Spellbound

Chapter 2-1

2

“You want to do what?” Olivia Wilcox demanded, staring at her daughter as if she truly had lost her mind this time.

“I want to go stay at the cabin for a while. No one’s using it, right? I mean, everyone’s kids should be back in school, and — ”

“No, it’s not being used at the moment,” Olivia said. “That’s not the point.”

Danica bit back a huff of annoyance. This was no time to sigh or roll her eyes or impatiently shift her weight from one foot to another the way she might have back in high school when her mother decided to be difficult about something. If Caitlin believed it was important for Danica to go to the cabin, then, damn it, Danica was going to that cabin. Even if Olivia Wilcox thought it was a crazy idea.

“Look, Mom,” Danica said. “I just think a change of scenery might be a good thing. I can be quiet and still there, sort through some things.”

“You can be quiet and still here. Mason’s moved out, and your father’s at work all day. And I’m gone half the time volunteering at the hospital.”

Yes, her mother definitely liked to be the lady of good works. And it was nice of her to volunteer when she could be spending all day at the golf course or at Pilates or whatever it was the other über-fit housewives in their upscale neighborhood did to fill their days. But even though Danica had the house to herself a good deal of the time, it still wasn’t the same as being truly, truly alone.

“I can…and I can’t. Sometimes you need a change of scenery. It’s just the other side of town. It’s not like I’m planning to go rent a flat in Paris or something.”

Now, there would be a change of scenery. Unfortunately, because of the territorial nature of the witch clans’ world, such trips rarely happened, if ever. The Wilcoxes were now on more or less friendly terms with the de la Pazes, who held sway over the southern half of Arizona, and so it was no big deal for Danica to go and spend a weekend with Caitlin in Tucson. But Paris? Not going to happen.

Olivia’s expression was a study in uncertainty. On the one hand, she probably thought it a good sign that her daughter was trying to strike out on her own instead of spending another day brooding in the house. On the other, that same daughter hadn’t exactly exhibited all the signs of mental stability lately….

But because Olivia hadn’t yet given a definitive no, Danica decided to push on. “I can be home in twenty minutes if something comes up. I know when you’re there, that cabin feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere, but we all know it really isn’t. There’s a phone and electricity and everything.”

A long pause. “Have you talked to your father about this?”

“Well, no. I figured I’d ask you first.”

Danica’s mother didn’t look exactly thrilled to have the burden of the decision placed on her, but then she shrugged. “If he’s okay with it, then I guess it’s all right. But how long are we talking about here?”

Good question. Danica really had no idea, but she knew if she left her plans completely open-ended, her mother would probably freak out. Olivia Wilcox was all about nice straight lines and not a whole heck of a lot of thinking outside the box, which was part of the reason she’d had such a difficult time dealing with her daughter after the whole Matías incident. Suddenly, Danica wasn’t acting like Danica anymore, the go-getter daughter Olivia had raised gone, maybe forever, and she didn’t know what to do about it.

“A few days to start,” Danica said, hoping that would be enough. To tell the truth, she really had no idea how much time she’d need to spend at the cabin. Caitlin hadn’t been very specific. “I’ll see how it goes from there.”

That answer didn’t appear to reassure her mother, but neither did she raise any additional objections. And that, Danica figured, was probably as good as it was going to get.