The Disappearance of Emily: Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic Series Book 2

by Elizabeth Pantley

  “Your promises have always been meaningless.”

  Her sister sounded annoyed. She’d better try a different approach. “Something else, then. Penance?”

  Silence was her answer. So, she waited. Counted in her head to a hundred. It had always worked before. Her sister was too kind-hearted, even though she pretended otherwise.

  “Penance. Then you shall have an improved living space. Of my choosing.”

  “Pfff. Fine.”

  Her sister approached and held out her hands, palms up. “I will use the power of two. You can give back some joy where you have removed it.”

  “You know I hate that,” the witch whined. Oh, she did. She hated that goodie-two-shoes stuff. But now that her sister had offered, she’d be a fool not to take it. She gingerly placed her hands upon her sister’s.

  The sister began to chant.

  When the witch realized what she was doing, she recoiled, drawing her hands back.

  Her sister glared. “You have only yourself to blame for this. For once in your long, godawful life, do one kind thing for someone else.”

  The witch paused. “Ack. Fine. Perhaps it will count toward my redemption.”

  She replaced her hands as the words swirled in the air around them.

  Then it was done, and her sister was gone.

  The witch turned around in eager anticipation to see her new living space. She clutched the bodice of her old-fashioned dress and gasped.

  It was an exact replica of their childhood home. From the year 1840.

  38

  “Good morning! Time to get up, Buttercup!” I woke to the sweet voice of my cat. Meows from Chanel and little Lola followed, which I interpreted to be their good mornings too. I reached over and gave all three a morning rub.

  “It’s the ten-day-a-versary since Sapphire’s dramatic rescue. Oooo, and nine days since Kerbie’s demise. Or can I say death now?”

  “I think you can stick to demise for now,” I said.

  The horror of the entire episode was still fresh in my mind. I was grateful that the family had accepted my sincere and repeated apologies for withholding the box from them. They understood the deep need to protect the family and realized that my intentions were pure. Misguided, they said, but pure.

  I sat up and looked out the window at the sunrise. Hmmm. I could always watch the sunset from my room. Did the house revolve or did the sun? With Destiny Falls, one could never be sure.

  “Guess what, Pussycat? The grand dame will be calling you down to her office this morning.”

  “Oh, boy. Does Chanel know why?” I asked. Because, of course, that’s where she got her news.

  Meeeow. Meowww. Meow. Meeeeow. Meow. I’d never heard Chanel so talkative.

  “Nope. No idea,” said Latifa. But she wouldn’t look me in the eye.

  “Fine. Keep your secret. I’ll find out soon enough.” I slipped out of bed and did a few morning stretches.

  My phone pinged.

  Your grandmother requests your

  presence in her office at 7:00 a.m.

  Good morning, Cleobella.

  Thank you. : - )

  .

  Good morning, dearest.

  (Then she added an emoji of a purple octopus. I assumed it was her version of a smiley face.)

  “Good morning, Grandmother,” I walked into her office and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek. The fact that she turned her face up to accept it brought me a rush of happiness. Seeing a small, black kitten asleep on her lap made me smile.

  “Take a seat, granddaughter.”

  Out of nowhere, Cleobella appeared and placed a cup of tea on the end table beside me. She put a fresh cup in front of my grandmother, then quietly exited the room.

  I didn’t notice what she was wearing. I was so apprehensive about the reason for my grandmother’s summons, I was keeping my eyes on her, waiting for her to speak.

  “Congratulations on your first Observer issue. The cover story has captured the attention of the entire community. Well done, my dear.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Are you able to continue with a monthly issue?” she asked.

  “I’m sure that I can. The story opened doors for me. Everyone appears to be anxious to talk, which gives me a great opportunity to hear all the gossip.”

  “Shall we call it local commentary?” She looked amused.

  Local commentary. I liked that. It fit my new image of the community newspaper editor. I might even use that name for a regular column.

