Page 125 of Magical Mischief

But something in me resisted. This wasn’t just a magical errand or quest to unravel a town mystery. It was about my family and past, and I needed time to clear my head before I arrived at the Academy. Whatever Bella found felt personal, making me want to walk into it alone.

“I think I should do this solo,” I said gently.

He nodded. No protest. Just a steady look, the kind that told me he understood, even if he didn’t like it.

We walked up the steps, and I looked over at my dad. I went over to him and knelt.

“I’m sorry, Dad. I have to go to the Academy again. It has to do with Grandma. Bella says she’s fine, but something she found in the Archives might be interesting. Do you know anything about that?”

A flicker of something ran through his gaze, and I wished I knew his thoughts. I hugged my dad one last time and stood, making my way to the door.

“I think this might happen a little more,” Keegan said.

I paused. “What might?”

“You. Going off to follow magic at the Academy. Or gain answers. Or whatever it is this time.”

He wasn’t accusing. Just stating a truth.

“Yeah,” I said. “I think so too.”

He nodded once. “I know we can’t predict things like this with the Academy, but something feels different.”

“I agree.” I smiled at Keegan as his understanding coated me in comfort. “While I’m gone… would you mind keeping an eye on my mom? I know the list just keeps growing…”

“I sure will,” he said, with a small grin.

That should’ve been the end of it, but I turned toward the door, ready to start walking outside.

But the second I opened it, there she was.

My mom, standing just outside the cottage with wind-tangled hair and a look on her face like she’d just run the last stretch. She looked nothing like when she first arrived, when she was all coifed and prepped.

“Good timing,” I said, blinking at her.

She waved her hand like she could swat away the surprise.

“I was just coming to tell you. I got word. Your stepfather…he’s coming home. He’s finally come to his senses.”

I blinked. “What?”

“He’s already booked passage from the next port. There was a moment of clarity somewhere between Nassau and Bimini. Says he wants to come back and figure things out.”

“Wait—hecalled?”

“He wrote,” she said, pulling a letter from her coat pocket. “Well. Emailed.”

I laughed in disbelief. “So just like that?”

She held up a hand.

“I’m not saying I’m jumping right back into anything. But… it’s enough. Enough to feel like I don’t need to be here anymore. Not because of him. Because of me. Stonewick…it reminded me I still have some spark left. That I’m not just someone waiting for someone else to figure out what they want.”

I looked at her, her cheeks flushed with the morning chill, her eyes clearer than they’d been since she arrived.

“You sure?” I asked. “Sure you want to leave?”

She nodded, stepped closer, and touched my cheek like she used to when I was small. “I needed this place. And you. More than I knew. But I also know when it’s time to move on. I’m not done trying. And I think I’d like to try from my front porch with my coffee cup.”