The Hidden Legacy

ignored my outstretched hand, and gave me a quick hug in greeting. She released me, her eyes traveling from Nathan and back to me. “Yeah, I can see some family resemblance.”
The air shifted around us, and even with the brief embrace I detected the fragrance of cherries and chocolate, and very happy vibrations radiating from her. I also picked up on a lot of personal power. “Nice to meet you,” I said, and meant it.
“I’d like to photograph you sometime.” Ivy tipped her head as if considering.
“Run, Hannah,” Nathan said. “I’ll cover you.”
I chuckled. “You should photograph him instead. He’s prettier than me.”
“I already did.” Ivy grinned. That’s how I met him, taking his picture on campus.”
I glanced at my brother. “I bet that went over well.”
Eli slammed out the back door, plastic sword in hand, wearing his tri-corn hat as usual. “Mom! Uncle Nathan is home!” He ran towards us and threw himself at my brother.
Nathan scooped Eli up and settled him on his hip. I grinned over at my brother and son and heard the click of a camera.
“Gotcha.” Ivy stepped back and framed in another shot
Eli laughed and grinned at the camera. “Take my picture, Ivy!”
Ivy began to circle the three of us. Her camera clicked away, and I realized as I watched her that photography wasn’t merely a hobby for Ivy Bishop.
I tried to duck out of the picture taking session, but Nathan kept me clamped at his side. Eventually I ignored the camera and instead smiled at my brother and son.
***
With my brother’s surprise visit, we ended up having a barbeque that night. While my dad grilled turkey burgers and ears of corn on his fancy gas grill, I was pressed into helping my mother set up additional tables so the entire family could eat outside together in the shade of the covered patio. Mom rushed back inside to finish a salad, and I snapped out a few checkered tablecloths and set the tables with my mother’s casual melamine plates.
My older sister Kayleigh sat in a padded chair nursing her baby, while her five year old daughter Margot ran around the back yard, chasing Eli.
Dad and my brother-in-law Curtis were discussing sports, while Nathan and Ivy hauled out folding chairs. When the chairs were in place Nathan went and sat with Kayleigh so he could meet his new niece, and I found myself alone with Ivy Bishop.
Not sure what to make of her, I stuck to safe topics. “So, Nathan tells me you two are off to Salem day after tomorrow?”
Ivy grabbed the cutlery and started to add knives and forks to the plates. “Yeah, I can’t wait,” she said. “I want to see all the touristy things, and visit the Witch Trials Memorial.”
“Be sure and visit the graveyard. It’s the second oldest in the country.” I said, working my way along the tables.
Once we finished setting the tables, Ivy looped her arm in mine. “Give me a little tour, Hannah.” She gave me a friendly hip bump. “I want to see your place and your workshop.”
“Sure, okay.” I led her across the driveway and up the stairs to my apartment.
I opened the door and Ivy stepped in behind me. “This is great!” she said appreciatively, and went straight to the kitchen. “I love the soft blue cabinets, and the pops of yellow with the vintage pieces.”
“The cabinets were originally white, but I wanted some color,” I explained, as Sam popped out from the bedroom and, tail held high, went straight to Ivy.
“What a cool cat.” Ivy held out her arms and my sturdy old cat jumped right into them. “What breed is he?”
“He’s a torby.” I said. “A mixture of tortoiseshell and tabby.”
“I never saw a torby before.” Ivy tucked a purring Sam over her shoulder and continued to walk around the apartment.
I’d never seen Sam make friends with someone so quickly. “He likes you.”
“It’s mutual.” Ivy grinned, and checked out Eli’s room. “Pirates,” she said. “That figures.”
“It’s his obsession.”
“I noticed,” she said. “Think I have any chance of getting a picture of Eli without his pirate hat on?”
“Maybe, if you knock him unconscious first.”
Ivy’s eyes danced. “Ah, a challenge!” She poked her head into my room. “Nice,” she commented, but didn’t cross the threshold.
“Thank you.” I sat on the end of the couch.
“Did you refinish the yellow dresser and nightstand yourself?”
“I did. They were great pieces, but they needed some love.”
“The blue and yellow suits you,” Ivy said. “It’s homey and charming but I’m a little surprised that even in your personal space—there’s not a hint of the Craft your family practices.”
I smiled politely and gestured for her to join me on the sofa. “I’m sure Nathan explained to you that in our family—we are very discreet with our practices.”
Ivy strolled over with the cat still in her arms. She made herself at home, propping her feet up on the big trunk I used for a coffee table. “The rutabaga rule?” she raised an eyebrow at me. “Yeah, he did.”
“Did you happen to see the Salem Village Historic District sign in downtown Danvers?” I asked, trying for patience.
“Sure,” Ivy said as the cat climbed out of her lap. “We saw it. I asked Nathan to take me.”
“Did you read the big blue sign?” I asked bluntly. “Did you see the second name listed there?”
Ivy folded her arms across her chest. “Sarah Osburn.”
“That’s a direct ancestor of my mother’s. She was one of the first they accused, and she died in prison during the Witch trials.”
“Yeah, and my ancestor Bridget Bishop was the first woman they strung up in Salem Town,” Ivy said. “Not sure what is a worse way to go...being hung, or dying in a prison cell.”
I huffed out a breath. “It’s hardly a competition of whose family suffered more.”
“Nope, it’s not,” Ivy said calmly. “I’m sorry if I offended you, though.”
“You didn’t,” I said. “I’m trying to make you understand what it’s like here, in Danvers.”
Ivy rolled her eyes. “Trust me,