Page 144

“You did as well as anyone else could.”

She inhales slowly and pulls away. “I wasn’t ready to speak about your father’s death for a long time, but after coming back to the place he was raised, being part of this community, and helping this community with my artistic gifts… I feel I understand him better now than I did when he was living. I understand myself better, too.”

I guess I’m not the only one Starbrook changed.

I smile softly. “That’s great, Mom.”

She looks around the home. “I’m having second thoughts, and I’m not sure if it’s just because of the ghost being quiet.”

I wince. “Not so quiet. She’s been talking to me.”

“Ah. Maybe that’s why she isn’t resorting to her usual tactics.”

“Maybe.”

Why do I feel bad for leaving her alone? No one talked to her for years. She obviously has a lot of bottled-up animosity, but maybe she needed someone to listen to her.

“What if I don’t want to go?” I whisper. “But I don’t want to leave you and Leo and Luke. Life is so short. I want to be as close to you as possible⁠—”

“You’re right.” Her eyes twinkle. “Life is short. Which means you should go after what you want and be with the person you most desire. Right?”

“Right.”

“Which, for you, is Sterling.”

I press my lips tight, my teeth dig in. “I don’t love him as much as I love you, and I haven’t loved him for nearly as long.”

“But you do love him.” She takes my hands in hers. “I never thought love was a priority for you, and I respected that, but you so clearly love that man. If you want to stay here for love, we have to find a way. Even if that means renting a tiny apartment and doing our best.”

“Seriously?”

She nods earnestly. “Luke and Leo can share a room.”

“Gods, no.” I groan. “They would kill each other.”

“Probably.”

And I hope it doesn’t come to that… but if my idea works, I don’t think it will.

Chapter 47

Sterling

“You shouldn’t have come to work today,” Jewel says, standing beside my desk.

I look at her blankly. “Why not?”

“You know why not. Aurora texted and told me she’s leaving.”

Right. I guess I could have used some PTO. Most people would in my situation, I think. Even though Aurora and I are in love, this is a breakup. I didn’t ask her to stay. She didn’t ask to be in a long-distance relationship. And there aren’t any other options.

“I’m fine,” I say. “She’s safe. Isn’t that what matters?”

She pulls up a seat and sits on the other side of my desk. Even being in this room reminds me of Aurora now.

“Is that what this is about? You still don’t trust yourself and your magic?”

“Of course, I don’t.”