“Oh yeah, sorry, that stuff works quick. You should probably go into the library before you drink any more. Here, I’ll show you where it is.”
I showed Jess where the library couch was and then, figuring my mom had enough to worry about upstairs, I ducked into the linen closet andgrabbed two pillows, a sheet, and a patchwork quilt. By the time I delivered them to Jess, she was already curled up on the couch, struggling to keep her eyes open.
“This tea is… wow,” she mumbled.
I laughed. “Yeah. It’s good stuff.”
“Hey, Wren.”
I turned back to her. She was looking at me earnestly.
“It’s going to be okay. We’re going to figure this out.”
I wanted to agree, to say “I know,” and really mean it. But I didn’t want to lie, so instead I said, “Good night, Jess.”
20
The next morning felt like waking up in a world made of glass. Everyone moved quietly and slowly, afraid to shatter something… or someone. Rhi stood at the stove, the phone pressed to her ear, talking in hushed tones while she cooked feverishly. Jess excused herself out into the garden as soon as she woke, not wanting to bother anyone while she made phone calls of her own. My mother tried to take a tray up to Persi’s room around nine o’clock, but returned with it still in her hands, along with Persi’s undrunk cup of tea from the night before.
“She isn’t in her room,” she said, setting down the tray on the counter, and heading straight for the kitchen window. “But if I had to guess… yes, there’s smoke coming from her workshop chimney.” She turned to me and smiled sadly. “She’s always been a solitary creature, pushing away anything that feels like help. She resents it. Always has, from the time she was a little girl.”
Rhi turned and looked over her shoulder, the phone still jammed against her ear. “Do you think I should take the tray out to the workshop?” she asked, her tone skeptical.
“Not unless you want her to throw it at you,” my mom replied. “Let’s give her a bit of space, for now. Where’s Jess? Has she eaten?”
I pointed toward the French doors, through which we could see Jess pacing the garden as she talked on her cell phone.
“She’s been out there for a little while,” I said.
“Well, I guess that makes sense,” my mom said. “After all, this trip is obviously turning out to be more complicated than she expected.” She took the plate off the tray and placed it in front of me instead. “Here, honey. Hungry or not, you’ve got to eat a little something. I’ll make a plate for Jess, too.”
At first, I put a bite of food in my mouth just to placate my mother, but the tastes that hit my tongue were so satisfying that, before I knew it, I’d cleared my plate. I looked over at Rhi, who winked. Either she’d bewitched my food, or she really was just that good. I decided I didn’t care which one was the truth.
Jess came in then, pocketing her phone and smiling sheepishly. “Sorry about that,” she said. “I had to make some arrangements. I thought I would be back home by now.”
“I’m sorry you—” I started to say, but she waved me off.
“Don’t apologize, Wren. None of this is your doing. I just have some very… overprotective people in my life who like to micromanage my risk exposure.” Jess’ lips curved into a smirk as she said it.
“Is it your sister? I remember you mentioned a sister,” I said.
“Hannah? Yes, she wants me to stay safe, but she also usually trusts me enough to take care of myself. My partner, on the other hand, is another story entirely. If I successfully keep him from boarding a plane and storming the town of Sedgwick Cove, I will be lucky.”
My face must have betrayed something, because Jess laughed. “It’s not really his fault. His job is to protect Durupinen, and he was assigned as my guardian. You can see why, on several levels, he might be a bit concerned about the situation here.”
I nodded. “I get it. My mom literally took me and fled.”
“Exactly. I didn’t exactly mention the whole ‘Darkness’ situation to him. That would have made his head explode.”
“Won’t he be mad that you didn’t tell him?”
“Oh, definitely,” Jess said unconcernedly, as my mom placed a plateof food in front of her. “But as long as I come home unscathed, he’ll forgive me.” She speared a bite of frittata and put it in her mouth. I watched as her expression shifted in real time from indifference to bliss.
“Oh my GOD,” she mumbled, her mouth still full.
I grinned at her. “I know, right? Once a kitchen witch cooks for you, you’ll never go back.”
My mom sat down and slid a mug of coffee across to Jess, who took a sip and then moaned.
