23. Natalie

23

NATALIE

F or a long, agonizing moment, no one moves. Then Mom bends down with a grunt, her arthritic hands reaching for the scattered contents of her purse.

“Mom, wait—” I stumble forward to stop her, nearly tripping over a realistic, thickly-veined dildo. Ecco snorts with poorly suppressed laughter behind me.

I shoot her a glare over my shoulder.

Mom straightens up, holding a hot pink rabbit vibrator. Her lips twitch as she examines it, eyes twinkling with amusement. “Well. This is… an interesting welcome.”

“I—this is—” My mouth opens and closes like a landed fish.

“These are gag gifts!” Ecco chimes in brightly. “For a bachelorette party. Super silly, right?”

“Thanks, Ecco, but...” I press my lips together, thinking. “Actually, Mom, the truth is, I’ve started seeing someone here in Elderberry Falls.” I keep my eyes trained on the dildo in her hands, unable to meet her gaze. “And these...items...are for my own personal use. With him.”

My mother is silent. I risk a glance up at her face. Her eyebrows have nearly disappeared into her silver hairline.

“It’s still pretty casual,” I continue in a rush, “but I really like him. His name is Rian, and he’s...” I swallow hard. “He’s a minotaur.”

There. I said it. I brace myself for Mom’s reaction—shock, disapproval, disgust maybe. But she just looks at me thoughtfully.

“A minotaur named Rian,” she repeats. Then she smiles. “Does he treat you well, honey? Is he kind to you?”

Tears prick unexpectedly at the back of my eyes. “He’s wonderful, Mom. The best guy I’ve ever met. He’s a single dad, and he’s so good with his daughter...”

My mother pulls me into a hug, and I breathe in the familiar scent of her shampoo.

“Then I’m happy for you, sweetheart.” She pulls back to cup my face in her hands. “That’s all that matters to me. I can’t wait to meet this Rian. Can I, while I’m here?”

“Oh course, Mom.” My heart swells in my chest. “But… what are you doing here?”

“I came to visit my daughter, of course. See where you’ve been all this time. I wanted to surprise you.” Mom looks around curiously. “I was trying to find the inn where I booked, I think it’s called the Moonflower? But when I saw you two through the window, I decided to stop here first. And I’m glad I did.”

There’s a wicked gleam in her eye, and I laugh self-consciously.

“The Moonflower! Oh, you’re going to love it,” Ecco says excitedly, packing the last of the items back into their bag and straightening up. “We can walk you over there, it’s not too far!”

The late afternoon sun casts a warm, honeyed glow over the whimsical streets of Elderberry Falls, tempering the chill of the winter air as we make our way towards the Moonflower Inn. Mom’s eyes sparkle with wonder, her gaze darting from one magical sight to the next. This is her first time stepping foot into the magical realms.

“Oh, look at that!” Mom exclaims, pointing to a nearby storefront where a pair of mischievous imps are rearranging the window display with a flick of their tiny wrists. “And those flowers—are they singing?”

Ecco giggles, nodding towards a cluster of vibrant blooms swaying in a gentle breeze. “Yep, those are Melody Blossoms. They harmonize with the wind.” The child-like joy in my mother’s eyes as she discovers a new magic every corner fills me with happiness. I haven’t seen her this expressive in such a long time, and her enthusiasm is contagious. Like I’m seeing Elderberry Falls for the first time.

I feel a stab of regret that when I first moved here, I didn’t appreciate it more. Well, I reason, at least I’m making up for that now, before it’s too late.

Walking into the lobby of the Moonflower Inn, the large room is lined with twinkling fairy lights. The faint scent of woodsmoke adds to the cozy charm. Mariah stands behind the front desk, her pregnant belly prominent beneath her flowing bohemian top. She looks up, her face breaking into a wide smile as she spots us.

“Ecco, hey!” Then, noticing me trailing behind, she adds on a little less warmly, “Oh, hi, Natalie.”

Ecco bounces forward, greeting Mariah with an enthusiastic hug. “Hey there, mama-to-be! You're looking radiant as ever.”

Mariah laughs, her initial coolness towards me momentarily forgotten as she basks in Ecco's bubbly presence. “Flatterer. But I'll take it.” She rubs her belly affectionately. “This little one has me feeling more like a beached whale than a glowing goddess most days.”

