While Max returned downstairs to tend to the family, I made my way up the hall.
“How did you get past the Wicked Witch of the West Coast?” Liam asked as I entered his room.
I sniggered. “I thought I’d see if you wanted some Reiki to relax you.”
“Oh yes.” His face brightened. “The last time you did that, I dreamed of Betty.”
“Then we shall continue every night. What do you think?”
“I think you’re an angel, Cassidy.”
I couldn’t help but smile as I closed my eyes, taking a moment to prepare. Once I’d taken three deep breaths, I lifted my hands over Liam’s chest to channel a stream of healing energy into his body.
“I thought I told you not to come back in here.” Caroline’s nasty tone snapped me out of my trance.
Liam glared at his daughter-in-law. “You are not in charge here, Caroline.”
Her eyelashes fluttered. “But this is ridiculous.”
“I’ll decide what’s ridiculous in my house!”
Liam’s burst of anger transformed into a coughing fit right as William and Adam walked into the room.
“Gramps?” Adam rushed to his grandfather’s side, while his father paused in the doorway.
“I told you this was out of control,” Caroline uttered to her husband.
William scowled at the crystals and oil diffuser. “If I knew she was going to turn the place into some hippy convention, I would never have agreed to this.”
“How dare you!” Liam wheezed. “I want Cassidy here.”
I grasped Liam’s hand. “Please calm down.” I kept my tone level. “It’s okay. This is a hard time for everyone, and my presence can sometimes exacerbate this. There is no need for you to get worked up.” I waited until his eyes softened into mine. “I’ll see you at sunrise, okay?”
Liam calmed almost instantly. “My favorite time of day.”
I smiled at him once more for reassurance before dropping my head and walking out of the room without a glance in his infuriating family’s direction.
I couldn’t sleep after the altercation with Liam’s family, so I tiptoed up the hall and into the library. Leaving the lights off, I pulled the faux(I hoped)fur blanket off the wingback chair and dragged it to the oversized window seat, lit up by the full moon.
To my surprise, the book Adam had stolen was sitting on the window ledge, clearly awaiting my discovery. My cheeks burned as I flicked through the pages, wondering if he’d really read it or skimmed for the dirty bits. I guessed the latter.
After tucking the blanket around my curled-up legs, I leaned back against the wall and found the last scene I remember. I was eager to escape the cruel world I lived in, if only for a few chapters.
Before I had a chance to delve back into the story, the door creaked open, letting in a stream of light to where I sat.
Adam’s eyes met mine before stepping into the darkness. “I thought you went to bed.”
I turned my gaze back to the book. “I’m too wired to sleep.”
“Do you need some more light? I can turn on the lamp.”
“Please don’t. The moon is bright enough.”
Adam moved closer to where I sat and peered out the window. “I forgot how bright the stars are out here.”
“It really is beautiful.”
Adam’s gaze burned into my side before I turned to him.