The Magic Misfits - Neil Patrick Harris Page 0,64

few years. And especially over the past few months. I’ve changed because I’ve let them in. I let them see me. All the good and all the bad that exists inside me. Together we are strong. You can change too. You and your brother.”

Kalagan hung his head. Was his lip quivering? Was this actually working?

Ridley moved to his side. She gently clicked the cuffs around his thumbs. “Others can only help you along so much,” she said. “You have to do the rest yourself.”

TWENTY-SIX

You can probably guess what happened next.

No! Kalagan did not attack everybody and then blow up the Vernons’ new house!

He listened to the Magic Misfits. He took Ridley’s advice.

Before the end of that day, Kincaid Kalagan was sitting in the cell in the police station in the center of Mineral Wells, next to his twin brother.

They were together. At last.

And boy was Kilroy angry!

People said later, you could hear them fighting from down the street, but that was only until they were moved to the bigger jail in Bell’s Landing.

After that, no one heard from them for many years.

By the end of the week, most of the guardians had left Mineral Wells, easing their way back into the lives they had left to come and help Dante Vernon. The Magic Misfits were on their own again.

Mrs. Larsen was troubled by Ms. Parkly’s abrupt departure, but rather than hiring a new teacher, she abruptly declared that she’d decided to take back the homeschooling responsibility now that her deadline was over. Over the next few weeks, Ridley sometimes missed Ms. Parkly’s discussions and the way she’d tried so hard and how clumsy she’d pretended to be—even her weird little laugh—but she appreciated the unexpected care her mother was putting into her lessons.

Ridley was also surprised when her mother asked if she could read Ridley some of her writing. Ridley offered thoughtful criticism, and her mother listened and made changes and didn’t blow up at her or cause a fuss. (And you know how I feel about fusses.) It felt like a miracle.

It felt like magic.

Like Ridley’s favorite kind of trick…

Transformation.

One morning, about a month later, it all became clear.

Mrs. Larsen knocked on Ridley’s door, opening it just a crack. “Need some help with your stretches?”

“Sure. Thanks, Mom.”

Mrs. Larsen pulled a chair to the side of the bed, but instead of sitting and beginning the exercises, she stood there, staring down at her daughter.

“What’s wrong?” Ridley asked.

“I have a confession,” her mother answered. Her voice sounded oddly thick. “I heard… I mean, I know… that is, I saw everything. In the auditorium. I… was there.”

“You… what?”

“I was at the resort, Ridley. When I got home from my appointment, you weren’t there… and I was furious because you’d snuck off again without telling me… and I came to find you… because I knew you’d be at the resort again.” Her mother’s voice was quivering.

Ridley was shocked. “Are you telling me you were in the auditorium?”

“I saw all these people rushing inside… and I was so scared something was wrong… and I followed… and there you were… and I couldn’t get to you… and, and, and then I heard you say…”

Her mother’s face had gone very red. Ridley was dumbfounded. So many emotions were coursing through her, and she didn’t know if she was scared, relieved, or a mix of both. “I… didn’t mean…” Ridley started, then drooped in her seat. “I guess I did mean what I said. I’m really sorry, Mom.”

“I know,” Mrs. Larsen replied, taking a deep breath. “I just… how could you think that?”

Ridley’s jaw dropped. She waited for the usual anger to come roaring into her veins, but then she noticed the pain in her mother’s eyes. She replayed her mother’s question in her mind: How could you think that?

Did that mean it wasn’t true?

“I don’t know,” Ridley answered, softening. “I just… worry about it sometimes.”

“I have a lot on my plate, Ridley… a lot. I buy our groceries and make our meals and clean our house and yes, I work… because someone has to… to keep things afloat. But the one thing I need to make certain you know is that you are not on my plate. You are my plate. You are the reason I do all these things. I work so hard… because I love you. Right inside here.” She pressed her hand against her chest.

“It’s hard to see love that’s invisible.” Ridley’s voice was much calmer than she expected. They were finally talking.