Page 72 of The Heart of Moonlight Falls

“Even if we were the ones to let the shades in,” Sebastian replied dryly.

James shrugged. “The gateway wasn’t a problem for eighty years, and it helped us establish a solid bit of tourism.”

Sebastian smiled at James’s optimistic take on the situation. “Wonder what we’ll do about that tourism now that shades won’t be popping through from Beyond all the time.”

James considered. “I’m sure everyone will adjust. It’ll be strange to not have shades around Moonlight Falls, but after the last weeks, I won’t be complaining.”

“Sebastian!” a voice called from behind them, stealing their attention.

Sebastian spun to see his mom exiting the diner. “She’s still here?” He couldn’t believe it.

“Yeah, I wasn’t expecting to see her again,” James agreed.

“Sebastian.” Samantha stopped a few feet from them, looking between him and James as if she was unsure how to approach. “I’m glad you’re all right.”

“You are?” Sebastian asked without thinking.

She flinched. “Yes. I can’t believe any of us survived that.” Her eyes strayed to the signs, then back to Sebastian, conflicted emotion lining her face. “I’m sorry for accusing you of trapping me. And I’m sorry for putting all this on you, for transferring the curse, and for how I let that dictate the way I treated you all these years. I’m sorry for all of it and for not trying to make it right.”

Sebastian let himself absorb her words. He sighed. “I appreciate you saying that.” And he did. Even if it couldn’t undo the past or change anything, her apology gave Sebastian a small sense of relief.

Samantha fidgeted. “I didn’t want to leave before saying something.”

Sebastian gave her a tired smile. “It was a nice surprise.”

She returned his smile. It looked slightly pained. “I’m glad you get to live the rest of your life free from this. I hope you’ll be happy.”

“Thanks. I think I will be.” Sebastian took James’s hand. The moment had a strong undercurrent of awkwardness. He valued his mom’s apology but wasn’t going to tell her it was all right or act like it was enough to forgive everything she’d done and go on as if it had never happened.

“I owe you an apology too, James.” Samantha looked at her shoes. “I’m sorry for my part in your parents’ deaths.”

James gave a curt nod as if his feelings mirrored Sebastian’s.

“If there’s anything you want me to do… I know I can’t make up for it, but…” Her words seemed to fail.

James’s attention found Sebastian. He seemed unsure how to react. Sebastian squeezed James’s hand, and James turned back to Samantha, clearing his throat. “The secret-binding is completely gone. Nothing is stopping the truth from coming out.”

Samantha’s eyes widened. “You want me to admit we caused the accident publicly?”

“I don’t know.” James swiped a hand over his face. “Just don’t lie about it when it comes out.”

“People are going to find out the whole story,” Sebastian reminded his mom. “The transfer of the curse from Kira to me, our connection to Nelson Power, all of it. I’m not interested in hiding family history when what happened with the Storms affected everyone.”

Samantha seemed to gather herself. “I won’t ask you to. But I’m not planning to stay and endure the town’s hatred.”

“No, I wouldn’t have thought so.” Sebastian knew his mother wouldn’t completely change. There was no magic to heal their relationship, and after everything, he didn’t need there to be. “Guess this is goodbye then.”

Samantha nodded, eyes lingering on Sebastian’s bandage for a second. “Goodbye, Sebastian.”

He watched her walk to the bed and breakfast and disappear inside.

James leaned in close. “You okay?”

“It’s the best I could have hoped for. I wasn’t exactly holding out for us to reconnect and have the mother-son bond I once longed for. I’d much rather make my own family.”

“You’ve already got one.”

Sebastian turned to face James and found a delicate smile on his face.

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