Page 15 of Which Witch Is Wicked?
Claire circumvented the counter and opened the door that led to the small room behind it.
Sunny jerked her gaze upward with a startled glance, freezing midmotion. Claire halted at the look of horror on Sunny’s face. An opened banker’s bag rested on the desk, and Sunny had her fingers tucked into her bra, the edges of several bills still poking out.
“What are you doing?” Claire asked, though the scene in front of her was clear.
7
Claire stared at Sunny’s heartbroken expression, wishing she hadn’t walked in on their reliable, hired help pilfering the teashop’s earnings.
“It’s…I…” Sunny dissolved into wretched puddle on the leather office chair, setting the stolen money on the desk before dropping her head into her hands. “I’m so sorry. I know I shouldn’t have taken it. But things have been really tough, and…and I’ve kept a running tally.”
She slid open a drawer and pulled out a sheet of paper with several amounts written on it. “Tierra hasn’t been around, so I couldn’t ask her, but I fully intend to talk to her and discuss repaying her.” She dropped her head into her hands. “I’m the worst person ever. You all believed in me.Goddess, Tierra trusted me, gave me a job when no one else would, and look how I’ve repaid her.”
She peeked at Claire, black kohl liner smudged beneath her eyes, misery swimming in her watery gaze. “I’ll get my stuff and go. Can I ask that you let me leave before you tell everyone what I’ve done? I don’t think I can stand to see the heartbreak on Aerin’s or Moira’s faces. And I still promise to repay every cent.”
“Not so fast.” Claire held up a hand and walked closer to the other side of the desk, effectively trapping Sunny in place. “You can’t pull something like that and just walk away.”
Sunny cowered, fear replacing self-loathing. “Please don’t hurt me.”
“What?” She frowned at her. “Seriously?”
She lifted a slender shoulder covered with intricate vine tattoos and let it drop. “Sorry. You are pretty bad ass.”
Claire laughed, despite the unfortunate circumstances. “I guess I’ll take that as a compliment.” If only Dru was more afraid of her. She moved closer to the younger girl. “Before you run out of here with your tail between your legs, afraid I’m going to kick your ass, I’d like an explanation. I realize we haven’t known each other long, but Tierra’s ability to nail a person’s character is uncanny. If she likes and trusts you, then I do, too. There had to be a reason for what you’ve done. I’ll hear it now.”
Sunny wiped forefingers beneath her eyes, drawing black streaks across her face. “My family.” She sucked in a shaky breath. “It’s like I said earlier. Bad shit’s been happening. To more and more people every day. My dad lost his job at the paper mill. He’s looking, but with so many others out of work, it’s hard for him to find anything. My little brother requires expensive medication. Me and my mom are still working, but sometimes there’s not enough money left at the end of our bills to buy food. I promise I didn’t take much. Just twenty. If I’m careful, that can get us through a couple of days until my mom gets paid.”
She started to cry in earnest then. “I’m sorry. I know there’s never a good reason to steal. I really would understand if you wanted to kick my ass.”
Claire’s heart crumpled with empathy. She moved closer and wrapped an arm around the poor girl’s shoulders. “Aw, Sunny. Don’t cry. This is going to be okay.”
“It’s not,” she said through a muffled sob. “The world is ending. My world, at least.”
Little did she know. Sunny’s proclamation brought their circumstances full circle. Had Claire and her sisters brought about this travesty?
“Sunny, listen. You’re like family to us. Our little sister, so to speak. When you hurt, we hurt.” Claire pushed a purple-hued strand of hair from her face. “I wish you would have said something to one of us. Let us help you.”
“But it’s not your problem.” She searched Claire’s face, a hint of hope shimmering in her moist eyes.
“You’re wrong. We love you. Let us help you.” She took the two ten-dollar bills Sunny had dropped and pulled another twenty from the bag. “Take this to buy a couple of days’ worth of groceries. I know my sisters would agree with me.”
“Thank you,” Sunny said with a tremulous smile. “I don’t deserve it.”
Claire snorted. “Of course, you do. You’ve kept us afloat while we’ve dealt with personal issues. We owe you far more than this.”
The gears in Claire’s brain shifted. “I don’t know how much Tierra has told you about our new Internet business, but Aerin’s certain it’s going to be huge. Already, we’re struggling to keep up with orders, and as the world continues in a downward spiral, people will be begging for more and more of our affordable herbal and homeopathic teas, medicines, and supplies. We’re going to need someone with some brawn to help with shipping and inventory. Do you think your dad might be interested? I know my sisters and I won’t be able to handle everything, especially with Tierra—” she caught herself before she revealed more than she should— “being under the weather.”
Sunny brightened by degrees. “Are you kidding? I know he’d love it. And he’s good with that sort of stuff. I’m sure he’d be happy to help with anything you’d ask of him.”
“Okay, then.” Claire gave her another hug before she headed toward the door. “Let me confirm with the others before you offer it to him. I’ll let you know as soon as possible.”
Sunny stood, wiping more black tears from her face. “Thank you, Claire. Give me a few minutes to clean up, and I’ll get back to work.”
“No, you won’t. You have the day off. Though Aerin did have a question she’d like to ask. Tell you what. When you’re ready, you come out. We’ll see what Moira has been able to concoct for you tea-wise, and then you can help Aerin for a bit. After that, you have grocery shopping to do and your family to reassure. If we stick together, we’ll get through this, Sunny.”
Sunny nodded. “Thank you again. I’m so happy to call you all my sisters.”
Claire smiled and left the room, feeling like one weight had been lifted from her, while five new ones now occupied her soul. She and her sisters might be able to help Sunny and her family, but how would they ever help all the residents of Port Townsend, let alone outsiders who might be affected by the shift in events?