  Grandmother picked up her cup and sipped her tea. Was that it? Was that the reason for a meeting? She hadn’t dismissed me, so there was more to come. I sat still and waited.

  “I have worked with a friend to orchestrate a very special occasion for you. You may consider it a gift. A sign of my appreciation for your dedication to the family. You have embraced us all with your bungling, kind-hearted passion, and I wish to show my gratefulness.”

  Did she really have to include bungling? Hmm. I suppose it was accurate. The rest of her words settled in my heart with a joyful warmth.

  “There are strict regulations and rules that you must unerringly adhere to, so I expect you to abide by these completely. There is no room for error.”

  “Yes. I’m listening.”

  She set her palms flat on the desk before her and leaned forward. “No. Do not merely listen. You must understand. It is critical.” She stared deep into my eyes to convey the seriousness of her statement. I nodded.

  “I have arranged for a visit from your grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.”

  I stared at my grandmother. I was frozen. Her words echoed in my mind. My mouth could only hang open uselessly. No words escaped, only a sound. A gasp of confusion and bewilderment.

  My grandmother patiently sipped her tea in silence, waiting for me to process what she had said.

  “They’re coming? Here?” I asked. The words themselves were understandable, the meaning behind them was almost too large to comprehend.

  She nodded. “It has been set for today.”

  “Today?”

  Again, she nodded.

  “But . . . They know nothing about Destiny Falls! What if they panic? What if they don’t understand?”

  “We have had several long conversations. You underestimate them, Hayden.”

  “You have spoken to Nana and Gran?”

  “And to your friend, Luna. Yes.”

  “And they know? They understand?”

  “As best they can.”

  I remembered how Luna ran screaming from the room. Of course, she had thought I was in danger. Once she realized I was safe, she’d embraced the bizarre situation that I found myself in.

  “Are you ready to hear the conditions?” my grandmother asked.

  “Yes, please.”

  “Rare and powerful magic will bring them here. It is not something to be trifled with.”

  She actually said the word ‘magic.’ I sat up taller in my chair and leaned forward, memorizing every word as she spoke.

  “They will arrive at noon. They may not leave Caldwell Crest. Not one inch beyond the property borders. They will leave at midnight. Not one second beyond. If they aren’t at the portal at the departure time, they will be snatched from wherever they are, but will not necessarily be returned to their home.”

  Grandmother paused and then repeated herself almost verbatim. “Do you understand?”

  “I understand.”

  “Very well. I will meet you at the top of the stairs at quarter till the hour. They will require an hour or so of rest upon arrival. The guest room directly across from the stairs will be theirs for the day. You will have time for a private visit. We will all greet them in the gardens at family dinner tonight. After which I’ll escort you all upstairs for your farewell.”

  She pursed her lips and looked at me over her the top of her glasses. “That’s all.”

  Then she smiled and winked at me. Very unlike Miranda Priestly.

 
39

  I walked out of Grandmother’s office like a lady. Then I turned around and ran back in. I embraced her in a tight hug and was pleased to feel her hug me back.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  “My pleasure, granddaughter,” she replied.

  I left her office with a bounce to my step and ran up the stairs to my room. I picked up Latifa and spun her around the room.

  “Woah, woah, woah. Slow down, Giggles. You’re getting me dizzy.”

  “Oh, Latifa!!! Guess what? Nana, Granana, and Luna are coming for a visit! Today!” I spun her around again.

  “Seriously, Bubbles. Stop with the spinning.”

  I plopped her down on the bed. “So, she pulled it off, did she? That woman has some high-ranking friends, I tell ya.”

  “I can’t believe it! It’s too much!” I pressed my palms to my cheeks, trying to reign in my excitement.

  Chanel and Lola were on the floor, batting around a toy mouse. Latifa mewed to them, then Chanel came up and rubbed her head against my leg.

  “She’s happy for you,” said Latifa.

  “Yes, I can see that. Thanks, Chanel.” I stroked her beautiful, white fur and she purred. Little Lola was still spinning on the floor, fighting with the toy mouse.

