A Little Green Magic (The Little Coven #1) - Isabel Wroth Page 0,64

then she saw him standing in the park, watching me.”

Uriah clicked his tongue, his big hands kneading at her arms, tucking the velvety soft throw she had over her legs higher up around her lap.

“Fuckin' creeper. Do you need a break?”

“No. I'm good. There are only a few more entries to go.” Having said that aloud, Ivy realized the next few pages with her mother's handwriting... that was it. The journal was all she had left of her mother.

“Alright, take your time. I'm going to grill up some of those peaches to go with our steak and potatoes.” Ivy nodded, not interested in eating, but she knew she would.

If Uriah went to the effort, she would always make sure to appreciate it. He left her, but not before pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Forehead kisses, the cure for nearly everything.

Ivy watched him go, that beautiful ass of his flexing with every step. She could see him from her seat on the couch, right there in the kitchen.

It made her feel ten kinds of warm and fuzzy when he looked up after gathering a few ingredients from the fridge, checking on her even though he'd just had his hands on her moments ago.

Knowing she was safe under his watchful eye, Ivy looked down at her lap and continued reading.

September 19th

I've called Henriette and registered Ivy for school. I couldn't lie to her. She knows what's going on and says we should come as soon as possible. How strange is it, that after all this time, years I spent thinking she'd hated me, she's the only person I can trust? She's literally the only one willing to help me.

I felt so relieved, I nearly broke down right there in the kitchen. Ivy's getting tired of being cooped up inside, and I'm a terrible mother for being happy that it hasn't stopped raining in days, so I have an excuse.

She's so beautiful. So unbelievably talented. I could sit and watch her draw flowers out of their seeds with the graceful wave of her fingers all day long. My little garden fairy. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself when she's not here every day.

September 21st

The rain keeps coming down in sheets. The news says there's flooding from here to the interstate. We won't make it more than a few miles, but I've seen him twice now, standing across the street. Ivy's part of him. Henriette thinks it's possible he can sense her magic. What she's suggested I do... I can’t believe I’m considering it. But if he really can sense Ivy, it's the only way to keep her safe.

There are so many spells protecting the students at Haggara. There won't be any way for him to get to Ivy.

We have to go. I don't know what he's waiting for, but I have to risk it because he's not going to stand on the street corner watching us forever.

For all I know, the rain is his doing, trapping us here. If it keeps coming down like this, it's going to wash away—

The diary entry ended abruptly there, a slash of ink on the page where the pen caught at the paper. Ivy remembered that night, the details of what she'd told Uriah sharpening as it came back to her.

She let them come, staring sightlessly at the book in her lap, letting herself go back to that dark, stormy night.

*****

She'd been coloring in the living room in front of the TV when her mother leaped up from the kitchen table so fast she knocked the chair over.

“Baby, get your shoes!” her mother shouted, white-faced with fear.

Lightning struck so close to the house, that when the boom of thunder came, it was so loud Ivy couldn't hear herself scream.

The whole house shook, but her mother didn't miss a beat as she ran around the room, throwing what seemed like random things in the suitcase she dragged out from under the bed, including the entire unfolded basket of laundry. She got her shoes on, then Ivy's shoes, then hugged Ivy so tight she couldn't breathe.

“We have to go now before the house gets washed away. You're gonna be my big brave girl, right?”

“Yes, Mommy.”

“Good, let's go. Hold onto me.” Ilsa grabbed her by the hand, rolling the suitcase behind them as they headed for the garage, stopping only for Ilsa to get her purse and the book lying on the kitchen table.

Ivy remembered it smelling musty in the garage, like engine oil and mold