’ll be living here, so it’s convenient.”

  “Right.”

  Colbie’s gaze drifted down to the crystal around Joshua’s neck. She came closer, pointing at the stone. “Did you buy that?”

  “No. It was a gift.” Joshua’s fingers enveloped the stone, but it remained cool on his skin.

  Colbie nodded, her eyes still on the crystal. “Who gave it to you?”

  “A volunteer at the hospital.”

  “I like it.” She opened her mouth and yawned. “I’m going to take a nap before dinner.”

  “The suits from Falls River visited the plant today,” Max said. “They’re sending some of their guys over to see how we do things.”

  “Probably not any different than how they do things,” Brenda said.

  “Great Lakes Packaging is a bigger place,” Max said. “Mostly men work there. Not like our little shop.”

  They had finished dinner, Max and Brenda at the ends of the table. Joshua and Colbie sat across from each other.

  “Bonnie and the rest of them are all nervous about the merger,” Brenda said. “I don’t know why when they’re so close to retirement. Bonnie is almost seventy. So are Ruth and Leo. The rest will be gone in five years.”

  Max took a sip of his coffee, the cup bearing ‘Max Packaging’ and ‘Fruit Ridge County, Michigan.’ “The plant is the only full-time employer within twenty miles. If the workers from Great Lakes can’t commute, they can quit. I’ll go recruit at the high school. Isn’t that right, Colbie?”

  She nodded. “Better than working at McDonald’s.”

  She left the table, deciding to go outside through the back door. She walked down the trail into the woods behind the house, past the sun porch and the white gazebo. The leaves on the trees were starting to change color, bits of orange and yellow in the green.

  The summer had been very hot; Colbie was looking forward to cooler days. She looked down at her round belly. She could not miss how Joshua was responding to her, no different than before he got sick.

  I’m sure he’s already spoken to Anna, she thought. She’ll talk shit about me the first chance she gets.

  Colbie was the type that seemed bubbly and confident, even cocky, on the outside but she was very different when alone. She knew she was in deep, had been since before she became pregnant. Leo and Ruth, her grandparents, had tried to warn her, but she didn’t listen.

  Everything is different now, she thought. We all have to be careful so Josh won’t find out until after the baby is born. Anna better keep her mouth shut.

  Colbie heard something move at her side. A cat, white with black and gray spots, brushed against her leg, then ran to the trees. The animal stared at her for a moment then ran off.

  Colbie felt lonely and bored. She was glad to be going back to school, even if she had to deal with some ridicule, thought of as the dumb girl who got pregnant by her boyfriend.

  She would try to stay silent. Colbie wondered if she could get sick, too. She could die, the baby lost. Colbie knew she had a responsibility, to help complete what was put in motion months ago.

  I agreed to this, and I can’t back out now.

  She turned around, heading for the house.