Daughter of a Witch

Summer Goodbyes and New Beginnings

The announcement that Y/n was heading to camp for the summer came over a breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast. The smell of fresh coffee mingled with the clatter of plates, the comfortable chaos of a weekend morning in the Harkness-Vidal household.

"Time to start packing for camp!" Y/n said brightly, taking a sip of her juice.

Rio paused mid-bite, her fork hovering in the air. "Camp?"

Agatha chuckled from across the table, her mug of coffee resting delicately between her hands. "You've heard about camp. The big event that's been her summer highlight since she was nine?"

"Yeah, but I thought it was, like, a week-long thing. Not... a major expedition," Rio replied, glancing at Y/n for clarification.

"Used to be a week," Y/n confirmed, her tone almost proud. "Then I started going for the full month in eighth grade. Once I became a counselor, though..." She trailed off with a dramatic flourish. "All. Summer."

Rio's eyebrows shot up. "All summer?"

"All summer," Y/n echoed, smiling mischievously. "It's the best thing ever, Mami. You'd love it if you saw it."

Rio's face betrayed her skepticism. "So, let me get this straight. You're telling me that after I just got my daughter back, I must hand her over to the wilderness for two months?"

Y/n laughed, her brown eyes twinkling with amusement. "I promise I'll call when I can. You won't even notice I'm gone."

"Oh, I'll notice," Rio muttered, shaking her head. She glanced at Agatha, who wore a knowing smile. "And you're okay with this?"

Agatha leaned back in her chair, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. "Oh, cariña, I'm never okay with it. But it's her tradition, her independence. We've been doing this for years."

Rio sighed, leaning forward and resting her chin in her palm. "Years. Plural. Wow. What other secrets are hiding in this house?"

Y/n smirked. "You'll learn all of them in time, Mami. It's a process."

By mid-morning, Y/n was knee-deep in her room, sorting through her belongings and ticking off a list of supplies. Agatha joined her, expertly folding clothes while Y/n debated the merits of various items.

"This hoodie has been with me for three summers. It's like... an artifact now," Y/n said, holding up a faded blue sweatshirt with a small hole in the sleeve.

Agatha smiled. "Then it's a keeper."

Rio lingered in the doorway, observing the easy rhythm between her wife and daughter. "Need any help?" she offered, stepping into the room cautiously.

Y/n glanced at Agatha, then back at Rio. "You can help decide which of these should go," she said, pointing to a pile of water bottles and mugs on the bed.

Rio picked up a neon green bottle, examining it with exaggerated seriousness. "This one looks indestructible. Is that important?"

Y/n grinned. "It is when you're hiking, and the nearest sink is miles away."

As they worked, Rio gradually became more involved, helping to stuff socks into corners of the duffle bag, rolling up T-shirts, and handing over items Agatha requested. The room buzzed with laughter and teasing, but underneath it all, Rio felt the ache of impending separation.

That night, after Y/n had gone to bed, Rio found Agatha seated on the couch with a glass of wine in the living room. The house was quiet, except for the refrigerator's soft hum and the occasional creak of floorboards.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Rio asked, sitting down beside her wife.

Agatha smiled faintly, swirling her wine. "Just thinking about how much she's grown. It feels like just yesterday she was packing her bag for her first week at camp, and now she's leaving for two months."

Rio nodded, her hand resting lightly on Agatha's. "I don't know how you do it, Agatha. You seem so calm about all of this."

Agatha raised an eyebrow, a small laugh escaping her lips. "Calm? Is that what I seem?"

"Well, yeah," Rio said, shrugging. "You're here baking cookies, helping her pack... You're handling it like a pro."

Agatha set her glass down and leaned back, her expression softening. "It's not calm, my love. It's survival. If I stop to think about her leaving—really think about it—I'll fall apart. And there's no time for that right now. It's too soon."

Rio frowned. "Too soon?"

Agatha's voice wavered slightly as she continued. "Too soon to cry, too soon to miss her. I have to focus on the details and keep my hands busy. That's how I get through it."

Rio reached over, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Agatha's ear. "You're a better woman than me. I'd be sobbing into her duffle bag by now."

Agatha chuckled softly, leaning into Rio's touch. "Oh, I'll get there. Just... not yet."

The morning Y/n was set to leave, the air felt heavier. The final bags were loaded into the car, and the kitchen buzzed with last-minute preparations. Y/n hugged Agatha tightly, whispering something that made her mother smile even as her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Then she turned to Rio, wrapping her arms around her stepmother. "Don't worry, Mami. I'll be back before you know it."

Rio hugged her tightly, her voice thick with emotion. "You better be. Who else is going to help me keep your mother in line?"

Y/n laughed, pulling back and flashing one last grin before climbing into the car. As the vehicle disappeared down the driveway, the house felt suddenly achingly quiet.

Later that evening, Rio found Agatha standing by the kitchen window, gazing at the fading sunlight. Her shoulders were stiff, and when Rio stepped closer, she noticed the faint shimmer of tears on her wife's cheeks.

"Hey," Rio said softly, wrapping her arms around Agatha from behind. "You okay?"

Agatha exhaled shakily, leaning back against Rio. "It's too quiet already."

Rio pressed a kiss to the back of Agatha's head, her voice light with affection. "Geez, Agatha. I know you're stuck with me for the summer, but you could at least pretend to be happy about it."

Agatha let out a watery laugh, swatting at Rio's arm. "You're incorrigible."

"And you love it," Rio replied, grinning as she turned Agatha around to face her.

They stood there momentarily, their foreheads touching, the weight of the day slowly lifting. "We'll get through this," Rio murmured. "Together."

Agatha nodded, her smile returning. "Together."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, they held onto each other. The house became quieter but filled with the warmth of their love—a love strong enough to weather any separation, no matter how long the summer might feel.