18. Charmarche
EIGHTEEN
CHARMARCHE
Within the chrysalis, an extraordinary alchemy unfolds. The caterpillar, encapsulated within, undergoes a remarkable metamorphosis. It liquefies its body into a primordial soup, from which it meticulously reconstructs itself into a winged wonder.
The very word “chrysalis” hails from the Greek “khrysallis,” meaning “golden pupa of the butterfly,” drawing a golden thread from ancient lore to the enchanting pupa it envelops.
–EXCERPT FROM THE MUDPUDDLE MANUAL OF NATURAL MAGIC
“Welcome home,” Will said as the van pulled through the gated entry and onto the private drive that led to the Westabrook estate in Marblehead.
Maida had the distinct feeling that she was being welcomed into more than a house.
She was being welcomed into a community.
Everything looked the same as it always had.
But it also looked so different. She glimpsed the groundskeeper’s cottage through the woods.
Will had mentioned something about Arthur Hart being a stag shifter.
Did that mean his father had been a shifter, too?
Granny Luna. Reggie Hart. Will Porter. Who amongst her father’s staff hadn’t been magical? She couldn’t believe how obvious it all was now. How had she missed it? And more importantly, why had the people closest to her hidden their true identity from her?
“My father has an awful lot of explaining to do,” Maida mumbled to herself.
She heard the familiar crunch of gravel under the tires as the van pulled into the circular drive in front of the house.
“Your father’s already on his way home. He’ll be here first thing tomorrow morning. He wants to speak to you in person, Mayday. Go easy on him?”
Will’s concern for her father chafed. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Her father and his staff had been lying to her for her entire life. She wasn’t sure who to trust anymore. She bit the inside of her cheek.
“Well, I hope this means I won’t need to hide my tarot cards anymore,” she noted.
“Your well-being has always been your father’s number one concern,” the doctor insisted. “Try to bear that in mind and at least hear him out?”
“I have a lot of questions,” Maida said.
“Naturally.” The doctor nodded. “And you shall have answers. I’m sure you’re overwhelmed right now. Dinner and a good night’s sleep are what you need most. Doctor’s orders!”
She suspected the doctor was right, but it was strange, being spoken to like she was still a child. Sleep would not come easy, no matter how tired she was. She had too much on her mind.
Finally, the van came to a halt in front of her childhood home.
Magic or not, Westabrook Manor was breathtaking.
Its fluted columns, adorned with intricate carvings of ancient lore, rose from the foundation to the roof.
Lush green vines scrambled up the arbor and into the eaves, whispering secrets into the breeze.
Behind the lavender stained glass windows, lacy white curtains offered privacy, imbuing the home with a feeling of mystery.
The house had always felt magical to Maida.
Immediately, the massive oak front door swung open.
A stone-faced, hoary, old man in butler’s livery marched out to hold open the van’s door for them.
His movements appeared stiff and mechanical, yet he moved with surprising efficiency.
How was Yves even still alive? He’d been ancient when Maida was a child.
Why hadn’t she thought to question things like this before?
“Hello, Yves.” Maida accepted the butler’s dry, papery hand, and leaned forward to kiss his desiccated cheek. Though crumpled and wrinkled, the folds of his face steamed themselves out at the sight of her, smoothing into something resembling good cheer.
“Will Porter! I have a bone to pick with you. Why wasn’t I consulted about this mission?” a familiar, raspy voice rang out. Granny Luna was standing on the threshold of the house, arms akimbo.
She shook a finger at Will as he climbed out of the van. “And you!” Granny Luna glared at the doctor. “You didn’t insist that he stop to pick me up? It’ll be eons before I offer to wax your shell again!”
True to her rather eccentric form, Granny was wearing a black silk haute-couture gown under a hot pink fur stole.
A pair of oversized designer sunglasses rested atop her head like a tiara.
Although Granny Luna was barely five feet tall, her rhinestone studded platform trainers added almost four inches to her height.
Her attitude contributed at least six more.
Maida hadn’t realized how much she missed Granny Luna till she saw her.
“You couldn’t have found a better way to do this? How dare you go kidnapping and enlightening her without me?”
“I would have been happy to have you along. But we didn’t have time to stop and ogle the surfers or go shopping, Granny.”
“Nonsense!” Granny Luna waved her hand dismissively at Will and stepped out onto the porch, holding her arms out to embrace Maida.
“Let me get a look at you, my lamb.” She squeezed Maida so tight that she lifted her.
Maida felt her feet leave the ground for an instant, and her heart felt airborne as well.
“My word! You look rough,” Granny Luna said, releasing her. “Let’s get you upstairs and washed up and changed for dinner, shall we?” She linked arms with Maida and spun her towards the stairs.
