Karma's Spell (Magical Midlife in Mystic Hollow Book 1), Lacey Andersen [best book club books .txt] 📗

washer. Part of me was embarrassed by the state that I'd left the house in, but he was my son. He knew my heart had been broken by his father, so if anyone was going to cut me some slack, it would be the kid that would bring armfuls of dirty glasses down from his room.

Thinking about it all made my heart ache from missing him. He was more than I ever expected when I found out I was pregnant. Everything about him amazed me. How I'd helped create this human being who was so kind and smart and decent, especially when he had Rick for a father, I'd never know, but would forever be grateful for.

The click of the dial on the washer drew me back from my thoughts. “I actually decided to come back to Mystic Hollow to see Henry and take a little break from reality.” That hadn’t worked out so well. Reality had kinda freaked out on me. “You okay there?” Have you seen any crazy toads jumping around?

“Yeah, but I had wanted to talk to you while I was here.” There was something in his voice akin to apprehension that made my stomach twist.

I banished anything except gentle curiosity from my voice as I said, “About what, Pumpkin?”

“I had dinner with Dad and Candy the other night. It was really awkward.”

I just bet it was. She was closer to his age than Rick’s. “It will be that way, especially at first. Just like any new experience can be at first.” I’d tried really hard through all this not to bad mouth Rick to our son. He was still his father and I wouldn't have Travis resent Rick on my part. If that happened, it had to be all Travis's emotions driving it, not my voice in his head telling him what to think or feel.

Knowing Rick, I was certain he would eventually drive his son away just by how he would favor Candy over Travis. No one liked being picked last for the dodgeball team, and Rick was king of avoiding the people he considered less than himself. With Candy buoying him, I knew he'd see Travis as something he didn't need to bother with any more since he'd never really been interested in having kids in the first place.

“No, it was more than that. It was like Candy was jealous of me. I really can’t stand her.”

“Oh, no. I’m sorry, honey.” Do not cackle like a madwoman. Do not cackle like a madwoman. Hold it together, Emma. Of course I was sad that the dinner hadn't gone well and Travis hadn't had a good time, but part of me, an embarrassingly large part, wanted Travis to have nothing to do with Rick and Candy.

“Dad didn’t even notice. I just don’t think I want to have anything to do with them anymore.”

No happy dances. This isn't a competition. I cleared my throat so I didn't sound overly happy at his statement. “You know I’ll support you, whatever you decide. But he’s your father. Don’t close the door completely.” Even though I didn't want him spending a lot of time with Rick and Candy, I couldn't help but remind my son that having a father was not something he should throw away. He didn't have to vacation with them, and he couldn't really since they were now toads, or frogs, or whatever, but he shouldn't burn that bridge, no matter how much I wanted to hand him the gasoline and a lighter.

After all, you never know when you might want a pet frog.

“Okay, maybe, but I do think I’m going to take a step back from him for a while. My engineering classes are harder than I thought, and I just want to be able to focus on them.”

Good. That might buy me some time to figure out the toad-thing. “That sounds like a good plan. So, how’s everything else?”

He huffed a little, and I could imagine him going back through the house, picking up his stray socks. “Becca and I are still doing well. We’re both on track to graduate next year, and then we’re talking about where we’re going to go from there.”

We’re. My baby had a woman he spoke about in the we form. Ever since I’d met Becca, an outgoing, lovely girl going to school to become a teacher, I’d loved her. She was like the daughter I’d never had, but I tried to keep my thoughts to myself. My son was still young enough that he didn’t need that kind of pressure. But now, hearing him talk about what they’d be doing after school made that little flicker of excitement inside of me grow.

“That’s exciting!” I said, then tried to calm my voice. “Any ideas so far?”

“Actually...” He hesitated. “I was telling her a little about Mystic Hollow. I hadn’t known you’d gone back at the time, but she was saying that moving to a small town near the ocean might be a lot of fun. Are you planning on staying?”

For a second I imagined them here and my lips curled into a smile. “I’m thinking about it. The only thing really tying me back there now is you.”

“Well.” I could hear a smile in his own voice. “Don’t make any plans because of me. Becca and I don’t want to stay local no matter what.”

It was strange. My son was really growing up. “I’ve never really chosen anything just because I wanted it.” The words left my mouth before I realized it.

“I know, Mom. But I’m in college, Dad is being Dad, what better time could you choose something just for you?”

He was right. “How in the world did we raise such an awesome person?”

“You raised an awesome person,” he said. “Dad drifted in every once and awhile.”

He wasn’t wrong. “Well, I’m lucky to have you.”

“Love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too, Pumpkin.” Ugh. I wanted to give him a hug so badly in that moment.

“Well, better start the laundry and