Page 44 of Magical Melee

And by magic, I meant getting through the night without tripping over my own two feet or not losing my reading glasses ten times.

Although I had expected to shake Stonewick’s hold on me by now, I couldn’t.

Honestly, life was shifting in massive ways beyond just my carefree snacking habits.

Night had fallen already, and I hadn’t even eaten a proper meal. It was around seven o’clock, so I wasn’t too behind. Better than some days.

Dusting the crumbs from my shirt, I reached for a glass and filled it with water as I looked into the backyard, where so many memories clung to the wind sweeping through the autumn leaves.

But that was just it.

They were memories.

They’d come with me.

Those cherished moments would cling to me wherever I landed.

I’d see the same full moon in my apartment as I saw here.

I’d be able to imagine my daughter sitting on her swing set, giggling out loud and asking to go higher.

To think she’d already started her first college class today was mind-blowing. She’d called me and filled me in, and I loved hearing every single detail.

My eyes narrowed on a shadowy figure dancing behind the chain-link fence, and I groaned.

“Melvin is at it again,” I said, whispering and shaking my head with a chuckle. “You are the one thing I will not miss.”

His naked hips shook, and I turned away, knowing it would only get worse from here. Thankfully, the cloak of nighttime shielded my eyes from things I never wanted to see flop or flail.

The very first night we’d moved in years ago, Melvin had a bonfire in his backyard. Turned out that it was a full moon that evening, and he believed in things I’d never even heard of.

Once Celeste came along, we planted lots of shrubs and had an agreement with him to wait until after ten o’clock at night for his shenanigans. Apparently, now that Celeste was off and away to college, all bets were off, and he was free to jingle his jangle all he wanted.

A smile touched my lips as I thought about the drive to campus with my daughter last week. I’d helped her decorate her dorm, took her out for dinner, and made her promise to call me if she needed anything.

Even a drive back home or a place to escape for studies.

But then I returned here and had to face reality.

The phone hadn’t rung much. She was flapping her wings and soaring.

I wasn’t exactly sure where home would be after my short-term rental was up. Sure, Stella mentioned a little place outside of Stonewick, but I wasn’t positive that I should jump on it. She was going to text me tonight how much the rent would be, and that would probably be the deciding factor.

I looked around the kitchen with the white tile backsplash, white quartz counters, and white cabinets. The room was spacious and everything I’d wanted for my dream kitchen. In hindsight, that was my ex’s way of keeping me preoccupied.

While I was busy staring at tile patterns, he was busy flexing muscles and whatever else he had to offer the ladies.

All the ladies except his wife.

I chuckled at the thought of whoever would get stuck with him next.

The front door opened, and my best friend Skye called out to me.

“Are you in the bedroom serenading your potato chips again, or have you moved since this morning?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “I’m in the kitchen. Thank you very much. Dinner is calling, but I don’t know what it’s going to be yet.” I narrowed my eyes on her. “I’m thinking fresh cheese curds from the dairy.”

I just wished I had Frank to share them with.