us to re-landscape for you in the next few days. Michael has decimated your property.”
“That’s fine. If I had time, I’d join him,” I said, testing my arms and legs. I was good to go. “Missy’s house is about twenty minutes away. If I drive, it’s ten.”
“We’re not driving,” Michael said flatly as he reentered the house looking haggard and years older than he had just an hour earlier.
“Well, we’re certainly not walking,” I said, moving to the foyer closet and pulling my coat off the hangar.
As I turned back to the group of men, I ran smack into my father’s broad chest. His arms encircled me, and he hugged me like he would never let me go. All of my pent-up emotions drained from my body and I held on to him as tightly as he held me. The moment was beautifully tragic, heartbreaking, and long overdue.
“I’m so sorry, Daisy. I didn’t know,” he whispered brokenly in my ear. “I’m so damned sorry.”
“I am too, Dad,” I said, letting my tears flow freely.
His large body shuddered in my arms and a need to protect him from his pain consumed me. Holding him tighter, I tried to absorb his agony. But I had no more room. My anguish equaled his. The only thing left was to help each other heal, but that would be impossible if we didn’t find my mother’s soul.
“Missy’s house,” I said, pulling back and wiping my tears away with my sleeve. “Now. We have to get to Missy.”
“Yes,” my father agreed.
“I texted Heather,” Tim said, tucking his phone back into his pocket. “She’s with Missy. She hasn’t planted the vacation in her mind yet, but she knows not to leave her.”
“Did you tell her everything?” Gideon asked.
“No,” Tim replied. “Just that we were on our way over and for her to watch out for Clarissa.”
Picking up my purse, I started out the front door. “Guys, we’re wasting time. I’ll drive.”
No one moved. What the hell was wrong with everyone?
“Am I not speaking in a language you understand?” I asked, getting angry. Time was of the essence. Birdie had said so.
“We understand English quite well,” Tim replied.
I ran my hand through my hair in frustration and glared at them. “Great. Let’s go. Now.”
“Take my hand,” Gideon instructed.
“Why?” I asked, walking to him and automatically doing as he asked.
“We’re not driving. We’re transporting,” he told me.
My mouth dropped open. Apparently, I’d missed the memo. “I can do that?” I asked. “By myself?”
“I’m sure you could if you tried,” Michael said, taking my other hand. “However, we’ll test the theory another time. Right now, we’ll transport you.”
“This is nuts,” I muttered.
Tim shook his head. “Not nuts at all. Transporting is an excellent mode of transportation. The safety record is outstanding. Ninety-nine percent of the time there is no issue.”
I refused to ask about the other one percent. I didn’t want to know.
“Will it hurt?” I asked.
“Not a bit,” Gideon promised. “Close your eyes, Daisy. The only side effect is dizziness. If you close your eyes, it will abate faster.”
“Are we ready?” Charlie asked.
“No, but that’s never stopped me before. Let’s do this.”
My father squeezed my hand. “As you wish.”
I’d had no idea we’d all materialize at the same time in Missy’s small living room. Missy’s scream of alarm and horror made me feel like the worst friend in the world. It reverberated through my body and I felt it from my fingertips to my toes. It was ear-splitting.
I was relieved that I wasn’t in the one percent that Tim had mentioned, but if I’d known where we were going to land, I would have insisted on driving. Although, I had to admit transporting was much faster than driving, even with me at the wheel. However, the fact we may have traumatized Missy for life was not worth it.
The comfort of being in a place I loved was erased by what I’d just potentially done to someone who I loved like a sister. Missy’s house was a place where I’d logged many hours over the years. It had been a second home of sorts. The décor was bo-ho chic and fit my best friend perfectly—crystals and wild bursts of color in the fabrics and on the walls accented the comfortable furniture. It was a serene and mystical place.
But not right now.
“Are you people serious?” Heather shouted, wrapping her arms around a terrorized Missy. “You couldn’t have arrived outside and then knocked for the love of everything wildly stupid and inappropriate?”
Missy’s