The Truth about Broken Trees (Light Keeper Series Book 3)

by Kelly Hall

  I jumped to my feet and headed to the hall. “Am not.”

  “Whatever. Come on, let’s have some fun.” I knew I might as well give up. He’d never give it a rest, and besides, even though I knew the truth, Owen still thought we were cousins.

  I pushed the vision to the back of my mind, sure that it wouldn’t happen yet. “I’ll be right over.” I took a deep breath after hanging up the phone.

  I made my way across the backyard and into Granny’s spotless kitchen through the backdoor. Deep into her movie, she barely waved when I walked in. The sound of her TV faded into Owen’s music as I walked toward his room.

  I could see him through a crack in the door, laid out on his weight bench, pressing his bar stacked with weights. I pushed it open. “Owen?” He dropped the bar into its rack and sat up.

  “Come on in.” He grabbed his dumbbell. “I’ve just got this last rep and I’ll be done. His bare chest glistened with sweat and I watched his arms tighten and relax. I caught myself staring and looked away as heat pooled in my cheeks.

  “So what do you want to do?” I perused his room, checking out his trophies and noticing they didn’t have a speck of dust.

  “Take a shower.” “Then, I’ll take you to a movie if you want.” His brows rose. “Do you want?” He raised a brow waiting for me to accept. After what happened the last time we went to a movie together, I might decline. It had been the night he’d kissed me, just days before learning the lie about our kinship.

  “Sure,” I answered. “Everything except the shower. I think I’ll pass on that.” I laughed.

  “You’re a riot.” He stood up and wiped the sweat from his chest and neck. I diverted my eyes. “Will you give me ten minutes?”

  “You reek. Better make it twenty.” I curled my lip up and held my nose.

  “Very funny. I’ll be right back.” He walked out and then leaned back to peek around the door. “Hey, will you find me a shirt to wear?” I nodded, waving him away.

  I heard the water start in the shower as I went into his closet and sifted through his shirts. The tiny space smelled like his cologne and fresh laundry.

  I finally found one that I always liked him in, a baby blue button down. His green eyes always looked a bit brighter in this one. Not as green as mine, of course, but his sparkled like emeralds.

  I went the extra mile to take out his faded jeans. As I searched for his boots, he walked in behind me. I turned and found him standing at his dresser with nothing on but a towel, water still beaded on his back.

  “Owen!” I looked sideways and then away from him.

  “Calm down, I won’t let the towel slip. Wouldn’t want you all hot for me. We might end up on Jerry Springer.” He waggled his brows. “I forgot something and I didn’t think you’d want to bring them to me.” He laughed, twirling his undies on his finger before gathering his clothes from my arms. “Thanks,” he said, on his way out. Owen had no shame and no modesty, and no idea how uncomfortable he could make me feel.

  ***

  The Riley boys’ car, a red 1971 Barracuda—which we affectionately called ‘Cuda—smelled like vanilla, old leather, and motor oil. It also needed a new paint job, but it was fast.

  Owen, speeding down Bragg Road, looked at his reflection in the rear view mirror and ran his hands across his short dirty blond hair. It had grown longer than normal on top. “I need a haircut. You think Cate could hook me up?” he asked. He’d never been shy about asking Mom for a freebie, and even she couldn’t resist his charms.

  “Yeah, sure.” I watched the white line on the road. He put his arm across the back of the seat and reached out to stroke my hair. He always played with my hair and I’d been needy enough not to mind, but now it just seemed awkward, knowing Granny’s secret. I shrugged away.

  “Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to mess up your hair, princess,” he joked. Then he reached over and patted my hand. Again, something I normally wouldn’t mind or even notice, but not anymore. I looked ahead aware that now and then he glanced my way.

  I had always understood why Talon had reservations about Owen and me being so close. We did seem to get along better and been more comfortable with each other than most cousins. Maybe because we weren’t. It never felt wrong before, but I started to see what Talon had meant about sharing me. Somehow now, I almost felt unfaithful to him. I had to remind myself again we’d broken up, and that thought led to more confusion.

