Page 8 of Just Like Magic

“Oh, thank you, honey.Butwhat’s everyone else going to drink?” she teased, dimples flashing.Shereached up and ruffledAdam’scurls, the ones he’d gotten from her, but where his were (mostly) still a dark brown hue, hers were heavily streaked with silver.ShekissedJackon the cheek and then moved to retrieve wine glasses from a cabinet in the corner, playfully bumping hips with her only grandchild as she did.

“Youwant some chocolate milk, honey?” she asked, and whenChloenodded, she pulled down a glass for her, too.

“Hey, where’s my kiss?” jokedAutumn, andJulieturned, smushingAutumn’scheeks between her hands.

“Righthere, even thoughIjust saw you at lunch.”Shekissed the tip ofAutumn’snose and they both laughed.Sometimesit amazedAdamthat despite the fact that there were sixShepardchildren, their parents had always had more than enough love and attention to go around to make sure everyone felt seen and secure.Tomake sure each of them knew they were valued and appreciated for who they were.

Adamambled over to whereOliverwas tossing ingredients into a saucepan, pulling the heavenly aroma into his lungs.Hisstomach let out another loud rumble, andOlivershot him a grin.Itwas nice to see him smiling more after all of the loss he’d endured over the past couple of years.

“Iswear, that wasn’t me,” saidBeckett, looking up from his phone.Hehad the same dark blond hair and light blue eyes asJack.Thesame dark blond hair and blue eyes their father had had.Therest of theShephards—Adam,Oliver,Finn, andAutumn—had their mother’s chestnut curls and hazel eyes.

“Wouldyou put that away?” saidJulie, shaking her head as she carried the salad she’d just finished to the large table in the dining room.Giventhat there were so many of them, they’d always eaten around the old farmhouse table there.

“Justfinalizing some plans,” saidBeckett, his brow furrowed.Adamhad a feeling he knew what kind of plansBeckettwas finalizing, and he was surprised at the pang of jealousy he felt.Hewished he could be free like that, just have no strings attached fun.Butthat wasn’t who he was.Hewas quiet and serious, likeOli.Theflirty, outgoing genes seemed to be connected with the blond haired ones, althoughAutumnwas outgoing and friendly, too.Thenagain,Autumnhad never met a rule she didn’t twist or outright ignore, depending on what suited her best.

“I’mgoing to make a no phones atSundaydinner rule,” she said, thedon’t argue with your mothertone they were all extremely familiar with creeping into her voice.

“Sorry,” saidBeckett, shoving his phone into his pocket.

“Canyou chop those cremini mushrooms on the counter?”Oliasked, andAdamnodded.Hewasn’t the stellar cook thatOliverwas, but he knew his way around the kitchen.

“Schoolstill going well?” he asked his brother, who taught art, history, and literature at the local high school.

Olivernodded. “Sofar, yeah.”

“Tellhim about your show!” saidJulie, returning from the dining room.

Autumnwhirled around from where she’d been teasingBeckett. “Didyou get intoSkywalk?” she asked, her face lighting up as she mentioned the prestigious art show inLakePlacidevery fall.

Oliverblushed slightly and then nodded. “Yeah,Idid.”

“Oli, that’s amazing!” she said, running over and wrapping her arms around him.

“Congrats,” saidAdam, clapping his hand onOliver’sshoulder.Whilehe loved teaching,Oliver’sreal passion was sculpting, and he had a real talent.Agift for making something out of nothing.

Itwas the kind of giftAdamhad once thought maybe he’d had, too, but…no.Hewas fine where he was.Heliked running the hotel.Likedusing his hands to fix things and care for the building that meant so much to him and his family.

Chloescooted by with her chocolate milk and disappeared into the den, a video ofCarrieClarkplaying on her phone.

“Thefandom gene is strong with that one,” he commented toJack, who sighed.

“Tellme about it.Herroom is plastered with posters—CarrieClark,K-pop groups,HarryStyles.Thatkid loves music like you wouldn’t believe.”

“Howare her piano lessons going?” askedJulieandJacksmiled, his pride evident.

“Good.Shepractices every night.Ibought a keyboard so she can practice at my place, too, not just atNorah’s.”

NorahwasJack’sex-wife, andAdamwas impressed at how they’d handled their split.Theywere on friendly terms and co-parentedChloepretty seamlessly.They’dgotten married young, and had figured out that they were better off as friends than as husband and wife.Norahwas happily dating a man namedIan, who worked as an architect a few towns over, whileJackwas sleeping his way through the female population of upstateNewYorkon the nights he didn’t haveChloe.Hewas always careful to keep his personal life private where she was concerned.

Adamtossed the mushrooms he’d sliced intoOliver’ssaucepan and then accepted a glass of wine from his mom.Sheoffered one toAutumn, but she shook her head.

“I’mtaking a couple of guests out to theFallsfor the full moon after dinner, soI’dbetter not.”Sheleaned in closer toJulie. “Ournewest guest is a famous writer.”

FOUR

Julie’sface lit up.“Really?Howinteresting.”Sheglanced over atAdam, who pretended that he was too busy looking for oregano to notice.

“Maybeshe could giveAdamsome tips,” saidBeckett, his grin falling when bothOliandAutumnshot daggers at him with their eyes.

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