Darkmoon(15)

So I got some rocky road ice cream out of the freezer, went to the family room, and switched on the TV. I could do this. I could.

Unfortunately, I knew a far worse confrontation than the one I’d just survived still lay ahead of me.





3





By the Banks of Oak Creek





Aunt Rachel had reacted in horror when I told her the news, pretty much as I’d expected. Luckily, though, Tobias had been there when I went over to tell her what was going on. I didn’t see his presence as an intrusion, but rather a welcome buffer. He at least seemed hopeful when I said I’d do whatever I could to bring this curse to an end, even as Rachel shook her head and said that no one had ever been able to break the Wilcox curse.

Which was true. But, as they say, there’s a first time for everything.

With that unwelcome task out of the way, I went home, then sat upstairs on my bed for the longest time as I stared at the phone I held and wondered what on earth I could possibly say. Would Connor hear the fear and the nerves in my voice and demand to know what was wrong? Or would he see my number on the caller I.D. and not even bother to pick up?

In the end, I took the coward’s way out. I went to my contacts, selected Connor’s number, and then sent a brief text. We need to talk. It’s important. Can you meet me in Sedona?

I hit “send” before I could lose my nerve. A minute ticked by…then another. I set the phone down on the bed and went to the window, staring out at the terraced streets of Jerome and the golden hills beyond. The cottonwoods following the line of the Verde River blazed a brilliant emerald, foliage still fresh and new. Another minute passed. My eyes began to burn, but I wouldn’t let myself cry. If he wanted to ignore me, fine.

But then my phone pinged, and I hurried over to the bed and picked it up with shaking fingers.

Okay. When and where in Sedona?

I still wanted to cry, although this time more from relief…and possibly nerves. Damn hormones. Blinking, I typed, Tomorrow at ten? Down by Oak Creek behind Los Abrigados?

This time the answer came back quickly, as if he’d been waiting for my reply. Maybe he’d just been away from his phone the first time. Okay. See you then.

And that was it. Nothing else, no words of love or reassurance or anything else, but at least he hadn’t said no. That was something. It had to mean something.

Or so I told myself.



* * *



The next morning was bright and beautiful, a typical May day that promised warmth but not real heat. I spent about twenty minutes agonizing over what to wear and finally settled on my favorite pair of jeans and an embroidered peasant top, along with some jeweled flip-flops Sydney had talked me into. They showed off the pedicure I’d gotten the week before — before my entire world had changed. My toes gleamed hot pink, matching the embroidery on the blouse I wore. In the mirror, I looked fresh and relaxed, ready for summer. Connor had never seen me like this, and I wondered if he would appreciate the change in my appearance. But at least he’d always liked me in jeans, and I figured I might as well squeeze myself into them while I still could.

Then I was out the door and heading down the hill, through Clarkdale and Cottonwood and on into Sedona. The resort town was halfway between Jerome and Flagstaff, more or less, and neutral territory, so I figured it was the best place to meet. Finding someplace private had required a bit more thought, as this wasn’t the sort of discussion I really wanted to have in a restaurant in front of a bunch of other people. But then I remembered the quiet park-like area between the Los Abrigados resort and the shopping area at Tlaquepaque. Yes, people went down there sometimes to feed the ducks or simply watch the water flow past. Even so, it was far more secluded than anyplace else I could think of, especially on a weekday morning. Or so I hoped.

Since I arrived a little before ten, before the shops were open, there was plenty of parking. I chose a spot close to my destination but one that wasn’t designated for resort guests only. A quick scan of the parking lot told me Connor wasn’t there yet, so I went ahead and walked down toward the creek.

As I’d expected, it was very quiet. There were a couple of bored-looking teenagers poking around the ornamental maze set up between the parking lot and the creek, but they didn’t even give me so much as a second glance as I passed them by and continued on to the water’s edge. Here, the grass was green and fresh, the trees overhead thick, with leaves equally as green. Sunlight glinted off the surface of the water as it moved between its wide banks. The water level was fairly high; snow must still be melting up in Flagstaff and making its way here.

As if thinking of Flagstaff had somehow summoned him, I caught a glimpse of movement in the corner of my eye, then turned to see Connor approaching me. My breath caught in my throat. Yes, I’d been thinking of him, dreaming of him, for the past few months, but none of that could compare to seeing him before me now. I’d forgotten how tall he really was, how broad his shoulders, how strong and fine the bones of his face.