overhear Orva telling someone he’s working remotely.
Avoiding me, more like it. Damn.
I go home to change after work, shedding my skirt and blouse and replacing it with jeans and a snug-fitting black sweater. Since I don’t know how to teleport and don’t want to try it by myself lest I end up in Kalamazoo, I drive over to Dad and Cassie’s place. I scan the street for any sign of Trace’s truck in case they invited him too, but I don’t see it. Whew.
After greetings, Cassie says, “Dinner first or talk first?”
“Is it good news or bad news?” Felise asks. “If it’s bad news, let’s eat first, otherwise we won’t get to enjoy the pizza.”
“It’s neither. I’m having some second thoughts, but I still haven’t decided what to do. I want to talk about it.”
We’re all seated in the kitchen at the huge island.
“Okay,” Dad says. “Go ahead.”
“Well. Yesterday I did some shadow work.”
They all nod.
“At Dad’s er… suggestion.”
He smiles, his eyes lighting up when I call him Dad.
“I think I really learned a lot about what’s been holding me back in my witchcraft.” I tell them details about my mom I haven’t shared with them. “I’ve been too focused on trying hard, trying to please others, and not enough on the things I can do with my powers. The good things I can accomplish even if my powers aren’t supreme.”
“We don’t know that,” Dad says. “You’re still learning, Romy.”
“I know.” I acknowledge this with a scrunched-up face. “I do know that.”
“So does that mean you will take your WED exam?” Magan asks.
“I don’t know.” I twist my fingers together, looking around at them.
“As far as your powers go…” Dad hesitates. “There’s something we haven’t talked about.”
“What’s that?”
“Triad Energy.”
The others all stare at him. “Oh my goddess,” Felise breathes. “Really, Dad?”
I look back and forth among them. “What? What does that mean?”
“There’s a special kind of energy that only three sisters can have,” Dad says. “Their collective power is the strongest kind of magic that exists.”
“Whoa.” I slide my gaze over to Magan and Felise, who both look similarly gobsmacked.
“I never thought of that,” Magan says.
“I did think of it,” Dad adds. “But Romy needed time to develop her powers.”
“I’m only your half-sister,” I remind Felise and Magan.
“That might make a difference,” Dad admits. “We don’t know.”
“How can we find out?” I turn wide eyes on him.
“We can conjure Louboutin shoes!” Felise cries.
Dad rolls his eyes. “No. I’ve been trying to think of a simple way to test it. You don’t have full command of your powers yet, Romy, until you have your WED, so it’s hard to know. We can’t change immortality or aging or resurrection… but Triad Energy can. But we can’t just reverse aging on someone to try it out.”
Cassie raises her hand. “I volunteer.”
We all laugh, but Dad tilts his head, studying her. “Wait, you might have something there. It’s a small sign of aging… but it’s aging. Your gray hair.”
She pats her hair, frowning. “I don’t have gray hair.”
Felise and Magan crack up. “Mom. Isn’t that why you go to the hairdresser every six weeks?”
She makes a face.
Dad moves closer and peers at her hair. “You’re just about due for a root touch-up.”
“Gee, thanks for noticing.”
“If the girls can change your hair and get rid of the gray, I think that will be a sign of their Triad Energy.”
“Hmmm.” Cassie taps her bottom lip. “Okay! I’m fine with never having gray hair!”
I meet Felise’s eyes, then Magan’s. They actually look nervous.
“Okay,” Felise says. “Any advice for us, Mom? Dad?”
“You have to do this on your own.” Dad crosses his arms.
I squeeze my eyes shut. “I’ll probably turn her hair purple.”
“We can do this. Come on.” Magan waves a hand, and the three of us head into the living room to figure out a plan.
“This seems simple enough.” Felise nibbles her bottom lip. “Unless I’m missing something.”
“Of course it’s simple. Because it’s impossible,” Magan says.
“Why is it so hard?” I ask. “I assume lots of witches color their hair by twirling a finger.”
“Nope. It’s a part of aging that we can’t change.”
“Okay.” I reach out and they each take one of my hands. I reel off a spell that comes to mind, and they gaze at me.
“Wow. Okay.” Magan grimaces. “Let’s do this.”
“I think we all need to put our hands on her hair,” Felise says.
“Agree.”
We return to the kitchen. Cassie’s still sitting on a stool, and we surround her. From above her, I can see