Page 12 of Magically Generated
“Until I was six, but I pretended for longer.”
“Why?”he asked.
“Because of my younger sister.Also, I was afraid that if I told my mom, she’d stop giving me presents from Santa, and then I’d get fewer gifts at Christmas.”
“Ah, you were being practical.”
“I was a mercenary child, yes.”She shook her head.“I should have known my mother wouldn’t do that to me.I got presents from Santa even in university.”
There was a wistful look on her face, and he understood, without her saying the words, that her mother was gone.He knew she wouldn’t want him to mention it, not now, and he couldn’t help wondering if the loss had affected her feelings toward Christmas.
She turned back to the sculpture and took a few pictures.Then she rubbed her hands together and put on her mittens.
“Let’s go,” she said.
They were five minutes from their apartment building when Nora stopped in front of a shawarma restaurant.
“I’m going to grab something to eat,” she said.“I don’t feel like cooking tonight.You don’t need to join me, but you can if you’d like.”
He joined her.
Once they had their sandwiches, they sat at the counter by the window.His ass was a little too big for the stool, and while it seemed sturdy, it wasn’t the most comfortable.But that was okay.It wouldn’t take long to eat.And there were other reasons, too, that he didn’t mind.
“You’re doing Christmas with your sister this weekend?”he said.
She nodded.“What are your plans?More holiday decorating?”
“No, I’ve got some errands to run.”
He hadn’t thought it would bother him that he couldn’t tell anyone the truth about the sculptures.He’d discovered his magic more than twenty years ago; he was used to this.But now, something in him ached to reveal it.To her.
“Sounds exciting.”She reached for a piece of cucumber that was threatening to escape from her sandwich.“Do you think there will be more sculptures?”
“I do,” he said, “but not tonight.”
“They’ve been three days apart so far.Presumably, Sunday night will be next?”
“That seems reasonable.”He swallowed.“Would you…would you like to see the next one together, if it works out?”
She didn’t grace him with one of her smiles, but she did say, “I would.”
It caused a flutter in his chest.
Chapter 6
“Areyousureyoudon’t want to come home for Christmas?”his mother asked.“There are still flights.I checked earlier and—”
“I’m sure.”Everett sank down heavily on his couch.He was trying to conserve his energy for tonight, but talking to his parents wasn’t always relaxing.“I’ll be there in February, remember?”
“Is it a financial issue?Because—”
“It’s not.Don’t worry, Ma.”
She huffed.“You know that’s impossible.”
He could hear the smile in her voice.
“I read in the paper,” she said, “that mysterious snow sculptures have appeared in Toronto.”
