On Thanksgiving weekend, Beatrix “Trixie” Fairchild expects her three grown children to meet her in Niagara Falls. For what, she won't say -- but her cryptic invitation spark a certain kind of magick and makes it so each one of her adult children returns to their hometown with hope, and only a small amount of resentment, in their hearts.<br><br>Whether it's Ivy, the oldest, who fears following in her mother's witchy footsteps; or Hazel, the middle child with itchy feet and a wanderlust that can't be sated; or Rowan, the youngest and only boy, now a trans woman struggling to integrate her past and present lives; each returns home, expecting some sort of resolution to their family woes. What they get is a surprise love interest along the way.<br><br>Will Ivy continue to overthink her own happiness, refusing to see what is right in front of her? Will Hazel feel too betrayed by her false family line and leave now that she has no home anchoring her in place? And will Rowan be able to finally integrate the best parts of herself without compromise and hurt feelings in the aftermath? What is Trixie planning for the holiday weekend?

The Thanksgiving Invitation

“Rowan, honey. Don’t worry about the past or the future. All I need from you right now is the present moment. Then, we can decide together how best to handle the small details. You’ll always be from our root system, so do not worry.”


Root system? Was that a fancier way to say family tree?Hazel sighed. She slumped down on the curb again. She wanted to be part of that root system. She wanted to go back home so profoundly that she nearly sobbed in the middle of a half-closed down shopping mall. She rubbed her fists into her eyes to keep back the tears. She felt cold and dirty, too hot and too exposed at the same time. She wanted to get back in the van, not because she wanted to go to California or even Niagara anymore, but because she needed someone familiar, someone who could at least give her the illusion of home. Even though she and Kevin had been on the rocks lately, she still had Carly.


Chapter 9