Page 75 of Witch Please

Danica wished she could convince herself of that fully, but until that time, she’d keep looping it in her head. Until her heart accepted it.

But…she couldn’t let this go either. Right now, Gram was gardening with Gladys or doing sudoku, imagining that she’d won, a complete rout. Danica was dating some jerk, just as she’d demanded. A pureblooded witch. And she’d prevented a potential mixed marriage. The sheer hatefulness of it all made Danica clench her fists.

Before she lost her nerve, she rang her grandmother. “Yes, dear?”

“I met Richard Leitch, just as you demanded. He’s an asshole. I won’t be seeing him again. More to the point, I’m not meeting any of your matches. Never again. Not for coffee, not a movie, not a walk in the park. If you ever try anything like this again, I’ll tell Mom exactly what you’re up to.”

A long silence followed, and then Gram forced a laugh. “So dramatic. You act as if I did something truly dreadful rather than just looking out for your best interests.”

“Bullshit. Someone who cares about my best interests would care about my happiness, not just about my power. I’m not saying I intend to sacrifice the latter, but the way you’ve been acting, it’s clear where your priorities lie. I have to prove I’m worthy of the Waterhouse name because of my mixed heritage, and I’m fucking done, do you hear me? I deserve better, and I’ll have it, or you won’t be part of my life anymore.”

“Danica! You can’t—”

“I can. I did. You’re my grandmother, and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Your time and your love and the priceless gift of the grimoire and the house, but…if you didn’t give me those things freely, if there are strings attached, then take them all back. Because I’m my own person,notyour puppet, and I deserve to be happy.”

“That’s all I want,” Gram said softly. “All I’ve ever wanted.”

“Only if that happiness fits your specifications. It’s controlling, and I’m done, do you hear me? No more pressure, no more threats—against me oranyone! Going forward, I will date whoever I want. I’ll live as I see fit, and we’ll see if you get to be a part of that.”

Her heart was racing so fast, it felt like arrhythmia. Never in her life had she imagined speaking to Gram like that. It went against every instinct, like she’d been quietly ensorcelled with the need to please the old witch. Probably it wasn’t an actual spell, just the fading effects of hero worship. As a little girl, she’d wanted to be just like her grandmother, tough and fierce and full of mysterious strength.

Danica didn’t give Gram a chance to defend herself. Instead, she hung up and stumbled to the bathroom to barf up some weird-colored bile. Unsurprising, as she’d been on a liquid diet for several days. She clung to the commode and waited, but the nausea passed. Then she felt a gentle hand on her head, brushing back her hair.

“You sure told her,” Clem said, sounding a little proud.

“Uh. I guess you heard that?”

“Every word. It’s about damn time too.” Between the two cousins, Clem had always been the more openly defiant one. She’d fought Gramandher own mother without quarter.

“I had to. I’m done trying to live inside the lines she’s drawn for me.”

“Understood, but it was hilarious when you threatened her with Auntie Minerva.”

Danica laughed a little at that. It was rather like threatening to set a toy poodle on a Rottweiler. “I know, right?”

“Will you be okay?”

She tilted her head, silent sarcasm about her position of worship before the porcelain goddess. “Not soon, but…eventually. Best thing about rock bottom is that I can only go up from here.”

***

As promised, Titus persuaded Dad and Susan that it was best for Lucy to have a change of scene.

Because Dad was an asshole, Maya thought if they framed it as less stressful for Susan so she could focus on her pregnancy, it would work like a charm. And it did.

Basically, as soon as the old man realized it would mean less in-house conflict, he was all for it. Susan took more convincing, but by the end of the video call, she’d finally agreed that it might be more peaceful. She asked a lot of questions, though, raising issues that Maya and Titus had already considered. Unsurprisingly, neither Dad nor Susan conferred much with Lucy, so it was a good thing she wanted this life change, or it would be just another decision made without her input.

Two days later, he and Maya called Lucy to chat privately. The tablet screen flashed, and then Lucy appeared, lounging on her bed. Her room was mint green with twinkle lights hung up, movie posters on the walls. It occurred to him that they should probably redecorate the guest room, Maya’s old one, before she moved in.

Part of him was grateful that Lucy needed sanctuary. Without this extra responsibility, he might fall into a mental black hole and not crawl out for quite a while. He wanted to drink over losing Danica, but with the bakery and two younger sisters relying on him, he had to be strong. No chance to act otherwise, and that was a good thing. If he let himself go, he’d end up like Trevor after Sarah, just all gaming and weed, until maybe he’d forget there was supposed to be more to life.

“Still good to go?” Titus asked, hoping Lucy didn’t feel quite as abandoned anymore.

“I’m excited. I’m nervous, but it’s cool too. I’ve gone to school with the same kids my whole life. Once you get…ranked, it’s hard to change how people think of you. In St. Claire, I get a do-over, and I’m looking forward to helping at the bakery too. Am I working in front or back?”

Right, I offered her a part-time job.

“The front. Maya could use the help, and it’s safer. We’ve never had a student working for us, so I need to look into it before I let you do any baking.” There was no issue with Stan helping in the kitchen, but he wasn’t a teen, not by a long shot.

---