And now he has a sister of his own. Lo cares for Willow, and he doesn’t hide this fact from anyone. He’s been checking his phone all day for her texts, partly responsible for her while she’s in Philadelphia. Tonight, Emily flew in and she’s eating dinner with her daughter to discuss the future. Whether or not Willow will return to Maine is up to her.
While Ryke and Lo hug, the air is quiet and calm.
Peaceful almost.
And then Daisy suddenly tenses. “Did you hear that?” Her panicked, high-pitched voice pricks my spine.
{ 62 }
LILY CALLOWAY
Daisy cautiously climbs off the table, her collarbones jutted out like she’s holding her breath. And her wide green eyes zero in on the glass sliding door, our entrance to the house.
Ryke and Lo separate, and Ryke’s face floods with concern. “Dais…” Is she hearing things? My face twists. No. My sister is not making things up in her mind. She’s okay.
A violent crash sounds somewhere, like pots and pans or a bookshelf. Clattering to floorboards. I jump in my seat, almost startling Moffy, swaddled on my lap.
Partially, I’m happy that my sister did not make up the noise. It has to be nothing though. We’re all safe here.
“Maybe it was a rat,” I suggest, biting my nails. I drop my hand quickly.
“Don’t even,” Rose glares. Rats. She hates rats. Sadie used to take care of those for her, and now the cat is with Frederick.
“Shh,” Connor says, raising his hand. Everyone silences again. The guys are closest to the backdoor, and their rigid postures put me on edge. If it was nothing, they’d throw out some jokes too.
I blow out a breath and protectively lift Moffy to my chest, Wampa cap securely on his little head. I pat mine. It’s still there. All is well.
“HEY FUCKERS!” A muffled shout rings from up high.
I flinch and gullibly follow the noise to the second-floor window. Two gargoyle horror-masks with horns and pointed teeth stick their heads and arms out, their hands gloved. My heart somersaults and thrashes. They’re in Maximoff’s nursery, is my very first thought.
I have to get Moffy. I take a step towards Lo, and then a baby wails in my arms, reminding me that our son is already safe with me.
“Guess what?!” one calls out. “We’re getting inside the Calloway sisters this September!” Then they snicker and perform pelvic thrusts against the window.
“They’re in the house,” Daisy says in a haunted whisper. Her whole body is frozen, and the terror in her wide-eyed gaze is palpable. My heart is on a nosedive. I’m torn between racing into the house and running scared.
Ryke, Connor, and Lo hesitate to leave us. I can see it as they stand between the door and our bodies, wavering uneasily between the two. Seconds pass as everyone assesses, but I see a black-clothed figure whisking through a hallway, breezing by a window. They’re just harmless teenagers, I remind myself. It eases the fear in my gut.
I look back at Daisy, to maybe comfort her with this sentiment. That’s not a good idea though. To my little sister, teenagers are not just harmless. They’re worse than cruel.
I’ll hold her hand then. I reach out to be the big sister, the better one that I’ve strived to be.
But Daisy doesn’t notice my outstretched hand. Something bad happens. Her jeans begin to soak at the crotch, the dark spot blooming. Like she…
“I can’t…” she chokes on a breath.
“Hey, hey.” Ryke sprints over to her, scanning her quickly, head-to-toe. And he pulls her into his chest, setting a hand on her head. “I’m here, Dais.” He holds her tightly, forcing her body to his so she can feel protected and safe. Even though she peed her pants, Ryke consoles Daisy the best that he can.
I begin to shake as hysteria strains the air. More and more windows open, and the cackling from the teenagers rattles my defenses. I’m not immune to the fear. It tries to cling to me, and it’s freaking out Moffy, who still cries in my arms. I rock him, and it’s only been maybe a minute.
It feels like a lifetime of uncertainty.
“Lo?” I breathe.
In the pit of my ear, I hear Connor calling the cops. I smell our barbecue burning on the grill. And Rose keeps repeating, “I’m going to strangle them.” Her clutch tightens on a shrieking Jane.
“Lily!” Lo shouts.
He’s holding my cheeks between his warm hands. His body as close to mine as he can be without squishing our son.
I’m scared, I realize. I’m terrified right now. And it’s not a fear for my wellbeing. It’s for Moffy and Lo. “Don’t go,” I say first.