Page 70 of Magical Mischief

I forced a laugh. “Surprised is an understatement.”

Silence stretched a beat too long as I wondered if she’d noticed my dad, still in the shape of an English bulldog by the fireplace.

A quick look at Keegan told me he was thinking the same thing.

“Anyway,” my mom said, arms extended theatrically, “the ocean got tiresome. Your stepdad has turned into a couch potato. I’m at a turning point, and I’m not sure your stepdad is on board. No pun intended.”

“Are you getting a divorce?” I asked, horrified at the thought.

My stepdad had been fine as just that, but he’d never truly stepped into the role of father. They always seemed to have a good relationship, so this development was a sudden turn.

She waved a hand at the trivial question.

“A trial separation, dear. He can lounge all he wants on deck. Hopefully, he’ll miss me and come to his senses. But me? I’d rather be anywhere but stuck on a ship for another month.”She let out a breath, glancing around the cottage. “I’m surprised this place is still standing, so that’s something. It was old when we lived here. Now, it’s just ancient.”

“And I love every stone of it,” I added.

She eyed Stella and Nova suspiciously, as though trying to recall their old secrets. Then her gaze flitted to Bella, obviously unimpressed. Bella offered a polite smile, but my mom just turned back to me.

“It’s so… cozy,” she concluded, giving a thin smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “It feels different than when your father and I lived here with you, though.”

Cozy was right.

She always craved flashy things, big city lights, or apparently big cruise ships. But she was here now, and I couldn’t quite parse why.

“Would you like to sit?” I asked, forcing myself into hostess mode. “We, uh, sort of had a busy morning.” As if on cue, my father gave a soft snort from near the hearth, but my mother didn’t so much as glance at him. Probably assumed he was a random bulldog, which was perfect.

“Sure,” she said, sinking onto the couch like she owned it. She ran a manicured nail along the armrest. “So this is what you’ve been up to since I left?” Her tone wavered between curiosity and disapproval. “You leave your husband and play pretend in this tourist town.”

I studied her, unsure if she truly believed what she was saying. But I learned about her…

She was a witch, but I didn’t know if being a witch was something like,once a witch, always a witch, or what…

“My husband slept with anything that walked as long as it wasn’t his wife, so I think I had a good reason to find a peaceful town away from it all.”

Her brows lifted. “Peaceful?”

“Yes, the tea shop has provided a great escape.”

My mother hummed, unimpressed. “If that’s what you want to call it.”

“Let me fix you some tea,” I told my mom again.

She nodded and scanned the room as I went to the kitchen.

Keegan sidled up behind me, voice low. “You all right?”

I nearly jumped. “Yes, just… tense.”

He rested his hand on my shoulder, and a wave of something familiar charged through me.

My gaze flicked up to his. “Crush, huh?”

His eyes stayed on me, and he smiled. “I don’t remember.”

“I bet you don’t,” I teased.

Keegan laughed and shook his head. “Your mom just arrived on your doorstep, and that’s what you gathered?”