  “Want some wardrobe assistance?” Latifa asked.

  “Oh, I don’t need any help!” I laughed. “I could show up in a paper bag and the three of them wouldn’t even notice. That’s real love, you know. When someone sees your heart, not your outfit.”

  There was no slow meandering down the hallway today. I was race walking.

  I was a few minutes early, but Grandmother was already there. She was seated on a bench beside a door just past the stairs. A mysterious door that hadn’t been there in over a month. I recalled this door with a bit of a shiver. It had appeared once before. Jade had somehow arranged for an opening to the portal to try to send me home. But there was no way I could leave then. I never understood Jade’s motivation and wasn’t sure if it was even worth a moment of my memory. Especially today.

  Grandmother stood up and opened the door. I followed her up the familiar stairs to the attic. It was exactly as I remembered. A clean and tidy attic filled with boxes and unused furniture. The centerpiece of the room was an antique dresser with a large mirror. A duplicate of the one I had in my childhood bedroom. The one in which I’d had my first glimpse of Destiny Falls when I was six.

  Grandmother sat at one of the upholstered chairs across from the dresser. She advised me to sit in the other chair.

  “Please remain seated until our guests arrive,” she said, as if we were waiting for friends to come over for tea. “It will prevent you from getting too close to the mirror and interfering with today’s purpose.” She looked at the time on her phone. “Just a few minutes now,” she said.

  Grandmother sat with her hands in her lap. A picture of elegance and patience. I sat beside her, a picture of nerves and excitement. I couldn’t stop my legs from bouncing and I kept crossing, then uncrossing my arms. I stared at the mirror, seeing only the reflection of the attic.

  Then the reflection began to change.

  I looked in the mirror and saw Nana, Granana, and Luna standing there. They each had a rolling suitcase and a purse. Gran was wearing her traveling outfit—an ankle-length denim skirt and an embroidered denim jacket. She wore this ensemble for every flight or train ride I’d ever seen her take. The three of them were standing side by side, and I could just about feel their bubbling excitement.

  A moment later, there was a brilliant flash of light from the mirror. And then they were standing in the attic, right in front of us, clutching each other from the dizzying trip through the portal.

  Grandmother stepped forward in front of me and gave them each a glass of bubbling liquid. “Drink this,” she said. “It will end the lightheadedness and speed your recovery from the transition.”

  They drank their tonics, then they rushed over to me. I was instantly wrapped in a group hug and surrounded by the ecstatic, laughing voices of my family.

  Grandmother did an admirable job corralling us and getting us down the stairs and into the guest room. There was an abundance of chatter and energy. Then she respectfully left us to our reunion.

  After a burst of excitement, the energy level in the room settled down to a vibrating hum. Luna and I were sitting cross-legged on the king-size bed. Nana and Gran had pulled up chairs beside us.

  “I can’t believe you’re here! I’ve been wishing and dreaming of this moment since I arrived.”

  “How are you doing? Really?” Luna asked.

  “Very well. This place feels like a part of me that’s been missing. It’s hard to explain. I’m so happy here.”

  Nana stood up and walked over to me. She gave me a hug and a kiss on the head. “That’s all we ever want for you,” she said.

  I looked at Granana and she was nodding her head. “That’s right, sweetie. Your happiness makes us happy.”

  They’d told me that all my life. Today I suddenly and totally understood what they were saying. Those weren’t empty words. They were feelings deep in their hearts. My happiness mattered to them. It filled me with a sense of peace. If I stayed here, they would be okay with it.

  Luna sighed a deep breath. “You know I want you happy, too. I just wish you could find your happiness where we could be together. I’ve missed you, friend.”

  “Me too.”

  There was a moment of quiet, then Luna wisely changed the subject. “Where’s Sassy? Can we see her?”

  “Oh! She’s in my room. I’d like you to see that, too. And the gardens, you must see the gardens! But are you guys tired? Do you want a nap first?”

