And yet.
Five years later, I was still uncomfortable in my new life. I was still uncomfortable in my own skin, probably becauseI knew the real power that lurked beneath it. The power I’d suppressed in order to hide in plain sight.
I sat in quiet contemplation as Meemaw chanted and tossed a mixture of herbs across the map.
“There.” I pointed at the flicker of light hovering above a building in the Terrapin section of the Neighborhood.
Meemaw scrutinized the map. “That’s odd.”
“What?”
“It’s also indicating an abnormality here.” She pointed to a light pulsing above a building in Magnolia.Herbuilding.
“Then I’ll check that out too.” I looked at the map from another angle. “Can you tell which condo?”
She glanced up at me, eyebrows drawn together. “Mine.”
Unease wormed through my veins. “It’s probably detecting the spell you’re performing. Magic would be considered an abnormality, right?” And magic was limited on the island, which would make this spell stand out.
“I’m sure you’re right,” she replied, seemingly unconvinced.
“If it makes you feel better, I’ll scope out the other rooms and see if there’s a wayward shadow lurking.”
Margie poured another glass of wine. “Don’t leave me behind.” She practically stepped on my heels as I ventured farther into the condo. I checked each bedroom, closet, and even pulled back the shower curtain. Nary a shadow to be seen aside from our own.
But I already knew that would be the outcome because I knew what the spell had detected.
Me.
“You’re right,” Meemaw said. “Must’ve been the spell itself.” Her laughter rang hollow as we returned to the kitchen. “Guess I don’t know my own strength.”
“Well, it isn’t as though you practice magic regularly anymore.”
She winked at me. “Right.”
“Listen, I know you dabble, Meemaw. You haven’t tried to hide it from me.” And I’d been the willing beneficiary of her rule breaking more than once.
“While we’re on the subject of spells,” Margie began, “would you be willing to green-light one that helps Bernice and Louise get along? Otherwise, you’ll have to put in a transfer request for Bernice with the HOA before Louise dumps her body in the ocean.”
“She and Louise still haven’t bonded?”
“Last week, Bernice asked her why she didn’t use magic to fight the aging process.”
I sucked in a breath. “Yikes. Has anyone checked on Bernice since then?”
“Louise says she handled it like a champ. Patiently explained that the kind of magic required exacts a price most sane people wouldn’t want to pay.”
“Has Bernice never watched a movie or read a book?” Meemaw muttered.
“I suspect she was only trying to make conversation, get to know Louise better. I know she can be tight-lipped,” Margie said.
“Insulting Louise probably wasn’t the way to go,” I replied.
“I don’t blame her for being curious. It’s a fair question, but I agree she could’ve asked it differently.”
“Before resorting to magic, maybe there’s something you can do to help them bond. An activity where they can get acquainted without leaving Bernice to do the heavy lifting.”
Meemaw raised her hand. “I support that plan because I can’t listen to Louise gripe much longer. It’s getting on my last nerve.”
