He studied the bowls, pleased with the outcome. Every year he tried to do something to challenge himself. For this year, he’d decided to add a shape to the serving pieces. The fall bowls had the outline of a leaf. Summer had been a strawberry and spring, a daisy. For winter, he would take on a snowflake—something he still had no idea how he was going to create. Every attempt had been a disaster, but that was half the fun.
His phone chirped. He glanced at the screen and saw he had a text from his mother.
“Incoming,” he said aloud, then glanced at his brothers to see if either of them had heard from her.
Nick reached for his phone while Ronan ignored him.
“Nothing,” Nick said. “Guess it’s your lucky day.”
“Sure it is,” Mathias grumbled as he read the short message.
I’m coming to see you.
An interesting statement that would have made him uncomfortable if his mother hadn’t been over four hundred miles away.
When?
What he expected was for her to say sometime next week or at the end of the month, when his brother Del was getting married.
In about ten minutes. I’m in town.
Mathias swore. His first thought was “Why me?” followed by “Hell, no” followed by “Run!” Instead of following his instincts, he reminded himself that he loved his mother, even if he found her difficult, and that not dealing with her wasn’t an option.
Great, he texted back, telling himself it wasn’t an actual lie. More of a hedge.
“What?” Nick demanded.
“She’s on her way.”
His brother relaxed. “That gives us about eight hours. Why is she coming here?”
“I have no idea.” He swung his attention to Ronan. “She’s ten minutes away.”
Mathias watched the play of emotion on Ronan’s face. They were easy to read. Shock, annoyance, the need to disappear. Not all that different from his own reaction.
Five years ago he would have said the similarity was because they were twins. Fraternal, but still. They shared a bond that time and space couldn’t break. Only they’d discovered they weren’t twins at all—they never had been. It had all been a lie and nothing had been the same since they’d had that particular truth thrust upon them.
Ronan set the still cooling glass on the heatproof bench, grabbed his keys and bolted.
“We’re not going to see him for three days,” Nick grumbled. “He’s got to face her sooner or later.”
“You’re telling the wrong guy.”
Mathias walked to the entrance to the studio and waited. Ronan was already backing out of the parking space. He turned right on the street and headed for the hills. Or in his case, the mountains. Nick was right—they wouldn’t see him for days.
The October afternoon was warm and clear. Rain rarely came to the desert and this wasn’t the season. From now through the holidays there wouldn’t even be a cloud in the sky. Come spring, the weather got a little iffy, but not often and not for long.
Happily Inc sat in the middle of the California desert, with Arizona to the east and Mexico to the south. An underground aquifer provided more than enough water for residents and visitors alike. There were mountains for those who preferred that topography, as well as an odd convergence of energy that made Happily Inc a special and magical place for those who believed in that kind of thing. More significant to daily life was the fact that the town was a destination wedding location with most of the local businesses focused on all things nuptial and tourist. The only large-scale exceptions were the sleep center north of town and Carol’s animal preserve to the southwest.
An unfamiliar car pulled into the parking lot and took Ronan’s spot. It was a nondescript sedan, a rental. His mother was behind the wheel and his father was nowhere to be seen. Unless Ceallach was hiding in the back seat, maybe this visit wasn’t going to be so bad after all.
“Hey, Mom,” he said as Elaine Mitchell got out of the car and hugged him.
“What an adorable little town. And so easy to navigate. I wasn’t sure I could find my way from the airport, but it all went just fine.” She turned back to the car. “Come on, sweetie.”
Mathias had a second of panic, thinking his joke about his father hiding had tempted the fates just a little too much, only instead of the family patriarch stepping out onto the pavement, a brown-and-white beagle jumped down and immediately raced over to him, her ears flapping and her long tail wagging happily.
“Hey, Sophie,” he said as he crouched down to greet the dog.
She ran in circles around him before jumping up to put her paws on his shoulders and thoroughly kiss his face. He laughed, then stood to get out of the wet zone.
Nick stepped out of the studio. He looked at Mathias, who shook his head. His brother relaxed as he approached their mother.
“Mom,” he said warmly. “You’re a surprise.” He bent over to greet Sophie.
“I know. I should have called, but I didn’t.”
Mathias had the uncomfortable thought that she’d deliberately not given them much warning because she’d known they would scatter if given the chance. Which sure didn’t say much about them as sons.
The problem wasn’t her, he thought grimly. It was their father. The man they wouldn’t have to ask about because Elaine would happily tell them everything and more.
The three of them walked into the studio, Sophie bringing up the rear. At the last second, Mathias thought about all the tools, glass and ovens in the room and grabbed Sophie’s trailing leash. Elaine glanced around, as if looking for someone, then her happy smile faded a little.
Mathias silently called Ronan five kinds of bastard for hurting the woman who had always loved him. But his brother wouldn’t see it that way and no one had been able to get through to him, despite how they’d all tried.
“This is nice,” she said with false enthusiasm. “Big and open. You all work here?”
Nick and Mathias exchanged a glance, as if hoping the other would speak first.
“Ronan has his own studio at his place,” Mathias finally said. “He works there a lot.”
“I see. And the gallery is close?”
“Across the parking lot. You should meet Atsuko before you go. She’s the one selling our work.”
“I will next time. I’m on my way back to the airport to catch a flight.”
Before Mathias could ask why she’d bothered to come by, she continued, “Your father and I are heading out on tour. He’s going to be lecturing and giving demonstrations. It’s all very exciting to see him get the attention he deserves.”
Mathias did his best not to roll his eyes. The last thing Ceallach Mitchell was lacking was attention. In his universe, he was the sun and everyone else revolved around his greatness and light.
“We’ll be gone about a month and then come back here in time for Del and Maya’s wedding.”
“That’s great, Mom,” Nick said. “So, ah, why did you stop by?”
Elaine turned to Mathias as if it was obvious. “Someone has to look after Sophie while we’re gone.”
Mathias dropped the leash he was holding. The dog immediately took off exploring. “No. No way. I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. She’s adorable and you love her.”