Belle’s laugh was short, sharp, and filled with disbelief. “We’re talking about your father here—you know, the man who spent the first sixteen years of your life making you feel like a worthless piece of shit. If he’s here, then it’s for some other reason than making things right.”
I half smiled. It was either that or cry, and tears weren’t going to do anyone any good right now. “Stranger things have happened.”
“Yes, but even this reservation can’t produce that sort of miracle.”
“That is possibly true.” I paused. “I wonder if he came alone, or if Mom’s here as well?”
“A question that will undoubtedly be answered tomorrow night. Where are we staying?”
“I don’t know. You want to check out Google and find somewhere?”
“There’s not going to be much in the way of choices at this hour.” She pulled out her phone and started searching. “Do you want to avoid Castle Rock?”
I hesitated, then shook my head. “As long as we can park off street; the last thing we need is the gossips wondering why a ranger vehicle is parked outside a hotel all night.”
She rang a couple of places and eventually found a room in an old lodge in the heart of Castle Rock. Thankfully, the manager didn’t know us, and he certainly didn’t ask any questions—he just showed us the room and wished us a good night.
While Belle rang Monty, I sent a text to Aiden, telling him about the change to our sleeping arrangements, and then a second one to Ashworth, updating them on events and asking him and Eli to be there tomorrow night. There was immediate and utter support from the two of them, and that only made the trepidation worse. So many things could go wrong; so many people could get hurt—people I cared about. People I loved.
As much as I believed neither my father nor Clayton would do anything drastic with such an audience, I’d been wrong before.
I just had to hope this wasn’t going to be one of those times.
* * *
We got up early, had a massive breakfast of bacon, eggs, hash browns, and toast to fortify ourselves for the day ahead, and then returned home. The spells around the café were intact, and there was no sign of anyone keeping watch.
Even so, we entered cautiously, senses on full alert. Once again, there was nothing but the echoes of happiness.
I hoped those echoes made it through the oncoming night.
Business was brisk, which at least took our minds off the upcoming confrontation. Monty called just after midday, stating he’d drive by at five-thirty to pick us up, with no explanation as to why.
“I’m guessing they don’t want us hanging around here too long alone,” Belle said as she slid an order across the counter. Penny whisked in and picked it up. “We can’t rely on Clayton or your father keeping to the set time, and we’re basically sitting ducks here.”
“True, but that does leave the café open to assault.”
“Better they assault it than us.”
“Also true.”
I sent a message to Aiden to update him on what was going on, and told him I’d contact him when we were all heading back here.
His reply was a quick and abrupt You’d better or we will have words.
“The man definitely does care,” Belle commented.
“That has never been in doubt.”
“To you, me, and the world in general, yes. But I’m afraid he is in utter denial as to the depths.”
“Maybe, but there’s nothing I can do but accept it and move on when the time comes.”
Belle smiled. “I like this new attitude.”
“The new attitude is a product of realizing that, compared to what we are about to face, a broken heart is but a minor blip in the radar.”
My tone was light, but it wasn’t fooling Belle. She hugged me fiercely and told me it would all work out. I could only hope her instincts were right and mine were wrong.
The deeper into the afternoon we got, the more time appeared to slow. By the time we closed the café and shooed the staff home early, it was fair to say I was only a couple of strands away from falling to pieces.
We grabbed the backpack and our athames, threw additional layers of protection across the top of the stairs—more to know whether anyone went up there than to actually stop them—and then, at five-thirty, went out.
Monty pulled up right on time in an old Ford sedan. Belle grabbed the rear door and jumped inside, leaving me to take the front.
He’ll take it as a step forward if I sit in the front, she said. We may be in grave danger, but his marrying plans are never far from his mind.
Even Monty isn’t that shallow.
I wouldn’t bet on it.
I smiled and did up the seat belt as he took off. “Where are we going? And where did you get this car?”
“Borrowed it from a neighbor, with the promise to replace it if I wrote it off. Which I won’t, unless Clayton and Lawrence do something totally off-piste. As to where we’re going—” He paused to take the corner and headed out of Castle Rock. “I thought I’d shout you ladies a meal at a pub.”
“I’m not entirely sure my stomach is up to eating,” I said. “I gather the others are going to meet us there?”
He nodded. “I’ve booked a small function room so that we can talk and prepare without alarming anyone.”
“Have you had any luck in tracking either of the men down?” Belle asked.
“No, nor did I really expect to.” He glanced at me; there was something in his expression that had my breath stuttering in my throat. “I did contact a friend in Canberra, though. Your mother hasn’t left.”
My breath whooshed out. “I guess that’s something.”
“Yes, and it gets even more interesting. Apparently, she and your father have separated.”
“What? Impossible. My mother would never contemplate such a move.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Couples do fall out of love.”
“Yes,
