"How could you have kept this from us?" Victoria said as I joined them in the living room. "A custody battle is bad enough. A legal custody battle. But--"
"It's not a legal custody battle," Savannah said, slipping around the corner. "Taking custody means kidnapping, like breaking in at midnight and dragging me away kicking and screaming. That kind of custody battle."
Victoria turned to me. "What is she talking about?"
"Savannah? How about you take your aunt downstairs and show her your artwork."
"No."
"Savannah, please. We have to talk."
"So? It's about my life, isn't it?"
"See?" Victoria turned to Therese and Margaret, and waved a hand at Savannah and me. "This is the problem. The girl has no respect for Paige."
"The girl has a name," I said.
"Don't interrupt. You aren't ready for this, Paige. I said so right from the start. We should never have let you take her. You're too young and she's too--"
"We are fine," I said, teeth gritted so hard they hurt.
"Wanna see my art, Aunt Maggie?" Savannah asked. "My teacher says I have real talent. Come see." She bounced off, wearing a " good-girl" grin that looked as painful as my clenched teeth.
"Come on, Aunt Maggie," Savannah called back, her voice a high-pitched singsong. "I'll show you my cartoons."
"No!" I yelled after her as Margaret followed. "The oils, please. The oils."
Somehow I doubted Margaret would see the humor in Savannah's dark cartoons. They'd probably give the Elder a heart attack. Just what I needed.
Once they were gone, Victoria turned
on me. "You should have told us about this."
"I just got the notice yesterday after we spoke on the phone. I didn't take it seriously, so I didn't want to upset you. Then, when I met with them this morning, I realized it was serious, and I was just about to call Margaret--"
"I'm sure you were."
"Now, Victoria," Therese murmured.
"Do you know what they're threatening to do?" Victoria continued. "Expose you. Expose us. They're alleging you're an unfit guardian because you're a practicing witch."
"So are thousands of mothers in this country," I said. "It's called Wicca and it's a recognized religious choice."
"That's not what we are, Paige. Don't confuse the issue."
"I'm not. Every person who reads that custody challenge will jump to the conclusion that by 'witch' they mean 'Wiccan.' "
"I don't care what they'll conclude. I care about protecting the Coven. I will not allow you to risk exposing us--"
"That's it! Of course. Now I get it. That's why Leah's accusing me of witchcraft. Not because she thinks it'll win the lawsuit. She wants to scare us. A witch's worst fear is exposure. She's preying on that weakness. Exploiting it. She threatens us with exposure, and you'll force me to relinquish Savannah."
"A small price to pay--"
"But we can't let her win. If this ruse succeeds, they'll use it again. Every time a supernatural wants something from the Coven, they'll pull the same scam."
Victoria hesitated.
I hurried on. "Give me three days. After that, I promise you won't hear anything more about witches in East Falls."