“Like you think pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps is more important than letting your friends help you?” Theo said.
Ethan opened his mouth to argue, but Poppy banged the gavel again with startling force.
“It’s settled,” Juniper said. “The BooBees may continue their walking, but they must remain in motion so as to not obstruct traffic on Brimrose Lane.” She shot them a stern look.
“Moving on!” Juniper called. “Before I introduce the next matter, a reminder to please refrain from interruptions, or Iwillbreak out the talking stick again.”
A collective shudder moved through the room.
“We’ve received word,” she continued, “that Brim’s Hollow will be visited by a member of the Bureau of Compliance.”
Gasps and mutters filled the gym. Ethan sat up straighter. The town’s outrage was exactly what he’d hoped for. If he were lucky, they would shut it down right now and put the whole matter to bed without Ethan having to even discuss it.
“The bureau will not be reviewing our civic compliance,” Juniper continued. “It is a targeted investigation.”
The room erupted into a full-on hornet’s nest of indignation. Mrs. Gribble clutched her shawl. Mr. Fritch muttered something about drones tracking our thoughts. Someone near the front was already drafting a strongly worded letter on the back of a napkin.
“Who are they investigating?” Tammy Gribble called out.
The chatter died off as everyone strained to be the first to hear the news. Juniper pinned Ethan with a look, and he swore he saw the slightest quirk of her eyebrow as she left the question unanswered.
Hell.He guessed he’d better get it over with.
Ethan stood slowly. “I’d like to request that the bureau stay off my land and out of our town.”
As expected, a chorus of assent rang out.
But Juniper cut it off with a raised hand and a regretful smile. “Unfortunately, we cannot. I’ve tried. We have repeatedly and unanimously voted against appointing a Director of Arcane Relations.” She looked up with pointed satisfaction. “Might I add, it remains the only issue in the entire history of Brim’s Hollow to receive a unanimous vote.”
The crowd hummed in agreement. Someone clapped. Someone else hissed, “Down with the government!”
Juniper lifted her chin. “Therefore, we have no local representative in the bureau, and despite being from the Anchor House, the Bureau does not care what I have to say.”
She consulted her clipboard again. “An official from the city will be arriving this week. Though their intention is to review only the Hale Family Orchard, we are to be on our best behavior. Which means, among other things, no unapproved potions, no spelling your animals to talk, and absolutely no hexing. Even if it’s ‘just a temporary magic-induced accent.’” She looked pointedly at her sister, Clover Marrow, who sat in the front row.
“Ridiculous,” someone whispered.
“I liked hearing what Buddy had to say,” someone else muttered.
Ethan nodded at Juniper, who still watched him like she expected an outburst, and sat back down.
Poppy banged the gavel for a new matter while Ethan stared at the scuffed floorboards. The meeting rolled forward. Talk of zoning permits and potholes filled the air, but it all bled together.
This is why he almost never asked for help. All the time, people tell him that it’s good to lean on people. Let them be there for him and the girls. That it’s healthier that way. Well, he tried.
Someone’s baby cried from the other side of the gym, and, though his kids were far from babies, the sound was enough to remind him why he didn’t get to wallow.
Theo eyed him, then leaned in to whisper. “You know she’s just coming for the well, right? You have nothing to worry about.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened. “I’m not worried about anything.”
“Didn’t say you were,” Theo said. He took another sip of his coffee, scrunched his nose, and placed the cup beneath his seat. “Just wondering what you’re scared she’ll find.”
Ethan didn’t answer.
Not because he didn’t know.
But because he did.
