“For what?”

“For setting a terrible example.”

Any residual heat I had been feeling from my argument with Nora drained away as I took in the regret evident on my uncle’s face. “Gideon, what do you mean? You’re still practicing magic.”

“But I hid myself away after what happened to Lydia and your parents. There’s no denying that.”

“I thought you made the choice to isolate yourself because seeing people’s futures was overwhelming?”

“That is certainly true, but given the similarities of our circumstances, I can’t help but wonder if I should have tried harder.” He shook his head and looked off.

I felt terrible Gideon blamed himself in any way for the choice I was making now. But I didn’t want to argue with him. It would only upset him more.

“Anyway,” he said abruptly, “I am quite proud of you for getting into town the way you have been, if you don’t mind me saying so.”

I smiled. “I don’t mind at all.”

“And look at what you’ve accomplished,” he said, spreading his hands wide.

“It’s good of you to say that, but I haven’t discovered much.”

“Maybe you’ve given us more than you think. There are a lot of pieces. It may take some time to figure out how they all fit together.”

It was funny, but as soon as my uncle had said the word pieces, I couldn’t help but think I was forgetting one. An important one. Or maybe not forgetting, but not seeing something right in front of me. Actually, the feeling had been with me since the gift shop, and I didn’t think it had anything to do with the soap.

“Thanks, Gideon,” I said, pushing myself to my feet. “For everything. Even the fairy tale.”

“You are very welcome.”

“Maybe next story time, though, we could leave out the sausage?” I suggested, walking toward the spiral stairs.

“It does take away from some of the magic, doesn’t it?”

• • •

I snuck back down to the main floor as quietly as I could. While I was really hungry, I didn’t want to risk running into either one of my aunts. We all needed some time.

I wasn’t angry anymore though. Whether I had wanted it or not, Gideon’s story had given me insight into my own family.

We were all frustrated.

Izzy had to be tired of being the peacemaker all the time. Just look at all the work she had put into dinner, and for what? And then there was Nora. I couldn’t help but think she saw herself as the only one in the family to tackle issues head-on. It didn’t matter if I agreed with that assessment or not, Nora believed it, and it had to be frustrating. As for me, well, I was tired of being told how to live my life.

I slipped out the front door, shutting it carefully behind me.

The night air was still and rich with the tangy scent of overripe apples.