Page 17 of Bewitched & Bewildered
“Do you want to leave?” she asks. “I’ll walk you home. C’mon.”
Yes. I want to run away and never look back—not to erase my memories with Mom, but to leave them here, where I know they’re safe. I don’t want to relive them.
“No.” I turn to my sister and lie to her face. “Quite the contrary. I’m ready to reopen the shop.”
Her face lights up. “Really? Are you sure?”
I nod.
“Why now?” She squints. “Does this have anything to do with Ozzy?”
I’m not the only witch who saw his grand opening. Why didn’t the others tell me about it?
I flinch. “Don’t remind me.”
“I knew it! He always had a way of getting under your skin.”
“This has nothing to do with him!” I turn away. “It’s for us. It’s formom. You said this place is her. If we let it die…”
“I don’t think we’re letting her down if that’s what you’re implying.”
“But think of how happy she would be to see us running it.”
“Us?” Maple wants to dance. I can feel it. Her energy is positively vibrant as she bounces on the heels of her feet. “Does that mean you want help running it?”
“Yes,” I say. “Is that so surprising?”
“Honestly…”
“Please. Be honest.”
“Of course, it’s a surprise. You never let us help you.”
I press my lips together. Maple is correct, and it’s a subtle thing my other sisters may not realize. They’re not supposed to help me. I’m their big sister. I helped them learn to walk, talk, and all the things big sisters do. That’s how it’s supposed to be.
They don’t need my help anymore, not in that way, butI can’t go to them. This shop is an exception. Mom gave it to me, but it’s theirs as much as mine.
“I don’t mean to be like that,” I say.
“I know—and I know it’s partially her fault. She taught you to be like this, even if she didn’t mean to.”
“Don’t…don’t blame her. Not here.”
I blamed her enough myself, especially when she was still with us. I loved my mother, and I still do, but we had a complicated relationship. She did her best. She still wasn’t perfect—none of us are.
My mother was a kind, warm woman, but she was only one person. We didn’t have a second parent to help. I naturally took on the role.
Whether that meant working at the shop, taking my sisters to practice, or getting them to bed on time. That fell on my shoulders, and it was more than a teenager should have been responsible for.
“I’m not blaming her,” she says softly. “But I see you.”
“What if I don’t want to be seen?”
“Then we can focus on opening the shop, and I’ll pretend I see nothing.” Her smile brightens. “There’s a lot of work to do around here.”
Maple is always good at focusing on the bright side.
“I know.” I shrug. “And I’m looking for work, anyway. Maybe the timing is… actually right. I think this will work out for us.”
