The Hidden Grimoire by Karla Brandenburg (pride and prejudice read TXT) 📕

like there could have been a fire. It isn’t as if I freaked out for no reason.”

Ash hopped onto the counter and turned circles on her rug in the corner. I stroked her fur and she arched into my hand, her purr increasing before she settled into a ball.

“I should forewarn you about something else, though,” I said. I told her about LeAnne’s visit and Jason’s opposition to a family reunion. And I told her about Georgia, what an adorable little girl she was.

“Tough spot to be in,” Cassandra said. “With the mother wanting to be friends and the father trying his hardest to shut you out.”

“No kidding.” Not to mention Georgia searching me out in her dreams. “I’ve bonded with the little girl, even though we’ve only spent a short amount of time together.”

“Kids are like that sometimes,” Cassandra said. “Like they have a natural instinct. Then again, you’re a good person. I knew I liked you the first time I met you.” She patted me on the back as the bell over the door announced Kyle.

“You,” I said, walking toward him. “You don’t need to bring other people into our problems. My reaction last night was not over the top.”

“Maybe not,” he said, “but you are still having flashbacks.”

“What do you expect? I had flashbacks for six months after your aunt tried to shoot me, too.”

He cringed. “Which probably makes this trauma worse.”

I shook a finger at him. “Stop. I’m fine. If I need help, I’ll ask for it.”

“Yeah, my aunt needed help and she didn’t get it until she was forced to.”

“Are you comparing me to your aunt?”

“Brynn, no.” He shot a glance at Cassandra, who was smiling while pretending not to listen. “Promise me...”

“I promise. A few nightmares are normal, don’t you think?”

He nodded, albeit reluctantly.

“Now go make sure the rest of the shopkeepers aren’t having any issues this morning. That is what you do when the strip opens, isn’t it?”

Kyle took a step toward Cassandra, as if he was tempted to ask her to watch out for me again, and I shot him a glare. He frowned.

“If...” he began.

“You’ll be the first person we call,” I told him.

He wagged a finger at me. “This isn’t over.”

“Have a good day, Kyle,” Cassandra called out to him.

He sighed and walked out.

“Thank you,” I said to her.

“He always did have an exaggerated hero complex,” she said. “If it makes you feel any better, he isn’t as bad as he used to be. When he was dating Kelly Goddard, he was practically obsessive about her safety.”

“I can’t say he’s been obsessive,” I said. “Just annoying.”

Cassandra laughed. “Consider it a win.”

My phone buzzed with a text—LeAnne thanking me for the flowers and letting me know they were sending her home. She was on bedrest until her due date and she thanked me again for watching Georgia. I typed a response letting her know I was happy to watch Georgia any time she needed help. My text went unanswered.

Because she didn’t need me? Or because Jason had caught her texting me?

Chapter 16

At lunchtime, I left Windfall to pick up sandwiches for myself and Cassandra. While waiting for my order at the deli, I texted Nora.

Me: Georgia appeared to me in the workshop last night when she was sleeping.

Nora: Seriously?

Me: How could she do that? Astral projection?

Nora: I’ll drive down today.

Me: You don’t have to make the trip, just tell me what I should do.

Nora: Her powers are extraordinary if she can do that at three years old. When was the first time you noticed the world responding to you?

Me: Not until I was thirteen. At least that was the first time I paid attention. I can’t say I noticed the telekinesis prior to that.

Nora: You didn’t want to notice. I’ll be there in a couple of hours. Is Cassandra back at the store?

Me: Yes.

Nora: Good. Then we can talk this through. See you in a bit.

The kid behind the counter called my name and I tucked my phone into my pocket, picked up the bag and headed to Windfall.

As I crossed the street, a woman I didn’t recognize rushed toward me, one hand raised. “Excuse me.”

I stopped on the sidewalk and waited for her. She wore a cap on long, dishwater-blonde hair and a wool coat over a skirt and ankle boots. I guessed her to be mid-twenties. “How can I help you?”

“You’re Brynn Taylor, aren’t you?”

The only person who might be looking for me was someone I didn’t want to meet. I didn’t answer.

“I work with Jason Hanson,” she went on. “I saw him pick his daughter up from your store the other day.”

Another reason not to share anything with her. I tilted my head.

“My name is Sharon. He and I worked together in Madison,” she said. “When he transferred here, well, I got transferred, too.”

“I’m not sure what you want from me,” I said.

“It’s fate, don’t you see?” she said.

“I’m afraid I don’t.”

“My sister said you sold her that perfume, the one men found irresistible, and then when I came to ask you about it, Jason was right there in your store.”

This was Narcy’s sister? I studied her crystal-blue eyes, looking for the tell-tale gleam, but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Narcy had dark brown hair and her eyes were a darker blue. “Your sister?” I asked.

“Well, foster sister. We were raised in the same group home. Do you have more of the perfume? She took it with her when she left and I haven’t been able to reach her in more than a month.”

Then this woman didn’t know Narcy was dead. Shouldn’t a sister know that? I took a step back.

“Please? You’ve seen him. I have been so in love with him for so long. I took a demotion to transfer, and Narcy swore the perfume would get his attention,” she went on.

“You do know he’s married, right?” I said. “You said you knew he’d picked up his daughter.”

“Have you met his wife?