"My friend?" Mandy's heart skipped. She hadn't expected Jacinth to get directly involved.
"Yeah, the one with the unusual name... Jackie? No, Jas-something. She said you were responding well to treatment and were going to be discharged." Sabrina let out a shaky breath. "I almost didn't believe her, but she knew all your medical details and seemed so confident."
Mandy silently blessed Jacinth's quick thinking. Of course the clever Djinn would have intercepted Sabrina before she could rush to Tucson and discover her mother missing from the hospital.
"Thank god for modern medicine," Mandy said with a small laugh, hoping it didn't sound as forced as it felt. "The new treatments really worked wonders. I'm completely better now."
"And how about your back? It's been, what a month, six weeks now, since the surgery?"
Now that Mandy could answer without any prevarication! "My back feels better than it has since I was in my twenties," she said. "It's amazing. Everyone tells me I keep saying that word over and over, but really. It's just… well… amazing!"
"I told you so!" Sabrina's smugness radiated through the phone. "Didn't I say you should have gotten the surgery ages ago?"
Mandy rolled her eyes, a watery chuckle escaping. "Yes, yes, you were right. I should have listened to my brilliant, all-knowing daughter."
"Finally! An admission of my superior wisdom." Sabrina's laugh echoed through the speaker. "So does this mean you'll really come for Christmas this year, for sure? The kids would love to see you, and Charlie's been talking about building a proper guest room in the farmhouse."
Mandy's heart swelled at the mention of Christmas. She grinned as she pictured her family's shocked expressions when they saw her transformation.
"I wouldn't miss it for anything," she said, keeping her voice steady despite the excitement bubbling up inside her. "No more canceling because of pain issues."
She could tromp through the snow with her grandchildren, make snow angels and snowmen. No more struggling withwinter coats that barely zipped or boots she couldn't bend to lace. Oh my gosh! She could even ride again!
The thought of riding a horse again after so many years sent her off in a reverie. The endless trails through the forest near Sabrina's farm, the crisp winter air, the rhythmic sound of hooves on packed snow...
"Mom? You still there?" Sabrina's concerned voice broke through her reverie.
"Oh! Sorry honey, just lost in thought." Mandy smiled, picturing her daughter's familiar eye-roll at the other end of the line.
"Some things never change!" Sabrina's warm laugh filled her ear. "You've been doing that since I was little - zoning out mid-conversation when inspiration strikes. Working on a new book?"
"Something like that." Mandy bit her lip, fighting back the urge to share everything. "Love you, sweetie. Give the kids hugs for me?"
"Always do. Love you too, Mom. Talk soon!"
The line went quiet, leaving Mandy alone with her whirling thoughts and three watchful cats - one of them a blue-flamed magical cat. She had to shake her head. Seriously. A whole new world!
Setting her phone on the charger, Mandy moved into her kitchen, wrinkling her nose as she anticipated what she would find on opening the refrigerator door. She pulled it open and surveyed the damage. Half a gallon of milk had definitely gone bad, along with some wilted vegetables in the crisper drawer and some leftovers that now resembled science experiments more than food.
She dumped everything questionable into a garbage bag, wiping down the shelves as she went. Grocery shopping was definitely a priority, but it could wait. Right now, the lingering memories of those final hospital days clung to her like a film sheneeded to wash away. A long, hot shower would help clear her head.
She padded down the hallway to her bathroom, Mozart and Bach trailing behind like furry shadows. Even Dinen followed, jumping effortlessly onto her bed to recline in regal majesty as she turned on the shower.
Steam filled the small space as Mandy stepped under the spray, letting the hot water cascade over her shoulders. She closed her eyes, focusing on the sensation of warmth rather than the memories threatening to surface - of hospital sponge baths and the awful weakness that had made even lifting her arms exhausting.
She stayed under the water until her skin pruned, scrubbing every inch with her favorite strawberry-scented soap - yes, really, strawberry! it took her back to her hippie days in the 70s - until she felt truly clean. The familiar scent helped ground her in the present, reminding her this was real - she was home, she was alive, she was Djinn.
Wrapped in her softest towel, Mandy surveyed her closet options. The desert heat called for something light and comfortable. Frowning at her closet, she turned and went to her dresser, opening the drawers one after another. Nothing seemed to be missing, and yet, she clearly recalled seeing her clothing in the wardrobe at Kieran's in Qaf. Had he simply magicked - was that even a word? - her clothing back and forth?
She made a mental note to ask him about that, while choosing her favorite linen trousers and a flowing tank top in deep forest green that matched her eyes. A coordinating semi-sheer duster completed the outfit, its lightweight fabric floating about her as she slipped it on.
She headed back into her living room, the cats on her heels. Her laptop waited on the kitchen counter, and she settled onto a bar stool to check her email. Mostly junk, a few messages fromher writing group, and a couple from her beta readers asking about her progress on the latest manuscript. She fired off quick replies, then scrolled through Facebook to catch up on family news.
The normalcy of it all felt surreal after her time in Qaf. Here she sat, doing ordinary things like cleaning her fridge and checking social media, while blue flames danced beneath her skin and magic thrummed through her veins.
She closed the laptop, uncertainty creeping in. Should she call Kieran now? He'd said to summon him when she was ready, but what did that mean exactly? Ready for what? Her mind buzzed with countless questions about her new existence as a Djinn.
Dinen lounged on her living room floor, his spotted form taking up an impressive amount of space. His blue flames flickered lazily as he watched her with those impossibly wise eyes.
