by B. T. Alive
My fingers closed on the detonator. I tugged with both hands, but Kitty’s grip was iron.
Behind us, the tray crashed, out of control.
The bleach splashed everywhere with a sickening whoosh, and I felt it spatter all down the back of my clothes. Below the hem of my skirt, a few drops hit my calf and burned.
Ahead of me, Kitty screeched.
She covered her face with both gloved hands, howling. I’d only seen her face for a split second beforehand. I wished I hadn’t.
But now I had the detonator.
“Tina!” I said, as Kitty rocked and moaned. “You okay?”
“I’m fine!” Tina said, crouching beneath her bag. She rustled to get up.
“Don’t move!” I said. “It’s all over the bag—”
“You bitch!” Kitty shrieked.
I whirled back, but it was too late. She’d already lunged and whipped the detonator from my hand.
“You did this to me!” she panted, her face a nightmare of reddening rage. “I’m not going to live like this!”
I froze, in total panic.
She slammed the button.
Nothing happened.
No explosions. No sudden plunge. We just stood there, gulping for breath.
“What the hell?” she roared, and mashed the button again.
Then I saw it. The detonator was leaking a thin trail of smoke.
Nice.
“You!” Kitty gasped. “What did you do?”
“Forget it,” I said, and I reached behind her neck and squeezed hard.
Chapter 41
Like all the rest of her messed-up family, contact with Kitty blasted a jolt that set my arm on fire. But I grit my teeth and held on until she passed out.
She tumbled to the floor, and I nudged her on the way down to avoid the worst of the puddled bleach.
Then I slumped against a dry wall, breathing hard. With bleach splattered everywhere, including over Tina’s bag, I really, really didn’t want to pass out myself.
As the pain in my arm started to subside, it occurred to me that since at least two Pritchetts had psychic powers, that might be the reason why touching them was so painful. Maybe touching other psychics, or potential psychics, caused extra pain.
Or, maybe they were just a bunch of jerks.
“Summer?” Tina said, in a small voice. She rustled inside the bag. “What happened? Is she…”
“She’ll be fine,” I said. “Don’t move! Hold on.”
With ginger care, I slowly worked the bag up over Tina’s crouched body, turning it inside out. The droplets glittered and shook, like they were just waiting to flick up and hit me in the eye, but at last we got the bag off and safely tied.
Tina carefully rose and stretched, groaning with relief. Then she turned on me with arms outstretched. “You saved my life!” she cried.
“No hugs!” I snapped, raising my sleeved arms in a posture of defense.
Tina managed to stop herself mid-swoop. But her face was a freaking furnace of gratitude. If I’d had shades, I’d have worn them.
Great. The kid sister I’d never had.
I could maybe get used to that.
“Now what?” Tina said.
“First things first,” I said. I stepped to the prone Kitty, and cautiously dug through her purse. It really was organized. I pulled out our camera, and checked for the data card with the footage.
“Sweet,” I said. “It’s all here. I think we’re good.”
“What about her?” Tina said. She bent over Kitty and gasped. “Summer! Did you see her face?”
“I’d rather not.”
“We have to get her to the hospital!” Tina whipped out her phone.
“While you’re at it, text the stupid sheriff,” I said, as she dialed. “He needs to sniff around this crime scene and get the hell off my back.”
Tina placed a quick call. Kenise the doctor had already left the Inn, but she could be back with help in less than ten minutes. Then Tina texted Sheriff Jake. “He says he’ll come right over,” she said. “He’ll meet us on the ground floor.”
She reached for the red brake button.
“Wait a sec,” I said.
She eyed me in surprise, and then her face creased with sudden compassion. “Oh, Summer… you don’t have to feel like that.”
I squirmed. “Can you at least try not to do that? I don’t even know how I feel!”
But I pretty much knew.
Awful. Ashamed. Exposed.
Tina winced. Great, now she was feeling that. She really did literally feel other people’s pain… emphasis on the other.
