“You didn’t,” Sadie groaned.
Of course, she had. And there was no such thing as coincidences when it came to her family.
“Who on earth wouldn’t want to stare at that god of a man across the dinner table?” Aunt Tava demanded, as man crazy as ever. “And speaking of handsome men, you haven’t told me where that brother of yours is.”
“Probably off shaking hands and kissing babies,” Sadie muttered. But even as she said the words, she realized how different he was since he’d been back. Less charm, more solemnity. She wouldn’t go so far as to call it brooding, but he’d lost that happy-go-lucky edge he’d always carried around with him like a talisman.
“Oh pshaw, you still haven’t forgiven him for leaving yet? Dear God, if I’d done something like that, Florence would have celebrated my absence, and here you are whining that he’s back. But don’t you worry, your head and heart will be too full soon enough.”
“What does that mean?” Sadie demanded.
“Tava,” Gigi said warningly.
“Where’s that little firecracker Raquel?” Tava asked, ignoring them both. “Ah!” She held up a finger, and a moment later there was a knock at the door. “There she is.”
Raquel barged in just as she spoke.
“Tava!”
“There she is!” Tava’s tiered skirt rustled like whispered secrets as she hugged Raquel.
“I assume you’re the one responsible for the glitter-dusted note demanding my presence?” Raquel laughed. “It’s the last day before break, so I let the kids out after lunch. Now, what’s going on in this madhouse?”
“Oh, family reunion.” Tava shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a glimmer of mischief in her eyes, and a second later she burst out laughing. The air turned sweet like sparkle-dusted rainbow cotton candy, to match Tava’s tiered skirt. If Sadie stuck out her tongue, she swore she’d be able to taste the sugar granules.
“What!” Sadie demanded.
At the same time Gigi said, “I knew it. You little shit ass.”
“Don’t blame me!” Tava squealed.
“Who should I blame then?” Gigi insisted.
“I hate to state the obvious here,” came Seth’s voice from the doorway, making Sadie jump. “But I’d probably blame magic. I mean, isn’t that usually the explanation for things around here?” He smiled, and Sadie remembered one of the reasons she loved her stupid brother so much. No matter what was happening, no matter the nonsense or heartache or confusion, he always made everything better. Just by being there.
“My darling, handsome nephew!” Tava cried, practically cooing in delight.
“Aunt Tava. I’m never quite sure if you’re actually human or part fairy.” Seth hugged his aunt and kissed the top of her head. “Honestly, who knows with this family.” He hugged Gigi and kissed her next. As though he’d been gone weeks instead of hours. “Sister,” he said. She made a noise halfway between disgust and annoyance as he kissed the side of her forehead, though in reality she loved it. “Quel,” he added, slipping an arm around Raquel’s shoulders in a half hug but then leaving it there.
A knock on the front door interrupted Sadie’s thoughts, and her heart stuttered, wondering if it was already him. It was too early. Tava had said dinner. Her hands flew to smooth her hair, but then she heard the bright, shrill voice of her Aunt Kay. Instantly, she and Seth locked eyes in unspoken trepidation and amusement. The house’s lights dimmed, and even the fire died down, as though it was trying to hide.
“Um, helloooooo!” Aunt Kay called in annoyance. “Is there a reason this damn door is locked?” She rattled the handle violently until Sadie opened it. It hadn’t been locked—just the house’s way of playing its own prank. “Baby girl!” Aunt Kay cried. Her hands were full of gift bags and a potted ivy plant. She towered above Sadie, her long legs made longer by the over-the-knee boots she wore, with six-inch-high heels. Her hair was piled in a messy bun on top of her head, and her wrists jangled with what seemed like a whole jewelry store as she pulled Sadie into a bone-crushing hug, her cheek resting on top of Sadie’s head. When she finally pulled back, tears were streaming down her cheeks, and the ivy she was holding had grown by a foot. “My baby,” she whispered quietly, cupping Sadie’s cheek with the palm of her hand. Her acrylic nails were long and Ferrari red, and the kimono she wore swayed about her slender frame like a kite in the wind. She smelled like new shoes fresh out of the box, and the scent took over Tava’s sweet cotton candy scent.