Page 174 of The Glittering Edge

A smile spreads over Alonso’s face, and Penny grabs his shoulders. “You said it was too dangerous.”

“But I’m fine,” Alonso says. “I feel strong. Like I could do it again.”

“But…” She looks him up and down, searching for signs of injury.

Alonso leans his forehead against hers. “Penny, I’m okay.”

As another sob escapes Penny’s throat, Alonso wraps his arms around her waist and buries his face in her hair.

Around them, the room is full of cheers and happy cries. Naomi is full-out sobbing, and Dylan dabs at a single tear as she shoves a packet of tissues at her. James grabs Corey’s shoulder, and something private passes between them. Ron is hugging Penny’s mom and Helen, snot running down his face. Alonso joins the group and lets Naomi cry into his shirt, and Penny kneels next to her mom, surveying the strange, beautiful scene.

That’s when Penny notices Milton. He’s staring at Alonso with a strange expression on his face. But when he sees Penny watching, his face softens into a smile.

Thank you, Penny mouths.

Then the room goes quiet.

Corey is tapping Alonso on the shoulder. Alonso turns away from Naomi, and when he sees Corey, his face falls.

“What?” Alonso says.

Then Corey pulls him into a hug.

Penny

DR. NUSSBAUM SHAKES HER HEAD AS SHE LOOKS THROUGH ANITA’Stest results. “It’s a medical miracle. It’s as though it never happened. There’s no damage from the near-drowning, or the coma. You’re completely healed.”

Anita nods sagely. “A true miracle.” When the doctor leaves, she winks at Penny.

Penny smiles back. She hasn’t left her mom’s side since she woke up yesterday. Ron closed the café for a few days, so he’s been there with them the whole time. His presence means that Anita and Penny can’t talk about what they experienced across the Veil.

Finally, when Ron steps out to get food, Anita says, “How did you manage it?”

“Honestly? With a lot of help.”

“My brave sweet pea.”

Penny stands up, stretching. “I think I need more coffee.”

“Me too, but not this hospital stuff. It’s disgusting.”

“Snob,” Penny says, and Anita smiles like it’s a compliment.

As Penny walks to the coffeepot by the nurses’ station, a crowd of people at the end of the hall catches her eye. They’re divided into two groups, one clad in black and dark purple, the other in floral prints and crisp white shirts. Penny stops in her tracks.

The Barrions and the De Lucas are here.

Alonso stands behind his mom, hands shoved into the pockets of yet another silk robe. The De Lucas have always been beautiful, in anoverdramatic sort of way, but now they’re almost glowing. Vera De Luca’s hair is especially wavy under her wide-brimmed black hat. Emilia is standing taller than usual, her eyes bright. Even Donna is… wearing eyeliner? Maybe that’s the only change, but regardless, they look like a witch coven that could mess you up with a few well-chosen words.

Penny quickly searches for Charles Barrion, and she lets out a breath when she sees that he isn’t here. It’s only Corey, his dad, his aunt Helen, and Sofía. If Penny had to guess, Corey’s grandfather isn’t celebrating her mom’s recovery. But she’s the only one who knows that. She’ll have to tell Corey and Alonso the truth about what happened at the De Luca Pharmacy, but she hasn’t found the right words.

When Alonso sees Penny, he beams. “Look who’s here.”

“We’re here to drop off some flowers,” Alonso’s mom says, though she’s glaring at Corey’s dad.

“Actually, we decided to meet here because it’s neutral ground,” Sofía says. “We’d like to see the oath, please.”

Alonso hesitates, but soon he takes Penny’s manila envelope out of his messenger bag. Corey’s dad takes it from him, and he quickly unrolls it, all business. As his eyes scan the page, his face doesn’t change. Sofía and Helen crane their necks to see, and they both gasp.

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