Page 23 of Magical Melee

I settled into pillows with the odd feeling that this place had welcomed me like a long-lost friend.

Skye sprawled across the bed, flipping through one of the ancient spell books we’d found on the nightstand.

“What a trip,” she said, humming with her feet kicking in the air behind her. “You see tea that changes color, pass out from a draft and dehydration, run into a boy you used to know, and then find out you’ve already been here.”

The small, faded photograph felt delicate between my fingers. It said so much to me now. But last week, it would have told me nothing.

Today?

It felt like the beginning of something…magical.

I stared at the picture, and an inexplicable warmth spread through me as I took in my dad. He was handsome and had such kind and mischievous eyes.

But the nagging questions had already started.

Why did my mom hate this place?

Why did she pretend I’d never been here?

Why hide any of this if it didn’t mean something?

“The one time my mom goes on a two-month cruise with my stepdad.” I smiled and shook my head.

“Can you send her an email?” Skye asked.

“I doubt she’s logging on.”

I squinted, pulling the photo closer as though that would unlock more memories buried somewhere inside me. My dad and I looked right at home in the heart of this enchanting town as if we were meant to be here.

Yet I’d always been told I had never been to Stonewick before. In fact, every time I’d mentioned wanting to visit a place like this, my mom’s face would go tight. Her eyes flitted away with an excuse about it being “too far” or “not our kind of place.”

Though, my mom and I never really agreed about a lot of things, and once she met my stepdad, she agreed with me even less.

Don’t get me wrong. I had a solid upbringing, but I always felt a little out of place.

It was probably why I was so excited to start my own family.

I just happened to pick the wrong man if I had wanted us to grow old together in some rocking chairs.

Now, I wasn’t so sure that sounded like fun, anyhow.

So, take that,Alex.

I chuckled and nodded, thinking back to my dad. I’d always gotten the impression he was pretty mellow.

Not me.

My mom’s fiery temper was embedded deep, which wasn’t helping now.

And it was all channeling toward her. I hated being left in the dark, and this photo brought so many questions, I felt like I would burst.

A knock at the door brought me out of my fog as Skye bounded toward the door.

She opened it wide to see a room service attendant dressed in a black suit standing behind a cart with our food.

“Your dinner has arrived,” he said, glancing past Skye.

Our eyes connected for a brief spell before he brought his gaze back to Skye.