  ***

  The number of people that showed up at the theater on a holiday was pretty impressive. With drinks in hand, we found seats towards the back. Owen had his free hand on my shoulder to help guide me in the dark. He could be a real gentleman at times and even let me have the armrest.

  Halfway through the movie he got up to go get a refill. As he walked out, someone called my name. “Lily,” they whispered. To my dismay, I turned to see Zeb French in the dark, two rows behind me with a pair of familiar faces.

  “You gonna glow in the dark, Freak?” The voice sounded different: female, snotty, loud, and obnoxious. Meagan Martin. She sat with French and his cousin, Dodie Sheffield, who’d recently become her boyfriend. French threw her a look and Dodie told her to shut up. Great boyfriend.

  “Talk to me after the movie,” French whispered out again, followed by a string of hisses and dirty looks from the crowd.

  When Owen returned I told him what he’d missed, about the movie and French. “Are you going to talk to him?” he asked. “I don’t know if I like that idea.”

  “I’ll make it quick. Surely he knows better than to mess with me here.” Owen slumped down in his seat sulking, and he stayed that way till the movie ended.

  When we walked outside we found Meagan, Dodie, and French waiting by French’s Jeep: a huge, brown, monster of a thing, and always covered in so much mud you couldn’t tell where the paint ended and the mud began.

  Meagan rolled her eyes at us. “I see you two have finally hooked up. Back-woods cousin lovin’—how gross.” She curled her lip defining the word.

  “Yeah, real smart, piss off the witch.” French glared at her like his patience had worn thin. “Dodie, get her dumb ass out of here.” He spat on the ground and came strolling toward us, his hands stuffed deep in his jean pockets.

  Owen grasped my hand and pulled me back, trying to keep me from getting too close to the guy who’d kidnapped him, tried to shoot him, and beaten him up. I couldn’t blame him for being a little apprehensive but strangely, he seemed more afraid for me than himself.

  “So Lily, I wonder if we can make a deal. I need some of your spells.” French smiled. Seeing the strange expression on his face made me uneasy.

  Owen came to my defense. “She can’t just do you favors whenever you want them. That’s not how it works.” French still thought I was a witch. We’d told him that on Halloween after I’d used the Water to save his life. We couldn’t have him knowing the truth.

  French frowned. “Well, I figured since you didn’t mind helping Owen here with football, you could help me out too.” Owen had taken the Water to improve his game, but had to quit the team after the coach threatened a drug test. Not that Owen used drugs, but we had no idea the contents in the Water, or what would show up in his body at the time. We’d recently learned the Water didn’t have any strange properties other than being spelled with magic. How? We didn’t quite know, but it enhanced my powers and made me glow. It also made anyone who drank it faster and stronger, and it could heal.

  “I didn’t help him.” I shrugged nonchalantly. “Owen is very talented.”

  “Please, the way he played? I was there, remember? Even his teammates couldn’t keep up.” He leaned in closer. “I felt it, you know? I felt it for a while after. I was stronger, faster. I need it again.” His tone deepened desperately. “Just think it over.” He sounded menacing enough normally, and downright scary now. He casually strolled away, climbed in his Jeep, and started the engine.

  Owen took my hand and led me to the car. “I can’t believe that jerk a
sked you for favors after nearly killing me.”

  “I can. He’s not the first person to ask for favors.” I raised my brow reminding him of the time he’d asked for favors of his own.

  Owen dropped my hand and gave me a sour look. “Well, you didn’t help me, remember? And I never tried to kill you.” He had a point.

  We got in the car and buckled up. “Why haven’t you gone back to sports, now that you know there is nothing in the Water that can be detected in any sort of drug test? I mean, you love baseball, right? Why don’t you stop dosing and play?”

  He bit his lip, thinking over his answer.

  “There are more important things than sports, Lily. Besides, with all that has happened I would have to put up with the other guys again. They gave me hell last time and I really don’t think that’s going to change. Especially if I go out there and show them up again.” I hated the fact that he had to give up something he loved because of the Water and all that had happened. I looked to the floorboard and got quiet, saddened by the thought.

