Page 35 of Hexes and Hiccups
Daisy rose from her spot, still gripping onto Ethan’s hand tightly. “We can keep a secret, Sheriff.” She gently tugged on Ethan to stand. “Let’s take our leave to get out of your hair, alright?” Before stepping away, Daisy grabbed onto the Sheriff’s hand and gave him a firm shake. “You’ve done great work for Willowbrook, Sheriff Dalton.”
The man huffed a few times before shaking her hand back.
Daisy led the way to Ethan’s car, unable to stop herself from speed walking back. They climbed in, and Ethan started the car instantly, pulling out of their spot without saying a single word. He eyed her a few times with a curious gaze.
“You pulled us out of there quick,” he finally said when they were reentering Willowbrook. “Do you know the Harper family?”
“Fern Harper was turned to stone,” Daisy replied in a whisper. “I don’t know what this means, but how can it be a coincidence?”
He clicked his teeth together. “You said it yourself: it’s hard to believe in them anymore.” Ethan reached for her again as a silence took over the car, his hand finding her own. “Look, Daisy, I wanted this to be a nice evening out, and I’m sorry it turned out this way. With everything you’re already dealing with, I’d hate for it to end in such a gruesome way.”
“Don’t apologize for a second,” Daisy replied. “The night was wonderful. And, if it’s any consolation, I wouldn’t have wanted to go through that with anyone else.”
Ethan chuckled lightly as he pulled onto her driveway, giving her hand a tight squeeze. “I’ll take it,” he whispered.
As he walked her to the front door, Daisy eyed the lit porch light, and the amber light streaming out from behind the blinds.Tessa must’ve snagged her copy of my key,Daisy thought to herself. Ethan took her to the door, not hesitating to capture her lips in a soft kiss. Daisy allowed herself to melt for a moment, though the nagging in the back of her head said that the night was far from over. She held onto his collar for a second before holding herself back and giving him a small, tired smile.
“Thanks again, Ethan. I enjoyed all of it.”
He grinned. “All of it?”
“You know what I mean.”
Daisy slipped inside the house quietly, exhaustion wracking through her the moment she passed over the threshold. It was nearing midnight, but Daisy had the growing suspicion that she wouldn’t be going to bed anytime soon.
In the living room, Tessa stood with a pillow pressed to her face. “Oh, Ethan,” she teased, pressing kisses to the pillow. “What a night, Ethan! Oh,anothergoodnight kiss, Ethan?” Tessa pushed the pillow away. “You’re being far too naughty! It’sfarpast my bedtime, and –”
“You are quite the child, aren’t you?” Daisy said, grinning.
Tessa giggled. “Hey now, you left me waiting for quite some time, Flowers. I’m desperate to know about the magical mystery evening!”
“It was as perfect as you might imagine it to be,” Daisy recounted, a distant smile lingering on her lips. “Dinner and a movie at the drive-in.”
“Let me guess: something with Astaire in it.”
“How could you have possibly known that?”
Tessa shrugged, looking rather proud of herself. “And?”
“And…” Daisy sighed, leaning her back against the shut door. “And then we saw all these people at Lake Silverpine and got too curious for our own good.”
“What does that mean?” Tessa asked, looking more serious.
“You remember Fern, right?” Daisy asked. “And her daughter, Evelyn?”
“Of course. Poor girl.”
Daisy pressed her lips together. “Tyler found a car at the bottom of the lake,” she explained. “When they managed to pull it out and open the front door, there was…there was…there was a body inside, Tess. Sheriff Dalton believes it to have been Evelyn Harper.”
Tessa gaped and stumbled. “No way.Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.”
The empath shot forward, engulfing Daisy in her arms. The calming magic sunk into Daisy’s skin at the touch, overwhelming her for a moment.
“I can’t imagine,” Tessa whispered in her ear. “Tell me you’re okay.”
“It isn’t me who needs to be okay, Tess.” Daisy pulled away. “Isn’t it odd? Fern’s been petrified, and her missing daughter was found in the same week?” She shook her head. “It’s too odd.” Before she could spiral down a rabbit hole she might be unable to escape, Daisy snapped her fingers at the empath. “What about the maps? Did you have any luck with the passageways?”
