Confidence and Control
Chapter 24: Family
"Mum!" Mildred exclaimed in surprise as she opened her eyes the next morning, seeing her mother sitting in Miss Hardbroom's usual armchair.
"Heys Mils," Julie Hubble grinned the signature Hubble smile.
"What are you-?"
"Hecate thought you might need some mum-love," Julie answered before she finished.
Hecate? Mildred pondered, since when was her mum in the tiny minority that called Miss Hardbroom that?
"Where is she?" Mildred queried.
"Pippa and I arrived almost simultaneously," Julie said with a wry smile. "She said she needed her down in the potion's lab to help with some concoction or another, no doubt they're bickering contentedly over a steamy cauldron," Julie chortled.
"Passionately squeezing beetle's eyes.." Mildred continued.
"Batting their lashes over bats' wings," Julie laughed again, her giggles reverberating around the stone room.
Still laughing heartily, Julie went into Miss Hardbroom's kitchen. Before too long she could hear the scraping of bread and the smell of mouth-watering toast.
"Blackberry jam," Julie told her daughter as she passed her the plate of thickly-spread jammy toast, sitting next to her on the sofa now the girl was upright. "Hecate told me to warn you she would be checking you've eaten," Julie bit her lip out of concern, strictness never really falling easily from her.
Thankfully Mildred nodded, biting into the substantially cut fresh-tasting loaf. "She certainly loves her blackberries," she replied, thinking privately how much she seemed to be growing to love them too.
"Why didn't you tell me you'd asked Miss Hardbroom to be my Godmother?" Mildred asked wonderingly once the toast had nearly gone.
"Oh you're not mad are you sweetheart?" Julie questioned, "It just seemed to be something the two of you needed to talk about in private - I didn't want you agreeing to it just because you thought it was my idea..." Julie trailed off.
"Course not mum, it really was a lovely idea, but you really don't mind sharing me like this?" Mildred asked.
Julie began playing with her daughter's hair, "As much as I'd love to keep you all to myself forever Millie, I could not ever deny you the people that get the best out of you and Miss Hardbroom can give you the things I can't - it's funny really, turns out you didn't need a father but a witch instead!"
"Mum!" Mildred laughed. "You're terrible!"
Julie gave her a squeeze, "In all seriousness love - you really are special and you need Hecate to bring out all of that power. You'll grow to be an amazing woman Millie."
Mildred felt emotion prick at her eyes, "How could I not be? When I'm surrounded by such amazing role-models," Mildred nuzzled against her mum's sleeve.
xxx
"So what you're saying is Hecate, you actually felt sorry for Ethel?" Pippa wrinkled her nose disbelievingly.
"Ughhh," Hecate groaned. "Pass me the spider's legs will you?"
Pippa went to grab the glass jar from the shelf and gave it to her, enjoying the precision that Hecate used with a pair of tweezers to pluck out the exact amount of legs needed.
"I did," Hecate bit her lip, "I can't deny it Pippa."
"She doesn't deserve any sympathy, after impersonating Mildred - she really did bring it on herself," Pippa said oddly harshly.
"Part of me wanted to expel her on the spot, that's certainly true. But the tears were certainly very genuine," Hecate pulled a face.
"About time really," Pippa nodded.
"It's hard for you to understand Pip, you're just so wondrously good all the time - rarely a bad thought for anyone. She just needs to learn," Hecate defended, "Like I did," she continued in a small voice.
Pippa gazed at her for a moment, seeing self-doubt and insecurity flash for a moment in her partner's dark eyes. "You Hecate Hardbroom are the most amazing woman."
"Only because I have the amazing you," Hecate gave a wry smile, before Pippa kissed her on her bottom lip, dark lipstick transferring onto her own perfect pink.
xxx
Hecate poured a deep burgundy wine from the bottle into the wine glasses in front of her, somehow managing to get even glasses without really looking.
"A toast," Julie raised her glass, "To Mildred and her newfound powers - and to her poor form-mistress who now has to deal with a rather powerful and mischievous teen."
Mildred laughed at the slight look of horror on her teacher's face and Pippa giggled merrily, sloshing the wine about in her glass, before raising her own glass:
"To family, in whatever form they take!" she sang, catching Hecate's eye.
Mildred raised her own alcohol-free glass, "To Miss Hardbroom."
Hecate acted rather reluctant to raise her own, "To you Mildred Hubble - long may you ruin my peace," she eyed the girl rather warmly.
xxx
