witchcraft. That’s scary stuff to be messing with.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t follow you. These books are
about celebrating nature and fictional creatures. There’s nothing in here about
witchcraft.” I let out an uncomfortable laugh.
He hands my books back to me and shrugs. “Wiccans
believe in the four elements of earth, wind, fire, water. They believe that
gods and goddesses control these elements. It’s a religion. Wiccans believe the
Summer Solstice is something celebrated as a day to give themselves to their
greater beings through sacrifice.”
“That’s crazy. I’m not – Wiccan, or whatever.
And neither is Rose.”
I don’t know why I get so defensive but I’m
grateful for the conversation to be over now.
He smiles. “I believe you.” I stare at him as he
speaks, his mouth moves so perfectly. His wide green, wondrous eyes make me slightly
dizzy.
Finally, the tension has vanished and his hand
shoots out toward mine.
“Alec Stone. We forgot this part the other day.”
I let out a breath, relieved that the uncomfortable
conversation is over. My smile is unstoppable as I return his introduction. My
cheekbones feel the strain of my perma-frown from the last few months. “Katrina
Summer. You can call me Kat though. I just moved in with my grandmother. I
guess we’re neighbors.”
He stands up straighter, a surprised look on his
face. “Oh.”
“What?” I let out a laugh, suddenly self-conscious.
He shakes his head, as if apologizing my
misinterpretation. “No, I am just surprised that’s all. I assumed you were here
visiting. I knew that Rose was your grandmother but before that I never knew
she even had grandchildren.”
“Now you know.” I probably shouldn’t say what comes
out of my mouth now but it’s out before I can stop it. “We were never close.”
“So why now? Why live with your grandmother in this
boring old town and start studying Greek Mythology?” His smile is gentle. I
know he doesn’t understand what he’s asking me, so I try not to get emotional
on him.
“I don’t have any godparents. No aunts or uncles
– that I know of anyway. So when my mom died, Rose was the one who took
me in.”
The smile on his face disappears and his apologies
are evident in his face. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have been so nosy. Kat, I
am so sorry.”
It’s my turn to shake my head. “Don’t be. I’ll have
to get used to that question.” I smile now, wanting to change the subject. “But
I don’t think Apollo is boring at all. It’s around the same size as Spring
Lake, North Carolina. That’s where I’m from. But it’s the old town-feel that
makes it charming.”
Alec doesn’t miss a beat. “So, you’re from North
Carolina?”
“I was born in Apollo, but my mom moved me to
Spring Lake when I was a baby. I’ve lived there my whole life.”
He winks at me. “You know, Rose is a pretty big
deal around this town. I guess that’s why it was a big shock when I met you.”
I respond with an amused look. “I’m gathering that.
She really cares about this place.”
Alec nods in agreement.
I hesitate to ask my next question. “Did you know
my grandfather?”
“No. I just moved here last year. My dad got a
pretty big job offer with the University. I don’t know what exactly made them
think to move to Apollo but here we are.”
A shrill voice startles me upright. “Alec, we found
you.” The girls’ singsong voice is disturbing. And to make it worse, she edges
up to Alec, as close as possible, and my heart sinks. He has a girlfriend.
She’s pretty too. Tall. Blonde. Pretty brown eyes.
Legs for days. She slings an arm over his shoulder and peers at me with
suspicious eyes. “Who’s your friend?”
Alec looks between us and shifts his feet
awkwardly. “Hey girls, this is Kat, Rose Summer’s granddaughter.”
By the expression on the girl’s faces I get the
distinct idea that they aren’t exactly thrilled by the information. The shorter
blonde makes
“I’m sorry, I don’t follow you. These books are
about celebrating nature and fictional creatures. There’s nothing in here about
witchcraft.” I let out an uncomfortable laugh.
He hands my books back to me and shrugs. “Wiccans
believe in the four elements of earth, wind, fire, water. They believe that
gods and goddesses control these elements. It’s a religion. Wiccans believe the
Summer Solstice is something celebrated as a day to give themselves to their
greater beings through sacrifice.”
“That’s crazy. I’m not – Wiccan, or whatever.
And neither is Rose.”
I don’t know why I get so defensive but I’m
grateful for the conversation to be over now.
He smiles. “I believe you.” I stare at him as he
speaks, his mouth moves so perfectly. His wide green, wondrous eyes make me slightly
dizzy.
Finally, the tension has vanished and his hand
shoots out toward mine.
“Alec Stone. We forgot this part the other day.”
I let out a breath, relieved that the uncomfortable
conversation is over. My smile is unstoppable as I return his introduction. My
cheekbones feel the strain of my perma-frown from the last few months. “Katrina
Summer. You can call me Kat though. I just moved in with my grandmother. I
guess we’re neighbors.”
He stands up straighter, a surprised look on his
face. “Oh.”
“What?” I let out a laugh, suddenly self-conscious.
He shakes his head, as if apologizing my
misinterpretation. “No, I am just surprised that’s all. I assumed you were here
visiting. I knew that Rose was your grandmother but before that I never knew
she even had grandchildren.”
“Now you know.” I probably shouldn’t say what comes
out of my mouth now but it’s out before I can stop it. “We were never close.”
“So why now? Why live with your grandmother in this
boring old town and start studying Greek Mythology?” His smile is gentle. I
know he doesn’t understand what he’s asking me, so I try not to get emotional
on him.
“I don’t have any godparents. No aunts or uncles
– that I know of anyway. So when my mom died, Rose was the one who took
me in.”
The smile on his face disappears and his apologies
are evident in his face. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have been so nosy. Kat, I
am so sorry.”
It’s my turn to shake my head. “Don’t be. I’ll have
to get used to that question.” I smile now, wanting to change the subject. “But
I don’t think Apollo is boring at all. It’s around the same size as Spring
Lake, North Carolina. That’s where I’m from. But it’s the old town-feel that
makes it charming.”
Alec doesn’t miss a beat. “So, you’re from North
Carolina?”
“I was born in Apollo, but my mom moved me to
Spring Lake when I was a baby. I’ve lived there my whole life.”
He winks at me. “You know, Rose is a pretty big
deal around this town. I guess that’s why it was a big shock when I met you.”
I respond with an amused look. “I’m gathering that.
She really cares about this place.”
Alec nods in agreement.
I hesitate to ask my next question. “Did you know
my grandfather?”
“No. I just moved here last year. My dad got a
pretty big job offer with the University. I don’t know what exactly made them
think to move to Apollo but here we are.”
A shrill voice startles me upright. “Alec, we found
you.” The girls’ singsong voice is disturbing. And to make it worse, she edges
up to Alec, as close as possible, and my heart sinks. He has a girlfriend.
She’s pretty too. Tall. Blonde. Pretty brown eyes.
Legs for days. She slings an arm over his shoulder and peers at me with
suspicious eyes. “Who’s your friend?”
Alec looks between us and shifts his feet
awkwardly. “Hey girls, this is Kat, Rose Summer’s granddaughter.”
By the expression on the girl’s faces I get the
distinct idea that they aren’t exactly thrilled by the information. The shorter
blonde makes
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