  “Hey, no worries, it’s not the end of the world. I like my life better now anyway.” He gave me a warm smile and I truly believed him. I also understood him, because although things were not how I had ever imagined, I wouldn’t trade them to have my old life for anything.

  ***

  I got home just in time for Talon’s goodnight call. He kept it brief, which I expected. Before the break-up we’d talk for an hour just about how much we missed staring into each other’s eyes or the taste of each other’s kisses. However pointless to dwell on, I missed those things just the same.

  When I hung up, Holly came in to go to bed. Mom stirred in the kitchen, banging around plates and glasses as she cured a craving I’d guess. She’d had a lot of those lately.

  I lay in Talon’s bed in my favorite pink tank, not at all tired. I thought more about LeAnn and her threats and decided I needed to try and see the outcome if I could.

  I fully intended to wait until after everyone was asleep, but it all happened so fast I couldn’t help it. I lost control. Not that I ever had much off the Water, but usually just thinking about it didn’t make it happen. This time it did.

  The Light showed up at my feet, filling the room with brightness so intense that it shined down the hall.

  “Lily?” What’s that?” Mom called from the kitchen. She sounded panicked and probably thought the house was on fire.

  I froze and the Light vanished. I had to think fast, but before I could speak, Holly called out: “It was me, Cate. Just playing with Hunter’s spotlight, sorry.”

  “Oh, okay. Goodnight girls.” She called from right down the hall. She’d almost come in. We listened to her steps as they made their way back across the living room, through the kitchen, and into her room.

  “Holy crap, Lily, you almost got busted.” Holly put her hand over her mouth at the doorway.

  “I didn’t mean for that to happen. I’ve lost all control lately.”

  “Look, I know it’s hard for you to take the Water after what happened with Kevin, but lately you just seem too out of control. This is twice now,” she reminded. “Maybe you should take the Water. Alyssa led you to it for a reason. I don’t think there’s any way to avoid being what you are, so just deal with it already.” She waited for me to disagree. But I couldn’t. I knew she was right.

  I followed her to my bed across the hall and reached under my mattress for my decorative flask. It felt cold like always. I took a sip, closed it tight, and tucked it back in its place.

  “Satisfied? Now, let’s get some sleep.” I went back to Talon’s bed and buried my face to breathe in the scent of his pillow. I imagined Owen mocking me, but I didn’t care.

  ***

  The next day Holly and I dragged Owen and Hunter along on a shopping trip. We desperately needed to bulk up our winter wardrobe and get in on the Black Friday sales. Mom and her friend Janet had taken off well before dawn after leaving Holly and me each two crisp hundreds for our week of work. It was more than we’d earned and we didn’t expect that much, but Mom wanted to thank us for helping out. “A little Christmas bonus,” she’d called it.

  Owen sighed impatiently as we made our way to the dressing room. “You’re gonna try on all of that?” He frowned at the pile of clothes in my arms.

  “Yes, and you get to hold the extras.” I counted out the eight items the store allowed to bring in and then shoved the others at him with a smile.

  He huffed and stepped away regarding the clothes with a frown. “Great, just what I’ve always wanted to do.”

  “Get used to it,” Hunter warned. “Holly has me trained. You better find out Lily’s size, she’ll have you going to the rack for her before it’s over.”

  “I doubt that. She should have brought Talon along if she wanted a valet.” He laughed with a certain macho arrogance as if he thought himself too manly for that, but before long he made trips to the racks just like Hunter warned.

  “Owen? Can you do me up?” I walked out in a black dress that zipped from my waist. I’d only managed to get it up so high.

  “Okay, maybe this is not so bad.” He laughed wickedly until I poked his arm.

  “Be serious. I love this dress. What do you think?”

  His hand slid up my back and I stepped away. “Wow. You look... gorgeous.”

  “Really?” I searched his eyes for the truth and realized he’d meant it. I had heard him and Talon use the word many times to describe other girls, but never me. I always got the simple compliments like beautiful and pretty. Boring. He did call me “hot” once.

