Page 92 of Witches of Honeysuckle House
“It was the only thing I had that felt big enough,” Evie said. “And if it meant keeping you safe, keeping all of you safe …”
“When you lit the candle, the beam fell on her,” Florence said. “The spell didn’t try to take your feelings for her, it tried to takeher.”
Beside Florence, Owen stiffened. “Regina must have done the same thing,” he said, voice low. “But she offered up Violet’s love.”
They sat in silence for a few moments as Owen’s words sank in.
“Violet’s fears were right,” Florence said. “ItwasRegina who killed Tillie.”
“And it wasn’t the only time Regina used the spell,” Evie said. “She was preparing it in the journal I read, too. She didn’t list out the ingredients, but she mentioned dipping candles for the curse.”
“I found something like that in your Mom’s childhood diary,” Angela chimed in. “Your grandmother was having trouble with her magic, so she had Linda dip two brown candles for her. One to call someone home, and one that was used in a spell later the same night.”
There were only two diaries left to read, the pages splayed out by Clara’s spell—Regina’s from 1973 and their mother’s from 1986. Florence glanced at her sister. “What do you think?”
Evie reached for the journal from the year Florence was born. “The house gave me this one. I want to see what I missed.”
Florence took her grandmother’s journal. Beside her, Owen leaned closer to see over her shoulder while Angela did the same with Evie. Together, all four of them began to read.
Chapter Fifty-Five
Violet, 1973
It was almost midnight by the time Violet made it to Burdock Creek. She turned down the driveway to find Honeysuckle House rising up in the dark, and with it came a deep sorrow in her chest.
She killed the engine and stepped out of the car. As she approached the house, the porch lights flickered on, and a honeysuckle vine made its way toward her.
“It’s nice to see you, too,” Violet said sadly as the vine loosely wound its way around her waist and up her torso. She plucked a blossom free, pulled off the end, and brought the base of the flower to her lips, drinking the nectar. When she finished, the vine released her, and she continued to the stairs. She stopped short as she found a child she didn’t recognize sitting on the steps, and Violet’s sadness grew even deeper.
“You must be Linda,” Violet said. “Isn’t it past your bedtime?”
“You know me?” Linda asked.
Violet crossed her arms and shook her head. Of course Regina had kept the truth of her from her child. “You don’t know who I am, do you?”
“Should I?” The girl sounded scared.
“I’m your mother’s sister,” she said. “Violet.”
Linda mouthed the wordsister, surprise clear on her face. She came down a few steps until she was at eye level with Violet. She studied her for a few moments, head tilted to one side.
“I like your beauty mark,” she finally said. “I wish I had one.”
Violet pressed the tip of her finger to the freckle at the corner of her eye. It had appeared after Tillie died and had been another thing she was certain her sister would’ve insisted Violet cover up.
“Mine came later in life,” Violet said. “Maybe yours will, too. How old are you?”
“Eleven,” Linda said shyly.
Violet stood staring at her niece, this young girl who looked so much like Violet and almost nothing like Regina. Yes, she had the same eyes—hazel, like all the Caldwell women—but at eleven Linda was already well on her way to Violet’s height. When she smiled, her right incisor came down over her lower lip, so much like Violet’s. And even the way she held herself, confident but wary, as if she, too, had seen her fair share of tragedy felt all too familiar. She looked thin for her age, and she had the shadow of a bruise on her cheek, which had Violet worrying over how Regina had cared for her, or if she’d cared for her at all.
“Have you eaten?” Violet asked.
Linda shook her head.
“I need to talk to your mother, but as soon as I’m done, we’ll take care of that.”
“I’m fine. Mom’s been busy.” There was a touch of defensiveness in Linda’s voice. “If you care so much, why didn’t you come sooner?”
