Strangely, I didn’t mind.
If he needed my light… I didn’t see why I couldn’t share.
Growing up,I’d been raised on hand-me-downs. Anything to help save money when you’re a part of one of the biggest and most powerful covens on the West Coast. Being the biggest and the most powerful certainly didn’t mean the richest. My older sisters shared their clothes with me, and when I was done with them… there wasn’t much life left in the clothes. Maybe someone with magic could have fixed them up and given new life to them, but that wasn’t me, and eventually, I grew to be okay with it.
As I got older, I saved up my own money from working on the coven grounds and helping out with the younger kids, so I was able to buy my own items. It was nice to be able to take care of myself for a little bit, but now everything felt uncertain.
The thought of not having my own money and going shopping with my new friend and her mother made me feel anxious to say the least.
As we entered the first store in the busy, upscale mall, I felt a growing resentment for my parents. Who sent their daughter to live on the other side of the country and didn’t send her with a little bit of money? Yes, I had some savings, but after flipping a few price tags at the entrance, I knew immediately I couldn’t afford anything the other women would be trying on.
I trailed behind the two of them, my fingers brushing over the racks without really seeing anything. Silk, sequins, and sparkles everywhere.
Adelle held up a shimmering silver dress against her body, turning toward her mother. “What do you think?”
Rene smiled warmly. “If you don’t, I will!”
Adelle turned to me, practically glowing. “Maple, find something too! My treat.”
Panic bloomed low in my gut. “Oh, that’s sweet, but I’m really just here to hang out.”
Her brow creased. “No, you aren’t, you are here to get a dress. You are here to impress Rune at the Halloween Masquerade, and you can’t convince me otherwise. Besides…” She smirked. “When I say it’s my treat, it’s really Rune’s.”
She winked, but it didn’t make me feel any better. He’d insisted the coven money was also mine, but what had I done to deserve it? I certainly didn’t work. Sometimes I helped Maggie in the kitchen, but that was my punishment for breaking and entering…
I opened my mouth to insist I was fine—because that’s what I always did—but the words stuck.
Because Iwasn’tfine.
I felt small and out of placeagain.
Today, I wanted to feel like I belonged. Just for a minute.
So I nodded. “Okay. One dress.” I could try them on without buying, I’ve done that almost my entire life.
Adelle beamed and immediately pulled three off the nearest rack. “You’re going to look like a goddess.”
Doubt flickered inside me, but I let her shove the dresses into my arms anyway and followed her toward the fitting rooms. Rene didn’t bother with following behind us; she was eyeing a few dresses but hadn’t picked up one of her own just yet.
“Is your mom okay?” I asked as the fitting door clicked closed behind us, and we immediately began undressing.
Adelle’s lips twisted. “To be honest? This is her favorite time of the year. She and my dad usually go all out for the masquerade. I’m sure it feels different without him here.”
“I’m so sorry,” Guilt ate at my insides. Of course, she was still grieving her late husband. Of course, all of this would be hard on her.
Adelle shimmied into a bright red number and shrugged. “She needed to get out of the house. She needs something to give her joy, and even with her missing my dad, I know she will find joy in this.”
I pulled the straps up over my arms to a pink sparkly number. It wasn’t what I pictured myself in, but it was pretty. We both turned and looked at ourselves in the mirror before we agreed that these were not our dresses.
While we tried on the others, Rene brought us more dresses until both chairs in the fitting room were overflowing with sparkles and sequins. Adelle pulled on a dark green number that didn’t have a single ounce of sparkle to it. She turned in the low lighting, and my jaw about fell to the floor. It waseverything.
“Adelle,” I whispered. “That dress…that’syour dress.”
She gave me a shy smile as she looked over her shoulder. “You think so?”
“I know so,” I said. “You look like a freaking enchantress. That color—ugh. I’m obsessed.”
She did a little twirl and then reached for her phone. “We are absolutely documenting this.”
