Of Moms & Monsters (A Return to Magic Cozy Mystery Book 4) by Lily Harper Hart

Author:Lily Harper Hart [Hart, Lily Harper]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperHart Publications
Published: 2023-09-04T16:00:00+00:00

UNLIKE THE OTHERS, IVY WASN’T ONE TO push when it came to figuring out emotions. She was more apt to sit back and let Maddie stew than demand answers. That worked well for Maddie, because they made it through the entire grocery store without having a deep conversation. By the time they returned to the campsite with the food, Maddie was in a better frame of mind.

Or, well, at least she acted that way.

“Hi,” Ethan said in a nervous voice when Maddie decided to take a break and update their menu choices in her notebook for the rest of the week.

Maddie smiled as she looked up. She hadn’t realized the boy was hanging around. “Hi. I thought you were down at the lake with everybody else.”

“I was,” Ethan replied. “My brother needed me to help him change the sheets on the bed. It’s kind of tight in the camper, and I’m smaller.”

“Oh.” Maddie nodded in understanding. “I get it.”

“He got me at the lake and then said I could come back.”

“You’re always welcome here,” Maddie assured him. “In fact, if you want to eat dinner with us, we’ll be starting it in about thirty minutes.”

“Really?” A wide grin broke out on Ethan’s face. “That’s awesome. I didn’t want to eat cereal for dinner.”

The boy’s response had Maddie frowning. “Why would you be eating cereal for dinner? Doesn’t your mom ever cook for you?” She didn’t mean for the question to come out so judgmental—really—but she couldn’t help herself.

“Monica isn’t my mother,” Ethan replied.

“She’s not?” Maddie didn’t know what to make of that. “I thought she was.”

“No.” Ethan shook his head. “She just married my dad. She wants me to call her mom, but I only do sometimes. She’s just the new wife in my head though. It’s not like she’ll be sticking around.”

Maddie had a lot of questions. She didn’t want to make Ethan uncomfortable about asking them, however. Still, she couldn’t just let it go. “So, do your mom and dad split custody of you?” she asked. For some reason, that made her feel better. “This is just a vacation with your dad?”

“No, I live with my dad,” he replied. “I don’t know where my mom went. I don’t remember her.”

Maddie kept her face impassive, but it took effort. “And your dad didn’t tell you what happened to your mom?”

“No. He just keeps bringing home new moms. He says one day one will stick. I’m waiting for that to happen because Monica is the fifth one, and I’m tired.”

“Right.” Maddie felt sick to her stomach. “Well, you can definitely eat with us. We would love to have you.”

“Awesome.” Ethan’s smile was sweet. “Finn says you’re his only mom. That must be nice.”

“One and only,” Maddie agreed. “You’re welcome to eat every meal with us if you want. If that makes it easier on Monica, we’re eager to help.”

“I don’t even know where Monica is,” Ethan admitted. “She hasn’t been around. Maybe she’s already going somewhere else. That happens a lot with my dad.

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