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The very store that he claimed would be his one day.

Could it be that the bookstore was the real reason he was here?

“So how did you like my surprise?” Charles asked, sitting up a bit. His pillows rearranged themselves so that he could be more comfortable, and she would have smiled at his use of magic if she weren’t chagrined by his words.

“Surprise?” she repeated, mouth wide. “Charles, you can’t be serious. You knew he was coming? And you didn’t even warn me?!”

“Come on, Lucy, and rob myself of the look on your face?” Charles smiled deviously. “You keep me young.” He laughed. “I knew you wouldn’t approve of any intruders in our store, but since it’s necessary now, I thought I’d make a little surprise out of it.”

“Well, I don’t appreciate it!” She pouted, crossing her arms. “Just like I don’t appreciate you still being in here! You’ll still be discharged tomorrow, won’t you? Is everything okay? The doctor spoke to Grayson on the phone, but he didn’t tell me anything.”

“Ah, nothing to worry about.” He waved a hand. “I’m fit as a fiddle! The old blood pressure shot up, so they’re being fussy, trying to squeeze more money out of my insurance, I’m sure. There was no need to worry Grayson or you over it. I’m sure I’ll still be released tomorrow, as planned.”

“You’ll be okay, won’t you?” she asked, fidgeting with the ends of her long sweater sleeves. “I wish I could use magic to fix you right up.”

Magic could help in healing small injuries, such as cuts or bruises, but the recovery from hip-replacement surgery wasn’t so simple and easily managed. Being a witch appeared more glamorous than it was. In reality, magic was fickle and slightly different for each witch. As such, there weren’t many concrete rules or guidelines; it wasn’t an exact science, which was also why witchcraft was kept a secret. Nobody wanted to be a lab rat.

“Pah, I’m all right now!” he replied, his voice regaining its usual vigor. “Don’t you worry.”

“Of course I’m worried,” she said, frowning. “I’m going to set up a section in the bookstore for you, so that after you get discharged I can keep an eye on you all day.”

It was too risky to leave him alone at the house, even though with magic, he could easily procure whatever he needed. She would feel better taking care of him herself.

“You’re fussing too much,” Charles said. “Really, I’m fine.”

“Then why is he here?” She didn’t say Grayson’s name; she didn’t need to.

“He’s my emergency contact, as you know,” Charles said. “They called him when I was admitted—then he called me. I haven’t heard his voice in …” Charles trailed off, his eyes shining with tears. “He asked me if he could come. How could I say no?”

Lucy furrowed her brows. So Charles didn’t exactly know why Grayson was here, either. Charles thought it was for his own benefit, but Lucy wasn’t so sure. It was weird that Grayson had arrived after all this time. Was he trying to get into Charles’s good graces now that Charles was old and injured in hopes of securing his inheritance?

Grayson seemed adamant that the bookstore was his. He had literally spoken of his inheritance to her, even though Charles wasn’t dead, and that was a seriously insensitive thing to say after being absent for the past two decades.

“I don’t have much time left in this world,” Charles continued. “I want to spend it with my family.”

Pain speared through her. “Don’t say that.” She took his hand in hers. “I’m here, aren’t I? I’m always here. I always will be.”

Was she not enough? Was that why Charles had given Grayson permission to come?

He squeezed her hand, smiling gratefully. “You know how much I appreciate you, my darling girl. But I’m afraid even after I’m discharged, I won’t be able to move around the old shop as much—magic can’t keep you from getting old, you know—and when Grayson offered to help, I thought it might be good for all of us.”

Lucy could hardly argue with that, but she made a displeased face all the same. She couldn’t break Charles’s heart by pointing out Grayson might have ulterior motives—she would deal with Grayson on her own.

“What?” Charles asked, narrowing his eyes at her. “Don’t tell me you’ve already gotten off on the wrong foot.”

“I didn’t do anything!” she replied, indignant. “He’s just such a … grump.”

“I’m sure he needs some time to adjust,” Charles said, voice hopeful. He was clearly pleased at Grayson’s being there, and she wouldn’t ruin that.

“As long as he actually takes care of you and helps out around the shop,” she acquiesced. Even with magic, she couldn’t manage it all on her own; help would be good.

“It’s good of him to come, after all these years,” Charles said, and she detected a hint of bitterness in his tone. “Left his old job as an English professor and everything.”

An English professor! This had to be a joke.

“Good of him to come finally,” Lucy said. Charles released a long breath, a faraway look in his eyes.

“He was only a child when his parents died,” Charles said. “Don’t be too harsh on him for wanting to stay away from where it all happened.”