UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale #1)(40)

Brody froze at her words. “You know what’s after her and you haven’t gone to the police?” He turned on Sara. “If what you’re saying is true then the police can find the person, they can stop this man.”

“I told you this is a family matter,” Sara argued.

Brody looked to Mina in a panic. “I won’t let you run, not if I can help you. If you will just let me help you.”

Sara contemplated Brody’s actions and words; he really felt something for her daughter. And he seemed determined to help, but wondered if he really would when confronted with a hard challenge or if he would tuck tail and run. He may not even believe her, but she decided to test his measure. “Can you help us run from a curse?”

“Wha..? I don't understand.” Brody began but Sara cut him off.

Her face became still, “Brody, you've spent two years at the same school as Mina, hardly talking to her, never even realizing she is alive. Then she goes and does something crazy, and against my wishes. She placed her own life in danger to save yours. Now because of those actions our whole family has to live with the consequences. You now feel obligated to help her, like she did you, I get that, I really do. But what gives you the right to question our actions and lifestyle?”

Silence filled the kitchen. Mina held her breath, afraid to move. Brody straightened in his seat and swallowed slowly.

Sara brushed her hands over her forehead in defeat. “You're enamored, that's it. In another week or so, you will wake up and this will all be a dream. And you will forget that Mina ever even saved your life. She will go back to being my clumsy forgotten outcast teen daughter and you will go back to ruling the school and dating the head cheerleader.”

Silent tears fell down Mina's cheeks. Mina refused to look at Brody or her mother. She stared at her plate of uneaten pasta and let the words her mother spoke, words she knew were truth, sink in. She could have stopped her mother, but Mina knew that Sara was protecting her, fighting a battle for her.

Sara pointed her fork at Brody accusingly, a giant meatball stuck on the end. “I've seen it all before. This will fade, it won't last and you will leave Mina for another. We aren't like you people. You two are oil and water. But how we live our life is of no concern to you or your family. My daughter doesn't challenge your choices or way of life, so don't do it to us. You haven't earned that right or proven yourself worthy to.” When Sara had her say she placed her fork down and began slicing the meatball into bite-sized pieces. Placing a piece in her mouth she chewed slowly, challenging Brody with her eyes.

Mina was stunned at how well Brody took the news. He listened and never once questioned Sara’s sanity maybe because it was her mother, and not Mina herself, who was explaining things to him.

Brody was quiet, contemplative. “That explains a lot.” Brody stood and excused himself from the dinner table. “Thank you for dinner and an enlightening evening, Sara. Mina.” Brody nodded his head in both their directions and let himself out the front door.

“What just happened, Mom?” Mina asked. Her lip began quivering, tears flowing freely. Her heart felt like it was ripped in two and stomped on.

“I think you’ve just been dumped.”





Chapter 15


Sara felt awful; she looked at her daughter who was devastated. “I’m so sorry. I judged him wrong, I thought he could handle the challenge of the truth, and may be the one.”

“What do you mean mom, by the one?”

“Well fairy tales time and time again tend to have a hero who will battle it to the end to save the heroine. I was hoping he would fight for you more, challenge me, tell me I was wrong and be your knight, like your father was for me.” Sara dropped her head in shame and went to her room.

Mina went to the living room window and looked out to the street below. Brody’s car was gone. Still silently crying, Mina went to the front door, locked it and put a chair in front of handle. She then went to every window, checked and locked all of them. Going to her bedroom, Mina grabbed a throw blanket, opened her window and crawled up the fire escape to the roof.

The roof was Mina’s one retreat from the world. Being the only tenant in the small building gave Mina the opportunity to lavish the roof with fun items. Since it was twilight, Mina went to a small electrical outlet and switched on the power. The roof was illuminated with strands of white Christmas lights and various illuminated patio lights. Last summer Mina had dragged up two lawn chairs and had even planted fake plastic flowers in the all planters. She had a horrible green thumb and couldn’t grow anything if her life depended on it.

Italian music played softly from a restaurant down the street and Mina collapsed in a lawn chair. Wrapping herself in the blanket, Mina watched as steam rose from various vents and chimneys across the building’s roofs. She cried herself to sleep, unaware of the eyes that watched her.





Chapter 16


“What do you mean, I can’t transfer? I’m keeping the same classes and teachers just switching the periods in which I take them.” Mina spent the next morning avoiding everyone. After another disastrous art class, Mina decided she needed to avoid Jared altogether.

She had tried to go do a simple transfer with the school office, it would even mean giving up home room with Nan, but Mina was desperate. She didn’t think she could stomach Brody’s betrayal and Jared’s discord at the same time and survive. Mina had looked for Brody’s car on the way to school and in the parking lot but didn’t find it. He wasn’t even at lunch. Mina pushed her food around on her tray and waited for Nan to join her.