The Whimsy Witch Who Wasn't - Donna Augustine Page 0,88
Rabbit said, with enough sadness in her tone to tell me my bull was working.
“She’s getting older, and she’s always been a little bit susceptible to being taken advantage of. I worry about her constantly. I wish I could go take care of her.” I sounded so convincing that I was beginning to realize I wasn’t actually full of shit at all. I was saying all the things I’d been feeling but swallowed back. I was worried sick about Loris. So much so that I found myself sniffing and afraid I was going to do something as ridiculous as cry.
“I’m sorry, Tippi. Isn’t there anyone that could help her?”
“No. Not really.” Another truth. I didn’t know a single person in Salem that I’d trust. Not that Salem was full of bad people; I’d just kept to myself, and Loris had a way of scaring people away with her eccentricity.
Time for the big light-bulb moment. Acting as if this idea wasn’t premeditated might really test my skills. Luckily, Rabbit wasn’t used to seeing Oscar-worthy actors. The last thing she needed to know about was the conversations happening behind her back. She wasn’t going out like that. She was leaving this place with her head high because she was saving me. And in a way, she was. The more I thought this over, the better I felt knowing someone would be with Loris.
I dropped my head, wiping eyes that hadn’t actually teared, although they had gotten close. “You know, I did have a thought. This is a big ask, but do you think that maybe you could go stay at my place in Salem and help her out a bit? Just until I get done here? You know I’d never bring it up if I could go myself.”
Her brows drew closer together, but she didn’t seem appalled by the idea. Just shocked? Stunned? Was there a difference? Whichever was worse, she was.
“Me? I don’t know anything about Rest. How could I possibly help her?” She began to fidget with her blanket.
I launched into calming words before she went into full-blown panic. “Trust me, it’s a lot easier than learning the ins and outs of this place. It will be cake for you, and you might like it. Plus, I know Loris would adore you.” More truths. Loris would love Rabbit, and Rabbit was the exact type of person Loris needed.
The more I said, the more it started to sting. She’d truly be stepping into my life. It hadn’t been the end all be all as far as lives went, but it had been mine. I’d worked hard for that life. Still, it had to happen.
“But how would I get there? Where would I live?”
“You could stay at my apartment. It’s not much, but it’s cozy and furnished.”
Her jaw dropped and she leaned closer. Oh shit. Had I blown it somehow?
“All by myself? Like, my own place?” Her eyes lit up, as if I were offering her the keys to Buckingham Palace.
“Like I said, it’s not much. All my stuff was bought used. My plates don’t match. I mean, it’s got some drawbacks for sure.” She better not get too excited or this wouldn’t end well when she got to see my place. By her expression, she either didn’t understand what I was saying or didn’t care.
“I’ve never gotten to stay somewhere all by myself, like—ever. But how would I get there?”
Okay, we were moving into logistics. This was a good sign.
“Hawk needs me here, so he’ll have to get you there as a trade-off.” He’d do it whether he liked it or not. As far as I saw it, my side of the scale had been piling up. Hawk would say my side was nearly touching the floor at this point but he’d be wrong. That grouslie attack had really evened things out.
Her brows dropped and her lips parted. She started chewing on her lower lip like it was an all-you-can-eat buffet. “What if I mess up?”
“I’m telling you, it’s so easy. You can do it. I’ll train you on everything you need to know before you go. And Loris needs you.”
“I mean, you did save me from the factory. I do owe you this.” She nodded more as the idea settled into a possible reality.
“Then you’ll do it?”
She looked up at me again, not biting her lip this time, and with more strength and resolve than I’d seen since I met her.