CHAPTER 10

C HAPTER 10

S aturday morning, everyone was at the table when Mia came out of her bedroom. Levi was nursing a hangover. Most of the beer bottles Mia found last night had been emptied by him. "Good morning, family."

"Mia"—Trent handed her a cup of coffee—"how did you sleep?"

"Not as well as I should have, knowing I have a week off from the Lodge." Mia sat next to her grandmother, who was going through a yearbook. "What's that?"

"I decided to do some research on Sherry Sellers. I never knew who Melody's father was. I don't think he was ever in the picture. Maybe he was one of her classmates." She pointed to a picture of Sherry and a guy at what looked like a school dance. "Like him."

"I had the boys' old yearbooks and brought them over yesterday." Abigail set a plate with eggs and bacon in front of Mia. "According to rumors, Sherry was dating someone from Boise."

Trent looked at the picture. "That's Jeani's older brother, Ned. You could ask her when she gets here."

"Sure! ‘Hey, Jeani, have some coffee. Oh, and did your brother have a love child with Sherry Sellers?' " Levi laughed, then grabbed his head. "Ouch. I'm not sure I can work today."

Trent laughed. "You can, and you will. Run home, grab a shower, and change your clothes. I'll see you back here no later than ten. Those walkways aren't going to build themselves."

Levi stood and drained his coffee. Abigail took the empty cup from him and gave him a travel mug. "Do what your brother said. This should help."

"You're a harder taskmaster than Dad," Levi said to Trent. "And that's not a compliment."

As he left, Cerby jumped on Trent's legs. "I'd better take this guy outside. I'll be back in a few minutes."

After the front door shut, Abigail turned to Mia. "You can't tell Christina about Levi dancing with that girl last night."

"How do you know about that?" Mia held her hands up. "Never mind, don't tell me. Besides, it's not my story to tell—but Levi should tell her."

Abigail sighed and then sank back into a chair. "Everything was so perfect."

"It was just a dance. They didn't go make out behind the bleachers." Mia looked up from her coffee. "Did they?"

"No, it was just a couple of dances. As you can see, Levi had a few too many beers and was feeling no pain. Except for the hole in his heart because he and Christina are fighting." Abigail took a muffin from the basket. "That's the problem with being close to your kids. You want to fix everything."

"Not possible, and you know it. So, let's get back to Sherry. We think the baby daddy isn't from around here. Do you think he might still show up in some of these pictures?" Grans changed the subject as she flipped through the yearbook searching for random casual shots of Sherry at different events.

"Maybe, but what teenage boy has the money for a two-plus-hour trip just to see his girlfriend?" Mia waved her bacon in the air. "At my school, no one even knew where Magic Springs was located. Sun Valley, sure, but no one but the hard-core skiers ever made the trip. Too far and too expensive, especially back then. People thought I was weird for spending all summer in the mountains when I could have been hanging out at Lucky Peak and getting a tan."

"You were a little snippy about coming to stay with me during your high school years. But do you even see or hear from those friends now?" Grans looked up from the yearbook at her.

Mia thought about it. She hadn't been to a reunion in years, even when she'd lived in Boise and the location had been nearby. She brightened. "No, but a guy who was part of my friends' group has a restaurant in Twin now. Brad was someone's big brother. I can't remember his sister's name, but we'd hang out after the bonfires and talk food. Even then I wanted to be a chef someday."

"Nice to know your mom was letting you hang out with college kids." Grans sniffed as she closed the yearbook and got up to refresh her coffee. "I should have insisted you move in with me as soon as Theresa renounced her magic. You'd be so much further along."

"I don't blame Mom. I wouldn't have had a normal childhood if she had sent me to live with you." Mia put her plate in the sink. "Sorry, Abigail. I know you raised your kids in the craft, but I liked being just Mia for a while."

"I raised my boys as normal kids. As each of the children I was teaching the craft stepped away from their birthright, I'd go to the next. Trent got most of the instruction, but now Levi has the power. I'm not sure he's emotionally set to go through with his indoctrination at twenty-five. We might have to wait for a new generation, like Mary Alice did."

"Oh, Abigail," Mia started but Grans put her hand on Mia's arm.

Abigail brushed her cheeks but not before Mia noticed the tears. "Anyway, that's that. Of all my boys, Trent had the most potential to take a power seat in the coven. Now he's running a grocery store. Not exactly the future I'd imagined for him."

