I didn’t expect to sleep, not with everything that had happened. I lay awake until dawn staring at the ceiling wondering about the repercussions of the magick I’d unleashed on Leilah.
Mostly, I was worried about Thomas and his reaction to the news of what Leilah had done. The consequences would be serious. She’d obviously do time in jail, and of course there were the injuries she’d sustained from her fall…I had no idea how severe they actually were. Either way, Thomas would be devastated.
I’d have to tell him everything. How I’d used magick against Leilah, that I’d bound her powers…all of it. Once he was aware that I’d unleashed dark magick against her…Well, I’d probably have to find a new place to live. I couldn’t imagine Thomas wanting me to stay on the property, living so close by, after I’d maimed his only daughter.
Truth be told, I wasn’t sure I wanted to live in the cottage anymore, not after everything that had happened here.
When dawn finally broke I got up, and retrieved the chunk of Leilah’s hair from my shorts pocket. I put the tiny piece of scalp and attached strands of hair into a sealable freezer bag, dumping salt all over it. The salt had two purposes. It would stop any lingering negativity from Leilah, and it would help dry out and preserve the dime size section of flesh. I hid the bag in a safe place with the hopes that I would never have to use it again.
That unpleasant task completed, I washed my hands, crept back in my room, and selected a casual summer weight dress. While Willow slept, I ran a brush through my hair. After brushing my teeth, I went to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee, bracing myself for a very long day.
“Mama!” Willow came bouncing into the kitchen after the first rumble of the coffee pot. “Lexie’s daddy stayed in our driveway all night long!”
“He did?” I asked around a yawn.
Willow ran to the living room window. “He’s still there!” She waved wildly.
“He said he would stay and watch over us.” Impressed, I pulled a mug down out of the cabinet. “Let’s go take him a cup of coffee.”
A couple of moments later I carried the mug down the driveway to John Proctor, with Willow skipping beside me. When he saw us coming he climbed out of the squad car and stretched. “Morning, ladies.” He smiled.
“Thank you.” I passed him the mug.
“Mama says you watched over us last night.” Willow said.
He drank deeply and ruffled Willow’s hair. “Well, after all your excitement I figured your Mom might sleep better if she knew you were both safe.”
I flashed a smile but said nothing.
“But,” John continued, “I can see she didn’t sleep.”
“Not a wink,” I said.
“Give it some time,” John said kindly. “After Lexie was hurt and in the hospital a few years ago…Neither her mother and I slept for days afterward. Didn’t matter that she was grown, married, and with a baby of her own. Parents worry.”
“Hey, Mama!” Willow chirped. “Thomas is here!” Willow’s happy words had me jolting, even as she took off like a shot.
I shifted to watch as Thomas chuckled in obvious delight while Willow ran full-out toward him. “How’s my best girl?” he asked, scooping her up and pressing a kiss to her forehead.
My stomach lurched, hard. I guessed the big confrontation would be this morning. God, I thought. I didn’t want to have to move to a different city, again. Watching Willow with Thomas, I knew it would hurt her to be parted with the man she had come to think of as a grandfather.
“Have you spoken to Thomas yet?” John asked in a low voice. “About what happened?”
“No,” I whispered. “He was with Leilah at the emergency department, and then waiting for her to come out of surgery last night.” I took a careful breath. “Did she survive the surgery?”
“She did.” John rested a hand on my arm. “According to my information, she has a spinal injury and a severely broken leg.”
God almighty, I thought. Thomas will surely hate me. Doing my best to keep my tone of voice neutral, I cleared my throat before speaking to Officer Proctor. “Will she walk again?”
“I don’t know anything about that. All I can tell you officially is that the DA is going ahead and pressing charges for kidnapping.”
“Good.” My gaze swung uncertainly toward Thomas, and I jumped a foot up in the air when I felt a gentle hand on my arm from John Proctor.
“Give Thomas a chance, Maggie. He may surprise you.” John passed me his almost empty mug and a business card. “If you need anything. Anything at all. Here’s my number.”
“Thank you,” I murmured, slipping the card in my pocket. I sincerely hoped I wouldn’t need to call.
John gave me a smile and strolled back to the squad car. With a wave he started it up and left as Willow and Thomas walked over hand-in-hand.
“Good morning, Thomas,” I said, formally.
“Good morning.” He stood there, in a fancy polo shirt, summer slacks, and shielding his emotions. Even I could tell that. With his silver hair waving in the breeze, the man seemed more remote to me than ever before.
I felt seriously outclassed, standing barefoot in the grass wearing an old summer dress and no makeup. “We should talk—”
“Can Thomas stay for breakfast?” Willow cut me off.
“Oh.” I glanced quickly at him. He’d always been quiet and reserved, but today, his face gave absolutely nothing away. “He’s probably busy…”
“No,” he said, calmly. “I happen to have this morning free.”
“Please, Mama?” Willow begged. “Can he stay?”
“Of course.” I forced cheer into my voice but my smile was strained as I followed them both inside. It was after all his house. How could I say no?
I kept myself busy, scrambling some eggs, and toasting bread. Willow’s non-stop chatter filled up what I’m sure would have been a very awkward
