The Problem with Prophecies by Scott Reintgen

Author:Scott Reintgen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin
Published: 2022-05-24T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY The Art of Confrontation

A big breakfast waits downstairs in the morning.

Our moms have exchanged wineglasses for coffee mugs. I kind of love to see them leaning together like conspirators in a heist. Maybe they’re discussing their strange children. Or maybe they’re talking about work. I’m not sure, but it’s nice to see them creating their own fun together, even if it’s only for a morning. Grammy is busy making pancakes.

Martha stabs into the first stack with her fork. “The famous pancakes!”

“Legendary,” Mary agrees. “Are we old enough to know the secret ingredient yet?”

Grammy turns a smile our way. I’m so used to her pancakes that I’d forgotten they were famous with the rest of the family. I’m also still stuck on the clue I learned last night. The missing page in the family spell book.

A part of me wants to be mad at Grammy. A part of me is suspicious she’s hiding something. Another part wonders if I’m just wrong about it all. Maybe the page was ripped out a long time ago. I’ve been wrong before. A lot of times, actually.

“The secret ingredient?” Grammy smiles. “I suppose you’re old enough. The secret ingredient is three teaspoons of unconditional love. Best added as a powder, though if all you have is the bottled kind…”

Mary throws a balled-up napkin in Grammy’s direction that falls well short. Martha actually boos her. “I’m going to college soon,” she says, pointing her fork. “If I could make these?! Everyone would love me….”

Mary nods knowingly. “You’d rule the school. I can see it now. The Queen of Wake Forest.”

“Don’t worry,” Martha says, making her voice sound British. “I will be a just queen.”

“I do not doubt that,” Grammy replies, setting down another stack. “For now, I’d like my queens well fed. Eat up. Your mother wants to hit the road after breakfast.”

True to form, Corabel sweeps to her feet the second her daughters’ plates are clean. Mom sets down her mug with a heavy sigh, but she smiles when Corabel delivers a huge hug. Mary and Martha have adopted some of their mother’s efficiency, because both of them are packed and out by their car before I can even blink.

All three of them hug Grammy goodbye, planting kisses on both cheeks. Watching them, it hits me that I’ve gotten used to Grammy. We go on walks together. We cook side by side most nights. She watches shows with me, or reads the same books. I realize this is a brief taste for them of what’s become normal for me. And some days I act like it’s not the greatest thing in the world.

My heart sings a little. I’m still not sure what to make of the missing page, but I’m really lucky to have Grammy in a way they haven’t. Martha wraps a quick arm around my neck and kisses my forehead. She pulls back long enough to smile. “You’re a brighter color this morning. Looks good on you, kid. It’ll all turn out okay.

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