Mum’s voice floated up to me from the front door and I groaned. As footsteps ascended the stairs, my chest tightened and I could only take small breaths. I needed to calm down. This was Mum. I used to be able to talk to her about anything.

But this was big. I couldn’t put it off forever. I needed to know why.

Mum cautiously stepped into the room. “Hi, Maddie. How are you?” She frowned. “You look like crap. I thought you said they were looking after you.”

Gee, thanks, Mum. “It’s okay. They are.”

She put a hand on her hip. “It doesn’t look like it—”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Tell you what?”

I glared at her. “That I possess magic.”

Her eyes widened and her hand fell back to her side. “What?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. You had to have known when you got Samantha to block my magic and erase my memories of it. Why did you do that?”

“How…?” She looked like a cornered animal, and in true Mum style, acted accordingly. “I was trying to protect you, you ungrateful child! I knew I had to keep it secret. You were six — too young to understand. You could have easily used magic accidentally and exposed yourself or hurt someone. I wanted to hide you away so the government didn’t take you away from me and run tests on you, maybe even kill you and cut you open to see what makes you tick.”

My face went cold. I ran a hand through my hair.

Her face was pale as she continued. “I found a woman who offered to block your magic and erase your memories so that you could have a normal life.”

I sighed heavily. “My life was never normal. All that moving around meant that I was always the ‘new kid’ and that sucked. And all those ‘imaginary friends’—” I used air quotes, “—I had when I was little? They weren’t imaginary. They were ghosts. And don’t try to deny it. I know they’re real. I have proof.”

“How do you have proof?”

“Dr Calthorpe. His grandmother died and her ghost showed up in his office in the middle of a session. She wanted me to tell him where she’d hidden some money and jewellery in her house. Dr Calthorpe checked and it was there.”

She had gone quiet.

“You knew.”

She opened her mouth, probably to deny it, but then she nodded. “I… suspected. But that was before you did any magic.”

“Why did you dismiss it and make me feel like there’s something wrong with me?”

“I didn’t want you telling everyone and have them laugh at you and say you’re crazy. You know how cruel kids can be.”

I knew, alright.

“I was trying to protect you, like with the magic. Give me a break here!”

“But why did you let them take me to Mirrabooka?”

“What did you want me to do? Tell them you were really seeing ghosts? They would have locked me up too!”

She was probably right, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.

She stepped closer. “Everything I’ve done is to protect you, can’t you see that?”

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I hung my head and nodded.

“Now, can we put this aside and just enjoy my visit?”

I looked up and tried to smile. “Okay.”

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

It was hard to concentrate on work the next day. I kept thinking about Mum’s visit and what had happened to me. Tracy had told me I could have the day off as my magic was still a bit low, but I didn’t want to sit at home by myself all day.

So now I was sitting at work all by myself. Go figure.

Jackson had been in earlier, but had gone looking for Jade again. I scanned the shelves and racks, hoping to find something out of place that I could straighten. Everything was perfect. Ruby was so meticulous with her displays, her pride showing in every piece that shone in the shop lighting and the candlelight.

I jumped as the door opened and the bell chimed and Blake walked in. I tried to act like he didn’t just scare the bejeebers out of me and managed a smile.

“Hey.” His voice was low and husky and my heart rate picked up. “How are you?”

I cleared my throat. “Not bad. How are you?”

My standard response for customers, but whatever.

“I’m great.” He shifted his weight from foot to foot. “I needed to bring these back.” He pulled the two pieces of fluorite from his pocket that he’d bought the other day and placed them on the counter. “Mum said I got the wrong ones.”

I frowned at the offending crystals. I distinctly remember him reading out what was written on a piece of paper when he’d ordered these. How could he get it wrong?

I plastered the smile back in place. “Okay. What did you need instead?”

“Mum said that she needed purple fluorite. These are green.”

Duh, I’m not colourblind.

He rubbed his chin and scratched his ear. “Is it okay if I swap them out? I didn’t remember which colour she wanted. She reckons she told me, but whatever.”

“It shouldn’t be a problem.”

He smiled. “They’re not damaged or anything. She didn’t use them.”

The fluorite looked undamaged. I picked them up for a closer look and a wave of dizziness swept over me, making me drop them again.

“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” Blake stepped forward. “Are you okay?”

I grabbed hold of the counter and waited till the room stopped spinning. “Yeah. I just got a bit dizzy. I’m fine now.”

Maybe I should have stayed home. Maybe my magic level was still too low.

He leaned forward, looking directly into my eyes. “Are you sure?”

I managed to smile up at him. “Yes.”

I was able to find some fluorite with a deep purple colouring and Blake seemed happy with them.

He smiled as he thanked me, but then he seemed nervous. “Hey, would you like to have lunch with me today?”

I frowned. Didn’t he…?

“I have a nice place in mind. The food there is good.”

His eyes were so blue. His face was so cute. How could I refuse? “I… um… yeah. Sure. I’d love to go.”

His smile was infectious. “Great! What time do you have lunch?”

I glanced at the clock on the wall that had a black cat curling itself around the outside. “At one o’clock.”

“Great! I’ll come back then.” He grabbed the bag with the crystals in it and turned on his heel, like he was in a hurry to leave.

His jeans were tight and I enjoyed the view as he walked toward the door.

When he opened it, Jade stood there with her hand out ready to push the door open. My heart jolted. She looked surprised to see him and stepped forward, thanking him for holding the door for her.

Once she had passed and he continued out the door, I struggled to read his expression. Was that disgust?

Jade smiled. “Hello.” She ran a hand over her hair. “You’re new, aren’t you?”

I forced a smile. “Yes. I’m Maddie. How are you?”

Her smile faded and she seemed to look past me. “I’m fine. The boys are fine. Everything’s fine.”

That was an odd response. “How can I help you today?”

She frowned. “I can’t remember. I need Hunter. He’ll know.”

I wondered who Hunter was. Her husband, maybe.

Jackson appeared in a corner of the shop and we both turned to him. His face broke into a smile as he said hi.

Jade ran a hand over her hair again. “Hello, Jackson. You’re back. That’s good.”

He looked from Jade to me, then back again. “I’ve been looking for you. I’d like to ask you a few questions, if that’s okay?”

“Yes. I don’t think I will be any help. I don’t know a lot of things. Hunter is the smart one. What do you want to know?”

“You said you know my mother?”

“Yes. Does she know you’re gone yet? Has anyone told her?”

“Well, that’s just it. I don’t know. I can’t remember her. I can’t remember who I am.”

“You’re Jackson.”

“Yes, but I don’t remember her.”

“She’s a friend of mine. We are the same.”

“Can you tell me her name?”

“Linetta.”