Magic is not everything

CHAPTER 3

Kate recounts

I look at the dark sky full of stars and my back is supported by the wooden swing and my lungs relax inspiring the cold autumn air and I call for the thousandth time that it's ok. But, honestly, I don't know if I'm okay.
"Don't pay attention to her, she's just a kid who doesn't know what she's talking about." I hear Emma's voice behind me. And then I see her make her way on the seesaw.
"Emma she is not a child anymore, and she knows exactly what she's talking about."
Emma gestures with indifference.
"Jake put this stuff in her head, but when we get home I'll have a discussion with him.... "
"Emma!" I say, raising my voice to pay attention to myself, after which my tone relaxes. "It's okay, Jake didn't do anything wrong"
"Seriously?" She looked at me in amazement.
"Yes."
"What are my girls doing?"
Mother's voice interrupts our conversation.
"Very good mother." Emma replied. She sits between us on the seesaw and holds us both in her arms.
"My brave girls. I love you so much! "
"And us, Mom." We both say. My mother had obviously come here wanting to see if I was feeling better, so she changed the subject.
"Emma, Kate told you the news." Mother asked with a smile on her face.
"What was my sister supposed to tell me?"
She looks at me skeptic.
" Nothing special." I shrug carelessly.
" I and your sisters believe that Kasandra has a boyfriend."
"How so, mother?"
"Well, for a while Kasandra has been asleep until late in the night, and in the morning she can't wake up...
"And what is the problem?" Emma interrupts. Then I am the one who continues.
"When I asked Kasandra, she told me that she reads late and I think she's lying to me."
"Are you two sure?"
Emma gave us a curious look.
"The fact that she has a boyfriend is just her mother's assumption."
"But you told me she were lying, Kate."
"I don't think my maternal instinct has to be the only proof, we need something more concrete to know what the truth is."
"Wait a minute." Emma interrupts us. "What you're trying to tell me is that you think my niece has a possible boyfriend?"
"Yes, Emma."
"And father knows?"
"No."
"In conclusion, will I have the chance to laugh at someone now?"
"Yes." My mother said. "Do you realize what it will be like?"
They were both ecstatic and smiling, but I don't understand why.
"My poor niece doesn't even know what awaits her." Emma said sympathetically, obviously in an ironic way.
"I'd say don't rush your guess, Emma. Anyway, Kasandra didn't tell me anything."
"But it's only a matter of time before it is done, Kate. Ah, I can't believe God listened to my prayers..."
"Really, Emma?"
"Very seriously, Mom."
"See when Jake or the Beetles or my father find out, God, I can't believe..."
The sister had already started walking on the terrace imagining...
"Emma?!"
"Sorry Kate, but you really made my evening more beautiful."
"Don't you dare tell anyone."
"But, Kate..."
My mother gets up from the seesaw and comes up to her and holds her by the shoulders.
"Your sister is right Emma, until we are sure this information will remain between us."
"OK, Mom." She says resignedly. Looks like my sister's enthusiasm had kind of dissipated.
My mother pats her on the shoulder.
"Off..., but stay calm, it's only a matter of time, and soon enough we'll see Jake, Beetles and your father become bodyguards for Kasandra and the poor boy possibly boyfriend as a to curse his days...
"Mother?!"
My mother turns her head towards me.
"Kate, honey, you should have expected that too...we all knew it was going to happen."
I rest my forehead on my hand and nod sympathetically.
"My poor child with what she did wrong because she had to be part of such a crazy family." I say and roll my eyes.
Emma and my mother had laughed.
"Honestly, I don't think she did anything wrong."
Emma turned in surprise to the speaker.
"Jake, what are you doing here?" Emma asked.
Jake looked at me.
"I wanted to apologize to Kate."
Then he approached with uncertain steps as if he was sure I could hit him in the head.
"I'm sorry for what I told Gabriela, only she always asks about the absent family member and now with this project that had to be done, it always bothered me to tell her something about her uncle, plus she told me that she does not wants to take a small note on the project because of that...and, well..." He put his hand behind the back of his nape. "I didn't know what else to say to her...outside, well, than...you know..."
"Truth." I say.
Jake tried to choose his words.
"Well, yes..." Then he lowers his head. "I'm sorry, Kate."
"It's okay, Jake."
"Seriously." His eyes light up.
"Yes, I understand your reasons." I say smiling to encourage him.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" Gabriela's voice had interrupted us. I see my niece looking at her father for an explanation.
"I was just talking to aunt Kate, honey."
Gabriela looked confused.
"And you can't do that later? I wanted to have you as a member of my team...we need our revenge on Rafe and uncle Beetles, I need you daddy." She said the last words in the nice voice possible and clasped his hands together as if in prayer.
"Go, Jake, we're coming in too."
Jake took Gabriela in his arms and they went inside.
"You have an incredible husband, Emma."
"And Gabriela has an incredible father." I say.
Emma just shrugs carelessly.
"Yes, he does his best. " My mother looked at her ugly. Looks like Emma had inherited that deadly look from her.
"Ok...ok." Emma says resignedly. "He is the most incredible man I ever know, a remarkable father, I love him madly and I am one hundred percent sure that I will not divorce him."
My mother was pleased with her statement.
"That's the way it is, now let's go inside and make sure no one gets to the emergency room tonight."
Mom takes Emma by the hand and they go inside.
"But mother never did that..."
"Emma, I'd say never underestimate a girl from the Wibberly family who's eager to win can be ugly, especially for boys...Are you coming, honey?" She asks me, turning his head in my direction.
"Right away mom, I'll be there in two minutes."
I see my mother and Emma leaving the terrace. And I remember Jake's words echoing the absent family member. I look at the stars again, hoping he's somewhere out there and hear me.
"I miss you, Rafe."