what the town thought my grandmother had done, I’d not followed in her steps. “I’m not a witch.”
“Better safe than sorry.”
“I want you to send me the bill for the supplies and Brigda’s hours.”
“You know I can’t do that. Wouldn’t want to tempt the curse.”
“There is no curse.” Not anymore. I’d used science and social media to prove the townsfolk were superstitious. Used to be they gave me everything I wanted for free. It was a deal that went back centuries. While my grandmother might not have minded taking advantage of them, I didn’t feel comfortable with it.
“Still in denial I see. How much longer will you reject who you are, Naomi?”
I would have retorted, probably something stupid and inane, but he hung up. I stared at my phone.
“Arrogant jerk,” I muttered.
“Who is?” Startled by the voice, I whirled to see Jace. How had I not heard him arrive?
Not even thinking, I blurted out, “Your brother.”
“I agree. But I am wondering why he’s on your mind.”
I waved my phone. “Because I was just talking to him.”
“I see.” Flat words.
“He called me.”
“And you came running to find him.” He cast a glance at the mill.
“I came here to find him and make sure he didn’t try and pay Brigda for her work at my shop.”
“Ah yes, I heard about your troubles. Have they arrested the culprit?”
I shrugged. “Nope, and according to the police, they likely won’t. Could be teenagers or someone who doesn’t like the local witch starting up a business.” I did finger quotes.
His jaw tightened. “Were any other businesses touched?”
“Just lucky me.”
“You’re like a lodestone for ill events,” was his muttered retort.
“As if I didn’t know. Thanks for pointing it out.” I stepped past him, heading for my car, but he kept pace.
“Have you thought about leaving?”
“Trying to get rid of me now? Was it you that broke the windows? Is this some ploy to get me to sell my place and move?” I whirled and tossed the accusations at him.
“I don’t need a ploy. I’ve told you before, and I’ll tell you again, leave. This place isn’t safe for you.”
“Why is that? And don’t tell me because my family managed to con the town into thinking they were witches and warlocks. How is it not safe? You can’t tell me the crime rate is higher than the city or the suburbs where I used to live. You can’t bullshit me about the lake monster. I know it’s just a machine.”
“There are things you don’t understand.”
“That you won’t explain. Is it orcs? Because Trish seems to think we’ve got an orc problem. Whereas, Marjorie is worried the small-minded town is going to have a problem with who she loves, and Winnie is—make that was—dating a creep old enough to be her father.” Which had nothing to do with anything but bothered the heck out of me.
“Orcs?” His brow knitted. “Those foul creatures are extinct.”
I gaped at him. “Lunatic. I swear. Everyone in this town is crazy.”
“Or it is you who are ignorant. For reasons I daresay your grandmother knew, she didn’t teach you a thing.”
“She taught me plenty.”
“Except how to see. Open your eyes, Naomi, and see the truth before it’s too late.”
12
See the truth before it’s too late.
What was that supposed to mean? I saw perfectly fine. I was the one who saw through the whole hype around Maddy the lake monster. The only one who didn’t assume all the weird shit happening to me occurred because of something supernatural.
The only thing I didn’t see? The fact my ex-husband was to blame for lots of my previous woes. Could I be acting blind again where he was concerned? Martin could be the one who’d vandalized my store. It was the kind of easy and petty thing I could see him doing. Yet, at the same time, why would he jeopardize the freedom he’d attained by breaking out of jail?
And what if Martin had nothing to do with it? Could be someone random. Someone else with a vendetta.
I counted myself lucky that whoever targeted me hadn’t set fire to my store. I’d had more than my share of flames and destruction lately.
I returned to the shop in time to see my windows cleaned out, and Brigda preparing to put plywood over them. She screwed the boards on as I slowed to a stop in front of the shop.
“What happened to fixing them?” It emerged a little more tartly than I meant. What could I say? Her attitude toward me