Kitty and I had hated her for being so happy, but what was the alternative? If she were miserable like us, it’s not like she’d have the bandwidth to care about much else.
“Listen, when she was ripping into you…” I said. “Saying that stuff about me hating you… I don’t know what you picked up—”
“Oh, honey,” Tina said. “It’s just feelings.”
She was so warm about it, so utterly nonchalant. My throat went tight.
“Seriously,” she said, “if you knew the junk I pick up… especially dudes, oh my gosh. All that matters is what you do.”
“Cool,” I said, suddenly very interested in studying a minor hangnail. “Thanks.”
“I mean it! What you did… you could have been splashed.”
“Actually, it did hit my calf.”
“Summer! Oh no—”
“It’s okay, it’s okay! I’m fine. We’re all good.” I pressed the red button, and the elevator lurched, then began to creak its way down.
But I still had one last thing to say. And it wasn’t going to get any easier later.
I sighed, and pushed the brake again.
The elevator thunked to a halt, and Tina swayed and eyed me with caution. “Summer? The doctor is coming—”
I cleared my throat. “That other thing she said. About Cade—”
“Oh, Summer!”
“No, wait!” I said. “Don’t even think about some kind of Tina self-sacrifice move. I’ve seen you two together, okay? You freaking light up.”
Tina made a show of looking confused. “What?”
“Listen, it’s not a big deal, I’m not like…” I was talking too fast, and my cheeks were warming. Dang it. I took a slow, mindful breath. Like a real grown-up. “The last thing I want to do is intrude, if you two are a thing.”
“We’re not a thing—”
“Would you just let me say this?”
“Say what?”
“I’m saying, if you want to be a thing—”
“Why would I want us to be a thing?”
“Seriously? You’re going to make me spell this out?” I snapped. “Why would you want some sweet, ridiculously handsome hunk with not only a magical healing power but also strong indications of a functioning brain?”
“Hmm.” Tina’s eyes were sparkling. “You’ll have to explain further.”
“I saw you two, Tina! He was all over you, rubbing up your back.”
She frowned. “When we revived Priscilla? He needed my help. He was tapping into my chakra!”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said, “but what I was thinking of was the other time… I didn’t mean to spy, but I was standing at the front desk, and the door was freaking open—”
“Oh!” Tina cried. “That’s right. I had a backache.”
“What?”
Tina reached behind her back and massaged her lumbar. “Yeah, it was really bad. He totally took care of it.”
She reached and pressed the brake, and the elevator shuddered into descent. That was that, apparently. Problem solved.
“Hold up,” I said. “Does he always do a full frontal makeout hug? Or is that a special for the hotties?”
“Not usually,” she deadpanned, dodging the barb with effortless grace. “But this time, the pain was super resistant. He was struggling to penetrate my aura.”
I lite
rally palmed my face.
“Oh, come on,” she said. “I’ve known Cade and his family since I was, like, six. He’s like my goofy big brother.”
“Goofy?”
She crimped a half-smile. “Oh, he’s got a goofy side.”
“Tina, I don’t know what you’re telling yourself, but I’ve been here for two days and the guy keeps finding excuses to come over and see you.”
Tina erupted into giggles.
I crossed my arms and affected unconcern. “I’m glad you’re so used to male attention—”
“You goose!” she gasped. She panted a bit more, then managed to get her breath back. “He was coming to see you.”
I burbled. The sound was something like, “Mwah?”
“He told me all about it,” she said, as the doors finally groaned open. “He kept hassling me to drop all these hints about whether you were interested, and I’m like, boy, that has always been against the rules, I’m not going to break the code now just because you’re all smitten. But holy cow, Summer, you hid it well, I had no idea till now that you’re practically… burning… oops…”
She trailed off.
Because yes, Cade was standing right there. Right outside the elevator. Two feet away.
Locked into my gaze with a bewildered joy.
