“I know they’re pretty out there. I would just like to get the chance to know them a bit. Before the house sells. Simon says it will be fast, right? And who knows when we’ll be back. If ever.”

I can barely force myself to say the part about the house, but it does the trick.

Her shoulders loosen slightly, and she grabs a lock of her hair, pulling down lightly. “You’re right. I suppose it can’t really hurt….”

She’s sort of half talking to herself, which is completely out of character. I jump in before she can change her mind. “Great! What time should I head over there? Do I need to take anything special? And can you give me their address?”

She exhales. “Willow, listen. The aunts… they have a lot of ideas about our family’s history that aren’t accurate, so you can’t take them at face value, okay? This town has a way of twisting the truth.”

I almost blurt out, Oh, you mean like the family curse? but manage to keep it in. Instead, I go for another tactic. “So you’re saying that whatever the aunts believe… you don’t?”

It comes out all kinds of clunky, and my mom narrows her eyes at me. “What are you talking about?” she says.

“Um, like whatever ideas they have about our family’s history, they aren’t true?”

This is dangerous ground. Her lips are tight now. “I’m saying that time has a way of distorting the truth. There are things that…” She exhales. “Sometimes people need something to blame, you know?”

It feels like she’s thrown out a tiny trail of breadcrumbs. I desperately want to follow it. “I’ve asked them not to drag you into any of the family’s drama. But if you do hear anything, from other townspeople, whatever, please know it’s all stories. Okay?”

She’s talking about the curse. Her voice is intense, and my heart is beating in my ears now. “Okay?” she says again.

“Okay,” I say quickly.

Her shoulder releases, and she pushes in through the door, making a slight ahh noise as she slings her purse on the night table. Then I remember the other thing I need to talk to her about.

“I meant to tell you, I talked to Dad last night.” I say this like it’s not a big deal, even though I know it is. She didn’t tell me not to tell my dad, but she didn’t tell me I could tell him either. “I told him we were in Salem.”

She freezes, then whips around, trying and failing to hide a look of panic. “Right. What did you tell him, exactly?”

“That you inherited some property, and we’re here getting it handled.”