Page 90 of Witchful Thinking
“Start from the top and keep talking.” Alex rubbed his forehead to keep the growing headache at bay.
Mom pouted. “I had a vision.”
Alex stilled. “You haven’t had a vision since—” His voice broke off.
Mom nodded sagely. “I haven’t had a vision since we moved here all those years ago. Then weeks before your twenty-ninth birthday, the vision came to me like a dream. Oh, it was so real. I saw you and Lucy living here. I saw my granddaughter learning how to walk on these floors. I saw you making a home here.”
His head spun like a runaway carousel. “How could you see me here when I didn’t own this house?” he asked.
“I saw it,” Mom said fiercely. “It was meant to be.”
“You believe I can do it? You believe I can keep this place.” Alex kept that hope at bay. He couldn’t believe it could be that simple.
“You have. She’s been here with you, making this place into a home. She’s your missing piece,” Mom pressed.
“She’s my soul mate,” Alex said. The words felt odd in his mouth. His heart jumped, wanting to believe in those words. “You believe she’s my soul mate?”
“I believe she’s what your soul needs,” Mom said. Alex felt it. Something clicked within him like the right key turning a lock and opening a door. All the hopes and fears he’d been holding on to were let out and set free. This was his home.
Pop and Horatio came back over to them. Alex turned to Pop, who had at least two cookies in his hand. “You knew about this?”
“Mom figured you needed a push,” Pop said. “I’m not a knucklehead. I know what people think about me. Those same folks still trust me with their taxes and money, right? I can’t be too much of a fool.” Pop winked at him, then took a big bite of his cookie.
“I mean—” Alex waved his hand. “From the outside looking in, it does look a little wacky when you guys do random stuff like this.”
“So what?” Mom threw up her hands. “We love risks. We love surprises.”
“This place isn’t a push; it’s a shove,” Alex said. He lowered his voice so only his family heard him. “I tried this home thing before. I didn’t tell you, but I was engaged last year.”
Alex waited. Pop kept chewing. Mom cocked her head to the side.
“Where have you been? Pop and I knew,” Mom said.
Say what? Alex, speechless, turned to Horatio.
“I didn’t know Mom knew how to find you online,” Horatio said. “She still gives out her Hotmail email to people.”
“I’m one of your ghost followers.” Mom beamed at Alex, using the term to describe inactive Instagram accounts that followed his page. He wanted to give her the biggest hug and tell her how much he appreciated her and her shine.
“It wasn’t a big secret,” Mom said softly. “We figured you’d tell us when you were ready to share. I was hoping you’d bring it up, but you didn’t.”
He couldn’t hold back anymore. It was time to say out loud what he feared to those who mattered so much to him.
“I was embarrassed,” Alex said, his voice faltered. He took a breath and pushed on. “I failed. I knew better, but I tried anyway. Domestic life isn’t our strength. It sure isn’t mine.”
Mom stood tall with every inch of her five-foot frame. “No, but love is our strength. Joy is our strength. You must work to keep this life, but it’s good work. It’s worthwhile,” Mom said. “Even though we weren’t good at this doesn’t mean you can’t try. All we ask is that you try to make this place your home.”
It was scary to try. To try and feel like you were going to fail. He hadn’t truly tried with Nahla, because then he’d be crushed if it didn’t work out. He’d tried more with Lucy than he’d ever done in the past but backed out when he’d fallen for her. Alex glanced around at the crochet throws and mismatched chairs. His chest swelled with emotion, and he nodded, unable to speak. This place wasn’t part of the plan, but it was home. A sense of peace came over him. He’d made a home, but he wanted Lucy here with him forever. For always. He turned back to Mom.
“Where’s Lucy?” She glanced around the living room. “I know she doesn’t want people to bring dirt inside her house.”
She turned and faced him with a hopeful smile. He felt his face fall. “I messed up.”
“Whatever happened, it’s not too late to tell her how you feel,” Mom said. “You just look to the horizon and take a big leap.”
Alex looked around his house. He cleared his throat and called everyone’s attention. “I’m afraid this house is off the market. The owner changed their mind. I don’t mean to be rude, but you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.”
Disappointed groans and grumbles erupted from buyers. He sighed; all the tension left his body. Goddess, it felt good to say that out loud. Mom clapped. Pop gave him a slap on the shoulder. Horatio gave him a fist bump.