a final once-over. “My parents are square. Do you know what square means?” I re-entered the foyer as Ulric joined us from the kitchen, Cedric now waiting at the bottom of the stairs. It felt like I was giving a pre-battle pep talk. “It was a term applied to the young people who followed the rules when the hippie scene was exploding. My parents have never done hallucinogens. They don’t watch fantasy-type shows, nor do they read fantasy-type books. They are so firmly entrenched in reality, and have been for so long, that none of this magical stuff will compute. They don’t have the imagination for it. They won’t understand an alternative lifestyle. We have to try to stay mainstream.”
“I like all these hot-button words you’re using.” Ulric laughed. “Alternative lifestyle? Staying mainstream? You got it, daddy-o.”
“Respect her, but do not encourage her in this,” Mr. Tom said out of the side of his mouth.
I caught movement through the window and then a flash of sun on metal. My heart stutter-started, and I quickly went to look, watching as the rusty red Cadillac pulled up to the curb.
“They’re here.” I turned to face everyone. “Quick! Hide!”
“What?” Cedric cocked his head in confusion.
“Sorry, no…” I waved the thought away. “Sorry, reflex. But…actually, yes, go to your rooms. Get out of sight. Let’s work them in slowly. Quick! Go! If you need anything, use the secret passageways. Ivy House, help them navigate those. They have my temporary permission.”
“Don’t lock them in for fun,” Mr. Tom said.
“I’ll just stay in my room, then,” Ulric said softly.
I heard voices outside, my parents already bickering as they emerged from the car. I just hoped my dad had pants on.
“You heard her: essential personnel only. Go to your rooms. I will get you when you’re needed.” Mr. Tom motioned everyone away. Apparently he’d dubbed himself essential personnel.
I opened the door as my parents loitered by the trunk, my mom gesturing toward the house while my dad fiddled with the keys.
“We’re not guests, Martha,” my dad was saying. “She won’t mind if we bring something in with us. We’ll have to make fewer trips this way.”
“We are guests, Pete. We don’t live here. Let’s go greet her before we all but move in.”
“That drip Matt isn’t here, so we don’t have to tiptoe around anymore. I’ll just bring the cooler. I could use a beer after that drive.”
“What do you mean, that drive?” My mom braced her fists on her hips. “I drove the last half!”
“I know. You frayed my nerves.”
I rolled my eyes and started forward, noticing Niamh sitting on her porch, watching the show with a smile. A Jeep Wrangler rolled down the street toward us, Austin behind the wheel, clearly making good on his pledge to watch the fireworks.
Fabulous. Everyone was present.
“Oh, hi!” My mom turned to greet me, only noticing my proximity when I was nearly upon her, her smile large and arms outstretched. I accepted a hug, then groaned with the squeeze.
“Hey ya, squirt.” Dad gave me a hug next, much looser, but the following pats on the back nearly beat the breath out of me. “So…” He stepped back and hiked up his pants, looking up at the house. His eyebrows slowly pinched together. He looked at the blue sky, then down the street, then back at the house. “You could do with a brighter paint. That one is too dark.”
“Honey!” My mom’s eyes were wide as she looked down my body. “Look at you! You look fantastic! Is it Zumba? I just got into a little Zumba myself. It’s hard on my knees, but if it worked this well for you, maybe I should try again.”
“You don’t know if it was Zumba,” my father said. “She didn’t say it was Zumba. It probably wasn’t those diet drinks you keep forcing on me, either.”
“I just worked out and ate well,” I murmured, forgetting about the transformation when I took the magic.
“And your skin!” My mom ran her hand down her cheek. “Chemical peel? I’ve heard chemical peels really give a nice glow. I’ve been meaning to try it.”
How did one tell their mother that the great skin was partially a result of having the first layer entirely burned away from a magical spell, and not dying from it because of magical healing?
“Yeah, chemical peel,” I murmured. Best just to lie a little.
“Well, you look fantastic. I made deviled eggs.” My mom gestured at one of the two coolers in the trunk.