Page 18 of The Rules of Magic

“That’s not what I said!” their mother insisted.

“It’s exactly what you said,” Franny remarked with a dark look. She went to collect her jacket so she might join Vincent in the search. Of course she blamed herself. She should never have agreed to cover for Jet. She’d gone so far as to stuff pillows under her sister’s quilt so it would appear she was home sleeping should their mother check in.

“Do not leave this house!” Dr. Burke-Owens demanded. “We’re already down one.”

Vincent and Franny ignored his command and went to the door. When it was thrown open, however, there was Jet on the threshold, hair in tangles, clearly out of breath, holding her shoes in her hand.

“You’re alive,” Vincent said. “That’s good.”

“You do realize that ‘Cover for me’ does not mean ‘I’ll stay out all night,’ ” Franny hissed. Now that Jet was safe and sound Franny could allow herself to be furious.

“We lost track of time,” Jet explained. “We were everywhere. Places I’ve never been to before even though I’ve lived here all my life. The Empire State Building. The ferry around Manhattan. Afterward we walked along the Hudson until we wound up at a diner on Forty-Third Street. He’d never had a bagel before! He’d never heard of lox! Next time he wants to have Chinese food.”

“You didn’t notice when the sun came up?” Franny said, no longer as angry.

“I swear I didn’t. Everything just happened.”

Vincent and Franny exchanged a look. This was the way people spoke when they fell in love.

“We don’t even know who he is,” Franny said. “He could have been a murderer.”

“He is not a murderer! His father is a reverend and he’s applying to Yale. I met him over the summer, when we were visiting Aunt Isabelle. Yesterday he happened to be at a national youth club meeting at Queens College. He said that he suddenly found himself thinking about me right there in Queens, in the middle of everything, and he couldn’t stop. So he got on a subway. And then he just appeared.”

“He sounds fascinating,” Vincent said drily.

“Well, he is!” Jet said, her facing flushing with emotion. “He wants to do good in the world and make a difference and I find that fascinating!”

Their mother had come into the hallway, the color drained from her face. She’d overheard just enough to cause her to panic. “Who were you with?”

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to be this late.”

“You were with some boy! What is his name?”

Jet had the sense that she should lie, but it wasn’t in her nature. She turned quite pale as she said, “Levi Willard.”

To everyone’s great shock Susanna slapped Jet, hard so that her head hit against the wall. Their mother had never before raised a hand to any of them. She didn’t even believe in it.

“Mother!” Franny cried.

“Your father is in the kitchen and I don’t want him to hear a word of this. Don’t you ever see that individual again, Jet. Do you understand me?”

Jet nodded. There were bright tears in her eyes.

“I will send you away to boarding school if I ever find out you’ve disobeyed me. It will happen so fast you won’t have time to pack a suitcase.”

“What’s the big deal?” Vincent said. “She lost track of time.”

“Just do as I say. And for now, you’re all grounded. And understand this, just because you can love someone, doesn’t mean they won’t be destroyed.”

“But you’re married,” Jet said, confused.

“I gave up love for a normal life,” Susanna said. “That’s all I ever wanted for you.”

“You never loved our father?” Franny asked.

“Can’t you tell?” Vincent threw in.

“Of course I love your father. Don’t misunderstand me. I’m just not in love, which has saved us both in ways you can’t imagine. I recommend you do the same. We are not like other people, that much is true. It has to do with our history, and if you’re lucky you’ll never know any more than that.”