Light Magic

by Ellie Ferguson

Quinn started to answer when her cellphone buzzed. She glanced at it and frowned. When she looked up, her expression betrayed her confusion.

  “That was Beth. She and Miss Olivia are on their way. She said to call in the troops.”

  I looked at Annie, hoping she had some idea what was going on. Instead of explaining, Annie reached for her cellphone where it rested on the coffee table and sent a series of texts. As she did, Quinn appeared to be doing the same thing. Finally, they set their phones aside and looked up.

  “Would someone care to tell me what the hell is going on?”

  I didn’t care if I sounded short-tempered. I was. In less than two weeks, someone had tried to turn me into a stain on the road, I’d been stabbed and I’d been assaulted by my mother’s birth family. My world had been turned upside down and I was sitting in a semi-sentient house. They were lucky I hadn’t climbed out a window and run to the hills. Any sane person would have.

  “Meg?”

  Hearing Drew’s voice, I looked around. He stood at the top of the stairs, his phone in one hand. Bare-chested, barefoot and clad only in his jeans, he looked down at us in concern. Then, seeing how close to the emotional edge I was, he hurried downstairs, I met him halfway across the room and all but dove into his arms. He held me close and I did my best to ignore the approving chuckles coming from both Quinn and Annie.

  “Sweetheart, look at me.” To make sure I did, he put a finger under my chin and gently lifted my face. “It’s all right. Miss Olivia is one of my grandmother’s best friends. She worked for our grandfather for years and still comes into Annie’s office from time to time to make sure she and Beth are doing things right.” He winked at his sister as he led me back to the sofa. “If she says we need to all be here, it means she’s found something.”

  “And that means you need to go get dressed, Drew. We’ll look after Meg.”

  “Correction,” Miss Serena said as she came down the stairs. “I’ll look after Meg.” She motioned to me. “I’d like to check your wound before the others arrive.”

  Drew gave my hand a squeeze and nodded. “Go on. I’ll be waiting for you.” Before letting me go, he bent his head and kissed me. “It’s all right. I promise.”

  I hoped so, but I was getting very tired of being one step – or more – behind whatever was going on.

  Half an hour later, we once more gathered in the living room. Sam’s mother had come for Ali and Robbie, telling us not to worry about the kids. They could spend the night with her and the judge if necessary. Judith had been busy in the kitchen and by the time the Lucas arrived, she had trays of sandwiches, cheeses and fruits laid out on the low coffee table in front of the sofa. Drinks ranging from hot tea and coffee to soft drinks and water had been handed out. Once everyone helped themselves and found seats, all eyes turned to Beth’s mother.

  Olivia Soukis was Judge Caldwell’s age, maybe a few years older than Mom. On her lap rested a leather briefcase. Without a word, she opened it and took out several thick files. I watched as she set the briefcase on the floor next to her chair. Then, cradling the files between her hands, she looked at each of us, her expression unreadable. Waiting for her to say something – hell, I’d be happy if someone, anyone said something – I held Drew’s hand and did my best to stay calm.

  “I’m ashamed of you two,” Miss Olivia began, pinning Beth and Annie with a firm look. “You should have called me right away.”

  “Mom, you were on vacation,” Beth protested. “There wasn’t anything you could have done from Alaska.”

  “As either of you would tell me if I said that: bull. I had internet access and it wouldn’t have been difficult to find a computer.” She looked between the two of them and I fought the urge to laugh as they both gave award-winning impressions of kids caught with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar. “More importantly, I could have told you where to look for the paper files that haven’t been digitized yet.”

  With that, she patted the files on her lap before turning her attention to me. I swallowed hard and wondered for a moment what I’d done to cause her to look at me with the same expression she’d turned on Beth and Annie. “As for you, Meg, you seem to be the only one of the three of you with an ounce of common sense.” Now she smiled, and I found myself grinning in response. “I’ve gone over the research you’d done.” I opened my mouth to ask how and she waved me off. “You left your notes on your desk. If you’d had more time and someone who could tell you the ins and outs of the courthouse basement, you’d have found most of what I have here.”

