Page 90 of A Lesson in Obedience
“Allow me,” Jade offered, placing two hard knocks against the door.
I was about to say fuck it and run back towards the car when a lock turned and the door slowly opened. The woman from the picture Corrin showed me appeared. She had aged a bit, but there was still a youthfulness to her features. Her skin was light brown and her curls were pushed back with a scarf she’d tied around her head.
“Can I help you?” she asked, scanning each of us quickly and looking confused.
I felt both of my friends’ eyes on me and I took a deep breath. So many variations of things I could say came to mind, but nothing left my mouth. Teresa looked at me expectantly, then her eyes shot to my necklace. Her head tilted to the side and her mouth second by second began to form an O shape.
Her brown eyes found mine. “You’re Jillian’s daughter.” She said it more like a statement, no inflection indicating that she was asking me anything.
“Yes.”
She gave me a small smile and moved away from the door, motioning for us to come in. I hesitated but stepped over the threshold. The house was much bigger inside, the wooden floors looked like they had just been cleaned and various amounts of art decorated the walls.
Jade and Corrin stayed close by, gawking at the house along with me.
“Have a seat. Would you like anything to drink? Water? Tea?” Teresa offered, pulling at her cardigan.
I awkwardly sat on the couch in the living room. “Umm, water.”
Corrin and Jade shook their heads, keeping an eye on her when she walked away.
“Well that went…better than we hoped,” Corrin said, giving me a thumbs up.
“Nothing has even happened yet.”
“Mm, true, but she let you in after knowing who you were so that’s progress.” Jade bumped my shoulder when she sat down next to me.
Teresa returned, handing me a glass of water and sitting down on the opposite couch. “I have to admit, I’m a little taken aback.”
I took a long sip, placing the glass on the coffee table. “You and me both. I’m actually really rude, this is Corrin and Jade. My friends.”
They both casually waved and Teresa gave them a friendly smile. “You must know who I am if you came all the way here.”
“I do. I won’t bother you if you don’t want to talk about it, but I just have questions that I’m hoping you’ll answer. And maybe when we’re done, you’ll be willing to help me with something.”
She pressed her lips together, placing her hands in her lap. “We are family, so I suppose that isn’t asking too much.”
I interlocked my index fingers together, fidgeting. “Hmm, well…I…”
“You’re probably wondering about your necklace?” she asked, crossing her legs.
“That’s one thing, yes.”
She sighed. “When Samia called on one of the coven members for that kind of help, I was intrigued. When I learned it was for your mother, well, I was evenmoreintrigued. We have a—” She cleared her throat then cracked her neck, “—complicated relationship.”
Jade side-eyed me but kept quiet.
“You let Evie do it. You allowed her to help create my necklace, even though it was for someone you didn’t like?”
She drummed her fingers on her knee. “It was for you, not your mother. There is a big difference. I knew Evie could do it, so it was also a way for her to show her skill. I needed my witches to be top notch. You are aware of that, I’m sure.” She glanced over at Corrin, who audibly gulped.
Teresa gave her a sly smile. “I don’t remember all faces, but I do remember most and I do know you are one of ours.”
Corrin blinked, her eyebrows turning inward. “Did you kill your husband?”
I choked on air, staring at her. Jade snorted, covering her mouth.
Teresa didn’t flinch. “Why would you ask that?”
