lip was, because I didn’t want to ruin my pink lip gloss. It was one of my sweet sixteen presents I purchased after the nail spa.
I smiled at Mama, Daddy, and Ian as if that would somehow build up my courage. Mama always looked composed no matter what the circumstances, and Daddy didn’t let things throw him off balance. I’m not sure how I missed out on inheriting those calm genes, but it had skipped me. I was more nervous now than in all my sixteen years combined.
“You ready?” my grandmother whispered in my ear.
I nodded my head out of customary habit. I wasn’t ready for any of this.
Her fingers pressed into my upper arms. “Ivy Grace, on this very special night. The night of your sixteenth birthday…”
How could she drag it out like this? I thought I might throw up.
“I want to welcome you into the next phase of your magical life. Nothing makes me happier than to tell you…you are a Traveler.”
My heart stopped in mid-beat. I had been given one of the best gifts I could possibly imagine. I would actually be able to leave any place I was in and go somewhere else. This was crazy good news.
My mother started clapping and made her way from around the table to hug me. “Honey, I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mama.”
Daddy wrapped me in his big arms. “Congratulations, little Traveler.”
“Thanks, Daddy.”
“If I didn’t know better, I might think your grandmother had something to do with this gift selection.” He eyed her over my head.
“Richard, I did no such thing.” She scoffed. “Gift spells are out of my realm.” She picked up a set of cake forks and lined them across the buffet.
I had to admit my grandmother did look especially pleased with herself. I had always envied her traveling abilities. She would often tell me about trips she would take. I didn’t know it until this moment how badly I had wanted this exact gift. It was perfect.
Aunt Pansy, Holly, and Ian gave me hugs before Gigi pulled me to the side. She called to my father. “Richard, why don’t you and Violet cut the cake? I need to speak to Ivy for a moment. I have a gift for her.”
“Certainly.” My father picked up the silver cake slicer and began tackling my birthday cake.
I followed my grandmother down the hall to the back of the house, where her room was tucked in the corner. When I was a little girl, I would sneak in here and try on her jewelry. It was like a magical jewelry store to me.
She pointed to the edge of her bed for me to sit before turning to her vanity. Her jewelry chest stood to the right of it. She had the most beautiful collection of brooches, bracelets, necklaces, and rings. My grandfather knew she had a thing for sparkly accessories. There was no doubt I had inherited that gene, I thought as I watched the lamplight bounce off my glitter heels.
I watched as she sorted through several pieces in front of the mirror. I looked around for a wrapped gift, but didn’t see anything.
“Ivy, I have something special for you.” She crossed the room, empty-handed. “There are many Travelers in our world, and they spend years working on this spell. It’s certainly one of the hardest to master. There are so many parts you have to accomplish before you can even vanish.” She counted on her fingers. “First, you have to Fade, then form the seam, and then of course you must adhere to certain traveling rules. Really, it’s quite complex in all of its stages.”
I had never thought of the spell this way before. I assumed my grandmother would poof herself in and out of a room whenever she wanted. I hadn’t been allowed to see it.
“Are you saying you think it’s too hard for me?” Apparently, I was going to have to keep studying if I wanted to be able to use my gift.
“No, no, no. Don’t ever think that. This is a special gift.” She looked at the bedroom door. “But, I can help you with it. I know for certain you’ll be quite good at it.”
I wasn’t following her. The news
I smiled at Mama, Daddy, and Ian as if that would somehow build up my courage. Mama always looked composed no matter what the circumstances, and Daddy didn’t let things throw him off balance. I’m not sure how I missed out on inheriting those calm genes, but it had skipped me. I was more nervous now than in all my sixteen years combined.
“You ready?” my grandmother whispered in my ear.
I nodded my head out of customary habit. I wasn’t ready for any of this.
Her fingers pressed into my upper arms. “Ivy Grace, on this very special night. The night of your sixteenth birthday…”
How could she drag it out like this? I thought I might throw up.
“I want to welcome you into the next phase of your magical life. Nothing makes me happier than to tell you…you are a Traveler.”
My heart stopped in mid-beat. I had been given one of the best gifts I could possibly imagine. I would actually be able to leave any place I was in and go somewhere else. This was crazy good news.
My mother started clapping and made her way from around the table to hug me. “Honey, I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mama.”
Daddy wrapped me in his big arms. “Congratulations, little Traveler.”
“Thanks, Daddy.”
“If I didn’t know better, I might think your grandmother had something to do with this gift selection.” He eyed her over my head.
“Richard, I did no such thing.” She scoffed. “Gift spells are out of my realm.” She picked up a set of cake forks and lined them across the buffet.
I had to admit my grandmother did look especially pleased with herself. I had always envied her traveling abilities. She would often tell me about trips she would take. I didn’t know it until this moment how badly I had wanted this exact gift. It was perfect.
Aunt Pansy, Holly, and Ian gave me hugs before Gigi pulled me to the side. She called to my father. “Richard, why don’t you and Violet cut the cake? I need to speak to Ivy for a moment. I have a gift for her.”
“Certainly.” My father picked up the silver cake slicer and began tackling my birthday cake.
I followed my grandmother down the hall to the back of the house, where her room was tucked in the corner. When I was a little girl, I would sneak in here and try on her jewelry. It was like a magical jewelry store to me.
She pointed to the edge of her bed for me to sit before turning to her vanity. Her jewelry chest stood to the right of it. She had the most beautiful collection of brooches, bracelets, necklaces, and rings. My grandfather knew she had a thing for sparkly accessories. There was no doubt I had inherited that gene, I thought as I watched the lamplight bounce off my glitter heels.
I watched as she sorted through several pieces in front of the mirror. I looked around for a wrapped gift, but didn’t see anything.
“Ivy, I have something special for you.” She crossed the room, empty-handed. “There are many Travelers in our world, and they spend years working on this spell. It’s certainly one of the hardest to master. There are so many parts you have to accomplish before you can even vanish.” She counted on her fingers. “First, you have to Fade, then form the seam, and then of course you must adhere to certain traveling rules. Really, it’s quite complex in all of its stages.”
I had never thought of the spell this way before. I assumed my grandmother would poof herself in and out of a room whenever she wanted. I hadn’t been allowed to see it.
“Are you saying you think it’s too hard for me?” Apparently, I was going to have to keep studying if I wanted to be able to use my gift.
“No, no, no. Don’t ever think that. This is a special gift.” She looked at the bedroom door. “But, I can help you with it. I know for certain you’ll be quite good at it.”
I wasn’t following her. The news
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