the dolls as they were of the shifters and basajaun, and a few of the plastic and plaster horrors had been kicked or stomped to high heaven. “How’s…everything?”
She placed a glass in the cabinet. “Jessie, you know that I’m pretty open-minded, but…” She shook her head. “What happened in the front yard… That was a little much. Magic or no, you can’t go around wiping out leather-clad people like that. What if the cops find out? Visiting you in this house has been hard enough, I don’t want to make arrangements to visit you in prison.”
“I know. This whole thing has been an adjustment for me, too, but this is how the magical world works.”
Her sigh was heavy and her body bowed. “Magic is real. All these years you think one thing, and then the wool is lifted from your eyes.” She shook her head, suddenly looking older than her years. “It’s going to take me a while to wrap my head around all this. We’re going to leave tomorrow. We need a break.”
“I get it. Sorry, about all of this. I know it’s hard to process.”
“Dolls walking around, strange animals—do the butler and those boys actually fly with those capes? Like Superman?”
I huffed out a laugh. “Those aren’t capes, they are wings. They’re gargoyles. When they turn into their other form, those turn into wings. Like a bat, kinda.”
Her silent stare was a little manic.
“It took me a while to get used to it,” I murmured. “But it isn’t always so dangerous here, I promise. You just got unlucky.” It was partially true.
She wiped down the already clean island. “I just don’t know. I don’t like the idea of all of this. Why not a peaceful life? Maybe throw your hat into the ring again for love. That Austin Steele is sure a lovely man. Quite the looker. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. He dotes on you.”
“He turns into a polar bear. He’s not part of a peaceful life.”
She groaned and put up her hand. “Let’s not talk about that.”
“He also has a rough past and isn’t looking for a relationship.”
“Well, that just sounds like fear, that’s what that sounds like. He’s gallant and a gentleman, but he’s just as blind to love as the rest of them. He needs you to show him. Give him a nudge, Jessie—that’s all he needs. Show him what you want, and he will serve you up the world, I can see it.”
“I just want to get used to…this new life. I just got out of a divorce, Ma. I don’t need a relationship either.”
“Oh now, Jessie, you and Matt were emotionally divorced for years. It’s about time you connected with someone again. Matt has. I hear he’s happy with his new girlfriend. If he’s moved on, why don’t you? Why not choose someone like Austin?”
“I’ve moved on, trust me. It’s just…” I threw up my hands. “Stop playing matchmaker, Mom. Gawd.”
“I just want you to be happy,” she called after me as I left the kitchen. “And don’t mention the magic to your father. He is dead set against the idea. I told him this was a cult. That seemed to calm him down.”
I stopped at the mouth of the kitchen and turned. “You what?”
“You know your father. He’s stubborn. Just tell him it’s a cult. Remember the neighbor across the street? Patricia? Her son got involved in a cult a while back, did I ever tell you? He was a follower and they took all his money. I told your father you were the leader. That’s how you can afford the house. It’s much better being a leader than a follower.”
“How is that better than magic?” I asked.
She batted the air as though that was a ridiculous question.
I shook my head, suddenly exhausted. At least she was trying to get on board with the magic stuff. That was a relief. She’d need some time to process, but I had every belief she’d come around.
Her leaving me alone about the relationship stuff was another story.
My dad was in the TV room, as usual, staring up at the moving pictures and encased in a protective wall of noise. Niamh was in her new favorite chair beside him, a beer in hand, watching the TV with him.
“Hey, Dad.” I walked in until he could easily see me and then leaned against the wall.
He muted the TV. “Jessie, quite the excitement earlier. Niamh says you got everything squared away.” He