Belladonna's was a quality store with great products for those times when James had no idea what else to give the women in his life. He had been here plenty of times with that purpose in mind but today was not one of those occasions. This time he was there to see Reagan Kelly and after asking the girl working there for her, he waited for her to come out. They would likely have this conversation at a later time or in the back, he hoped for the latter. He browsed while he waited, well aware that Reagan might think he was there to play the blaming game. She had used his son for her own means after all and James really was within his rights to be angry. He wasn't though, as far as he was concerned this had worked out in his favor. He could now teach his kids and he did feel like he was one up on Brianna because she had lied to him.
The fear that his family might be cursed was quickly subsiding. He was almost certain that it was a lie made up by Brianna's ancestors to keep their dirty little curses unbroken. He put down the bottle he'd been looking at when he heard the women come out from the back, smiling at Reagan politely. "Miss Kelly," he said, then thought better of it. "Or is it Mrs. D'Onofrio now?"
Reagan wasn't nervous when Emma came into the back of the shop to tell her that James McCarthy was asking for her. She supposed if the man had come to yell or threaten, he would have probably waited until Reagan was home where they wouldn't have an audience. And honestly, Reagan had been expecting at least one of Sebastian's parents to come around, and she was mildly relieved that it was Sebastian's father. Reagan could handle herself just fine, but sometimes she felt more in control when she was dealing with a man.
Still, she took a deep breath and exhaled before she pushed through the swinging door to approach James. It was easy enough to return his polite smile with one of her own, and she clasped her hands together in front of her, resisting the urge to twist her wedding band around her finger. "Caius and I are married, but it's still Kelly," she explained simply. "Do you want to talk in my office?" Reagan motioned towards the door that led into the back. She couldn't predict what he might have to say to her, but it was up to him how much privacy he craved.
"Please," James replied because he wasn't about to start talking about magic in front of Reagan's staff. He let her lead the way, aware of the soft thrumming of magic in the air getting stronger back there. He always liked being in the presence of witches. As much as dealing with mundanes was easier and sometimes more fun because they could be manipulated, witches felt more like equals to him. With her office door closed behind them he could speak freely and he wasn't going to waste her time. "Obviously I am here about Sebastian," he said. "I have a few questions for you, both about what he's learned so far and about the curse he helped you break."
Reagan stood near her desk, her arms crossed against her body, although not defensively. If he was angry with her, it was what it was, and things couldn't be changed now, so what would be the point? "He's learned basic spells," Reagan explained. "Hex bags, connecting with his element. Nothing dark or beyond his abilities. It hasn't been difficult to teach him. Sebastian has a natural talent. As for the curse, we didn't know your wife's family was the one we had been searching for until Sebastian unlocked his magic. I didn't set out with the purpose of using him, if that's what you're thinking. Taking his blood was done safely, and with his consent."
"I wasn't thinking that at all," James muttered dismissively. "In fact, you may have done me a favor, unlocking god knows how many years worth of secrets. And you don't need to flatter my son for my sake, I'm aware of how erratic his magic is but I think with time he can learn to control it." He liked to think that came from the Baron side of the family and not the McCarthy side, if anything his family was so in control of things it verged on being boring.
Reagan's arched a dark brow while a smile played at her lips. "Oh, I'm not flattering him for your sake. It's sincere praise." She was obviously curious as to what kind of secrets she and Caius 'unlocked', but given they were likely to be family related, she also knew it was none of her business, something James would no doubt agree with. "Caius and I weren't aware that breaking the curse in our families would trigger your family's abilities until Sebastian came by to tell me. He asked about the curse itself, and I told him this already, but let me assure you that nothing is hunting your family. You’re not in any danger. My ancestors were trying to find Brianna's for the sole purpose of breaking the curse Abigail Baron put on us. I know there are two sides to everything, but whatever your wife was told, it was a lie."
"I hope you're right," James said and he had considered the possibility that it was all a ruse to keep the curse in place. "We'll be playing it safe anyway." There wasn't much they could do right now but take precautions and do the research necessary to verify or disprove the theory. "You didn't notice Sebastian's magic being erratic?" he asked rather than delve into that. Sebastian showed promise but he hadn't had great control over his power when James was teaching him and that certainly didn't warrant this sort of praise.
She felt confident that she was right, but Reagan supposed she couldn't be one hundred percent sure, given how little she had known about this before she and Caius had gotten married. Reagan took a moment to think over his question before she shook her head. "I suppose it was, but he was a beginner, is a beginner, so of course he's going to be a bit erratic. Once he learned what he was supposed to do he had better control over things, at least that was the case when I was teaching him. He wasn't perfect, but who is when they first start?" Reagan wondered if James was teaching his kids yet, or if Sebastian would be showing up at her house again for another lesson.