Around us, Kenise the doctor bustled into the elevator car and crouched over the prone Kitty with exclamations of dismay. Two other people wheeled over a stretcher and started hoisting her in, and I didn’t quite catch whether they were EMTs or doctors or escaped inmates, honestly, because I was floating in a sea of Cade.
“Hey,” he said, as they wheeled Kitty away. His voice squeaked, because apparently he wasn’t adorable enough already, and he cleared his throat and regained his manly rumble. “Do you maybe want to… uh…”
“Yes,” I said.
“… go watch a coffee? Or something?”
“Yes.”
“Wait, I mean—”
“It’s fine.”
“Okay.” He smiled, radiant again with confidence. My vision may have blurred. He nodded toward the hotel entrance. “Want to go?”
“Not so fast!” growled a voice behind him.
Sheriff Jake, in all his nos(e)y glory. He bustled in between us, mustache bristling. His nostrils flared, then he stifled a gag. “Is that bleach? Oh my word. This is a crime scene, people. And these two women are suspects.”
Cade groaned. “Seriously? Come on, Dad!”
I shrieked. “HE’S YOUR DAD??”
Both men stared. Even Tina looked surprised.
“Um, yeah,” Cade said.
“He’s never quite had my looks,” the sheriff quipped, with possible sarcasm, “but the family resemblance has always been striking. To the observant.”
By now, the initial shock had worn off. Oh. I could see it. A little. Maybe.
That made another reason the sheriff had always looked familiar. Besides that whole thing about shifting into a bloodhound.
Wait, what if the shifter thing skipped a generation? What if Cade and I got married, and we had a family, and he got me pregnant with a litter of puppies…
Okay, stop, I thought. Slow your roll, Summer. The man just asked you to watch a coffee. That’s it. And in case you should contemplate any premature displays of affection, kindly recall that you can’t even shake the man’s hand without possibly knocking him unconscious.
That’s me. A real knockout.
Ugh. What a stupid joke. Oh no… of the few “dates” I’d ever had, he’d be the first who knew… which meant he might make that joke all the time. I bet he already told stupid dad jokes. Because he’d make such an amazing dad.
Down, Summer. Bad Summer.
“Ms. Sassafras?” the sheriff snapped. “Are you with us?”
“She’s exhausted!” Tina said. “This crazy murderer lady attacked us, and Summer zapped her out!”
“Really?” Cade said. “Wow. You are a knockout.”
Yep.
It was probably too early in this relationship to have the conversation about dad jokes. So I took it out on Tina. “Tina!” I said. “Can we be discreet?”
“It’s all right, Summer,” said Grandma, who had somehow materialized. I jumped, but the others didn’t seem even startled by her instant appearance. “We can trust the sheriff and his brood…” The very slight warmth in her voice chilled. “… to a point.”
The sheriff huffed, but Grandma gave him a small smile, and then turned back to me. Her gaze was steady and deep, and more… open… than I’d ever seen her. A prickle of dread crept down my neck… dread, and maybe longing.
“There’s a time for secrets, child,” she said. “And a time for welcoming family.”
“Wait, what?” I said. “What are you saying?” My throat went tight again, my eyes burning with the sudden threat of tears. “You’re not saying… you’re not my…”
“I am,” she said. “I’m your Grandma, baby. Welcome to the family.”
“We’re cousins!” Tina squealed. “I’ve been waiting to tell you forever!” She threw wide her arms and clobbered me in a hug.
And got zapped.
Technically, she only got as far as her hand brushing my arm. Which was good, because apparently she’d also forgotten about the bleach spatter on the back of my shirt.
Even with just a brush, though, the jolt still hurt. That lump in my throat vaporized.
A psychic power really can wreck the moment.
Tina staggered back, woozy and confused. Grandma took her arm and steadied her.
“Whoa… what happened?” Tina said, looking around.
“I was trying to tell Summer about her family,” Grandma said.
“Yay!” Tina cried. “We’re cousins!”
She lunged at me again. This time, Grandma held her back.
“Oh, right,” Tina said. “But you’re going to live here, right? And help with the fight?”
