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‘A gentle, guiding nudge?’

Perhaps.

‘I’ll visit tomorrow.’

Good.

* * *

‘Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?’ Mia asked Jamie again. ‘It could be fun.’

‘Third-wheeling with you and Aiden for dinner, which I’m sure won’t be you two being disgustingly lovey-dovey at all.’ Jamie stared around the little park morosely. He’d eventually escaped from his hallway – after the magic had finished reminding him of everything he’d lost.

‘We’re not always like that.’

‘You are a bit.’ He pulled a face. ‘But I love it for you.’

‘Thank you. I’m pretty in love with it too. And him.’

‘We know.’ Jamie rolled his eyes. ‘We all do!’

‘Are you sure you won’t come out with us?’

‘I’m sure.’ He nodded. ‘But thank you.’

‘Well, if you won’t come out, will you at least tell me how you’re doing?’

‘I’m fine.’ He said it brightly enough that he hoped she’d believe it.

‘Want to try that again, J?’

He sighed. ‘I’m not fine, but I will be.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yeah.’ He nodded. ‘Eventually. I don’t really have much choice. She hasn’t returned my call, or made any effort to contact me. I think she’s made her position pretty clear: she doesn’t want anything to do with me, and after… everything that happened, I can’t really blame her.’

‘You really don’t think there’s any chance?’

‘I don’t see how.’ Jamie shook his head sadly, wishing there was another answer. ‘You saw how badly it hurt Amrita to help that girl. Can you imagine how awful it would be if that was the way you’d learned about Hudsbury and its magic?’

‘No.’ Mia grimaced. ‘It was bad enough for me being told by a talking haunted pumpkin – it scared me, but at least it didn’t physically hurt me. Is there anything I can do to help?’

‘You’re already doing it.’ He smiled. ‘You’re being you, and you’re happy. That’s a good thing. Although…’

‘Although?’

‘More of Aiden’s Unbreak My Heart Brownies wouldn’t be the worst thing.’

‘I’ll let him know.’

This time her friend’s smile looked a lot more genuine. ‘And if he or Ophelia have anything to stop pesky magic leaking into my home, it’d be appreciated.’

‘Oh no, what’s wrong?’

‘You know what this place can be like.’ Jamie scowled. ‘Things going missing and doors jamming and locking me in places.’

‘Oh, I know that one.’ Mia nodded sympathetically. ‘But I also know there’s usually a reason behind that trick. Like for me, when Hudsbury had decided Aiden and I needed to talk and locked us in Glimmers until we did. Though,’ she added thoughtfully, ‘I’m not sure a certain feline might not have had a lot to do with it.’