Clara sighed. “Lack of interest combined with development. This whole row of stores is slated for demolition,” she said sadly.
“I’m so sorry. Are you planning to move the store somewhere else?”
“It’s not easy to find a place where people need the kind of help I offer, but I’ve been looking at rental space in Stewart. With their rich history of curses, I’m thinking people might be receptive to my wares.” Her gaze didn’t hold Amber’s too long and she reached for more tea.
“Sounds like a good plan.” Amber knew of at least one person in Stewart who could use Clara’s help. “What do you think I should get for Edward Corwin?”
“A dreamcatcher for sure. He always-I mean, he should get use from one. And there are candles and incense that might help. But most of all, that man needs a few good spells cast around him for a change.” Clara picked up their empty teacups and placed them in the backroom, on the sink.
Amber wiped down the small table. Then, on impulse, she pulled out the directions and copied Edward’s address onto one of Crescent Moon’s business cards by the register. She purchased the items Clara had suggested for Edward and waited while the woman wrapped them.
“Thank you. This has been an enlightening morning. I’m so glad I stopped by.”
“Me, too. You’re a good person, Amber Rose Corwin.”
Amber flushed at the compliment. “I wish my husband felt the same way.”
Clara studied her for a moment, her stare deep, her expression intense. “He doesn’t see the world the same way you do. Just keep on doing good deeds. He’ll come around.”
Amber hoped the other woman was right. “Speaking of coming around, if you have some free time maybe you could visit me at Edward Corwin’s and introduce him to some of those good spells you mentioned earlier.”
“That’s a tempting offer.” Clara’s eyes sparkled as she accepted the card and glanced at the address. “It’s so busy I’m not sure I can get away,” she said, laughing as she gestured around the empty shop.
Amber chuckled, too.
Clara’s visit was sure to lighten the tension in the Corwin house during Amber’s stay. Besides, anything this Wiccan woman had to offer must be better than voodoo, the jujus and red dust on Edward’s doorstep.
In fact, the more Amber thought of it, the more she guessed that Clara might be just what Edward Corwin needed.
AS AMBER APPROACHED Mike’s father’s house, her nerves took over and her stomach flipped in anticipation. She didn’t know what to expect by way of a greeting. She parked in front of the house, beside an SUV that hadn’t been here the last time she’d visited. She pulled her purse and the small packed bag from the backseat and walked to the front door. Then, drawing a deep breath, she rang the bell.
To her surprise, Edward didn’t answer. A dark-haired man greeted her instead. His good looks weren’t as rugged as Mike’s, but there was a family resemblance. Amber guessed this man was Mike’s cousin.
“Amber?” he asked.
She inclined her head. “Derek?”
“Good guess.” He extended his hand and she shook it. “Welcome.”
“Thanks. I didn’t expect you here.” She glanced over his shoulder into the house, but she didn’t see Edward.
“I thought I’d smooth things over,” he said, gesturing for her to come inside. He took the bag from her hand and placed it by the stairs, then led her into the family room she’d seen the other night.
“It’s really nice of you to help me out, but I’m sure you have better things to do than babysit.”
“I hardly consider getting to know my cousin’s wife babysitting. Why don’t you have a seat.” He pointed to an old blue velvet sofa and she chose a space in the middle.
Derek sat in a chair across the room and studied her without saying a word.
“Mike told you about us?” Amber asked, breaking the awkward silence. Considering how much he didn’t want people to know their official status, she thought maybe Mike had told his cousin she was just a friend who needed help. So she was surprised when Derek had called her Mike’s wife. But she cautioned herself against reading too much into it.
Derek raised an eyebrow. “Mike and I are close. We don’t lie to each other.”
Ouch, Amber thought. Direct hit. Apparently this man knew more than she’d realized. She didn’t blame Mike or Derek for their feelings about her past, but she refused to let Derek bait her into a confrontation.
“I’m glad he confided in you. It’s good that he has someone he trusts,” she said to Derek. She met his gaze without flinching. She’d done what she’d done, but she refused to let her past define who she was-and who she wanted to be.
The crunching sound of a car driving up the gravel distracted her, but not Derek.
He leaned forward, his hands clasped in front of him. “Look, you must realize a quickie marriage in Vegas isn’t exactly the best way to start a lasting relationship.”
He was blunt and Amber respected that. And he obviously didn’t know what to make of her, not that she blamed him. If the situation were reversed, she’d look out for her family, too. A family she didn’t have. Both her parents had been only children, leaving Amber without siblings or cousins. She envied Mike his relationships, she realized for the first time.
It was another void she hadn’t let herself acknowledge until now. And another good reason to create a lasting future here-if she and Mike were meant to be.
The front door opened and a beautiful woman with auburn hair hanging past her shoulders walked inside. Derek’s surprised gaze slid the other woman’s way for a moment before turning back to Amber.
Amber leaned toward Derek, wanting to end this conversation before their visitor heard. “I’m not going to hurt Mike,” she assured him.
“What do you call deserting him the morning after the wedding?” Derek pinned her with his gaze, cutting her no slack, not dropping the subject as she’d hoped.
“Back off, Derek,” the woman said, her high heels clicking against the floor with every step. “Everyone has a past, everyone makes bad choices now and then. You ought to know. It’s what they do with the present and future that counts. I’m Derek’s wife, Gabrielle, by the way,” she said, striding over to where Amber sat.
Amber smiled at the other woman, grateful for her show of support. She rose. “I’m Amber. It’s nice to meet you.”
Derek pushed himself up from the chair. “I thought we agreed you were going to stay home today?” Derek asked.
Clearly he hadn’t wanted her to meet his cousin’s ne’er-do-well,
Envy.
She wanted what they shared. More than she’d even realized.
Gabrielle shook her head and her glossy hair fell over one shoulder. “I said I’d stay home and work-I’m a writer,” she explained to Amber. “But then I realized that Amber could probably use some help getting settled, not to mention some company. It’s not like Edward’s going to give her any.”
“Where is he, anyway?” Amber asked. There’d been no sign of her host since she’d arrived.
Derek shrugged his shoulders. “He said he was going out. That could mean any number of things.”
“How did he take the news that I’d be staying here?”
Derek paused, probably trying to find a nice way to express his uncle’s words.
“Never mind,” Amber said. “I can only imagine. Where’s the skunk?”
“The what?” Gabrielle asked, glancing nervously around the room.
Amber laughed. “Stinky Pete. He’s Edward’s descented skunk. Edward doesn’t like to advertise Pete’s lack of odor though. He thinks it will keep visitors away.”
Derek pinched the bridge of his nose. “What the hell will he think of next?”
Gabrielle shuddered. “I think it’s safer not to ask.”
Derek’s cell phone rang and he answered. “Hi, Dad.” He paused. “You ran into him where?” Derek listened, then, “Yes, I know why he’s buying extra food and things. I’ll explain later.” Again, Derek paused. “No, don’t get him riled up. I’ll talk to you when I get home.” He flipped the phone closed.
“What is it?” Gabrielle asked, placing a hand on her husband’s shoulder.