I hang back awkwardly, acutely aware of the tension still lingering between Mariah and me. We haven’t talked about her feelings over my sale, although I hope she’s heard through the grapevine that I’m entertaining other offers.

There’s a too-large part of me that feels wary of her, too—the part that is selfishly jealous over her close relationship with Ecco. I know it’s irrational, but I can’t seem to shake the feeling entirely.

Mom, bless her, seems oblivious to the undercurrent of strain. She steps forward with a warm smile. “I’m here to check in? Elaine Russo.”

Ecco puts an arm around my mom’s shoulders. “Elaine is Natalie’s mom, come for a visit.”

Mariah takes my mother's hand, her returning smile genuine. “It's wonderful to meet you, Elaine. Welcome to the Moonflower Inn. I’m Mariah Parker, the innkeeper. We’re so glad to have you here.”

“Thank you, Mariah,” I say, mustering a smile. “This is my mom's first visit to a magical town.”

Mariah's eyes light up, and she claps her hands together excitedly. “Oh, in that case, I’m upgrading you to the enchanted forest suite! It's one of our most magical rooms, with murals that come to life at night. Dancing fairies, swaying trees, even a singing moon!”

Mom’s face is a picture of pure delight, and I feel a surge of gratitude towards Mariah for her generosity. Perhaps I've been too quick to judge her. I hope she can come to the same conclusion about me.

“That sounds absolutely wonderful,” Mom gushes, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Mariah hands over the key and directs us to the suite, and I catch her eye, hoping to convey my appreciation.

Ecco and I help my mom settle into the suite, marveling at the intricate murals that adorn the walls. Already, I can see the first hints of movement, a fairy’s wing fluttering, a tree branch swaying in an invisible breeze.

Mom marvels at the scene. “Is this the kind of thing you can do, honey?” She traces a painted tree branch with one finger as the leaves flutter and still.

I laugh. “Hardly. I’m still struggling to do even the most basic stuff.” I think ruefully of the spice blend I made for Rian and Jessa, the way it almost sunk their cooking contest entry. Ecco catches my eye and grins before heading out to give us some space.

Once we’re alone, Mom turns to me, her expression soft and understanding. “Natalie, I know we haven’t had much chance to talk since you came here, but I want you to know how proud I am of you. Discovering your magical heritage, learning more about your father’s family, navigating this new world... it’s a lot to take in.”

I sink onto the bed beside her. “It’s been overwhelming at times,” I admit. “I keep thinking about the sale of the property, and whether I’m making the right choice. And then there’s my magic...”

I tell her how conflicted I’ve been feeling about learning to use it, how hard it’s been to learn even simple control over the powers.

“And I’m just so mad at Dad. I thought I’d gotten over that, you know? Or at least made peace with it in therapy. I’d reached place where my anger at him didn’t run on a constant loop in the back of my mind at all times. But here he comes from beyond the grave, back to haunt me with what a fucking asshole he was.”

Mom nods. “I know what you mean. I’m so pissed at him too, love. That he lied to me for our entire relationship, that he denied you this part of your life. And pissed that he’s made everything all about him, once again!”

Mom takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“As for your magic,” she continues. “Your magic is a part of you, Natalie. Embrace it, nurture it. And the property...” She pauses, choosing her words carefully. “Trust your instincts. I know I haven’t always been the best example of that.”

I look up, surprised by the sudden vulnerability in her tone. “What do you mean?”

She sighs, a faraway look in her eyes. “When I married your father, I ignored the little voice inside me that said something wasn’t right. I thought I could change him, that our love would be enough. But in the end, my failure to trust my intuition led to a difficult marriage, one that I don’t want you to repeat.”

I nod, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I’m trying, Mom. It’s just hard sometimes, knowing what the right path is.”

“I know, sweetheart. But you have something I didn’t have back then—a supportive network of friends and family who believe in you. Lean on them, learn from them.”

I sit up straighter, my heart racing with sudden realization. “Speaking of which… Velda,” I breathe. “She was Myrtle’s wife. Dad’s…well, stepmom. She’s been helping me with my magic. I… I bet she’d love to meet you.”

Mom nods, her expression lit with excitement. “Then let’s pay her a visit. Together.”

The weathered wooden door of Velda’s cottage swings open, revealing the petite, brown-skinned woman. Since the moment I proposed this visit to my mom, I’ve been apprehensive about it, but Velda’s warm smile instantly puts me at ease.

