“Tell me what kind of things, Rhett. This could be important.”
He sighs again, and I mix the batter. “Just that maybe if we couldn’t fix this, staying here wouldn’t be so bad.”
“You’re serious?” Gus says, the excitement in his voice loud and clear.
“Yeah, why?”
“Yes!” Gus shouts. I hear footsteps coming this way. I turn to see Gus dragging Rhett behind him.
“What the heck, Gus?” He yanks his arm away. “What are you doing?”
“I was right,” Gus says excitedly. “About the curse.”
“What are you talking about?” Rhett says, looking from Gus to me.
“The night I stayed human, I thought that staying here wouldn’t be so bad as long as Daisy was here. I thought that maybe it had to do with our mindset, like the way we think. And after what you just said? That has to be it!”
Rhett looks between us. “You’re serious?”
“He did say that,” I say. “I’m not sure if it’s that or something else we’re missing, but it fits.”
Rhett blinks a few times. “We have to tell Wade.” He turns for the door.
“No!” Gus barks, grabbing his arm. “No, we can’t.”
“What do you mean we can’t?” Rhett barks. “We have to.”
“If you don’t let him come to the conclusion on his own, it may not work. And if he does it and it doesn’t work… how will that make him feel?” Gus says. Rhett’s brows furrow. “I think it has to be something in here.” He puts his hand on his chest. “It can’t be a shallow thing. It has to mean something. I think that’s what this is all about. Teaching us a lesson onbeing human. On having feelings. On not treating people like crap over property.”
“You came to all of that?” Rhett says. “All by yourself?”
“Well, yeah. Most of it right this very moment, but I’m not as stupid as you think I am.” He grins.
Rhett shakes his head. “Unbelievable.” He looks at me. “You agree with this?”
I shrug. “I don’t know as much as you all do, but Gus has been talking to me about it. And… well, it seems to be what’s going on.”
“And you agree about not telling Wade?”
I nod. “Yeah, I do.”
Rhett takes a deep breath, blowing it out. “Fine. But if he gets mad about this later, you can deal with it.”
Rhett goes out the front door, and Gus stands there, watching me.
“Let me help you with breakfast,” he says, leaning in to kiss my cheek.
Chapter Nineteen
Daisy
OnlyGushasdinnerwith me tonight. Wade has been wandering around the property all day, looking for things to fix and fixing things that aren’t broken. We’ve all let him be, giving him his space. But I was surprised that Rhett didn’t show up, so when the dishes are all clean, I head out to look for him while Gus takes a shower.
I find him sitting against the tree by the tire swing, a melancholic look on his face.
He’s picking at the grass, looking out over the property. He doesn’t acknowledge me when I get closer, and I know he can see and hear me.
“Is it okay if I sit?” I ask.
