Page 14 of Woods of the Raven

They both agreed that the rapids made it look both scary and amazing.

“Okay, so hit me,” I prodded Delia.

“And you’ll keep it between us?”

“If I can,” I replied honestly. “As long as it’s not something I think could hurt you. Then I’d have to tell your aunt because for one, it’s the right thing to do, and for two, I respect her too much to keep secrets from her.”

“That’s fair,” she agreed but didn’t say anything more.

“D,” Cass implored.

“I feel dumb,” she told her friend.

“It’s not dumb. Just tell him.”

Delia took a breath. “Okay, so a year ago,” she began softly, “my parents died in a car accident. They were hit by a drunk driver on their way to pick me up from the airport.”

I was quiet, just listening.

“I was supposed to be gone a whole other week on this trip to Paris, but I got super homesick and wanted to come home early, so I did, but if I hadn’t, they wouldn’t have been on the road and—”

“May I interrupt?”

She nodded.

“When you told them you wanted to come home early, were they happy or sad?”

“That has nothing to do with—”

“Please,” I insisted. “Humor me.”

“They were happy, but—”

“Is it possible that you’re blaming yourself for circumstances outside your control? Don’t you think the person you should blame for the death of your parents is the person who chose to drink before getting behind the wheel of a car?”

Delia shivered. “That’s what Uncle Troy says.”

“I’ve always found Troy to be a very smart man.”

She nodded and then tipped her head, looking at me. “Yeah, agreed, but can I change the subject for a second and ask you what was up with that hat?”

“Hat?”

“Yeah. That day Aunt Rita took me to your house to bring you honey and we took home all those herbs and vegetables, you were outside in that weird hat.” When I gasped, Delia chuckled, and so did Cass, which was a really good sound from both of them. “C’mon,” she teased me, “you know it’s insane.”

“I’ll have you know that’s my gardening hat,” I said, trying for affronted.

“It’s huge.” Delia was still laughing. “You could block out the sun with that thing.”

Which was very much the point. “When you came over that day, you really liked my cat, Argos,” I reminded her.

“Oh yeah. He’s a sweetie. Since he’s a black cat, I hope you kept him in before Halloween and after.”

Anyone stupid enough to try and hurt him would be treated to him turning into his true form and devouring them. That was one black cat she didn’t have to worry about. “I assure you he’s quite safe.”

“Good. I’m glad.”

“Your aunt and uncle are lovely people, but I’m sure you know that.”