In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker

Author:Liz Parker [Parker, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2022-09-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Addison

Every summer, for years, Sylvia Bonner would invite the Haywoods to her estate for the annual founders’ dinner, a sort of end to the first day of the Yarrow festival, and every summer, Maura Haywood would decline. Eventually, Sylvia stopped asking. So when she extended the invitation to Addison directly, it seemed like she was making an attempt to apologize—somewhat publicly—for Nate’s accusations. Though Addison knew the shadow garden was to blame for the chaos at the funeral, with this invitation, Sylvia had managed to ease at least some of what Addison was starting to think was permanent self-doubt.

“Out of everyone, a Bonner was the last person I expected to take my side.” Even saying it out loud, it didn’t feel real.

“Excuse me. I took your side.” Though Quinn crossed her arms and had a slight huff in her voice, the softness in her eyes betrayed her.

“All I’m saying is that I’ve yet to see this awful person Grams warned us about our whole lives,” Addison said. “I should be the one apologizing to Sylvia for the rosemary. I don’t get it.”

“The tea leaves literally told you this was coming,” Quinn said.

“Three times,” Harper added.

“There’s no way in hell Grams is going to agree to join the Bonners for dinner.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Quinn said. She raised her index finger. “One, Grams would never pass up a public apology from Sylvia.”

Addison started to interrupt, but Quinn held up a second finger. “And two, sure, the tea leaves may be somewhat responsible for getting us into this mess in the first place, but it’s pretty clear they’re not done with the Bonners yet, so neither are we, and not even Grams will be able to argue against that.”

“But—”

Quinn barreled on. “Three, it’s a founders’ dinner. That means the Bakers will be there. That means River will be there.”

Sometimes, Addison wondered if Quinn really was an empath, and she’d been lying to them about her lack of the family gift for all these years. “I have no interest in seeing River again,” Addison said.

“You were both in tears yesterday,” Quinn said.

“Because of the shadow garden,” Addison said.

“Yeah, and the shadow garden only amplifies what you’re already feeling,” Quinn replied.

“It might surprise you to know that I’ve convinced myself the tea leaves led me to connect with the Bonners so I could finally let River go,” Addison said. “I’m ready to move on.”

“That’s not at all surprising,” Quinn said. “Wrong, but not surprising.”

Addison threw up her hands. “Fine,” she said. “I’ll convince Mom and Grams to attend the dinner. Somehow.”

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