The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic(75)

“And who’s this?” Anne asked.

“I’m Sage,” said the little girl. “And this is Cocoa.” She held up the stuffed lamb.

“Your sister,” said Florence, her eyes were guarded as she put a protective arm around the child’s shoulders. Just then, Bambi ambled out from the living room and went to Sage like he’d been waiting for her. He nuzzled his nose into her little hand before plopping down beside her like a sentinel.

“Impossible,” Sadie breathed, finally finding her voice. “The conduit magic—” she started, but Anne cut her off sharply.

“I’ve heard that lambs love hot chocolate. Is that true?” her aunt asked.

Sage nodded, her eyes wide.

“Come on then. I happen to have a very special recipe I think you’ll like.” Anne held out her hand, and Sage looked to her mother, who nodded briefly, before the girl took Anne’s hand. “Come on, Kay.”

“But—” Kay started to whine until Anne gave her a wicked glare. “Fine, fine, I’m coming. You’re so bossy.”

Bambi traipsed after them, and then they were alone, Sadie still halfway up the stairs, Seth still mute, the door still ajar.

What do I do? The thought traced itself over and over in her brain.

And then Florence held out an arm to Seth. Without a blink he walked forward into her embrace.

Sadie felt the tug of jealousy. It was what Seth had always wanted. But when Florence held out her other arm, a question in her eyes as she looked at Sadie, her feet moved of their own accord. And then, after twenty-eight years, she was hugging her mother. And they were both crying.

“I miss her so much.” Florence sobbed quietly. “I never got to say goodbye. I missed so much.”

Seth made a strangled noise as a sob escaped.

Sadie pulled back awkwardly, staring at the ground.

Their mother was back. But even knowing she’d left because of the magic, the curse, didn’t take away the sting of abandonment she’d felt her whole life. Florence may have given birth to her, but how was she supposed to behave toward the woman when she’d never set eyes on her? What were the rules of civility when it came to long-lost mothers? Sadie, who hated trying new things for fear of being bad at them; who refused to do things in front of people because she didn’t want to mess up; who liked to seem like she knew what she was doing, even if she didn’t. And right now, she was a sailor without the stars.

Seth pulled out of their mother’s embrace too, and the three of them stood there, not knowing what to say or do, until finally Anne called from the kitchen that hot chocolate was ready.

“I know we have a lot of things to talk about,” Florence said. “Can we stay? I’ll tell you everything so long as you do the same.”

Sadie was surprised when Seth looked to her.

“Yes, of course,” Sadie croaked out. “You’re family, after all.”

Sadie winced inwardly. Blood? Yes. They shared that. But family was more than blood. It was memories and love and late-night phone calls and being there when no one else was; none of which they had with this beautiful woman who stood before them, her hair so shiny it looked reflective, her eyes so eager it made Sadie’s chest ache.

By the time Sage had fallen asleep at the kitchen table, her head pillowed on her stuffed lamb and Bambi at her feet, Sadie still couldn’t decide how she felt. So instead, she told Florence they could take Gigi’s room for the time being. Florence carried the sleeping child, her sister, Sadie reminded herself, upstairs.

“I’ll be right back,” Florence said over her shoulder. And like a dutiful bodyguard, the dog trailed after them both, his head held high, as though he’d been waiting for the assignment his whole short life.

“I can’t believe she’s back,” Kay said again the moment she was out of earshot.

“About damn time too,” Anne said, sounding exactly like Gigi.

“Did you know?” Sadie asked the aunts. “About Sage?”

“I didn’t,” Kay said at the same time Anne nodded. “You’re such a bitch,” Kay said, though there was no venom to it.

“We’ve barely kept in touch.” Anne rolled her eyes, and their bickering continued until it stopped abruptly when Florence walked back in.

“I’m sure you have a million questions,” she said, taking a seat at the table. Her voice was weary.

“What’s your magic?” Seth asked, like he just couldn’t help himself.

Sadie’s eyebrows shot up at the question. It certainly wasn’t the first one she’d wanted to ask.

“Magic …” Florence was frowning now, twirling a spoon idly in the air. “Magic is only as powerful as the curse that accompanies it, you know. My curse was Julian. And from that, being parted from you two”—she pointed the spoon at Sadie and Seth in turn—“and the rest of my family.”

Sadie pursed her lips at the answer in the form of a riddle. It reminded her of Tava.

“I ran for years,” Florence continued. “Like I said, my curse wasn’t just to leave, but to be a wanderer. Always chased by sins of the past. The ghosts, spirits—whatever you want to call them—would never let me rest. Anyway, I guess it’s time you heard my side of the story. I think we should start from the beginning.”