Witching You Were Here (Wicked Witches of the Midwest Book 3) by Amanda M. Lee Read Free Book Online Page A

asked.
    “Kris Jenner.”
    “Who?”
    “Never mind.”
    I raised my hand and knocked on Brian’s door, waiting for an invitation before I entered. Nothing could have prepared me for who I found inside. The man sitting in the chair, wearing a pressed suit and wringing his hands nervously, was someone I hadn’t seen in years. I recognized him, though, from Thistle’s photo book and my own weak memories. “Uncle Teddy,” I said breathlessly. “What . . . why . . . what are you doing here?”
    “Bay, this is Ted Proctor,” Brian started to introduce me.
    “I know who he is,” I said irritably. “He’s Thistle’s dad.”
    “Oh, right,” Brian looked properly chastised. “He was worried you wouldn’t remember him.”
    “Thistle has a picture of him up in her bedroom,” I said warily.
    “She does?” Ted spoke for the first time since I entered the office.
    “What is he doing here?” I pointed the question at Brian.
    “He’s a land developer,” Brian said easily. “He’s looking at some property in the area for a group of businessmen that want to invest.”
    I glanced back at Ted. He looked different than I remembered – and yet the same. His dark eyes were deep pools of concern, and his brown hair – which had a little more gray at the temples than I remembered – was still slicked back in the manner he had worn it all those years ago.
    “So why do you need to see me?” I asked finally.
    “I thought it was best,” Ted said. “Brian and I are going to be doing some business together. Instead of hiding from you, I thought it would be best to just announce my presence.”
    “To me?”
    “Yes,” Ted looked confused.
    “What about to your daughter?” My mind traveled to the conversation that Thistle, Clove and I had had this morning. I had been surprised when Thistle mentioned her dad. Maybe I shouldn’t have been. Maybe she knew her dad was in town and she’d been keeping it a secret. Somehow, I doubted that was the case.
    “I plan on seeing Thistle,” Ted shot Brian a nervous look. “I’m just not sure how to do it.”
    “Well,” I said angrily. “Her store is a couple blocks down the road. She’s there right now. I was just with her.”
    “Still joined at the hip, I see,” Ted said, flashing me a bright smile. “The three of you were more like sisters than cousins. Even when you were little.”
    “Which is the last time you saw me,” I reminded him.
    “Yes,” Ted nodded. “I would recognize you anywhere, though. You look just like your mom.”
    “I do not.”
    Ted looked confused. “Yes you do. You always did. I would imagine Clove still looks like Marnie, too.”
    Well, that was true. “I wouldn’t open with that,” I said. None of us wanted to admit we looked like our moms. If that was true, I couldn’t help but picture us all still living together and fighting over the same guy in thirty years. I shuddered at the unwanted thought.
    Ted laughed, despite himself. “Yeah, I remember how mad Marnie used to get when people told her she looked like Tillie.”
    That still infuriated her.
    “How is your Aunt Tillie?” Ted asked. I think he was just trying to fill the awkward silence.
    “She’s fine,” I said. I didn’t miss the fact that Brian had coughed the word “evil” into his hand, though. “She’s as ornery as ever.”
    “I would expect nothing less.” I think Ted was trying to charm me. It wasn’t going to work, though.
    “So, what property are you interested in?” I changed the subject.
    “I’m still looking,” Ted said, shifting his gaze laterally to Brian, clasping his hands behind his back. I knew he was lying, his body language confirmed it, but I couldn’t figure out why. “I just didn’t want to keep hiding while I was in town.”
    “I’m not the one you have to hide from,” I reminded him.
    “I’m not hiding from Thistle either,” he said hurriedly. “I’m just not sure how I should approach her.”
    “I wasn’t actually