Page 101 of Clearly Charmed

‘There was all this kindling. Dry brush and leaves. It was a powder keg waiting to go up and then…’

Aster leaned in. Bryce’s mouth twitched, and I swallowed my words. None of them could know about the water. How Belladonna forced it to douse everything in the fire’s path. It wasn’t real. It couldn’t be.

‘Dani. Take a few deep breaths.’ Bryce gripped my hands. He’d been only a few feet away. Had he seen the water too? Been a witness to whatever I thought I saw in those woods?

‘Let’s stand up,’ Bryce said in a gentle voice. ‘I want to take you to the hospital. Have them look you over.’

I tried to ground myself to the floor. Stop my world from spinning out of control.

Clo hadn’t flinched when I’d asked her about the firepit. Claimed what I’d seen wasn’t real. Even though I wanted to believe what happened today was some trick of the eye, the smoke obscuring my vision, there was no arguing what Belladonna had done. I’d stood ten feet away from it. Watched as the water was pulled from the ground like my mother was some kind of human pump.

‘No, I’m fine. I only need to rest for a bit.’ I made a wobbly push to my feet. ‘Thank you for keeping me from getting crushed. For keeping the house safe.’ I forced a smile to my lips. ‘I’ll talk to you later, okay?’

He held on to me, our hands perfectly entwined. That bond we shared tightening with each and every breath. He’d risked his life for me. Helped save the only home I’d ever known. Been honest about how he was struggling between what was right for his own future and what he felt for me. But after what had just happened, what I’d seen Belladonna do, there was no way things could work between us, in spite of Aster’s prediction. I knew the truth now, and maybe Bryce did too. There was no other choice but to push him away. Protect the people I loved, even if it meant destroying my own happiness.

‘Let me walk you there,’ he offered.

My pleading gaze shot to Lia and she didn’t hesitate. ‘I’ve got her, Bryce.’

She latched her arm around my waist and guided me a few steps away to where Aster stood. They linked arms with me and led me to my old bedroom. I was grateful for their support, because even though my back stayed erect, my chin hard as a rock, inside my heart was breaking.

‘Sit,’ Lia ordered.

I sank into the deep green comforter on my childhood bed, and Aster bent down to remove my soaked shoes. Lia leaned against the doorway until Belladonna and Clo made an appearance a few minutes later.

‘Is he gone?’ I asked.

Clo nodded while Belladonna remained quiet.

‘Good, because I’m tired of secrets, and it’s well past time you told us all the truth.’

Lia crossed her arms over her chest. ‘What has Belladonna done now?’

Our mother flinched like someone had slapped her. Aster walked to her side and gave her arm a comforting pat, which only made Lia grumble louder.

‘Dani, you’re hurt. You need to rest. We can do this another time,’ Clo said.

‘No! The two of you are going to spill every truth about the McGuire women, starting with how Belladonna managed to flood the forest with water she pulled from the damn ground!’

Aster’s eyes went wide and Lia cursed.

‘Dandelion,’ Belladonna said in a voice she was trying very hard to keep calm. ‘You hit your head. The water you saw was from a previous tanker drop.’

‘Stop lying!’ The shout that tore from my throat made the world spin again. I fixed my gaze on Clo. ‘You owe us this. Please, be honest.’

Belladonna paled. ‘Mama, you can’t.’

Clo wrung her hands together. Years of pain and heartache shone in her eyes. ‘Your father went to his grave angry with me for keeping the truth from the girls. Since we buried him, I’ve held the weight of it like a millstone around my neck. It’s time I stopped carrying that burden.’ Belladonna shook her head as Clo set her jaw. ‘Girls, we will give you a minute. Come out to the family room when you’re ready.’

Aster stood frozen in place. ‘Dani, what the hell went on in the woods?’

‘Oh, Ast,’ I said quietly. ‘It’s very complicated.’

Lia stood erect, one foot halfway out the door. ‘Dani.’ I hadn’t heard that break in her voice since she’d crawled into my bed as a child, afraid of the thunderstorms raging outside. ‘I can’t stay. If I hear what I think is coming, it’ll break me. I’m already carrying so much anger for Belladonna.’ She scrubbed her hands over her tired eyes. ‘And with what happened earlier this year… My mind can’t take one more burden. Can you understand? Forgive me for being weak in this moment?’

‘Oh, Lee Lee, nothing about you is weak,’ I said. ‘We all deal with our own pressures, fears, worries in our own way. Go ahead and leave. I understand.’

She tried to walk away, but I jumped up and wrapped her in a hug. ‘We are here for you always, no matter what.’