  “Thank you.” What else could I say?

  “What did you find, Miss Olivia?” Lucas asked and I had a feeling he hoped he was saving all of us from another scolding.

  “A little history, and I have the documentation supporting it.” She opened the top file. “The Luíseach family has been in Mossy Creek since shortly after its founding. They arrived with the first influx of religious settlers. They weren’t zealots, not back then. They settled on the other side of town and made a life here.

  “Over the years, they changed. Before they came to Mossy Creek, there had been no documented Others in the family. But, over time and as the family grew and married, the occasional Other began to crop up in the bloodline. At the same time, the family’s religious beliefs became more rigid. Most of the family moved from the main part of town to the outskirts and set up a compound where they could make sure they wouldn’t have to deal with Other’s unless absolutely necessary.

  “Don’t get me wrong. Not every generation was that bad. Some welcomed and valued the Others. It came to a head with your great-great-grandmother, Meg. She was an Other, a strong one. Her parents made no difference between her and her siblings. Unfortunately, as they became adults and the parents aged, your great-great-grandmother discovered the dark side of the family. When her parents died, they left her the bulk of their estate. There were bequests for the rest of the family, but she got most of it and to say there were hard feelings puts it mildly.”

  I nodded. Money caused so many problems in some families. Unfortunately, I didn’t see how something that happened generations ago could be behind what had happened since my arrival in town.

  “I’ve got copies of all the documents here, as well as a few newspaper stories and other documents. You can look at them later. When the family learned the contents of Faith Nelson’s will, let’s just say it wasn’t pretty. There were legal challenges and even an attempt to bribe the judge to rule the will invalid. But I’m jumping the gun a little.” Miss Olivia placed the folder on the table next to her chair and glanced inside the second one. Then she continued. “Meg, your mother was born less than a year before your great-great grandmother’s death. The Luíseachs named her Faith after her great-grandmother. It was Eileen’s attempt to curry favor with an old woman she’d done her best to make miserable for years. It didn’t fool anyone, least of all your great-great grandmother.”

  Miss Serena gasped. When I glanced at her, worried, she smiled in reassurance. Even so, I knew she was upset about something. No, not upset. Bothered.

  “Miss Serena?”

  “I had forgotten about that.” She waved off any other questions. “What else, Olivia?”

  I listened in growing disbelief as Miss Olivia spoke. When my great-great-grandmother died, she surprised the entire family. Instead of leaving her estate, and it was a sizable one by the standards back then, to any of her children, she skipped over that generation and the next. She made one bequest after making it very clear why she had written all the others out of her will. She would not give benefit to any who believed her less than human because she was an Other. Nor would she reward those who tried to curry favor only because of what they might inherit. There was only one member of the family who deserved the chance her money and holdings offered.

  “Mom?” I couldn’t believe it.

  “Yes. I don’t know if Mrs. Nelson realized your mother was an Other at such a young age or if she was enough of a precog t
o know your mother would need the money later. But she left everything in trust for Faith.” As she spoke, Miss Olivia handed first me and then Annie copies of the will and original trust documents.

  “She didn’t know.”

  She couldn’t have.

  “Meg’s right. She didn’t know,” Miss Serena said. “What about the estate now?”

  “There’s more research to be done.” The look she gave her daughter and Annie had Quinn chuckling. “Do you two think you can do it, or do I need to?”

  “As if you haven’t already, Mom,” Beth said.

  Miss Olivia’s eyes sparkled and she finally smiled. “Not all of it.” She handed a third file to Beth. Then she looked at me and her expression turned serious again. “Meg, I agree with Serena. Your mother didn’t know about her inheritance until six months ago. The law firm in Dallas handling it all these years finally tracked her down. It seems your grandparents, not to mention other members of the family, filed a motion in Dallas County to declare your mother dead. If they had succeeded, they may have been granted the estate.”

