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Our conversation with Hannah delayed us from our original departure plans, and by the time Kyle and I arrived in Hillendale, it was after ten. Kyle dropped me at the shop for the few hours I’d told Cassandra I would work.
When I walked into Windfall, Lisa and Cassandra were deep in conversation about my wedding.
“Wait,” I said, barely out of my coat. “You’re planning my wedding without me?”
“Well, you don’t have a mother to hover over you, and Nora is always so preoccupied, we figured you could use the help,” Lisa said.
“What she said,” Cassandra added.
I laughed. “You two do realize it’s going to be little more than a walk in the park, don’t you? Think City Hall but with a gazebo.”
“A decorated gazebo,” Lisa said. “You still need flowers, and music, and a party afterward, not to mention a gorgeous dress.”
I held up my hands. “Who said anything about a gorgeous dress?” The bridal shop window came to mind. Me? In a fancy dress? “I’m so much more of a jeans and tunic type girl.”
“Every girl should feel like a princess on her wedding day,” Lisa said.
I nudged her with a shoulder. “Funny, I just came from Aerie Castle, and I didn’t have to wear any fancy dresses there to feel like a princess.”
“I could make something for you,” Cassandra said. She tweaked her chin and squinted at me. “In fact, I have a few ideas. Something that suits you, but also speaks to the occasion.”
“You know we have nearly six months, don’t you?” I asked.
“Which is why we have to get moving. May will be here before you know it. How about you and I go shopping when you get done here or, better yet...” Lisa turned to Cassandra. “You don’t need her here today, do you?”
I held up a palm. “Stop right there. I’m going to see the new baby.”
“You’d rather go see the offspring of that evil cousin of yours than spend the day flitting around the mall with your best friend?” Lisa tabled her hands under her chin and batted her eyelashes, which made me laugh.
“My evil cousin is out of town, so this might be my only chance,” I said. “You can drag me around by the hair tomorrow if you want to.”
“And before you go to the mall, you can stop by my place,” Cassandra said. “I should have enough time to draw up a couple of designs for you to consider. Then I can flit around the mall with you guys.”
“It’s a date,” Lisa said. “But I still don’t know why you’re even bothering with your awful cousin. I thought you’d put your shitty family behind you.”
“They’re still family,” I pointed out. “I have to at least try.”
“You know how I feel about family,” Cassandra said. “But I agree with Lisa here, and I don’t even know the whole story. I do, however, know your cousin, and he’s a Class A dick. He’s made his feelings pretty clear.”
I gave her arm a squeeze. “Yeah, but he has a sweet little girl who loves her Aunt Brynn.”
Cassandra sighed. “Well, there is that to consider. But is it worth the hate he throws you?”
“Not forever.”
A blanket of melancholy settled on me. If we couldn’t make this family thing work, all indications pointed to LeAnne having the skills to provide Georgia with what she needed, but I had to be sure. I couldn’t turn my back on LeAnne when she had reached out for help.
To Separate a Witch from her Power.
I shivered. The hidden grimoire had indicated a last resort wasn’t off the table. What could call for such drastic measures?
Lisa took a step closer. “I’ll go with you.”
I laughed her off. “Why would you want to spend a day with my evil cousin’s family?”
“Because you suddenly look like you could use a friend,” Cassandra answered.
My heart swelled. I hugged Lisa. “Thanks, but I’ve got this.” I turned to Cassandra and hugged her, too. “You guys are the best.”
They shared their plans for my wedding in between customers. Shortly after noon, Lisa went home for lunch and I made a sandwich run. When one-thirty rolled around, I headed home to pick up my car.
Kyle was waiting when I walked inside.
“I fed Ash,” he said. “My offer to go with you still stands.”
“I’m not expecting any trouble,” I told him.
“You should be.”
I thought again about my life before I’d come to Hillendale, how I’d had no one who cared about me, followed by the unexpected outpouring from everyone here. I’d never learned when or how to ask for help, or how to accept it gracefully, but one thing I knew for sure. I had to go see LeAnne and Georgia by myself.
“You can’t know how much it means to me that you’ve offered,” I told him. “Lisa offered, too.”
“Lisa doesn’t know the things I do.”
Which was true, especially the latest developments. “Aside from when Nora took me in, I have never felt so loved,” I whispered, my voice failing me. Tears welled in my eyes. I told him Lisa and Cassandra were taking me out to do wedding planning tomorrow, distracting him long enough to get a smile, then finished with, “I have to do this on my own.”
“At least give yourself backup,” he said. “If things get dicey, shoot me a text, a code in case you need back-up. How about ‘I’ll be home soon.’ Type it now. Have it ready, just in case.”
I did as Kyle asked, kissed him, and put on my coat. Ash came bounding across the sofa and pawed at her basket.
“Oh, you want to go, too?” I asked her. She purred and I lifted the lid. I smiled at Kyle. “Georgia will be happy to see her, I’m sure.”
“Be careful. Both of you.”
“We will.” I picked up the basket and left to find out if LeAnne was, in fact, hoping to embrace family, or if she had a hidden agenda. Either way, I needed to see Georgia.