Cerby ran from the open door to Mia and asked to be picked up.

Trent had heard at least the last part of the conversation. He walked over to his mom. "My future isn't fixed by what I do or by the power the family has. You know that. I love what I do at this point. When I decide to do something different, it will be my choice, not because of some council who doesn't even know me."

"I know, but Trent, you could have been in leadership by now." Abigail took her son's face in her hands. "You would have been amazing. I can still see it in your eyes."

"And he would have been working with idiots. Leave the boy alone, Abigail. I'm sensing there's going to be a change in coven practices soon. Maybe his time for contributions hasn't come to be yet." Grans opened another yearbook. "Don't you people have a queen contest to prepare for?"

"I've got walkways to build. Mia, do you want to come help until Levi gets back?" Trent leaned down and kissed Grans on the cheek. "Thank you for supporting me."

"I'm a sucker for the rebel child." She patted him on the cheek. "Just like my Mia."

When Mia and Trent got back to the gym, she shook her head. "Sorry about Grans. She's always been like that."

He turned to her as he turned the radio on. "Like what?"

"Always up in everyone's business." Mia opened the double doors to the backyard. The yard had white painted arrows on the grass. They were all leading up to a large platform that had a trellis over the top. The dais was perfect for the event, as well as a great bandstand for dances or weddings. Besides, it was beautiful. "I can't believe you finished the platform. It's stunning."

Trent's arms came around her, and he nuzzled her neck. "I believe it's some of my best work. Of course, Levi helped too. And don't apologize for your grandmother. Have you met my mom?"

She laughed and turned to kiss him. When they stepped apart, Mia kept her gaze locked with his. "I love you, Trent Majors. You know that, right?"

"I sense a ‘but' in there." He pushed back a stray curl from her ponytail.

She shook her head. "Not from me, but my grandmother thinks we need to make this more official. That my seeing Isaac last week might mess us up."

"You mean, I'd be jealous of the guy dumping you out of the car in the middle of the mountains after you didn't go along with his runaway groom fantasy? I can see how she'd be confused." He rubbed her back. "Our relationship is between you and me. Not my mom, and not your grandmother. I think we have something good here. And if I haven't popped the question yet, well, maybe I was waiting for Isaac to play his last card. Now that it's on the table, things might change."

"I didn't bring this up to trick you into asking me to marry you. I'm not desperate for a husband." Mia put her hands on her hips. This conversation was going all wrong. "Not that I don't see a future together."

"That's not what your grandmother says." He gently tapped her on the butt. "Come on, desperate. Let's get these walkways finished. I'd like to have them ready to move into position so we can anchor them when Levi gets back."

* * *

At eleven, Jeani and Cheryl arrived with totes filled with fabrics and fake flowers. Jeani waved at Mia and Trent. "Good morning, construction crew. How is the work coming along?"

"Hi, Jeani. Hey, before we get started, I wanted to tell you again how happy the future mom and dad were about the baby shower. When the lights went down and the event started, it was magical." Mia remembered her own joy at the stars all over the ceiling. "It looked like we were looking up into the night sky. So, was there a bit of magic mixed in there?"

Jeani winked. "I'll never tell. But there's a reason we do most of our work up here, where magic is expected. After you put on a display like that, it's hard to go back to a normal baby shower with crepe paper, fabric, and fairy lights. It just doesn't have the pop."

Cheryl looked around the room, then as she set her tote down, asked, "Is Levi here?"

Mia glanced at her, wondering if she had misheard the desire in Cheryl's voice, but no, the woman looked smitten. She met Trent's gaze, and he shook his head.

"Sorry, Cheryl. I sent him home to clean up. Of course, he's late getting back, which probably means he's talking to his girlfriend. She's in Boise for the weekend for a family event. I'm sure you'll meet her on Monday. She's a big part of Mia's Morsels." Trent picked up the dropped tote and put it on the table. "Mia, why don't you work with the girls on your vision for the event, and I'll start putting up the walkways."

"Let Abigail know Jeani and Cheryl are here first, will you?" Mia glanced at Cheryl, whose face was beet red. She'd gotten the message. Levi was off-limits.

Jeani brought her tote over to the table. "Looks like you and your friend have the available Majors boys all tied up. Good for you. Levi's always been a flirt, but Trent was a man of mystery. He dated casually but never found the one. I asked him once who he was waiting for, and he told me he was waiting for his soulmate. What kind of teenage boy feels that kind of certainty?"

