Dad says.
“But you’re always so busy with the plantation. And with Beau gone, you might not have a job. Unless Cooper wants to keep you here.” Jack shoots Cooper a glance.
Dad laughs. “Actually, Beau made me Cooper’s guardian, so I’m the one who makes the decisions. At least until Cooper turns eighteen. Then it’s all on him.”
Cooper crosses his arm. “I don’t want to go back to boarding school. I want to stay here. Learn about the plantation.”
Dad smiles. “Great idea.”
Jack’s brow is still furrowed. “Do you really want to handle us full time?”
Dad sits up in his chair. “Are you kidding? This is my chance to finally be the father I always wanted to be but never could. And if what you’ve told me is half-true, it sounds as if you all might need a little more parental supervision. Or at least help. So what do you say, Emma? You ready to stay here with your old dad? Maybe I can even help you with this archnemesis of yours.”
“Ugh, I guess I don’t have much of a choice do I?” Despite the air-conditioning, the room is suddenly stifling. I need to get out, now, and breathe some fresh air. “Excuse me, I’m not feeling so well.” I sprint from the room and race down the main hall.
My dad might have been forced to serve an evil boo hag and robbed of his free will, but he’s obviously clueless about the seriousness of the danger Sabina poses. Until this moment, I didn’t think much of her threat because I figured if I skipped town, all of this would blow over.
Now that Jack and I are staying, I’ll have to face her and whatever she’s got planned. Not to mention Taneea and Claude, who are probably lurking in the background, planning their next move on Cooper, Jack, and anyone else I care about. And Miss Delia, who’s frail and paralyzed and looking at spending the rest of her days behind bars. The deputies can’t take care of her in there, at least not the way she needs to be cared for. Plus, how can she possibly teach me the rest of what I need to know from a jail cell?
As I charge through the great room, Beau’s words from the
I rush out the veranda doors onto the back patio. Staring out over St. Helena Sound, I breathe in the warm, salty air.
A screeching caw shatters the silence. My earlobes heat. After my fall from the magnolia, I’d recognize that sound anywhere.
An iridescent black crow bursts from the nearby forest and soars across the backyard, headed straight for me. Flinging my arms over my head, I scream as I crouch for cover. It squawks as its sharp claws graze my scalp and the back of my hand, then takes flight again.
My heart pounds as I peer up at the sky, sure it’s headed for another pass, but it flies off, disappearing into the trees.
Bright red blood oozes from my wound.
I’m no bird expert, but I’m pretty sure that was no accident. And, now that I think about it, neither was my tumble from that tree.
Danger, it seems, is everywhere and it’s directed squarely at me. And, by extension, the people I care most about.
Cooper bolts onto the patio. “Are you okay? I heard you scream.”
I wipe the blood from the back of my hand and force a smile. “Yeah. I’m good. It was nothing. Just a bird.”
“I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you.” He steps to my side and reaches for my good hand. “I know you said you needed some time, and it’s only been two days since we discovered the allurement, but do you think you have it in your heart to forgive me for all the horrible things I said when I was under that spell? Because you know I’d never say them otherwise.” He flashes an adorable half grin.
Until a few minutes ago, I assumed everything would go back to normal and we’d spend the last few days of our summer together in bliss. Because honestly, any lingering hurt I felt evaporated when he swam out of that marsh alive and whole.
But now that we’re all staying on the island, Sabina’s threats echo in my mind and I realize just how treacherous things might get. Especially for him, since he’s the source of my greatest joy, and Sabina has vowed to crush whatever happiness I have.
I have to do what I can to protect him. Even if it means breaking my own heart.
“So…are we okay?” His voice is filled with apprehension.
“You’ve been my best friend since I was six years old. We’ll always be okay.”
He tugs on my hand. “That’s not what I’m asking, Emma. I want to know where we stand. As us. You and me. Together.” He lifts my hand and places his mother’s silver locket in my open palm. “Because there’s no one in the world I’d rather give this to.” The ruby shards glint in the bright August sun.
My stomach drops and my mouth turns dry. “Uh, I can’t accept this.” My voice quivers as pass it back to him, then ball my fists and hold them at my sides. I can’t allow myself to touch him. His warm, smooth skin will only break my resolve.
“What? Why?” He looks like I’ve punched him in the gut.
“My feelings have…changed.” I force the words from my lying mouth. They taste like poison.
“Is it because of what happened with Taneea? Because I never cared about her. Not for one single second.”
I shake my head. “No, I told you before. I know the allurement wasn’t your fault.”
“Then why?” His royal-blue eyes search mine.
“Because they just have, okay? When I came here, I thought our relationship was just going to be a summer thing, but now that I’m staying for the year, it’s too much for me. I…just can’t do it. Why can’t you accept that and move on?”
“Because I can’t. You and I, we’re meant to be. And not because the boo hag said it in that vision. Because I know it here, in my heart.” He points at his chest.
I jut my jaw and take a deep breath. “Well, I don’t love you.” My voice trembles over the worst falsehood I’ve ever uttered.
He drops my hand, and his gaze bores into me. “I don’t believe you.”
“Well, I wish you would. Because it would make things a lot easier.” I set my hands on my hips for extra emphasis. My knees wobble and threaten to give out under me.
Cooper squares his shoulders. “No matter what you say, I know you love me, Emmaline. Or at least that you did. And now that I’ve got all the time in the world, I’m going to make you fall in love with me again. Because I’m not going anywhere. And we belong together.
Acknowledgments
As ever, I extend my thanks and gratitude to the Gullah people of the South Carolina and Georgia Sea Islands. I hope this latest installment conveys my enduring respect for your culture and folkways.
Though I’ve taken some liberties to heighten the dramatic elements and ooey, gooey ick factor of the story, I couldn’t write this series without the mini library of Gullah and hoodoo magic books I lug around with me wherever I write and covet with Gollum-like ferocity. These include:
