Chapter 84

"Did Mom know this great-grandpa?" I asked.

"She never met him, either. She was pregnant with you when he died and left me his books. I'll never forget the look on her face when they arrived in the mail. She looked like she was about to go into labor. I don't think she was big on magic."

Oh, Dad. If you only knew.

"So she didn't know great-grandpa believed in that stuff when she married you?" I asked.

"Well, I didn't believe in it."

So it had been too late. Mom had been pregnant with me when she'd found out about Dad's sorcery blood. What else could she do but keep it all a big secret? My thoughts swirled around like the red plastic cup that skipped across the sidewalk and into Darby's hands.

The thump of music grew louder, so I raised my voice. "When you and Mom... Did you ever hear bells? Like when you and her...kissed?" My face flushed, not because I was embarrassed, but because I didn't want to hurt him with memories.