Chapter 5
Kade
This was my sixth day dodging Grammy. Since the entire town and my family were traitors, I knew she knew it was my day off.
Didn’t matter if I was getting groceries or doing yard work. It was going to happen.
It wasn’t a question of if, but when.
She was screwing with me. And I almost caved. Almost.
Lord knew I needed a distraction.
I’d already tried to find Juliette Morgan on social media, but everything was locked down tighter than a vault.
Smart woman. Maddening, too.
Grammy held out until midday.
Then she called.
“Hello, Grammy,” I said, grudgingly smiling as I answered.
“Kade, my favourite grandchild. The firstborn in the Mercer household,” she chirped.
I rolled my eyes.
“What are you up to, Grammy?”
“Me? Oh, nothing. Just helping a friend paint her house. Us Golden Girls need to stick together.”
She paused, then coughed dramatically.
“The fumes aren’t great though. Can’t even get high off them.”
My stomach sank.
“What the heck, Grammy? Why didn’t you ask me or Caleb to help?”
“I couldn’t get ahold of you. I tried.” Her voice dipped. “Anyway, I’m going to call you back, dear… I’m feeling a little dizzy.”
I ran inside, grabbed my truck keys.
“Where are you?”
She rattled off an address while I jammed my phone into the holder and fired up the engine.
?? ?? ??
I took the stairs two at a time, heart thumping harder with each step.
Fumes. Dizzy. Couldn’t reach me.
She’d said all the right things—just enough to activate every emergency protocol in my brain.
And now I was about to find Grammy Mercer face down on someone’s lounge floor because she thought she could still keep up with women half her age.
The door was open. I didn’t bother knocking.
“Grammy?”
I stepped inside—and stopped dead.
There she was.
Not on the floor. Not slumped over.
No.
She was perched comfortably on a cream armchair, ankles crossed, sipping tea from a dainty teacup like a queen.
Across the room, a woman in black leggings and a splattered T-shirt stood on tiptoes, paint roller in hand, coating one wall in warm eggshell white.
“Hello, Kade. What a pleasant surprise,” Grammy said, smiling over the rim of her teacup before taking another sip.
I opened my mouth to speak—
The woman turned.
Gasped.
“You!”
Juliette Morgan.
I looked at her.
Then at Grammy.
Then back to Juliette.
“Well now,” Grammy said, sounding far too pleased with herself. “Do you two know one another?”
“No!” Juliette snapped.
“Yes.” I said at the same time.
My eyes travelled over her before I could stop them—
Paint-speckled arms, the curve of her hips, bare legs dusted with flecks of colour.
There was something grounding about her skin—rich brown with undertones of gold and rose. Like earth. Like warmth. Like life.
Life.
My gaze dropped to her stomach.
Wait—
Was she pregnant?
Rick’s voice echoed in my head.
“She won’t be single for long.”
Juliette Morgan was the new teacher.
And over my dead body would Rick or any other idiot take her out on a date.
“Have you updated your address on your driving licence yet?” I asked, tone clipped.
Her jaw dropped. “You dirty—”
“Ooooh, interesting,” Grammy murmured. “Don’t mind me, dear. Carry on.”
Juliette’s eyes snapped to her.
“Grammy, is this your grandson?”
Her voice was humming with fury and the threat of a homicide charge.
“I’ve grown fond of the girl. She’s almost like family.”
I sighed, dragging a hand down my face.
The weariness caught up with me all at once.
“Of course it makes sense,” Juliette said, shaking the roller like it was a weapon.
“You’re both walking, talking red flags. It runs in the family.”
“I’m innocent,” Grammy said, unbothered. Possibly glowing.
“Why don’t I drop you off at home, Grammy?” I said, turning toward her. “I’ll come back to help you… decorate,” I added, smirking at Juliette.
She narrowed her eyes.
“No,” Grammy said, setting her teacup down. “Take me to the club. I need to update the girls.”
“I’m locking the door,” Juliette said flatly, pointing the roller at me like a loaded shotgun.
“We need to have a chat,” I said, nodding to her stomach.
“No, we don’t.” Her tone was final.
But I wasn’t done. Not by a long shot.
Also, I had no idea how soon someone could even know if they were pregnant.
I’d need to do some research.
“I’ll be back.”
She glanced at my Grammy, lips pressing into a thin, furious line.
I chuckled.
Because I knew she was desperately holding onto her tongue.
Grammy was waiting for me, tapping her foot like a woman ready to start a war.
The second Juliette’s door slammed shut, she pounced.
“When did you meet her? Why is she so angry with you? Have you ruined this already? I really like this one.”
I held out my arm for her.
“Grammy, some things are not to be gossiped about. My life is one of them.”
She looped her hand through my arm, but her voice softened.
“You have to let it go, my boy.”
And that was when it hit me.
I hadn’t thought of Nadine once since the day I met Juliette.
She was definitely a witch.