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A sudden gust rose up, blowing leaves and snow around my head. As I turned away, shading my eyes from the swirl, there was a quick noise and I heard a faint, "Goodbye, Cicely. It was good to see you again. I'm glad you're back but I sure wish things were different," whirling in the wind.
Chatter's voice. As quickly as it had come, the breeze died and I turned back to find both of them gone. I looked behind a few bushes, but could find no sign that they'd ever been there.
A moment later, a noise from a nearby tree startled me. The owl--a great horned owl--ears tufted up, eyes round and brilliant topaz in the dim afternoon, let out a deep, resonant series of five hoots, sending a chill up my spine as it stared at me with its round, glittering eyes. The bird was huge and I could swear it was studying me. Nervous, I backed away, heading toward the edge of the forest, stopping once to glance behind me. The owl still stared, like it was waiting for me to say something. Hurrying, I turned the bend and broke into the open.
As I raced back across the lawn to the house, Rhiannon and Leo were standing on the porch. When she caught sight of me, she hustled me inside.
"You look frozen through, and scared to death," she said, bustling me into the living room. "What happened? Did you find anything?"
I shook my head, barely able to find my voice. I didn't want to talk about Grieve, about how he'd changed and pushed me away.
"It's . . . Don't go in the woods. Please promise me that you won't go in the woods without me."
She gave me a long look, then nodded and let me go. "The lawyer's booked but he'll meet us in a couple of hours, after he gets off work. He'll meet us at Anadey's Diner."
"Fine. I need a bath." Even though I'd showered before we went out to search for Heather, I felt oddly dirty.
I jogged up to my room and began filling the bathtub with water as hot as I could stand. I poured in several caps of Heather's lavender bubble bath and the steam rose, working its magic as it began to calm me down. The encounter with Grieve had left me feeling like spiders were crawling over my body and I nervously scratched my arm as I waited for the water to warm up.
As the afternoon began to settle, an odd light flickered from somewhere deep in the Golden Wood. I closed my eyes to listen for anything the wind might have to say, but the only image I could see was that of a great horned owl, screeching in the trees. And its piercing shriek sounded for all the world like someone saying, "Leave this place, Cicely--leave while you still can."
Suddenly terrified, I made sure the window was locked and closed the curtains. Even so, I still felt vulnerable and exposed.
Chapter 5
When I was finished and dressed again--I'd have to do laundry soon considering how many times I was changing clothes today and how few clothes I actually owned--I sat on the bed, taking stock of the situation.
Grieve had changed. His eyes haunted me and I couldn't figure out what the hell had happened. And he'd mentioned the Indigo Court. But mostly, I felt the sting of his rejection. Would he ever forgive me? And more important--could I love this new Grieve, who was far harsher and crueler? Would I even want to?
We headed out to meet the lawyer at the diner, taking Favonis since Rhiannon was too upset to drive and Leo wanted a ride in my Pontiac GTO. His enthusiasm would have made me smile any other time, but after everything that had happened today, I really wasn't up for an automobile lovefest.
As we pulled into the parking lot, I glanced around, nervous, but there didn't seem to be any mysterious creatures hiding out. Last night I'd been running for my life here. Today it was quiet, almost serene.
As we filed through the door, Rhiannon nodded to a gentleman who was probably in his mid-forties, waiting in one of the booths.
He was very suit-and-tie, but I had the feeling that beneath that professional exterior, he couldn't wait to get home to blue jeans and a T-shirt. He just had that look in his eye. Plus, instead of coffee, he was sipping on a milk-shake, and a piece of apple pie smothered in whipped cream waited in front of him. Somehow, pie and a strawberry shake made him seem less imposing.
We slipped into the booth.
"How you doing? Jim Fischer." The lawyer held out his hand and I shook it. Nothing spectacular, just warm, firm, and strong. The kind of handshake that offered confidence and security.
"Cicely Waters. And I'm fine, thank you."
Anadey was at the table immediately with menus and coffee. I was the only one who turned over my mug and I noticed she'd brought cream with her.
"You just take your time looking over the menu," she said, "unless you already know what you want. Cicely, it's good to see you again. I was worried last night when those two ruffians left right after you, but I watched and made sure you got to your motel room safely enough."
"You know who I am, then?" Surprised, I wondered why she hadn't introduced herself the night before if she'd recognized me.
"Of course, but you were so tired last night, I didn't want to push you into a long talk. Now then, what can I get you all?" She held up her order pad.
I handed the menu back to her. "Chicken soup, and grilled cheese. Plain--make sure nothing with fish comes near either, please."
Leo and Rhiannon asked for hamburgers and fries, and Anadey ran the order over to Peyton, who glanced out from the kitchen and waved.
"She's had a hard life, that girl," Rhiannon said.
"Why? Her mother seems nice enough."
