The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic(5)

“Shut up.” Sadie laughed again. “It’s just the curse,” she started.

“The curse, the curse,” Raquel chattered. “When are you going to let that go? Listen, you’re not alone. Nobody is abandoning you. Your brother is going to come back. Gigi’s not going anywhere. Neither am I. You run a successful business. You’re loved. We’re all here to support you.” The words came out in a rush, like they’d been rehearsed. For all Sadie knew, maybe they had. She wondered when she’d become the friend who had to be talked off a ledge so often that Raquel had a speech for it.

Sadie took a deep breath and let the words wash over her. Reassure her. But for some reason, they couldn’t pierce completely through her armor. Because the truth of the matter was that Seth wasn’t back, and even if he did return, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t vanish again. Gigi wouldn’t be around forever. They’d both leave. Just like her mother. Just like Jake.

“And now that I’ve buttered you up …” Raquel started.

“Oh no.” Sadie groaned, again folding the thoughts in half and tucking them away. “What are you roping me into this time?”

“Let me start off with the good news.” Raquel was practically beaming. “They said yes!”

“Did you propose to someone I should I know about?”

“Hilarious. And no. You’re the only one for me. But the school board said yes to Carrie!” she squealed. “I had to sign an agreement swearing I’d personally clean the blood off the stage, but it’s totally worth it.”

Sadie laughed. Raquel was the local high school music teacher and always directed the musicals. Sadie had been cornered into her fair share of sitting through hours of long auditions and backstage teenage meltdowns.

“What do you need me for?” she asked with resignation.

“You’re an angel, you know that? I was wondering if you and Gigi could help with the gym costumes. You know, the toga-like ones?”

“Your parents own literally the only costume store in town! They don’t have anything?”

“Um, excuse me. The Mad Hatter is a costume and tux rental store. We also do prom dresses. And no, they don’t have what I need. I was also thinking maybe you’d want to host a bake sale or something to raise funds?” Raquel smiled obscenely.

“Okay, okay,” Sadie said, laughing. “Done.”

“Now I just need someone to help me with the lighting. It needs some strong design. Know of anyone who could help?”

Before Sadie could answer, the air in the kitchen suddenly pulsed with an energy that felt like endless summer nights where anything was possible, or of first frost on Christmas morning. It was anticipation, pure and clean.

Sadie nervously wiped her hands on her apron again, her stomach dropping to her feet. The “Traditions” and “Protection” hadn’t had time to bake through yet.

“No, no, no,” Sadie moaned with a hand over her mouth. The noise of the world faded to a hum. It buzzed in her chest like a painful memory. The kitchen went eerily quiet, even the popping and creaking of the hot oven gone silent.

Beyond the double doors, something pulled her. Something warm that smelled like sweet summer peaches.

Pushing the door open a sliver, she peered out the front window. The hum turned into a roar, and her ears burned hot as she saw him.

The omens. The flooded river. That quiet voice in her head snickering and whispering.

Jacob McNealy.

He stood on the sidewalk like a living, walking daydream. Her mouth went desert dry, and it was like she’d been thirsty for years and hadn’t realized it. Looking at him was like stretching your limbs after a long nap.

The first heartbreak that had sparked her curse to life.

And seeing old sorrow before noon was the seventh bad omen. A nightmare was on its way.





Carrot Cake Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

These will humble the eater and remind them of their roots, where they came from—you know. Carrots help you understand that to find fulfillment, you have to seek answers from your past, no matter how gritty it is. The salt and cinnamon ensure that those traditions and memories will be protected. Focus on positivity while baking, or they’ll turn out bitter. I adapted this recipe from my Uncle Sun, who brought back a bag of lunar white carrot seeds from his tour in Vietnam.

Ingredients

For the cookies

1 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

? tsp. salt

1? tsp. ground cinnamon

? tsp. ground nutmeg

? tsp. ginger

? c. coconut oil melted and cooled to room temperature

? c. dark brown sugar

? c. granulated sugar

1 large egg

? c. peach puree (can use baby food or just puree canned peaches)

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 c. shredded carrots

1 c. old-fashioned oats

? c. sweetened coconut flakes

? c. raisins

For the frosting

1 oz. cream cheese at room temperature

1 c. powdered sugar

1 T. milk

? tsp. pure almond or vanilla extract

Directions

1.?Preheat the oven to 350?F. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat baking mat or parchment paper, and set aside.

2.?In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.