To James, Sebastian's magic had been far more erratic than could be blamed on being a beginner and he filed that away for later, brows furrowed as he considered her words. That wasn't something he needed to discuss with Reagan though. "Did he pay you anything for your tutoring?" he asked. He didn't much like the idea of his family being indebted to anyone, especially other witches, but it wasn't like Sebastian had the kind of money James would expect to be paid to teach a kid that wasn't his.
Reagan shook her head. "I didn't ask for payment, only a favor down the line, which I would say he already fulfilled by giving us some of his blood. I already told him I wouldn't say no if he came around for more lessons." It was probably best to put that out there. She could understand that some parents might feel territorial in teaching their children magic - her mother certainly had been - but Sebastian was old enough now to make his own decisions.
James suppressed a groan at that. A favor down the line was the worst sort of payment, being indebted to someone never led anywhere good. "He shouldn't need more lessons," he muttered instead since he sincerely hoped his lessons would be enough for his kids. "I'd appreciate it if you'd tell me if he comes around here again." Appreciate, not expect. There was no predicting people's behavior after all and James wouldn't be surprised if his son went elsewhere for some forbidden knowledge, nor would he be surprised if Reagan opted not to tell him. It was worth requesting though.
"I think that's something that you and Sebastian should talk about," Reagan said. She wasn't comfortable 'telling' on Sebastian if he did want to come around again for more lessons. It was clear James wanted to be the one to teach his children magic, and really, he should be the one. But Reagan wouldn't turn Sebastian away if he preferred her style of teaching. At the same time, she also didn't want to wedge herself into the McCarthy family issues. For a second she considered bartering somehow for Brianna's family grimoire, but it didn't feel like the right time or place, and there was no need to reveal her circumstances so recklessly. "If you don't want him to seek him me out for magic, that should come from you."
"Oh he'll hear it from me," James replied. "So if he does come around anyway, I would like to hear about it." He had a feeling they were at an impasse there, if Reagan didn't want to get involved then she wouldn't, she was hardly a pushover. "As a courtesy," he added with a little smirk. "I would also like to hear about it if anything seems out of place, you broke a powerful curse, it affected my family and as much as I can hope that was the last we saw of it, I'm not putting blind faith in it."
If Sebastian knew his father’s wishes and still came to see her, well, Reagan wasn't sure yet if that was something she would tell James about. Some part of her knew it would be in her best interest to step back and let the McCarthy family figure things out on their own and not get involved, but... she still needed them, or at least Brianna, to try and fix Caius's memory. "As a courtesy," Reagan murmured with a small nod. "I'll do what I can. And with all due respect, James, the curse was put there by your wife's family, so whatever you're dealing with now is solely on their shoulders." She didn't think he was blaming her, or Caius, for what was happening, but she felt like it needed to be said.
"Oh I'm well aware of where the blame lies," James said with a wry smile. He'd never liked Brianna's family and now he liked them even less. "That doesn't change the fact that we are both part of this now. I truly hope all is well and that breaking the curse worked, but neither of us should let our guard down." Especially if he was right in thinking Sebastian's magic was more erratic now than it had been before whatever ritual Caius and Reagan performed.
"I understand," Reagan said with a nod. "And if something unusual happens, or If Sebastian comes to me with something concerning, I'll reach out to you." She was fairly certain the McCarthy blood was no longer a factor in what she and Caius were dealing with, but Reagan couldn't be one hundred percent positive about it, so it was wiser to keep those lines of communication open. It may have been Brianna McCarthy's family who cursed them, but Reagan didn't want to piss off other magical families in town by publicly blaming them, or going after them in any way. At least not maliciously. Keeping Sebastian around might end up helping them in the future. "Is there anything else you needed?"
James supposed that was all he could really ask of Reagan. He didn't expect her to really snitch on his son but it was worth asking. "Nothing we can't discuss out there," he replied. "I'm looking to buy something nice for the wife." He did need to smooth things over at home, sometimes a nice gift helped. It wouldn't fix things but it might make the fixing go smoother. He wondered if Brianna would feel the magic in the product now, whether she'd appreciate or hate it. Maybe it was safer to buy something that hadn't been enhanced. "Do me the honor?" he added with a smile and a sweeping gesture at the door. Reagan's staff was very professional but that didn't change the fact that she knew more about what she was selling and did a better job of it.
"I can definitely help you with that," Reagan told him with an easier smile as she walked forward to lead him toward the front of the store. "Your wife shops here a lot, so I can show you some of the products she likes, if you want." That was much better than discussing Sebastian, and Reagan was thankful that the conversation hadn't become an argument. As much as Reagan didn't want to get involved in the McCarthy family drama, her problems were still tied to theirs and it was best if they all got along for now.
James had not come there to argue and he too was glad the conversation hadn't taken that route. He preferred to keep the peace among the local witches, even the ones who were more difficult than others. He knew his wife's extensive collection of beauty products fairly well but insight from another woman was always good so he nodded and smiled. "I'd appreciate that. No special ingredients this time, let's stick to the basics."