fits the crime.â She looked up at Rowan and tried to coax a smile out of him. She knew he was still upset that she wouldnât share memories from the oubliette with him that morning, and sheâd spent the rest of the day trying to thaw the frost between them.
âThe punishment definitely fits the crime,â he said, finally giving her that smile she was after. âKeep stirring. Iâll go see how Samanthaâs doing with dinner.â
âUh-oh,â Lily said, looking across the living room and into the kitchen. âYou left her alone in there? With the stove on?â
âShe can handle it,â he replied calmly. A clank, a hiss, and a cuss came from the kitchen. âAnd that would be her handling it without an oven mitt. Iâll be back.â Rowan let his fingers trail across the sliver of exposed skin between Lilyâs T-shirt and the waistband of her jeans before darting off to rescue her befuddled mother.
Lily watched his lithe frame disappear into the kitchen and heard his deep voice rumbling under her motherâs nervous tittering and leaned toward it. Wherever Rowan went was where Lily wanted to be.
âKeep stirring, lover girl,â Juliet taunted from the sofa. She put down her magazine and tucked her bare feet under her.
âYou donât get to fill in as taskmaster just because heâs gone,â Lily said, making a childish face at her sister, but picking up her stirring speed nonetheless.
Whatâs going on with you two, Lily?
Itâs complicated, Jules.
Iâll bet. Relationships are hard enough without adding the whole âheâs from one world, Iâm from anotherâ thing. Literally, in your case.
Youâd think mindspeak would make it easier, but it doesnât.
The house phone rang and Juliet reached over her shoulder to pick up the receiver on the coffee table.
âProctor residence. Hello, Dr. Rosenthal,â Juliet said, straightening her posture when she heard the voice of the superintendent of the Salem school system.
Lily tried to get closer to her sister and listen in on the conversation, but she was stuck at armâs length, stirring the cauldron.
âYes, Lilyâs feeling much better,â Juliet said, waving Lily away. âThey say sheâs practically cured. Can you believe it? Sheâs almost completely over her allergies.â There was another long, agonizing pause. âWell, yes, I think she would be able to go back to school. Oh, yes, of course. Everyone wants Lily to graduate on time. Yes. Yes, I know, sheâs always been at the top of her class and she shouldnât have any problem making up for lost time.â
What the hell, Jules? I canât do that!
Yes, you can. You have a photographic memory now. All you have to do is read and repeat on your exams. Now shut up so I can concentrate on Dr. Rosenthal.
âYes, sir. But you know things are complicated at home for us,â Juliet said sweetly into the phone. âLily is still going through a lot of changes and we have a ⦠aâ¦â Juliet looked up at Lily frantically.
Whatâs the word when you have a counselor working with you on your lifestyle, Lily?
A life coach?
Bingo.
âA holistic life coach working with her and our mother for the next few months until they readjust,â Juliet said smoothly. âYes. Yes, of course we all want Lily to graduate. Iâll talk it over with my parents and weâll call you tomorrow, Dr. Rosenthal. Yes. Thank you.â Juliet hung up the phone and looked at Lily. âYouâre going back to school.â
Lily knew this was coming, but it still rankled inside her. Why couldnât Simms just stay out of it?
âWhen?â Lily asked around the bitter lump in her throat.
Juliet shrugged. âHe seemed to want you back in class by next week.â
âSheâll be ready,â Rowan said, joining them.
âThis is so ridiculous,â
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