“Jesus, is everyone already descending on one another like wolves?” I ask. The division in our family is a living, breathing dragon. We’ve got all the makings of a magical soap opera—magic workers who want to be stronger, and a bitter aunt who swears my mother is Mémé’s favorite.
Truth be told, it’s because my mother is the one who stayed close to home. Tante Odette is selfish. She always has been completely self-involved. The minute she could leave the house, she was out the door, and never looked back unless it was for a handout or a holiday.
She saw the way mother blossomed and swore it was because Mémé somehow put more into her. My mother is simply that talented. She took the time to practice her craft, and the ancestors blessed her for her dedication. It cost her many things … like my father, who couldn’t handle coming second to her “juju work” as he called it, or be bothered to deal with the magically inclined daughter she birthed.
Mama swore off relationships after that. I recognized her loneliness. Perhaps it’s why I stayed close to home for far longer than the average woman my age at the time.
“I’m sure you heard about it,” I say as I move back to packing.
“When Mom clarified it, I called you. Though you should’ve been the one to tell me.”
“I know, but I’ve been neck deep in wrapping up the business end and packing. Hell, I’m nearly buried by boxes as we speak.” I push a box away with my foot, and sit on the edge of a chair.
“You want me to come up and help?”
“No, I need the time to get my head right. I have to work on my game face before I enter the dragon’s lair.”
Felicitie laughs. “It’s not that bad.”
“Feels that way. I left a lot of things unsaid and hurt a lot of people when I left.” I spent too long blaming Cristobal for things he was only partially responsible for. He didn’t force me out of Louisiana at gunpoint. No, he wanted me to stay and pretend everything was fine. My heart fills with contempt. Arrogant bloodsucker.
“Most of us understand why you had to go,” Fel’s voice softens. The kindness audible is a ray of hope in an oncoming dark storm.
“I hope they’re as forgiving as you,” I reply, thinking of my best friend, Sacha. We had a knockdown, drag-out fight before my abrupt departure, which we never fully recovered from. Born three months apart in the same area, we’d been brought up together. She was more sister than friend. There was no person on the earth who knew more about me at one point in my life. As it stands, the only contact we have is a few short monthly conversations to make sure we’re both alive and sane, and the obligatory birthday cards and best wishes. A pang of regret hits me. I should’ve been upfront with her from the beginning.
“You thinking about Sacha?”
“Yeah, I need to let her know I’m coming back.” I’ve put it off till the last minute.
“The way you guys ended was sad. There’s a rift, but nothing that can’t be healed with some TLC.”
“She’d have to want that, Fel. I’m not convinced she does,” I answer honestly.
“I think she’ll surprise you. For now, focus on getting home. As Mémé would say, no need to borrow trouble. It’ll arrive in due time.” Her impersonation is dead on, and I can’t help but laugh. “Why come back now?”
“It’s time. My gut tells me home is where I need to be.”
“I’m glad you’re returning.” She hesitates. The line crowds with the ghosts of things left unsaid.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Things have been tense up this way. Tante Odette wants to prove she’s more powerful than she actually is, and as usual, the two lackeys she has for children are following her footsteps.”
I roll my eyes. This is nothing new. “How is this any different from
usual?” My aunt is a hot mess with a goddess complex. She thinks everyone should worship the ground she walks on.
“They want Mémé’s blessing to be the next in line to rule.”
I snicker at the absurdity. “How when they can barely tap into the ancestors to work the roots?”
“That’s what Mémé says. You know she’s never been one to bite her tongue.”
“And their response?”
“She’s getting older. Her decisions might not be as sound as they once were.” The haughty tone she takes on is identical to my arrogant aunt’s. Of course, she’d say that. “I think they’d get lawyers involved if the community respected that sort of thing. It’s sad. I don’t know why she’s so power hungry. She gets her fair share of profits earned from the family business, and her boutique does well.”
I shake my head. “There’s always been a void in that woman she couldn’t fill up. I never understood it.” I walked on eggshells around her, scared to set her off. If anything was less than what she deemed acceptable, she let me know about it. She dealt with her children in a similar manner, but it wasn’t until I was older I truly understood her behavior. You can bury family secrets deep, throw bones in old closets padlocked shut, but in the end, they always come to light. “I’m shocked Mom hasn’t put her in her place.”