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“Is Mom doing okay without me there?”
I nodded. “You’re able to go off on your own without worry.”
She toed a rock on the ground. “She’s doing really great lately, and it’s all thanks to you and Diego, so I try not to worry, but I can’t help it. My father really messed her up, and it’s taken her so long to get to this point. I’m seeing so much of the mom I knew when I was little, it’s amazing. But I’m worried she’ll disappear again, too.”
Raeni rarely did therapy sessions now that she was a teen. We’d managed when she was younger, and it’d been good for her, given how deeply the situation with her father affected them both, but as she hit adolescence, she became more resistant to talk. We never pushed, knowing she’d come around when she was ready.
“Do you want to talk?” I asked her. She’d know what I was implying.
Raeni chewed her lip and then shook her head. “Not right now.”
I respected that and didn’t push. Instead, I made an order of food to be delivered to everyone, and a pitcher of mead and some fruit for me to carry back. Raeni was hungry now, so she got herself a bowl of stew.
“What do you think?” I asked her as we made our way back.
She pursed her lips. “It’s interesting. It’s like I’m tasting more than what veggies and meats are in here.”
“That’s because the broth is created from several days’ worth of stewing. When the ingredients are done cooking, they’re taken out with a little bit of broth, and the next batch of ingredients is added.”
She made a thoughtful sound. “Interesting. I think I’ll still stick with our modern meals, especially with Mister Xavier’s cooking.”
I chuckled. We were quite spoiled, with him being a former professional chef.
“Thank you,” she said. “For picking Min to play family with us for this. He’s so gentle with her, and I haven’t seen Mom this happy in so long.”
I watched as several emotions flickered across her face.
“I hope one day she’ll be able to find someone new. Someone better, who will love her like she’s their entire world.” She flicked a braid over her shoulder. “And maybe they’ll be willing to be my new dad.”
I rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. “They will. You’re the most precious thing to your mother. She wouldn’t settle for less for either of you.”
She gave me an appreciative smile.
A flash of orange-red caught the corner of my eye. I turned, and the world around me seemed to slow as I watched a red-haired woman walk down the road. I froze, everything in my body winding tight. My pulse pounded in my ears, and my throat dried.It can’t be…
“Astrid?” Raeni tentatively asked.
I broke out of my state and whipped around, grabbing Raeni by the arm and hastening our steps away.
“Astrid, what’s wrong?” Raeni asked.
“Give me a moment.” My mind raced, and I tried desperately to calm myself down.It wasn’t her. It wasn’t her.There was no way she was here. Red hair wasn’t unique. The shade of red we had was common. I didn’t see her face. Maybe subconsciously I had when she passed, but I didn’t actively see it. So, I had no reason to think it was her.So why can’t I ignore my instinct to run?
“Astrid, you’re hurting my arm,” Raeni whimpered.
I gasped and released her. “Sorry.”
She rubbed her arm. “What happened?”
I chewed my lip and shook my head. “I saw someone who… looked a lot like my mother.”
Raeni gazed down at me, her eyes sympathetic. “She’s like my dad, isn’t she?”
I nodded. She slid her hand into mine and squeezed.
Taking a deep, calming breath, I squeezed back and smiled. I wouldn’t allow that woman to poison my day. She wasn’t here. She had no idea where I was.
When we made it back to the others, they were all grouped up differently, and Aya had an eager look about her. No, it was more than that. She smirked in a way that made my insides crawl with apprehension.What is she up to?“Need more of my magic?”
