Page 76 of Witch Please

“Um. I don’t know if I’ll like it, but I enjoy making cookies and stuff. And maybe I’m presuming too much, but if I enjoy it and I work hard, maybe I could go to school. Like you did, Titus? And learn to be a baker?”

He blinked. Sure, he’d thought about bringing on another baker at some point when the business was stable and loans were paid off, but he’d never in a hundred years imagined that Lucy might be interested. Her face fell as he held silent.

She rushed on, “No pressure. I mean, I know it’s a family business, and I’m not counting on that or anything, so—”

“Itisa family business,” Titus cut in. “If you want in, you’re in. Just know that you’re allowed to change your mind, no hard feelings. Nobody expects you to have everything figured out.”

Maya squeezed his shoulder, outside the range of the camera. She mouthed,Good save.He flicked his hand at her without letting his expression shift from the warm smile he was offering Lucy in reassurance. The kid really was a love sponge, so desperate to please that it pissed him off.How do Dad and Susan not see this?

Lucy sniffled. “Thanks. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”

“We’re here for you,” Maya said.

Even if they aren’t.

Everyone heard the unspoken words, but Titus went on to business. “Okay, so we need to get you moved because school starts at the end of August and there’s a lot to do. Maya and I will fly out to pick you up late Saturday. We’ll stay through Monday. That way we only have to close one day. Does next week work?”

“You’re coming to get me?” Lucy asked.

Maya said, “Of course. You’re packing up your whole life. We’re not asking you to get in an Uber and find a way here on your own.”

From what he’d gleaned, Susan had worked too much as a single mom to travel much with her kids, so Lucy had only been on a plane a couple of times in her entire life. She tried not to show it, but she was overjoyed that they were taking off work to collect her. That was how you proved to people they mattered—with actions.

After chatting a bit more and making concrete plans, Titus hung up to book their tickets. Round trip for him and Maya, one way for Lucy. He got them seats together on the way back, a decent price too, as airlines were still desperate for travelers. As soon as he got the confirmation email, he sent the details to Lucy so she’d know the arrangements were set, that he and Maya weren’t grown-ups who talked a good game but would ultimately let her down.

“You okay?” Maya asked as he stood and stretched, rolling his neck.

Nah, I feel like somebody stepped on my actual heart.

He was embarrassed to be that dramatic out loud. Saved it for the inner monologue. Shrugging, he knelt to pet Doris. “Just tired, I guess. Why?”

“I don’t know. You’ve been acting weird. Even quieter than usual. Are you having second thoughts about Lucy?”

“Oh, hell no. We can’t be worse for her than Dad and Susan.”

Maya laughed. “I’m not ready for parenting, but…my thoughts exactly.”

“It’ll be more like mentoring. She just needs to feel like we care and we’re looking out for her.”

“Have you thought about painting my old room? Right now it’s kind of a junk repository, and it’ssolavender.”

“Full of unicorns too.” He couldn’t help the snide tone, didn’t even try.

“So help me, I will end you.”

“I’ll invite Trevor over on Sunday. If we all pitch in, I think we can redecorate pretty quick.”

Maya nodded. “Painting won’t take that long. I just hate all the fiddly prework, the tarps and the taping of windowsills and doorframes.”

“Trev and I can handle that. Can you order some stuff? Lamps and furry pillows and soft afghans? Whatever you would’ve wanted in your room at her age.”

His sister did a little dance. “I hope she likes it when we’re done.”

“The fact that we’re trying will probably mean a lot.” Titus didn’t intend that in a bad way; it was just obvious that Lucy needed attention. “And if we get some details wrong, we can change things according to her tastes. It’s more important that she feels at home.”

“I know I’m gonna sound like an asshole but…we are seriously awesome people,” Maya said, acting like she might even pat herself on the back.

Titus laughed. The sound hit him strange, like he hadn’t thought he could ever feel…well, happy was the wrong word. But even humor had been sliding by him, as if his sadness was too thick for it to penetrate. A wall of scar tissue too tough to permitanythingto pass, let alone light or joy.

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