Page 69 of Magical Mischief

My dad promptly padded away from the center of the room toward the fireplace as if seeking refuge. Across the room,Bella froze mid-step, cheese in hand. Keegan walked to the mantel near my dad and leaned against the stone.

“Mom?” I repeated, shutting the door behind her.

Cold air nipped in the cottage, but she ignored it, removing her hat and smoothing her hair meticulously, before scanning every corner of the living room.

She clicked her tongue as she clocked Stella and Nova.

“Well, I’ll be,” she said, voice laced with surprise. “Stella, Nova…you two don’t look like you’ve aged a day.” A note of accusation, maybe. “Still dabbling in spells to keep yourselves fresh, I see.”

Stella’s eyes flashed with offended pride. It wasn’t even so much my mom’s attitude, but I think the built-up resentment of her leaving so many years ago, of abandoning them all, that made this a less than ideal welcome party.

“Dabbling? My dear, I—” Stella snapped her mouth shut, clearly reminding herself not to blow up in front of my mother or me. But an edge of annoyance bled into her voice. “Yes, I do look fabulous, thanks for noticing. It’s good to see you too.”

Nova, always the cooler head, gave a polite nod.

“Nice to see you again.” Nova paused. “You’ve been gone a while.”

“Oh, I have, indeed.” My mom smoothed her shirt again and glanced around, taking everything in. “Stonewick’s still as quaint as ever, I’m sure?”

Behind her, I caught Stella rolling her eyes dramatically.

Quaint, indeed.

I forced a thin smile, trying to piece together why a woman who never let me come here and always claimed to dislike Stonewick was suddenly standing in the cottage she’d made home with my dad.

Her gaze flicked from Stella and Nova to Bella, whose ears flicked uncertainly.

My mother’s eyebrows rose. “Who are you?”

Bella cleared her throat and stepped forward with a tentative grin.

“I’m Bella,” she said brightly, offering a half-wave. “I’m sort of new in town.”

“Oh, wonderful,” Mom cut her off.

Bella faltered, obviously put off by the frosty reception, and gave me a quick glance.

My mom’s gaze wandered around the room. “I’m guessing you’re all still up to your old Stonewick nonsense.”

Nova tilted her chin slightly but didn’t reply.

“Maeve, once I realized you were living at the cottage, I knew you needed me at once.”

A flash of annoyance pricked my gut.

My mom’s gaze found Keegan’s. “Oh, and you’re the boy who had a crush on my daughter.”

He gave a slight nod.

So, maybe my mom had some good insight into Stonewick and its inhabitants after all.

But I didn’t want to embarrass Keegan, so I stepped toward my mom. “Okay, let’s get you warmed up. Would you like some tea or something?”

“Tea?” She tossed her hat onto the nearest chair. “Sure, why not. It’s better than that vile cruise coffee they had on the ship. Not that I could stand another moment on those blasted ships.”

Stella, from the corner, coughed a little too loudly.

“I can’t stand the cruise life anymore.” My mom turned that sharp gaze on me. “Which is partly why I’m here. I realized mid-Caribbean that living life on a floating buffet wasn’t for me, so I hopped off at the next port, hopped on a plane, and voila. Here I am. Surprised, darling?”