  I ducked my head and dashed at a tear as it rolled down my cheek. Six months ago was about the time Mom learned she was dying, when she didn’t tell me because she didn’t want me to worry. Now this. Was this the other reason she wanted me to come here?

  “Are you all right?” Drew asked softly.

  “I don’t know.” I scrubbed my face with my hands and then looked up. “What else?”

  “Your mother started the process to have the estate transferred but she died before it was completed. You were on your way here by the time the attorneys in Dallas knew of her death. Meg, she tried to make sure you were cared for.”

  Drew pulled me close and I buried my head against his chest. Silence filled the room as I struggled to come to terms with what Miss Olivia said. It was too much, on too many different levels.

  Worse, I had a feeling it wasn’t over yet.

  “What else?”

  Miss Olivia hesitated and my stomach dropped.

  “I found legal documents and other forms of documentation proving who your father is.”

  Time stopped. It had to be a dream. No, a nightmare. I felt like a raft battered and tossed on the waves in a storm at sea. None of this made sense. Part of me hoped the last hour or so was nothing more than a fevered dream and I’d soon regain consciousness. I’d be back in my old room at Mom’s house and she’d be there, smiling down at me. She’d laugh about the dream and tell me everything would be all right.

  God, I’d give my life for one more day with her.

  “I can’t.”

  I shoved off the sofa and moved as quickly as I could toward the front door. I hadn’t taken half a dozen steps when I heard the lock engage. Fury, hot and wild, washed over me. It flowed away just as quickly when Judith said to go out back. I’d be safe in the yard. Take as long as I needed.

  I nodded and stalked through the living room and into the kitchen. As I neared the door, it swung open. The fact it didn’t faze me to have the kitchen door and the screen door open on their own should have warned me just how close to losing control I as. Instead, I hurried outside, wishing I could go back in time as easily as I could leave the house.

  Safe. Safe. Safe.

  I wanted to believe it but, at the moment, I couldn’t. Mom’s death had rocked the foundations of my life and, an hour ago, I’d started believing things might be getting better. But now, everything I knew – or thought I knew – about Mom had been called into question. Why hadn’t she told me about the cancer? Why hadn’t she said anything about Mossy Creek, the people I knew worried about me as I stormed out of the house, or about her inheritance? Now Miss Olivia wanted to know if I had any in knowing who my father was?

  Without conscious thought, I released Apollo and Athena from the dog run. A few moments later, I settled on the ground, my back to one of the large trees. The dogs pressed against my sides, as if sensing I needed to be comforted. Apollo licked my cheek while Athena nuzzled my hand. Tears finally broke through my defenses and I buried my face in Apollo’s ruff.

  I didn’t move when strong arms wrapped around me, holding me close. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. His presence reassured me even as the tears continued. When Drew lifted me onto his lap, I slid my arms around him. If I could have crawled into him, I would have. Just then, he was my foundation and my protection. I wasn’t alone. I needed to remember that.

  I had to remember it.

  I sniffled and ran a hand under my nose. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry again as Drew passed me a handful of tissues. Instead of doing either, I rested my head against his chest and blew out a shaky breath. Then I lifted my face and kissed the line of his jaw. As I did, he cupped my cheek in his hand and looked down at me in concern.

  “What can I do?” Worry filled his eyes.

  “You just did.” I gave him a watery smile and then blew my nose. “Sorry I lost it.”

  “I’m not.” When I looked at him in question, he stroked my hair before taking one of the tissues to wipe away my tears. “Meg, you’ve been holding on by your fingernails since you came to town. My guess is you haven’t really let yourself grieve for your mother. You came here out of respect and love for her. Instead of finding answers, you’ve been beaten and battered emotionally and physically. I’m so proud of you and so amazed at your control. But you need to remember something. We’re all here for you. I’m here for you.”

