Smiling coyly at his right side is one of my grandmothers, her silver hair curled into a side bun above one slender shoulder. Her laugh is a tinkling sound, but her occasional remarks come out clear and pointed.
She’s something of an artist. Apparently her glim allows her to create sculptures based on other people’s memories—for a high price, naturally.
My second grandmother stands at his left, statuesque but still elegant, her dark eyes glittering as she follows the conversation. I haven’t heard her speak yet, but she raises her wine glass to her thin lips with the air of someone whocouldsay plenty but simply doesn’t think it worth bothering.
Her inherent magic can reveal how to fix any mechanical object, assuming it is fixable. Dad told me a story of her standing over an appliance repairman dictating his actions… because of course she wouldn’t consider getting her own hands dirty. The lucent government’s engineers probably still call on her from time to time.
All three of them exude utter, arrogant confidence, as if they own any space they step into. They probably expect pyramids built in their honor on their deaths.
Imposing Grandma is the first to notice my arrival. She glances toward my dad, who’s standing closest to the doorway, and her gaze catches on me.
The corners of her lips curve ever so slightly upward. “Ah, there’s the girl. Come on in, Elodie. Skulking isn’t a good look. And what have you done with your hair?”
As I step inside, I instinctively tug at a stray strand. I forgot that they hadn’t seen the purple dye yet. “Just trying something new.”
Grandpa snorts. “That’s the younger generation for you. At least it’ll grow out.”
Deciding not to dignify that remark with a response, I come to a stop next to Dad. He’s the only person in the room who’s never done anything horrible to me—I’m including Aunt Daphne and her inflicting of involuntary cross-dimensional travel in my assessment—and this position will give our guests a clear view of my full “look.”
Since Imposing Grandma was already watching me, her eyes tick first from my hair to my collarbone. But it’s Coy Grandmawho makes the first comment. “That’s also an… interesting necklace, dear. I don’t remember seeing you wear it before.”
I force an airy laugh. “I found it buried under a bunch of other things. It seemed like time to give it a turn.”
I think Daphne recognizes the piece or at least suspects its origin. Her smile has gone even stiffer than before. She stares at me as if willing me to notice her concern, but I purposefully don’t look directly at her.
Grandpa Devine is blunter in his disapproval. “Where on earth did you get that bauble? You don’t normally wear anything that gaudy.”
My temper flickers to life. But before I have to say anything, Dad replies in a measured but firm tone. “It was her mother’s.”
I tuck my clenched fingers behind my back, feeling abruptly wobbly. Of coursehewould recognize it, but I didn’t expect him to comment on it so easily. Not in front of the parents who wish his match and wife never existed.
Maybe my grandparents weren’t quite so hard on Mom in this reality? Maybe they got to know her better, softened a little?
As nice as that dream might be, I’m not surprised when Coy Grandma proves just how much of a dream it is just a moment later. “Better to leave the past in the past, perhaps. You’ve come such a long way since then, Ellie.”
Such a long way fromwhere, in her mind? From being my mother’s daughter as well as her son’s?
I touch the cool metal lying against my clavicle and will down the worst of my anger with my mantra.I have all I need. I have all I need.
These puffed-up assholes don’t get the satisfaction of rattling me.
Through sheer force of will, I recover my smile. “She was a major part of my life too. She deserves to be honored now and then.”
A tendon in Grandpa Devine’s jaw flexes. “Six years with her but twenty altogether as a Devine. Let’s give us most of the credit.”
Six years with her… Other Elodie’s mom died when I was the same age as when Dad died in my reality? Daphne told me it happened a long time ago, but I didn’t realize the timing lined up so closely.
All at once I want to ask when and how exactly she passed, but I’m supposed to already know.
Instead, I turn my prim smile toward my grandfather. “All the more important that I remember her when I have the chance. I wouldn’t be here without her, after all.”
He looks as if he’s restrained a scowl, but Dad clears his throat before we can continue down this road. “Very true. I’m glad you’re keeping her in your heart, Elodie. Now, it sounds like the food is just about ready. Why don’t we head to the dining room?”
As we gather around the table and receive our meals, Dad keeps up a friendly stream of conversation, casual but in such an amiable way I can’t be annoyed that he’s interrupted my act of defiance. He manages to get his father laughing again and both of his mothers looking relaxed.
Mom told me that part of Dad’s glim was being able to see the best in people and bringing it out. I wonder if he’s using his power right now to steer us away from an argument.
He won’t have any idea why I decided to make a point about Mom right now. I doubt it’s something he’d have expected from his actual daughter.
