Page 4 of Summer Solstice

But that hadn’t been the part of the vision or dream that had stuck with me. The part that continued to revisit me were the moments when I’d been able to spend time with a future Finn. The difference between him at thirteen (last Christmas) and eighteen was astonishing. I’d gotten to see my son grown up, in control of his own magic. He was tall, handsome, kind and patient, and I’d never been prouder to be his mom.

I still didn’t know if the dream was really a vision sent by the Holiday Spirit like Noel had claimed, or if the dream had just been a warning from my own subconscious that I shouldn’t marry Marty. But if there was even a chance of Finn growing into that young man I met, then I was going to do everything in my power to help get him there.

Even if I had to get a white-knuckled grip on my anxiety and just hang on.

It was a slow night at the store, which was probably for the best really since I was running out of stock and didn’t have any way to make more. I’d rather it was slow than have to tell people I not only was out of product, but I also wasn’t sure when everything would be back in stock. So, just when I’d decided to call it a night and close early, Andre and Finn had come out of the back room with Ouire bounding around at their heels, the red ribbon bookmark flapping like a wagging tail.

“Mom, I figured out another trick! Wait until you see it,” Finn crowed, pulling his sleeve back to show the new number inked onto his skin. 14 it read. I knew it wasn’t a tattoo, per se, that it was just something that happened when a Magician mastered a new spell or ‘trick’, but it still made my heart drop to see it. The stark black ink against my son’s pale skin made it seem like the magic was branding him, somehow.

That was also a very high number, which made me suspicious that Finn was dream walking again, sneaking out while he was asleep to learn more tricks from Ouire. The saddest part was that even if that was exactly what Finn was doing, I couldn’t actually stop him. I was just grateful that Andre had agreed to mentor him—to help him make sense of the magician world, something I knew nothing about. Since Finn had started taking lessons from Andre, Finn had learned how to control his power so he wouldn’t wear himself down. He’d learned to recognize his limits and not to blow past them, and that was something that relieved me greatly.

I didn’t want my fears to steal that glowing, proud expression off Finn’s face, so I swallowed it all back and gave him a beaming smile instead.

“Wow, that’s awesome! You’ll have to show me when we get home.” I kept the grin in place, but I glanced at Andre, just to see if I could read anything from his expression.

There wasn’t any stress or worry there that I could see. If anything, he looked almost as pleased as Finn.

“He’s a real natural,” Andre said in his smooth, British accent. He clapped a hand onto Finn’s shoulder and beamed down at my son, who was almost as tall as he was. And that was really saying something because Andre was a tall man, standing easily over six feet. If I’d had to guess, I would have pegged him at 6’2 or 6’3. And with his dark hair, blue eyes, light skin and the way he was always dressed in a dark sweater and slacks, he looked like a modern Mr. Darcy come to life.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone take to magic so quickly,” he continued.

I didn’t wince, but it was close.

“Well, it’s time to head home,” I said, forcing my attention back to my son. The last thing I needed was to continue gawking at Andre like I’d never seen an incredibly handsome man before. “You’ve still got boring, non-magical homework to do, I’m afraid.”

Finn gave a good natured, “Aw, Mom,” but his smile didn’t falter.

I grabbed my purse from under the counter, and got my keys ready to lock up the store. “Andre, can I give you a lift home?”

When I turned to face Andre, he looked surprised for some reason. I wasn’t sure why he looked surprised, because he did live up the road from us, so it wasn’t as if I’d be going out of my way or anything. As to the fact that we were now basically neighbors, that fact hadn’t led to us seeing each other more often than when he’d lived in Portland. The man was easily the busiest person I knew, always traveling here and there. And, while I knew he owned a car, I also knew he liked to walk when the weather was nice. And if I was secretly hoping that, on the ride home, I might invite him to stop in for coffee while Finn did his homework, well then that was between me and the blush I was trying to will out of my cheeks.

Andre blinked at me, and seemed to be searching my face. His smile ticked up, just a little, and something in his shoulders relaxed. “I’d like that, thank you.”

I turned away, so he and Finn wouldn’t see the dopey smile that crossed my face. “Alright, let’s get going.”

Chapter Three

Finn was almost immediately occupied with Ouire in the back seat, seconds after I pulled away from the curb. Ouire was sprawled, pages down, across his lap, the red ribbon bookmark flicking occasionally like a dog’s paws when they’re dreaming.

I had to force myself to pay attention to the road instead of cooing at the rear-view mirror, but they really were sweet together.

“Thanks for the ride,” Andre said.

I glanced at his profile out of the corner of my eye. He really was distractingly handsome, with just a touch of gray in his dark hair and the sharp lines of his jaw and cheekbones. There were a few lines at the corners of his eyes, and on either side of his mouth—the sorts of lines people got when they smiled easily and often.

The traffic was light, my headlights passing over the other stores running the length of Main Street. “Sure,” I answered. “So, how are you finding living in the Hollow? It must be a big change, to be settled in one place.”

We’d passed by Sweeter Haunts, Haven Hollow’s Halloween themed candy store and Wanda’s Witchery where Wanda sold enchanted clothing and were now approaching Stomper’s Creamery before Andre answered.

“It’s different,” he said slowly. “But in a good way, I suppose. I’m enjoying having a base of operations of sorts.”

Well, that made me feel a little better about him uprooting—or perhaps planting?—his whole life to settle in Haven Hollow in order to teach Finn.

“Besides,” he laughed. “Settling in a Hollow isn’t exactly like buying a picket fence in Portland or some such. Things are never dull here, that’s for certain.”

He was right, unfortunately, and lately, that hadn’t felt like it was such a good thing. I couldn’t help but frown as we drove past an empty store with a ‘for sale’ sign in the window. What would it mean for Finn and me if enough supernatural folk moved away that the town couldn’t qualify as a Hollow any longer? We’d lose protection as much as anyone else would. I had to wonder if something like that could even happen. If enough supernatural people left a place, was it no longer considered a Hollow? I figured I’d have to ask Roy.

“I don’t know. I could do with a little dull.” I tried to keep my voice light, instead of brittle. A little bit of peace didn’t seem like too much to ask. I found myself glancing in the rear view mirror because I didn’t like discussing this sort of stuff in front of Finn. But from what I could tell, Finn had dropped into a light sleep—at least, his eyes were closed and his neck was lolling to one side.

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