Magic Burns(99)

“So what happens to me now?” she asked finally.

“Summer’s almost over. Eventually, you’ll have to go to school.”

“Why?”

“Because you have a gift. I want you to learn and to get to know other people. Other kids and adults, so you can learn how they think. So nobody can take advantage of you again.”

“They won’t like me.”

“You might be surprised.”

“Is it going to be one of those schools where you live there, too?”

I nodded. “I make a very bad mom. I’m not home enough and even when I am, I’m not the best person to take care of a kid. But I can pull off a crazy aunt. You can always come and visit me on holidays. I cook a mean goose.”

“Why not turkey?”

“I don’t like turkey. Too dry.”

“What if I hate it there?” Julie asked.

“Then we’ll keep looking until we find a school you don’t hate.”

“And I can come to live with you when I need to?”

“Always,” I promised.