She gave my arm a gentle squeeze. “It’s time, isn’t it?”
I nodded, the truth settling heavy but clear. “It is.”
Celeste turned back to me just then. Her eyes were bright and uncertain but brave.
“Mom?”
I pulled her into a hug without hesitation, breathing her in, memorizing the feel of her.
“We’ll get you back to campus,” I said softly. “Safe and sound.”
She nodded against my shoulder. “Okay.”
As Stella watched, smiling in that knowing way of hers, I felt the weight of the moment settle in.
Stonewick would go on, and magic would churn.
Threats would loom, but my daughter needed her life back and space to grow into her magic rather than being thrown into it as I had been.
And I was ready to let her go, just far enough to keep her safe, and just close enough to always feel her pull.
“I still don’t understand,” he said for the third time, keys dangling from his fingers. “Why would I drive to Stonewick? And why didn’t I just send a car to get Celeste?”
Alex looked annoyed, confused, and mildly offended by the entire concept of being where he was, but he wandered off to get the car where Celeste had last parked it.
Celeste leaned against the door, arms folded, with a calm expression.
“Thank you for telling me the truth, Mom.”
“You always deserve the truth, even if I don’t always like what it is.” I kissed her forehead as we watched her father pull his sports car in front of Nova’s shop.
Her father stood from his seat, the car running, and looked at Celeste.
“And why did you say I didn’t send a car?”
“Because you didn’t,” she said evenly.
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you’re getting.” She was so my daughter.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.
Alex glanced between us, clearly sensing that something was off but lacking the memory, or perhaps the capacity, to grasp what.
“This town gives me a headache,” he muttered. “Always has.”
“Then it’s good you’re leaving,” I said gently.
He frowned at me. “You’re not coming?”
I shook my head. “Why would I?”
How much of Alex’s memory did Nova alter?
He opened his mouth, probably to argue, then closed it again, rubbing his temples.
“This feels… wrong,” he said slowly. “Like I missed something important.”
