Page 75 of Magical Mischief

My mom gestured toward a cushioned chair by the window. “Sit, please. I’ll make us some tea.”

I sank into the chair and watched my mom pour steaming water into porcelain cups.

What had really brought her back to Stonewick?

“Mom, why did you leave it all behind? Why did you abandon Stonewick? And magic?”

“I didn't abandon magic, not entirely. But Stonewick, that was a different matter.”

“Then tell me. Help me understand.”

Chapter Eighteen

“Stonewick was wonderful in so many ways. The village nurtured my magic. But at times, it was also suffocating. Your Grandmother Elira was respected and beloved. She had an innate talent, a powerful gift. People expected the same from me since I married into the family. But no matter how hard I tried, I could never match her brilliance.”

“You didn’t need to match her.”

The room's coziness provided a little extra comfort as my mom confessed things that I knew were difficult.

She shook her head slowly and sighed.

“You may see that now, but things were different back then. The comparisons were relentless, but the quiet pity was worse. I felt invisible in her shadow, and magic became a burden instead of a joy. I longed for freedom, a life without expectation. It’s hard to live up to someone else’s legacy.” My mom shrugged. “So her magic just kept growing inside the Academy while mine withered.”

“I’m sorry, Mom.”

“That’s life. It took me a long time to realize I should stop comparing myself to others.”

“Is that why you kept me away?” I asked.

“Partly.”

“You could have at least told me what we were. Who we were.”

“I thought I was protecting you. I didn’t want magic to break your heart like it had broken mine. I was afraid you'd feel trapped like I did.” Her expression clouded with regret clear in her eyes.

I nodded and took a sip of tea. “What’s strange is that I’ve never felt freer. I don’t think magic is just something you can walk away from. It finds you.” I let out a sigh as my mind drifted to Celeste. Was she a witch too?

“For years, I’ve felt lost, and now I have a purpose. It feels good,” I told my mom.

“I never meant for you to feel lost. I truly believed a normal life was better for you. One without magic’s complications.”

A horn honked outside, and I stood to look at the bustling village filled with happy tourists, collecting crystals, scented candles, and dreams.

“But you underestimated me. Magic is part of me. And this town feels like home.”

She nodded slowly, and a wistful smile tugged at her lips.

“You are strong, Maeve. Stronger than I was. And perhaps braver. I see it now, the courage you carry so naturally. I'm sorry it took so long for me to understand.”

“I feel like there’s so much you could teach me, Mom,” I said softly. “I feel so confused in this world, and trying to undo a curse I barely understand is nearly crushing.”

“Maeve, I need you to understand something. I didn’t only leave Stonewick because I felt small in your grandma’s shadow. I left to protect you.”

“From what?” I already knew the answer.

Her eyes shone with emotion.

“I saw the signs, Maeve. The Wards were weakening, the curse slowly unraveled around the people of Stonewick, and the threats were becoming more reliable. The darkness that seeped through town was too powerful for me to mend.”