Kelly wanted to wear her new dress out, so after she and Jane changed and did their makeup – and Jane handed a sleepy Connor over to Rowan, who’d offered to babysit – we went for a pub crawl. Each venue was older and narrower than the last. Kelly and Jane sat off to the side and gossiped about movie stars, while Corbin and I managed to fill the guys in on what we found and what we were going to do next.
“Is this going to help us?” Arthur said. “What if this guy is so crazy Google can’t even translate him?”
I groaned. “Can we leave the Flynn jokes to the resident expert? I don’t think I can take any more.”
Arthur shrugged. “The opening was there. I took it.”
“Where is Flynn, anyway?” Corbin asked. “Has someone texted him?”
I didn’t want to talk about Flynn. I entered the bathroom just as Jane emerged from one of the stalls. “Quick,” she whispered. “Kelly’s chatting to some football twat at the bar. Give me the gossip.”
I filled her in on the content of the letters. “I feel as though we’re getting close.” I shrugged. “So we’re going to Avebury next. Corbin says there’s another coven there who may be a little more accommodating. Will you come, too?”
She nodded. “It’s good to get out of Crookshollow for a few days, blow the cobwebs out. I’ll keep Kelly occupied while you guys get your witch on.”
“Thank you for looking after her. Flynn’s been shirking his duties, big surprise there. I’m glad she’s having fun with you.”
“No need to thank me,” Jane shrugged. “It’s fun. Kelly’s awesome.”
“Does she—” I lowered my voice. “Does she ask you about me?”
Jane nodded. “She’s…suspicious. She’s been here a few days and you’ve hardly spent any time with her. And when you are around, you’re tired and distracted. She thinks you don’t want her to be part of your life over here.”
I sighed. “That’s ridiculous.”
“I know that, and you know that, but look at it from Kelly’s point of view. You made her a promise back in America.”
“I’ll always be there for you,” I mumbled, gripping the edge of the sink.
Jane nodded. “Just because she’s not in the hospital anymore and she’s got her pink backpack doesn’t mean she doesn’t need you. But you’re always off with the guys doing some ‘research project’ and you won’t tell her anything and she thinks it’s your way of telling her to piss off. You need to show her that’s not true or she’ll take that ridiculous backpack of hers and leave.”
“I know.” Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. “I know, but I’m so tired. The whole world is falling apart around me. I can’t do it all. I can’t keep up. Arthur’s being weird and Flynn isn’t talking to me and in a week the Slaugh are going to behereand I don’t know what to do about any of it.”
“Can I make a suggestion? You need to tell Kelly the truth.”
I shook my head. “I can’t.”
“Youcan. You’re Maeve Moore. You’re a fucking witch. You can do anything. At least tell her about the guys. She’s worried you’re cheating on Arthur with Corbin. Remember, you’re asking them to lie for you, too. Don’t tell me they can all be relied on not to slip up. She’ll find out eventually, and it will be even worse if you don’t tell her first.”
“Have you told her about you?” I asked. “She grew up in a conservative Christian household. Even if she’s a good person, she still believes prostitution and fornication are sins.”
Jane pursed her lips. “So I can’t be friends with Kelly because of myjob?”
“You know I don’t believe that, but she will.”
Jane laughed, scorn digging at the back of her throat. “You’re the one who keeps bringing it up. Maybe you don’t know Kelly as well as you think you do. Maybe if you weren’t so busy with the guys, you’d have bothered to talk to her and you’d see?—”
Her comment stung. “I’m trying to saveyourson,” I snapped. “I’m doing the best I can. You can’t possibly understand the complexity of what I’m dealing with. It’s not just about one single mom who doesn’t even know who her kid’s dad is. It’s the whole damn world?—”
“Fuck you, Maeve.” Jane whirled around, her hair flying behind her.
The bathroom door slammed shut.
I pressed my cheek against the cool mirror.Shit.Why the hell did I say that? How had that gone so wrong, so fast?
Of all people, Jane understands what it’s like to be on the receiving end of religious fervour from people you care about. Let her tell Kelly what she does for a living and feel the sting of that judgment.
I slunk back outside. Flynn had just arrived, and he was smiling and laughing with the others like nothing was wrong.