  “I know.” I tightened my hold on him for a moment before sliding off his lap so we sat hip-to-hip. The moment I did, the dogs tried to climb into my lap. Laughing, I told them to go play. “What I don’t know is what to tell Miss Olivia.”

  “You don’t have to tell her anything.” He slid his arm around my shoulders and pulled me to him. “Meg, I mean it. If you don’t want to know about your father, we will understand and support your decision. If you want her to tell Annie or Lucas so they can make sure he has nothing to do with what happened, that’s fine too. We aren’t going to pressure you into doing anything you don’t want to do.”

  I rested my head on his shoulder and sighed. That was what made Mossy Creek so different from Maxon’s Mill. No one tried to force me to do things I didn’t want to do, and they didn’t condemn me because I was an Other.

  “Most of all, I want you to know I’m here for you, no matter what.” He pressed his lips to the top of my head.

  “I know.” Tears once again burned my eyes and I brushed at them. “Drew, thank you.” I brushed my lips against his.

  We sat there for a few minutes, arms around one another, without saying anything. He was giving me time to think and come to a decision. I simply wanted this moment to go on forever — or at least for a bit longer. Birds sang in the trees and the dogs barked happily as they chased the squirrels leaping from limb to limb. Okay, they also teased the other dogs still in the dog run before Drew whistled for them. I laughed gaily as the Mals raced across the lawn, skidding to a halt on either side of us.

  Watching Drew throw a stick and the dogs chasing after it, I knew my answer. I needed to deal with the past, even if it was Mom’s past. Until I did, I’d never be able to deal with the future. Like it or not, Mom hadn’t told me everything. But she’d done something much more important than keeping some things from me. She brought me here and, if I accepted it, offered me a life I never knew I could have.

  “C’mon.”

  I stood and then reached down to help Drew to his feet. Before heading back inside, I returned the dogs to the dog run. Then I reached for Drew’s hand. I might be ready to hear what Miss Olivia had to say but it would be easier with him, and with my friends — my family — at my side.

  Chapter 23

  The moment we returned inside, conversation stopped. Drew’s hand gripped mine, reminding me everything was going to be all right. Then he escorted me to the sofa. As I sat on the middle cushion, Annie reached across and took my free hand in hers. I smiled and gave her hand a
quick squeeze. Then I looked at the others. They said nothing, but I felt their concern and their support.

  “Thank you.” I closed my eyes and drew a deep, steadying breath. “Miss Olivia, I especially owe you my thanks and my apologies.”

  “No, Meg.” She shook her head. “You’ve nothing to apologize for.”

  “Are you all right?” Miss Serena asked, her expression worried.

  “I am.” She arched one brow and I gave a slight shrug. “Maybe not all right, but I’m getting there and I have all of you to thank for it.” I hoped they realized how much I meant it.

  “We know you are,” Quinn said as she moved to sit on the floor at my feet.

  “What do you want to do, Meg?” Annie asked.

  “You mean other than go back in time to deal with Mom’s family for the way they treated her?” I asked humorlessly. “I want you to keep doing what you have been. Be there for me. Remind me the world hasn’t gone completely insane because, from where I sit, it sure seems like it has.”

  Annie squeezed my hand and Drew held me close. “We’ll even kick you in the rear when you act the fool.” Quinn grinned up at me and I laughed, some of my tension easing.

  “Do that.” I reached down and ruffled her hair. Then, serious again, I turned my attention back to Miss Olivia. “Ma’am, I might not want to hear what you have to tell me, but I have a feeling I need to hear it.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I am.”

  I think.

  “Stop me if you change your mind.” She reached for the last file folder she’d brought with her, this one thicker than all but the very first.

  For the next hour, Miss Olivia spoke. I listened as she talked about Mom’s college years. She’d been an excellent student, making the dean’s list all but one semester. She’d dated and worked. Everything Miss Olivia found pointed to the fact Mom planned on pursuing her master’s degree in chemistry. She’d applied to half a dozen graduate schools and been accepted into all of them. After visiting each campus, she decided to stay at Texas A&M.