Cheryl pointed to the restrooms on the side of the gym. "Are those useable? I need to freshen up."

"I've remodeled and updated both the restrooms. Of course, they still are gym restrooms, but the lockers are prettier, and the tile is amazing. And there's a shower room with all individual showers. I was hoping to add a pool someday. Either in this space or outside by the parking lot." Mia rattled on.

But Cheryl wasn't listening; she'd already taken off for the restroom door. Mia turned to her sister. "Sorry about Trent's bluntness. She must have fallen fast."

"Oh, she's been in love with Levi since high school. Last night just fed all the adolescent fantasies she's had since. I should have warned her. I knew he was dating your friend. But when Cheryl decides to fall in love, you can't stop her." Jeani pulled out a swatch of fabric and a sketch pad. "So, this is what I was thinking . . ."

Abigail showed up a few minutes later, so Jeani walked her and Mia through the planned decorations. Then they walked the areas where guests would be allowed and various events held. Mia opened a different classroom from the one where Carla had died. "We'll be using this for a green room. We'll have tables, rolling hangers, and full-length and table mirrors. It's big enough for contestants to have their own area to get ready. We'll provide a few chairs for each spot, but not a lot. Thoughts?"

"You should allow them access to this area for the full week. That way you've got all the hair and makeup stuff already here. If a girl wanted to bring her full week's worth of outfits, you'll have a good setup. Do you need help with supplying this? I've got contacts with rental places. That way, it can come out of our budget and not yours." Jeani was already making notes.

Abigail nodded. "That would be great. I wasn't thinking about having it set up all week, so I'm a little behind the eight ball on getting the furniture we need."

"I do love a good challenge." Jeani winked. "So, this was the only area we hadn't seen. I'll start making some drawings, and we'll make up a list. The Monday session, it's at six, right?"

"Yes. It's a casual get-together in the foyer. We'll have passed trays. The girls and their families will meet the judges and the coven board." Abigail spun around the room. "If we can have this set up by four, the contestants can bring their stuff and get ready here."

"Sounds like a plan." Mia met Abigail's gaze and got a nod. "We're about to have lunch. Do you want to eat with us?"

Cheryl shook her head. She hadn't spoken since she'd asked about the restrooms. Having her fantasy about a life with Levi crushed by Trent had flattened the woman.

Jeani smiled at her sister. "Sorry, we have plans. Cheryl, why don't you go gather the bags we left in the gym, and I'll meet you at the car."

Cheryl nodded and hurried out of the room. When Jeani heard the door slam at the bottom of the stairs, she turned back to us. "Sorry about that. I tried to tell her, but well, she's got it bad. Can you ask Levi to be respectful of Cheryl this week? I think I can get her talking by Monday, but not if he's nice to her again."

"I can remember feeling that way about a boy." Mia didn't add the fact that she'd been in high school. She took Jeani's arm as they looked at her sketches again. "I'm so excited about working with you on this project. Abigail did the heavy lifting by getting us the contract, and I'm butting in for the week. But I took the time off from the Lodge, so Frank can't gripe."

"When has that ever stopped him in the past?" Jeani tucked her book into her tote. "He really doesn't like you. He asked what I'd charge to be the catering director, and I told him he couldn't afford me. I've worked for Frank before, and I about died when I heard the hotel chain had brought him here. I'm hoping he'll disappear to another Lodge sooner than later. But I've heard this is his last shot with this management."

"Unfortunately, the school is expensive to keep open, so I need a job. And I'm lucky enough to have Abigail to help me run Mia's Morsels." Mia smiled at her friend. "But yes, Frank and I are not on the best of terms."

Her phone buzzed. She looked at the display. "And speak of the devil."

She read the text as they made their way downstairs.

"A problem?" Abigail paused before walking Jeani outside.

Mia sighed. "Maybe. Frank asked me to attend the Monday staff meeting. He said I can be virtual if I need to be."

"Maybe it's just to set up the next week's events." Abigail called out to Jeani, who was carrying four bags from the gym. Cheryl hadn't grabbed them as her sister had asked. "Hold on, let me at least open the door for you."

Mia tucked her phone away as she went to help Jeani to her car. No, if it was an event two weeks away, Frank would just send her the schedule. If her gut was right, Frank had scheduled an event for the week she was gone. So she'd have to work. She rolled her stiff neck. No use worrying about it until Monday. But she would work as hard and as long as possible up until then. Just in case.