“Natalie, dear! And you must be Elaine,” she says, her voice filled with genuine affection as she ushers us inside.

As we settle into the living room, Velda clasps Mom’s hands in her own. “I’ve been longing to meet you, Elaine. I know your history with Bruce wasn’t perfect. But Myrtle always wished she could meet the woman who captured her son’s heart, get to know her granddaughter. I know in my bones that you two would have been fast friends.”

A bittersweet smile plays on Mom’s lips. “I wish I could have known her,” she says softly, her voice tinged with regret. “Bruce never spoke of his family, only to say they died. I can’t make sense of it at all.”

Velda’s kind face folds into a disapproving frown. “Well, I don’t want to speak ill of the dead, dear, but Bruce was…”

“My dad sucked,” I interject, and she lets out a surprised laugh. “You don’t need to mince words with us, Velda.”

“Alright, then. He stopped speaking with Myrtle when she divorced his father and moved here, swearing off magic entirely. At first, it seemed like it was because he was mad at her for, in his words, breaking up the family. But over time, as Myrtle and I met and fell in love and married and he refused to ever meet me, it became exceedingly clear that Bruce was, well, homophobic.”

Mom’s eyes well with tears. “It absolutely breaks my heart to think of all the time we lost, the memories we could have made together because of Bruce’s… issues.”

“Call it like it is, Mom,” I say. “Dad’s not alive to get offended. The man was a bigot, plain and simple. And it kept us from having a relationship with his family. But Velda, I’ve been curious for a while about this… why didn’t Myrtle ever reach out, if she knew that I existed? If she supposedly valued her family so much? I can’t make sense of that.”

Velda reaches over and grabs my hand. “She wanted to, very much, Natalie. It broke her heart every time she thought about you. But even though Bruce swore off his magic, he used it one last time—to block his mother from ever being able to reach you.”

The incredible cruelty of it takes my breath away. Now tears are welling in my eyes too, and I bat away at them impatiently. “What an absolute waste. What a tragedy.”

Velda nods. “Myrtle felt the same way, dear. But at least we have the chance to spend time together now.”

She rises from her seat, moving with surprising grace to retrieve a worn, leather-bound album from a nearby shelf. “I was hoping you would visit—I have something I want to share with you both, while we’re together.”

Velda settles back down and opens the book to reveal a collection of faded photographs, each one a window into a world I never knew existed.

“This is Witchhaven,” Velda says, pointing to an image of a secluded mountain town, its streets lined with quaint cottages and towering evergreens. “It’s where Myrtle was from, where Bruce grew up, a haven for witches and warlocks like your grandmother. Myrtle and I spent many summers there, honing our craft.”

I lean in closer, my eyes drinking in every detail of the photographs. There’s Myrtle, her auburn hair tumbling down her back as she stands beside a handsome young man I assume is my grandfather. In another, she’s surrounded by a group of boisterous friends, their faces alight with laughter over some joke lost to time.

“Do you think I might have family still living there?” I ask, my voice low. “Cousins, maybe, or distant relatives we’ve never met?”

Velda considers the question, her brow furrowing in thought. “It’s possible, dear. Myrtle’s ex-husband has long since passed, and Bruce was an only child, but there’s a chance that extended family members may still call Witchhaven home. In fact...” She pauses, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. “Why don’t we plan a trip there, the three of us? I’d be more than happy to accompany you, to help you uncover the roots of your heritage—magical and otherwise.”

Mom and I exchange a look, my heart swelling with emotion—and I can tell from my mother’s expression that she feels the same.

“We’d love that, Velda,” Elaine says, her voice thick. “And… I want to thank you, for everything. For being there for Natalie these past few months, for sharing these precious memories with us. We may have lost the chance to know Myrtle, but I’m so grateful to have you in our lives now.”

Velda nods. “You’re family, both of you. Family sticks together, through thick and thin.”

Mom and I both know that family doesn’t always stick together, evidenced by my father’s behavior over the years.

But as we sit there, three generations together, it feels like something is unfurling in my chest. It feels like… possibility. The chance for something different, to make a new type of family story for me, for mom.

It’s fragile, but I want to nurture it, I realize. And then regret strikes me.

Will this newfound feeling fade away once I leave Elderberry Falls behind?