Page 145 of Shadow Charms

Her concentration waned as her vision blurred. Her muscles stiffened.

And the world around her slowly slipped away.

CHAPTER 29

Paige blinked her eyes, scrunching her features. She let her hands drop to her sides, her neck craning as she stared around the space.

Something fluttered at the back of her mind as she tried to recall what she’d been doing and where she was.

A red-headed woman strode into the room, her long hair falling in a braid over her shoulder, contrasting with the green plaid blouse she wore.

“Hi, honey. Back already?”

“Back?” Paige inquired.

The woman set the vase of freshly cut flowers she carried on the baby grand piano and nodded. “Yes. Didn’t you have the book club meeting at the library today?”

Paige’s features crinkled as she tried to make sense of the situation. “Book club?”

The woman offered her a confused smile, setting a hand on her hip. “Paige, are you okay?”

Paige studied the woman’s features as realization dawned. “Mom?”

“Yes?” the woman answered.

Paige scratched her forehead. “But…how?”

“How what? Paige, I’m starting to get worried about you. Are you feeling all right?”

“Do we live here?”

The woman crossed the room and felt Paige’s forehead before slipping an arm around her shoulders and guiding her to the sofa. They eased onto it, and Reed pushed a lock of Paige’s hair behind her ear.

“Yes, we live here. We’ve lived here since you were born.”

Paige glanced around the space. She ran her fingers over the furry blanket tossed over the back of the sofa. Her eyes lingered on the pictures displayed on the mantel above the fireplace. Smiling photos of her as a child beamed back, along with several snapshots of her and her mother in exotic locations.

“I’m feeling off,” Paige admitted, adjusting her glasses. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“I do,” Reed said.

Paige snapped her gaze at her mother. “You do?”

Reed nodded, lifting her chin. “A mother always does. You’re pushing yourself too hard. I know how important it is to you to get into a good college and to get your degree in library sciences, but, honey, it’s okay to take a break sometimes.”

“Right,” Paige said, letting her gaze fall to her lap.

Something didn’t seem right, but she couldn’t figure out what.

“Tell you what, why don’t you and I have a girls’ weekend? I’ll get that gourmet hot chocolate you love. We’ll rent a few movies and just relax together. How does that sound?”

Paige nodded slowly, chewing her lower lip. “That sounds great.”

A smile slowly formed on her lips as she considered the prospect.

Reed offered her a tight-lipped smile as the tension in Paige’s shoulders started to ease.

She glanced around the room again, letting the familiarity soothe her.

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