  He eyed me from head to toe. “You should get it.”

  I laughed. “It’s a little much, way more than I can spend. I just tried it on for fun.” What I didn’t tell him was that I’d tried it on every time I’d gone to the mall in the past weeks, which had been two other times. I turned to look in the mirror at the beautiful dress, but then held out the tag so he could see it.

  He read it and pretended to choke. “You’re worth it, though. If I was rich, I’d buy it for you.” I couldn’t help but giggle. Little does he know. “What? I’m serious.”

  “You’re sweet.” I smiled, giving his reflection a glance and turning in the mirror. “I think I better stick with casual wear, it’s the most practical for Bragg Road living. Now, do you mind?” I motioned for him to unzip me.

  “Wow, to think I used to dream of this moment,” he said, earning another poke.

  Hunter laughed. “Used to,” he mumbled. Holly frowned as she hung her clothes on the return rack and then gave him a nudge. We usually avoided these awkward moments, but I feared soon there’d be more to come.

  Owen’s expression hardened at Hunter’s words and that’s when it hit me. Owen would be devastated. As soon as Granny tells him, everything is going to change. My heart ached for him.

  ***

  When we got home, Holly and I hid our gifts away in our shared closet so Mom and Talon wouldn’t find them. We’d promised each other we’d act surprised about our own gift exchange since we’d each picked out our own. I hadn’t bought my gifts for Owen or Hunter yet, but got Granny a Hitchcock’s Classics box set that I found at half the price, and I bought Tom a new shirt.

  Holly talked Hunter into taking her out for a ride. That left me and Owen to talk on the patio in front of the fire.

  “I had a close call last night,” I said. “Mom almost caught me with the Light. It just appeared out of nowhere and she saw it shining down the hall.”

  “Oh crap!” He frowned. “You need better control, Lily. She’d drop that baby early if she saw you.” He gave a short laugh.

  “I know, and to make things worse, I found out positively that my dad was a Light Keeper.”

  His eyes widened and his mouth popped open. “Did she know? Does she know about you?”

  “No, Mom thought he was going crazy. She’s determined not to believe in anything paranormal. She even saw it once, but thought it was ball lightning. I asked
what she would do if I told her I had powers and she flipped out on me and started insisting that I’m a ‘normal girl’.”

  “Wow! That’s pretty big news. Is that what’s been bothering you?” Owen was the only one who hadn’t been bugging me about my mood after the vision of me and him. I swallowed hard thinking of it. I hated being reminded and having to think about it right in front of him, I felt my face grow hot and no doubt it was turning red.

  “Kind of,” I lied. “That and Talon. Anyway, I wondered if you’d sneak out with me.”

  He threw his hand over his heart to feign shock. “Sneak out? I don’t know,” he teased, with his mouth gaping. “Of course. You’d do it for me, right?”

  “Sure, even if you didn’t want me to.” I reminded with a wink, and we both laughed sharing the memory.

  Chapter Five

  I had planned to sneak out after Talon’s call, but it never came. So I waited for Holly and Mom to fall asleep, and then I crept out the front door with Talon’s flashlight leading the way.

  I hated being out there all alone at night, and the crickets seemed to sound a warning from what might be lurking in the dark woods. My heart beat a little faster and my steps quickened as I approached Owen’s window and tapped lightly on the screen.

  “Looking for someone?” I jumped as a voice came from behind me. Owen sat perched atop the hood of his car, smiling.

  “Don’t do that,” I scolded. “You scared me half to death.”

  “You walked right past me, I couldn’t help it. So where to? The shack? The well?”

  “The shack. I’ve got plenty of Water.” I pulled out my flask to show him.

  “Fancy.” Then he held out his black plastic bottle. “I brought mine, too, but I don’t have all that girly design.” As I ignored his comments, he tucked it back into his jacket and we walked toward the shack.

  As we walked, I wondered if he still had feelings for me. Then I did something I couldn’t believe I’d ever do. I looked at Owen and actually wondered if I still had a chance. I put the question away as quickly as I thought it.