Witch's Diary: A Paranormal Urban Fantasy Tale (Lost Library Book 4) by Kate Baray
Authors: Kate Baray
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doctor’s appointment go?”
“She didn’t say, other than ‘fine.’” Jack shifted in his seat. “But I’m just a friend. You’re the kid’s father. You should ask her yourself.”
“Ha, no. She can barely look at me, let alone hold a conversation. You’d think after we had lunch together and managed a semi-adult conversation, she’d be more comfortable.”
“Yeah, not so much. You need to ask her about her asshole ex-husband. Or better yet, don’t.” Jack leaned his seat back and shrugged his shoulders into the seatback. “It’s like these seats are calculated to be about three inches too narrow.”
“Her ex-husband?”
“Yeah. A complete shit. Kenna’s still convinced he was a good guy put in an untenable situation. Bullshit. He wouldn’t consider adoption. He wanted her to keep taking a bunch of drugs that made her miserable. And the worst part—she convinced herself it was what she wanted, too. She finally saw the light, and he left her without flinching.” Jack’s hands clenched on the armrest. “I really hate flying.”
“So you said.”
“No, what I’m saying is that you’ve caught me in a vulnerable moment. You pried the information from me while I was in fear for my life. Or some similar bull. Because if she finds out I’m spilling her personal shit to you, she’ll roast me alive—fire magic or no.”
“Not a word, I got it.”
“And?” Jack prompted him.
“And if she does find out, I pried it from your terrified, near-death lips.”
“Bingo.” Jack shut his eyes. “If I actually manage to fall asleep, wake my ass up in an hour or so, will you?”
Max shook his head. “Sure.”
Jack’s face wasn’t exactly relaxed, but he looked calm. Not for the first time, Max wondered about the man’s relationship with Kenna. Max couldn’t detect any signs of romance—or sex—between the two, but Jack clearly had strong feelings for Kenna. Beyond strong. He’d about busted a blood vessel talking about Kenna’s ex.
Max kicked back his own seat. If past experience proved true, sleep would be in short supply over the next few days. Better to grab rest when possible than agonize over an irrational jealousy of Jack. Although was his jealousy so irrational? It had been Jack who’d held Kenna’s hand at the doctor’s office. Not Max.
Max closed his eyes and feigned sleep.
Chapter 8
Kenna remembered the dark red doors and the height of the house. The building that housed the magical library, the lost but now found library, was noticeably taller than the neighboring row houses. But she hadn’t remembered it being such a cheerful place. She squinted up at the windows on the second and third floors. Yes—those were flower boxes in the window. And the shutters were painted a light shade of green, an interesting and attractive combination with the deep red door and trim.
It made sense that what had once been a prison of sorts was now homier. IPPC staff lived on site; this building was their home.
“Hey. Are you okay?” Max asked.
“Huh?” Kenna felt jet-lagged, and not at her best. But she could usually do better than “huh” on her worst day. Why did Max make her so nervous, still?
“You’ve been staring at the front door for a while now.” He had several bags in hand and had apparently stopped when he saw her staring off into space like an idiot.
Jack ignored them entirely and knocked on the door. Lizzie stood next to him, studiously admiring her shoes—and leaving Max and Kenna to their own devices. Kenna almost snorted in laughter. The whole situation was comical except for the fact that she was in the middle of it.
“All good—thanks. Just thinking the house had changed since I’d been here.”
Max gave her a puzzled look. “Okay. So you’re okay?”
“Yeah.” Kenna nodded toward the opening door. “Time to head in.”
A few minutes later, one of the staff had assigned them each to a room. Kenna, Lizzie, and Max were on the third floor, but
“She didn’t say, other than ‘fine.’” Jack shifted in his seat. “But I’m just a friend. You’re the kid’s father. You should ask her yourself.”
“Ha, no. She can barely look at me, let alone hold a conversation. You’d think after we had lunch together and managed a semi-adult conversation, she’d be more comfortable.”
“Yeah, not so much. You need to ask her about her asshole ex-husband. Or better yet, don’t.” Jack leaned his seat back and shrugged his shoulders into the seatback. “It’s like these seats are calculated to be about three inches too narrow.”
“Her ex-husband?”
“Yeah. A complete shit. Kenna’s still convinced he was a good guy put in an untenable situation. Bullshit. He wouldn’t consider adoption. He wanted her to keep taking a bunch of drugs that made her miserable. And the worst part—she convinced herself it was what she wanted, too. She finally saw the light, and he left her without flinching.” Jack’s hands clenched on the armrest. “I really hate flying.”
“So you said.”
“No, what I’m saying is that you’ve caught me in a vulnerable moment. You pried the information from me while I was in fear for my life. Or some similar bull. Because if she finds out I’m spilling her personal shit to you, she’ll roast me alive—fire magic or no.”
“Not a word, I got it.”
“And?” Jack prompted him.
“And if she does find out, I pried it from your terrified, near-death lips.”
“Bingo.” Jack shut his eyes. “If I actually manage to fall asleep, wake my ass up in an hour or so, will you?”
Max shook his head. “Sure.”
Jack’s face wasn’t exactly relaxed, but he looked calm. Not for the first time, Max wondered about the man’s relationship with Kenna. Max couldn’t detect any signs of romance—or sex—between the two, but Jack clearly had strong feelings for Kenna. Beyond strong. He’d about busted a blood vessel talking about Kenna’s ex.
Max kicked back his own seat. If past experience proved true, sleep would be in short supply over the next few days. Better to grab rest when possible than agonize over an irrational jealousy of Jack. Although was his jealousy so irrational? It had been Jack who’d held Kenna’s hand at the doctor’s office. Not Max.
Max closed his eyes and feigned sleep.
Chapter 8
Kenna remembered the dark red doors and the height of the house. The building that housed the magical library, the lost but now found library, was noticeably taller than the neighboring row houses. But she hadn’t remembered it being such a cheerful place. She squinted up at the windows on the second and third floors. Yes—those were flower boxes in the window. And the shutters were painted a light shade of green, an interesting and attractive combination with the deep red door and trim.
It made sense that what had once been a prison of sorts was now homier. IPPC staff lived on site; this building was their home.
“Hey. Are you okay?” Max asked.
“Huh?” Kenna felt jet-lagged, and not at her best. But she could usually do better than “huh” on her worst day. Why did Max make her so nervous, still?
“You’ve been staring at the front door for a while now.” He had several bags in hand and had apparently stopped when he saw her staring off into space like an idiot.
Jack ignored them entirely and knocked on the door. Lizzie stood next to him, studiously admiring her shoes—and leaving Max and Kenna to their own devices. Kenna almost snorted in laughter. The whole situation was comical except for the fact that she was in the middle of it.
“All good—thanks. Just thinking the house had changed since I’d been here.”
Max gave her a puzzled look. “Okay. So you’re okay?”
“Yeah.” Kenna nodded toward the opening door. “Time to head in.”
A few minutes later, one of the staff had assigned them each to a room. Kenna, Lizzie, and Max were on the third floor, but
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