Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
On the anniversary of her parents’ death, Regina road her bicycle down a side road that provided alleyway access to the Main Street businesses. She needed to go to Grey’s Gifts, and she needed to do it without her sister seeing.
Like his sister, Joshua Grey worked at the shop.
While Tillie oversaw the sales floor alongside her mother, Joshua managed inventory and shipments, which meant he could often be found at the loading dock or in the small office at the back of the store.
There was no guarantee he would be there, but Regina had burned a gold candle for luck before leaving the house.
She had no doubt she’d find him exactly where she needed him.
Regina leaned her bike against the brick wall and pulled off her leather gloves. Then she started up the back steps. When she reached the door, she pressed the button next to a sign that read Ring bell for deliveries.
She stepped back and waited. A few moments later, a man with a stunning likeness to Tillie stood in the doorframe.
He had the same mousy brown hair and piercing honey eyes.
But where Tillie only had an inch on Regina’s five-foot-four, Joshua towered over her—well over six feet tall.
Regina squared her shoulders and crossed her arms. Were anyone watching the two of them, they would’ve sworn Regina was the one looking down at Joshua, not the other way around.
“Regina,” Joshua said, a softness to his voice. “Violet’s out front, why did you—”
“I’m not here to see my sister.” Regina cut him short with a certain urgency in her clipped and whispered words. “We need to talk.”
Joshua’s thick eyebrows rose on his forehead. He grabbed a nearby brick and wedged it in the door, then gestured for Regina to lead the way down the steps. He followed her into the loading area.
“What’s this about?” he asked.
The most Regina ever said to Joshua since her parents’ deaths was a professional hello the few times they’d run into each other in town or when Violet had called asking her to drop off candles she’d left at home.
“Violet and Tillie.” Regina paused, weighing her words.
As soon as she outed them, there was no going back.
Regina wanted nothing for her sister as much as she wanted her happiness.
For a moment she wondered if Tillie could bring joy into Violet’s life in a way Regina couldn’t.
But, no. It had always been the two of them, and that had always been enough.
Regina took a quick look around them, but the alley was empty. Still, she lowered her voice further and gestured for Joshua to come closer. He bent over, dipping his head so she could whisper into his ear.
“They’re not just roommates.”
Joshua’s eyes narrowed, and the doubt Regina had about telling her sisters’ secret melted away. She was right. This was exactly what she needed to get Tillie out of their lives for good. When he didn’t respond, Regina continued.
“I don’t think anyone else knows,” Regina said. “But with them living together in our house, it’s only a matter of time.”
Joshua straightened as he looked Regina over. “Are you threatening my sister?”
Regina’s eyes widened. She forced an innocence into them that she didn’t feel. Unfortunately, her voice betrayed her. “Not any more than I’m threatening my own.”
“I see.” Joshua’s voice was both protective and sad. “Violet told me they’d be safe with you.”
As Regina processed his words, something cold wound its way around her heart. She’d been so certain Tillie’s family didn’t approve of two women in love—why else would Tillie have needed to hide away at Honeysuckle House?
“I’m worried what would happen if word got out,” she said.
“And how exactly would word get out?” Joshua asked.
“They live together. It would only take the wrong person to question that, which is why you need to convince your sister to leave. What they’re doing is dangerous.”
“No one has any way of knowing what goes on behind those walls unless someone were to tell them,” Joshua said, an underlying accusation in his words.
Regina placed a hand on her hip and tapped her foot against the pavement.
Charming people had never been her area of expertise.
That had always been Violet’s talent. Regina never saw a need for it, not when she could get what she wanted with magic.
It was why she’d burned the candle this morning.
This conversation should’ve been going differently, but it seemed whatever magic her sister had done to counter Regina’s was more encompassing than she anticipated.
But Joshua didn’t know that.
“I don’t think I’ve been quite clear in my meaning.” Regina’s voice took on a sharper edge. Her eyes narrowed, and she imagined herself every bit like the wicked witches she’d read about in fairy tales. “You need to get your sister out of my home.”
Joshua took a step back, and Regina smirked, satisfied by the fear in his eyes.
“I see,” he said.
“I certainly hope you do.”