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Chapter Twenty-Two

C lover peeked over at Whit from the passenger seat of his truck, clutching the handkerchief he’d given her.

He’d been so sweet, wiping her tears after holding her while she sobbed her eyes out. It was as if he’d known just what she needed. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to. His protective embrace had said it all.

She wasn’t embarrassed or surprised by the way she’d reacted to her family’s outburst. She’d never fought like that with them before. Oh, sure, when she was a teenager, she’d sneaked out or gotten the odd test score that was too low for their liking. But overall, she’d always had a good relationship with her parents. She didn’t cause trouble like Llew, so she’d never experienced their disappointment.

Llew’s reaction wasn’t a shock to her either. They may bicker and tease—the way all siblings did—but he’d always been protective of her, of both his sisters but Clover in particular.

If only she’d had enough time to break it to them before Ari had busted in, she was sure they would have taken it better.

She frowned down at her hands in her lap. Or maybe not. At the moment, she couldn’t tell whether it was the fact that she’d kept the whole thing from them or whether it was whom she’d decided to marry that had upset them more.

Taking another furtive look at her new husband, his eyes on the road, she hoped it was the former.

“I’m sorry you had to witness all that,” she murmured. “I should have prepared them before you arrived.”

Whit shook his head. “I suppose it was to be expected.”

“Still, I didn’t think they’d go so far as to fire me. I’ll find a new job as soon as I can.” Clover sighed heavily. “After I get a car…”

Whit glanced over at her, his gaze sympathetic. “There’s no need to rush. You’re making a lot of changes in a short amount of time. New marriage. New house. We have time for you to find a new job.”

“But I don’t want to be a burden. I planned on paying half the bills.”

Whit smiled in a way that looked too professional. “I’m not saying not to find a new job. I’m just saying get settled first. You don’t have to rush.”

Relief washed over Clover, but she pursed her lips in a faux pout. “Are you always this reasonable, Husband?”

His eyes flicked to her, and he swerved a little on the road before righting the wheel.

Clover giggled under her breath. “It’s going to take me some time getting used to the idea of having a husband, so I thought I would call you that way. Does it bother you?”

He adjusted his shoulders as if the word lay heavy across them. “No, why should it?”

Grinning, Clover tapped him with her elbow. “Are you being honest with me, Husband?”

She leaned toward him, and she was glad she did, or she might not have seen the slight blush rise to his face.

Whit cleared his throat. “Just like it’s going to take you some time getting used to the idea of saying it, it will take me some to get used to hearing it.”

She settled back into her seat with a smile. “I promise never to use it in anger.”

A comfortable silence settled between them, and Clover watched out the window as the south side of town and then the woods passed by. Once they were on the north side, it only took fifteen minutes before Whit pulled onto a residential driveway.

Compared to the rest of the neighborhood, Whit’s house had more land, which was surrounded by naked trees. The house looked old even from the road—symmetrical and square like a Georgian colonial—and was set back with plenty of front yard to insulate it from passersby.

As they climbed out of the truck and stared at the house, Whit lifted his chin in an expression of pride.

“It’s a very nice house,” Clover complimented. “Has it been in your family for a while?”

Whit rewarded her with a smile, and her heart stuttered. I need to compliment him more often.

“My family has been here since the factions moved from the Massachusetts Bay Colony upon making the treaty. The first house, which was much simpler, is still on the property, and this house was built later. I’ve done most of the restoration work by hand myself.”

“Wow! I’m impressed. You didn’t even use magic? I didn’t know my husband was so handy.”

“Well…mostly by hand. Some things can’t be fixed without magic. Come on, let’s grab your things, and I’ll show you around.”

Whit handed her the milk crate she’d filled with her favorite tea blends, and he grabbed her suitcases.

As they made their way to the front door, she admired how easily he carried them. She’d packed every article of clothing she owned into those two cases, and she knew how heavy even one was.

He set down her luggage to unlock the door. “I’ll get you a spare key before we head back,” he said.

Picking her luggage back up, he went in.

But something made her hesitate on the threshold. Her legs suddenly felt heavy, and a chill ran down her spine.

Whit glanced behind him when he realized she wasn’t following. “Come on in,” he encouraged. “The heat is on.”

Clover hesitated, then stepped into the front hall. Her eyes swept the space. There was a long hall in front of her with a staircase that led upward. On her left, an opening led to a parlor, and on her right, a dining room.

“Is…is this place haunted?” she whispered so any potential ghosts wouldn’t hear.

Whit snorted a laugh. “Occasionally.”

Her eyes widened, and she stiffened.

Setting down her suitcases, Whit approached her. “Don’t worry, Wife. We have wards. The only spirits allowed in here are the ones that mean the inhabitants no harm.” He smiled reassuringly.

Her heart raced, and it had nothing to do with ghosts.