Okay then.
“A birdie did tell me when I promised I was talented and liked to do this a lot,” Winter muttered under his breath. “Tracey likes smoked salmon. I told her where to get the maple cream I’ve used to make it killer and I would smoke enough to fill her freezer if she gave me the deets to win over your fit, flat tummy.”
“Show me the way, Sir Winter,” I whispered as I bumped his arm. I was a diligent student as he told me the general recipe but with his tweaks. We were starting later than normal because of getting things set up, so he was raising the temp just a bit and we wouldn’t be any wiser.
He promised or I could spank him. It made his friends laugh to hear that.
There wereseveralpork butts—technically pork shoulders, so I had no idea why they were called butts. So people could joke about smacking them? No one wanted to eat an animal’s shoulder?
Either way, it was a lot of food and smelled fucking fantastic. Something about seeing the wood be thrown on, hearing the meat sizzle, and all the smells was just cathartic. So when one of Taylor’s guys discreetly handed me a spiked seltzer, it seemed like the perfect time to just be a college kid.
Seriously.
I had a moment to think about it still being morning but then shrugged and enjoyed the peace because I needed it, rarely got it.
“Grandfather would have loved this,” I said when Clare joined me about twenty minutes later. “There was such a pain in him that the Shaws didn’t just take over the Millens and him, but wiped out their memory and history. He used to say the life of this place—people found solace at the Millen vacation homes.”
She reached over and took my drink, making me worry she was chastising me. But she simply took a sip and gave it back. “You knew him in a way that I didn’t and it irks me.”
“I feel the same way about Grandmother,” I admitted. “I didn’t realize that until today. She genuinely loves you and I didn’t know she had the ability to love, simply be proud of you and Jean. But sheloves youand me she treated like a reject. The failed Shaw and embarrassment.” I snorted and took a sip. “If I wasn’t, they would have killed me. Our family is fucked.”
“Yeah, beyond words because I still want that love,” she whispered and then thanked someone. She had a drink of her own when I glanced over. “But this is nice. If he liked that people found solace here then yes, this is exactly what Grandfatherwould have wanted with this land. Well done to Winter and Danny for coming up with this.”
“You knew?” I hedged.
“I walked in on them talking to Tracey with an idea on what to do to help.” She glanced at me and leaned in a bit, lowering her voice. “He’s got aloton his plate with being a master’s student. It’s no joke at Morrigan, but he is a man who sees the big picture and is willing to help. So know he puts in the time to navigate and call in favors.”
I nodded when she gestured out to what was going on around us. “Thanks for approving this.”
“I was worried my two cents wouldn’t be welcome.” She let out a shaky breath. “Tracey doesn’t feel I’m on the team yet.”
I thought on that as I took another sip. “She saw the abused child I was in that house and it’s all tied together to her, Clare. You were one of those who hurt me. She needs time to resettle as much as we do.” I turned to her and waited until she looked at me. “Please be patient with her. She promised to protect me and then couldn’t because I was trapped in there.”
She swallowed loudly. “And Grandfather died, so her protection was also gone.” Her eyes flashed shock at whatever was on my face. “You never realized that before?”
“I don’t… Tracey’s always been the adult to me.”
“Fair,” she accepted and looked back out at the platform being built.
That Wes was building more specifically. I wasn’t going near that, but I did note it.
“I’d like to start your sessions with your familiar next week,” I said gently. “I think we should have one like I want to do with Taylor. I want you to see what Tracey has with Woodchuck. For different reasons. Woodchuck is little and what they have—she’s more powerful than Jean.”
“I’ve been better,” Clare said, her tone defensive.
“You have. You need to heal, but it’s hard to know what you’re working towards without a goal. I’ve learned that fast helping people. I flounder every fucking day trying to map this out blindly. I don’t want that for you when I have this answer. Others I can’t give you or are different for everyone.”
She was quiet for several minutes as we just enjoyed the morning. “Thank you. I’d like that.” She took in a long breath and stood, downing the rest of her drink. “You should know I blew up at Grandmother. I told her that you were smarter than I was and a better witch, so I was done with the cuts and toxic women in our family. That if she—I was loyal.”
I grabbed her wrist when she went to turn away but immediately let it go. “It’s never about you being loyal to me or not, Clare. Thank you for defending me. Really, but I don’t want loyalty tests like we’ve suffered through. Do it foryou.”
“Her tearing you down has nothing to do with me,” Clare said firmly.
“But it does,” Tracey disagreed as she joined us with Jasmine. “Because you chose this side and to be a Millen who she resented. She treated Henry like her dog more than her mate. Bernice Shaw is tearing into the side you chose as a way to undercut your decision, Clare. Always be aware she has other motives.”
“Yes, but—”
“I met Bernice when I was still in school and Henry was mentoring me,” Tracey continued. “She snorted and said, ‘Still refusing to take our name? They wouldn’t have stuck you with an orphan witch ofthatbackground if you weren’t still a Millen, Henry.’”
