Page 122 of Unravel Me

This is Tommy's room we're talking about, and I want him to be happy when he gets here. Moving to Rainbow Springs will be a huge shock after the quiet life he's used to, and I want to make the transition as easy and comforting as I can for him.

"Sure." I glance at Mauro, hoping he'll come with us too, but then I catch something in his expression that tells me he has no intention of joining us.

A small wave of disappointment washes over me, but I don't ask why. Maybe he thinks this should be my chance to bond with Silvio? Or maybe he has some other reason?

An hour later, Silvio and I drive into town. Once again, I'm struck by how charming this little place is.

In daylight, it looks almost as magical as it did during the fireworks show. It's small, but beautifully maintained, with little green spaces dotted with evergreen shrubs, low hedges, and a few neatly trimmed ornamental trees. Christmas decorations hang from the lampposts and storefronts, with colorful wreaths, red bows, and strings of tiny lights framing the windows. The shop windows are bright and inviting, spilling warm light onto the sidewalks and contrasting with the winter chill. Pretty metal-and-wood benches with ornate wrought-iron details line the walkways, some decorated with little seasonal touches. Even the trash cans have whimsical little flourishes that make them look more charming than functional. A few wooden signs point toward the different streets and shops, each painted in a slightly different style, adding to the town's cozy character. Colorful stone paving winds through the square, and here and there, small planters filled with conifers stand, covered with glass Christmas balls and candy canes.

The whole place has a cheerful, almost storybook quality to it. Families with strollers amble around the square, people wander from shop to shop, and everything looks almost unbelievably idyllic.

We step into one of the shops Silvio picks, and we stop in front of a section displaying beautifully furnished model children's bedrooms, each one set up so customers can browse the designs before ordering the matching furniture collections. I try to focus, but I can't.

Mauro's hesitant expression from earlier, when Silvio and I were about to leave, keeps replaying in my mind.

Silvio seems to notice my mood.

"Is something troubling you, sweetheart? Are you worried that you made the decision to move in too quickly?"

"It's not exactly that." I hesitate. "I was quietly hoping Mauro would come with me and help me pick out the furniture. I keep wondering whether he even likes children… whether he can picture himself as a stepfather."

Silvio nods with a solemn expression, then gently takes my hand in his small, wrinkled one.

"My dear, I don't want to tell you things that Mauro should tell you himself, because that's not my place. But I do want to reassure you that he has some pretty solid reasons for not showing his face in public too often."

My heart beats a little faster with unease.

"Why wouldn't he want to be seen in public? This is such a tiny town. If we're really going to become a family, how would that even work?"

A look of concern crosses Silvio's face. "Sweetheart, he has a few things to take care of first. It's safer this way."

Then I suddenly remember something Davos mentioned. Tony had complained that black cars had been spotted near the house. What could that possibly mean?

"Is Mauro in trouble? And does that mean Tommy and I could be in trouble too?" I whisper, my voice trembling.

"My dear, we'll do everything we can to keep you safe. I promise you that." Silvio's voice remains calm. "You have a powerful protector now, and that protector is the forest. The forest will answer our call."

A wave of dizziness washes over me.

"A protector? Why would I even need a protector?"

"Well," Silvio says softly, "having a protector just in case is a good thing, isn't it? And aren't you afraid of someone from your past?"

I freeze because he's right. I am afraid. But how could they possibly know that? Almost no one knows about that except… the people from my distant past.

"But we were talking about Mauro!" I press, my voice rising with stress. "About why he doesn't want to be seen around town!" My breathing starts to hitch slightly, and I can tell it's getting worse.

"It’s okay, Jared, he’ll explain…"

But I already rub my temples frantically, imagining the worst, on the verge of panic.

Suddenly, Silvio places his other hand over mine, and instantly I feel as though a wave of peace is flowing into my body. I look into his eyes, and they remind me of a living forest, green and gently swaying, streaked with the colors of autumn. A deep stillness fills me, and my fear melts away almost immediately.

I know Silvio has used some kind of magic on me.

"It's all right, sweetheart." His whisper sounds like the rustling of leaves. "I think you should talk to Mauro the moment we get home. I can see how much this is worrying you. He’ll clear things up."

I slowly nod. Whatever Silvio just did gives me the strength to face whatever this is. Hopefully? It can’t be that bad, right?