“Fight?” I said.
“That’s right, sweet pea,” Grandma said. “There’s a lot you need to know.”
Chapter 42
Of course, Grandma still couldn’t bring herself to just spit out her secrets, right then and there. There was work to be done, what with the Inn’s elevator sprayed with industrial bleach.
Honestly, I didn’t mind the delay. I needed time to myself, to think.
By which I mean, I crawled up to my room and crashed.
Yes, I said bye to Cade first. Geez. But there was only so much warmth we could put into our smiles, with not only Grandma but also the scowling sheriff right there, who was apparently Cade’s freaking dad. (That is going to take me a long time to get used to.)
Still, even at quarter-power, Cade’s smile kept me toasty.
Anyway, when I woke, a low sunset was shrouding my room in glows and shadows, and Tina was gleaming by my bed. She was bouncing on her toes with little hops of excitement, and the moment she caught my eyes open, she dashed to a dress draped over a chair.
“Look at this,” she breathed, and she lifted the emerald-green dress like it was fine gold. Perhaps it was; it might have been the light, but intricate designs flashed gold in the sparkling green. I’d never seen an outfit so lovely in real life.
Then I realized that Tina was wearing a stunning dress herself, glittering royal blue with silver lines that swirled like honeysuckle vines.
“Who’s getting married?” I said.
She laughed. “It’s just a family dinner. We all dress up for… special occasions.”
I hesitated. “Will the sheriff be there?”
Now she giggled. “You mean, will Cade? No. They’re allies, sort of, but not family. And he’s definitely not your cousin.”
I eyed the emerald dress. I yearned for that thing, to feel it glimmer across my skin. The ache was almost painful. But… “Is that yours?” I said. “It’s never going to fit me.”
“Sure it will,” she said. “It’s not mine. It belonged to your mom.”
I
caught my breath.
“Maybe later,” I said. I got up and swooped the dress into the closet. I tried to only touch the hanger, but the soft fabric brushed my arm, and even that touch was its own kind of pain. “When’s dinner?”
I expected some pushback over the dress, but instead, she just beckoned and made for the door.
“Now!” she yipped, with an eager grin. “Come on!” And she pranced out into the hall.
I couldn’t believe she was missing my turmoil over the Mom issue. Maybe when Tina got excited enough about her own feelings, she stopped noticing mine. That would be… awesome.
Especially because I had a feeling I’d be the focus of the evening’s conversation. The murder was solved, I was officially innocent… now what?
Now I was utterly broke, with no job, no home, and all my worldly belongings burned to a crisp.
Also, with a sudden extended family who had serious wealth and secret psychic powers. There was that.
It didn’t take any prophetic powers to see that they’d already made plans for me. But what if I had ideas of my own? Or questions they didn’t want to answer?
Only one way to find out.
“Come on, Charm,” I said. “Family dinner.”
He was napping, of course, his white furry body luxuriating in his basket bed. I scooped him up, cradling his warm weight, and his purr rumbled against my heart.
I scuttled out and caught up with Tina, who led me down right into the wide dining room. I had to admit that, now that I was here to eat, not be a substitute waitress or a murder suspect, the place had a decent vibe. On a side wall, she slipped through a set of French doors I hadn’t noticed. The glass panes were curtained with velvet red, and after I followed her through, she shut the doors behind us.
So. Welcome to a family dinner.
Grandma had not yet arrived; the long oak dining table that filled the room was vacant at the head. Candles flickered all down the table and glowed in sconces on the wood-paneled walls. The dark old wood exhaled the scent of centuries. But high on the far wall, a small round window was open, breathing in the fresh evening blossoms of spring.
To Grandma’s left (I mean, where Grandma would be), sat a grave wizard. Actually, no, that was Tina’s Uncle Barnaby. Wait, I guess he was my Uncle Barnaby? Oh boy. At least the robe looked a little less ridiculous by candlelight, with symbols and constellations glinting silver against the dark.