BooksBarbecue
Back Spells for Lost Things
Chapters (42)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. Prologue
  5. – 1 – Willow
  6. – 2 – Mason
  7. – 3 – Willow
  8. – 4 – Mason
  9. – 5 – Willow
  10. – 6 – Mason
  11. – 7 – Willow
  12. – 8 – Mason
  13. – 9 – Willow
  14. – 10 – Mason
  15. – 11 – Willow
  16. – 12 – Mason
  17. – 13 – Willow
  18. – 14 – Mason
  19. – 15 – Willow
  20. – 16 – Mason
  21. – 17 – Willow
  22. – 18 – Mason
  23. – 19 – Willow
  24. – 20 – Mason
  25. – 21 – Willow
  26. – 22 – Mason
  27. – 23 – Willow
  28. – 24 – Mason
  29. – 25 – Willow
  30. – 26 – Mason
  31. – 27 – Willow
  32. – 28 – Mason
  33. – 29 – Willow
  34. – 30 – Mason
  35. – 31 – Willow
  36. – 32 – Mason
  37. – 33 – Willow
  38. – 34 – Mason
  39. Acknowledgments
  40. More from the Author
  41. About the Author
  42. ALSO BY JENNA EVANS WELCH

Most importantly, I’ve got to figure out how to get unsupervised access to the computer. Simon told me I’m fine to use it anytime, but the Morgans’ family computer is right off the dining room, in full view of everyone, and someone always seems to be either using it or hovering nearby. I can’t have anyone see that I’m looking for my mom.

I grab my notebook from my nightstand and read over the single idea I have written down for escaping the Morgan household. Option one: Tell Kate/Kaitlin this isn’t working and ask to go back to the group home. Technically I can call and tell my foster care worker that at any point, but that doesn’t mean that anything is going to happen. Kate/Kaitlin was beyond thrilled about me being here. All she’ll do is tell me to give it more time. Besides, do I want to go back to the group home?

Thinking about it brings a wave of memories of standardized pillows and loud dining rooms. A quick tightening in my chest gives me a good answer. I don’t actually want to be anywhere except with my mom, which I guess is the entire point, so what’s the difference if I stay here?

I mentally add to my list. Option two: Run away again and try to find my mom while on the run. This is fantasy. I don’t even have a good starting point for finding her.

Option three: Tell caseworker and/or Emma that I really need to make contact with my mom and tell them to do whatever they have to in order to reestablish contact. That one’s even more hopeless-sounding, because I have asked. Dozens of times. But lately all I’ve gotten are variations of I’m sorry, but she has to be willing to accept help.

That’s the thing people always get wrong about her. If my mom could get better on her own, she would. They’re the ones who aren’t trying hard enough.

Also, they clearly have no idea what it feels like to be separated from the one person you’re meant to be with. It’s like I’m walking around without one of my vital organs.

If I had any idea where my mom was, I’d leave immediately. Mom and I always figured things out together, and even when she couldn’t take care of me, at least I was there to take care of her. Not that I need anyone to take care of me. Like a lot of kids in foster care, I’ve had to grow up fast. That’s why she needs me—I’m strong enough for both of us. I glance at the sky through my bedroom window. Send me one measly sign, and I’ll find you.