After we cleaned up from breakfast, we took a short ride around the town to make sure things were more or less back to normal. All of Nita’s guests had checked out during the night or first thing in the morning, and there were no strange cloaked figures dancing on the courthouse square. When we stopped at Dairy Queen for lunch, there was some talk of kids setting off fireworks in the park, but otherwise, it appeared that a major magical battle had gone entirely unnoticed.
Mom held one of her big family dinners that night to say farewell to Owen. I watched him across the living room, chatting with all three of my brothers while he held Lucy. I’d been surprised earlier at how well he fit in with my family, but now I knew that wasn’t as surprising as I’d thought. As odd as my family was proving to be, he fit in perfectly, magic and all.
The rest of the family said their farewells at the dinner, so we were alone when Owen left the next morning. The odd distance I’d noticed when he first arrived was back in full force as he prepared to leave, getting his magical case from under my bed and carrying his bags out to his car. He closed the trunk and gave it a pat, then turned to me and said, “So, I guess I’d better be going. Thank your parents for being such great hosts.”
“I will. They loved having you here. I’m sure they’ll be telling me right away to invite you back any time.”
“And maybe the next time we won’t be fighting magical battles.”
“Let’s hope not.”
“Teddy and your grandmother will have to keep an eye on Dean. I think he’ll be okay, but it wouldn’t hurt to watch him.”
“That’s a good idea.”
An awkward silence fell, and I wasn’t sure what to do. Should I kiss him good-bye, hug him, shake his hand, or just wave? Did I make the first move, or should I let him? “It was good to see you,” I said at last. “I really missed you.” I figured that counted as a verbal first move. Whatever happened next was up to him.
“Yeah,” he said, looking down at the ground and turning red. “It hasn’t been the same without you.”
I could come back! I wanted to scream, but I wasn’t going to beg, not even for him.
He came around the car and opened the driver’s-side door, then paused as he stood inside the open door, leaning against the top of it. “Thanks for your help, as usual.”