  “Pshaw!” said Gran. “We can sleep when we get home! Lead the way, Hayden. We want to see everything.”

  Since we had less than a day together, I had asked Latifa if I could hold off telling them about my psychic communication with her. If I explained everything, I was afraid the day would disappear into a wild ride of disbelief and awe. She had reluctantly agreed, provided I told them her name was now Latifa.

  We spent an hour in my room while they exclaimed over the beauty of the décor and the setting. Then the cats came out of the alcove and everyone oohed and aahed over the three felines. Afterwards, we strolled through all the gardens, sat by the koi pond, and talked and talked and talked. I filled them in on the Caldwell family, and who was who, and shared a few stories of my time here. It was wonderful.

  I walked them to their room, where everyone was going to rest, change, and freshen up for the family dinner. Gran also wanted to put her feet up for a bit, and although I knew she wouldn’t let on, I understood that a nap would give her an energy boost to get her through the rest of the day. I knew what would happen. She’d say, “I’m just going to put my head back and close my eyes for a bit.” Then she’d snore for an hour and wake up energized.

  I knocked on the guest room door and Luna flung it open and grabbed me in another big hug. She said she was getting her fill since it needed to last for a while. Neither of us addressed the fact that we had no idea how long that while would be.

  “Wait until you see your gran. She’s all dressed up for the family dinner.”

  “Oh, no,” I said. “Did she pull out clothes from the back of her closet?”

  Gran had a section in the very back of her closet with all the party clothes from her entire adult life. She said she wore them so infrequently that they were ‘just like brand new’ and it was a waste to spend money on anything else. The problem being they were massively out of date and often sparkly.

  I looked up to see her coming out of the bathroom all done up for the dinner. She was a sight. She had selected one of her favorite party outfits in honor of the special occasion. A Madonna-style get-up from the 1980s. She said that since she was in her eighties, it was the perfect choice. (Typical Gran-style reasoning.) Her tiny, not-quite-five-foot frame was nearly smothered in tulle, lace, necklaces, and b
racelets. She was even wearing elbow-length, white, lace fingerless gloves. She had an enormous bow in her hair. On her feet were sparkly white sneakers. She explained that since the dinner was outside, they were sensible.

  “Granana, you look very festive,” I said, and gave her yet another hug. She beamed with delight.

  Nana, Luna, and I all paled in comparison, but I thought we all looked beautiful.

  We walked downstairs slowly while everyone enjoyed the beauty of the home. I was eager to see how the yard would be set up for this event. I wasn’t disappointed.

  The first thing I saw was a huge banner: Welcome Granana, Nana, and Luna. It was strung between two trees festooned with balloons, and it had to be thirty feet across. The yard was bursting with blue and purple balloons, streamers, and twinkle lights. Blue is Nana’s favorite color and purple is Gran’s. I didn’t know how they knew this, but Grandmother had her ways. A purple tent covered round tables set with festive place settings, and a blue tent covered several long tables arranged for a buffet dinner.

  There was music coming from the speakers in the trees, playing instrumental Styx songs—my Nana’s favorite band.

  The whole affair was festive and welcoming. I hugged myself and bit my lip to prevent an emotional breakdown. It was a blending of my two families, and it touched me deeply.

  For the next hour, it was a blur of introductions and chatter. I don’t know if I’d ever been so happy.

  I realized that Gran had wandered away from us and I finally spotted her. Granana, in all her material-girl glory, was standing with Cleobella, dressed in her own sparkly party attire. The two of them were having a dramatic sign language conversation!

  “Nana, since when does Gran know sign language?” I asked.

  Nana looked over at her mother with pride. “Oh! She’s been taking classes over at the senior center. I’m sure she’s thrilled to be using her skills.”

  Luna was in her element—coming from a large family who gathered often, she felt immediately at home. I enjoyed introducing her to everyone, and they chatted with her as if she was an old friend.