Page 43 of The Broken Mirror
“Sort of. But not by the giants! Don’t worry. It’s just… I think Queen Christina either doesn’t know about me or thinks I was turned into a swan with my brothers. Either way, I don’t want to risk her finding out that her curse didn’t reach the whole family. And if I get turned into a swan, who will save my brothers?”
“So you’ve just been hanging out at the cottage the whole time your brothers have been swans?” Alistair asks incredulously.
“Pretty much. That’s why I was so excited when you guys came! Finally some new company! I love those big ol’ guys, but conversations with giants can get pretty repetitive. It’s alwaysgirlfriendthis,new tea cozythat.”
How awful! At least when Filomena was sort of trapped in her house in North Pasadena (her parents arereallyoverprotective, remember?) she had takeout and movies and books. Rosie literally had to invent stuff to keep herself entertained! Necessity really is the mother of invention.
“Speaking of conversation, Filomena, I know you gave me your whole rundown quickly at dinner, but what’s it like going between here and the mortal world?” Rosie asks.
“To be honest, it’s pretty weird,” Filomena says. She hasn’t really articulated this out loud to anyone. It’s all happening so fast. “I was actually back in the mortal world recently,” she continues, “because I found out my mom is sick.”
Gretel and Alistair look at Filomena sadly. No one has really talked about this since Filomena returned.
“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Rosie says. “I know it’s not quite the same, but having a missing mom isn’t great, either. So I kind of know a little of what you’re going through. Always worrying.”
Alistair looks at his hands sadly. “Me too, Fil. I’m sorry I’ve never brought it up. I know it must be really hard.” Helooks at Rosie. “My parents both died,” he says quietly. Gretel puts her head on his shoulder.
Rosie sighs looking at their sad faces. “It sucks to be a kid and worry about your parents,” she says. “Do you know what your mom is sick with, Filomena?”
“That’s the weird thing. The doctors have no idea. They say it’s like nothing they’ve ever seen before. I feel guilty; part of me hasn’t thought about it much while I’ve been here. There’s so much going on. But every night before I fall asleep, it’s all I can think about. I just stare at the ceiling and wonder how she’s doing, if she feels horrible, if she feels better, if she’s eating. If my dad’s giving her enough hugs and cookies.” Filomena tears up a bit.
“I know that feeling,” Rosie says. “Remind me to give you some of my special tea tonight. It makes falling asleep easier.”
“Hey, you know what we need?” Alistair says. “A GROUP HUG!”
Filomena wipes her tears and laughs a little. They all lean in for a group hug.
“This is cool,” Rosie says.
“We learned it from Filomena,” Alistair replies. “I love them now! Best thing I’ve learned from the mortal world since cheeseburgers.”
“Wow, FaceTime, TV, cheeseburgers… When I come to visit the mortal world, there’ll be a lot of things you’ll have to show me,” Rosie says, bumping Gretel’s shoulder.
“Hey, guys,” Gretel says, and holds up the shirt she’s working on. “It looks like we’re close to being finished!”
“That’s good,” Filomena says, “because it sounds like Jack, Byron, and Beatrice just got back!”
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONEJACKHAS AGIANTPROBLEM
“Going down is even worse than going up!” Alistair yells from the ladder leading to Rosie’s loft. Filomena realizes she probably should have gone down after him. He’s the last person to climb down the ladder, and at this rate he could be up there all night.
“Come on, Alistair, you can do it!” Gretel encourages.
“Man, what’s your problem? You’re only, like, five feet off the floor,” Jack says. He’s clearly frustrated. When theyreturned, Filomena immediately noticed that he, Byron, and Beatrice had a grave air about them. They’re sitting at the long wooden dining table, waiting for Alistair to join.
Byron gets up and, like the tall, brawny gentleman he is, lifts Alistair from the ladder and places him softly on one of the benches at the table.
Alistair blushes. “Gee, heh, got yourself a strong one there, Beatrice.”
“I think some of my beastly strength stayed in my system.” Byron laughs, flexing an arm. “I definitely wasn’t this strong before.”
Filomena can tell that Jack is not in a joking mood. “So how’d it go, guys?” she asks after they are all seated.
Jack puts his head in his hands and says nothing.
Beatrice looks at him and decides to speak. “We found out where Zera is,” she says. All the faces at the table lift toward hers, so hopeful. “Like the message said, the enemy discovered their location and they were under attack. Well, she’s been captured.”
Now Filomena understands Jack’s demeanor. It’s the worstI told you soof all time. They’re too late.