Maida glanced down at her rumpled clothing and smoothed her nightshirt. “I’m afraid this is it, Granny. I haven’t brought any luggage.”
“Don’t be silly, dear. We’ll just send Will to the store for something. Tell him your size. He can sort it out.”
Will narrowed his eyes at Granny Luna.
“What store would that be, Granny?”
“Well…” She paused for a moment. “I was thinking of a particular shop in Paris. I’ll give you a list. There’s a few things I need as well.”
“The shops are closed in Paris right now, Granny.”
“Minor inconvenience. I’m sure you’ll find a way in.” She winked.
“That’s theft you’re advocating,” Will argued.
“Can’t you just leave a few bills on the counter?”
“No!” Will folded his arms and dug in his heels. “I’m tired, Granny. I’ve already ported twice today. I need to eat some more.”
“Fine.” Granny rolled her eyes at Will. “I’ll just send Yves to the mall.”
Maida’s childhood room was exactly as she’d left it. The canopied bed was made up with fresh linens, and the exotic garden mural on the wall was still in full bloom.
“I wish I could have been the one to enlighten you,” Granny Luna lamented. “I have been looking forward to this day for years. The day you become a magical woman! Charmarche can be a very confusing time.”
Maida sat on the edge of her bed. It was the second time she’d heard the term. “What exactly is charmarche?”
“It’s the onset of magicality.” Granny Luna touched her cheek, tenderly. “I never lost faith, child. I knew it would happen for you. Now don’t be frightened. All the feelings you’re feeling are perfectly natural.”
“Granny, I’m thirty-five years old!” Maida laughed. “Hardly a child.”
“Yes, but I’ve had this speech prepared for a long time.” Granny Luna frowned. “It’s usually a done deal by twelve or thirteen.”
“It is?” Maida asked.
“Yes but there’s no shame in being a late bloomer, my dear. It’s only too late if you’re dead!” Granny Luna went to the closet and pulled out a sack that was almost as big as she was. She dragged it towards the bed.
“Can I help you with that?” Maida asked.
“No, no. I can do it,” Granny insisted. “Us fae wenches are a lot stronger than we look!” Her eyes glittered green and she heaved the bundle over her head and tossed the contents out onto the bed.
With a shake and a snap, Granny Luna spread out the largest, busiest, most unapologetically outrageous crocheted blanket that Maida had ever seen.
“I started working on this for you when you were just a wee thing. Thought I’d either give it to you for your charmarche, or your eightieth birthday. Whichever came first?”
Maida was speechless. Lurid fuchsia, puce, and orange squares clashed with mustard, purple, and brown ones.
Garish lime-green crocheted vines and leaves embellished the chaos, snaking from square to square, winding their way around ferociously fanged neon colored blooms. It was an absolute masterpiece of mismatchery.
“Shoots and buds, I’m not ashamed to admit I’m proud of this one! I’ve got my whole flutter in.” Granny Luna beamed. “I know you’re not my kin, Maida, but you’ve always been like family to me.”
“Oh, Granny Luna! I love it so much,” Maida said.
She wasn’t lying. In fact, it was possible she loved it all the more for being so monstrous. Maida felt the soft wool and was instantly comforted. She could feel the love.
“It’s been far too long, my dear. We have a great deal to catch up on, don’t we? But before another moment passes, I’ll just come out and ask you. What did you think of our Arthur?” Granny Luna leaned against the bed, smiling cannily.
“Arthur? The solicitor?” Maida felt herself flushing. “I mean, I don’t know. He was pushy. But I guess that comes with the territory, given that he’s?—”
“Such a fine, strapping young buck! I mean, the antlers on him!”
Maida had been about to say, “a solicitor” but as Granny Luna finished her sentence so audaciously for her, she found her mouth kept moving with no sound coming out. She bit down on her lips to stop them flapping and slowly shook her head at the old woman, trying to regain her composure.
“What, child? We’re all magical adults here!” Granny Luna looked quite pleased with herself. “And I’ve always been fond of the boy.”
She perched on the edge of Maida’s bed and swung one sparkly sneaker as she continued her questioning.
The antlers on him. Maida’s mind was moving in a million different directions now as she pictured a half human, half beast version of the solicitor. She’d have to dig up her art supplies in the morning. She still wanted to sketch Arthur Hart before the memory faded.
Granny Luna interrupted her thoughts. “Tell me everything about California. I’ve heard stories about how long some of those surfers can stay up on their long boards! Did you meet any local Mer-folk?”
“Not that I know of?” Maida said. She wondered if there was some sort of tell.
“That’s probably for the best. Mermen are diabolically good looking, but you can’t trust them.
They’re cold blooded.” Granny Luna nodded knowingly at Maida and she found herself nodding along to avoid being disagreeable.
But what she really wanted was to curl up under the afghan and go to sleep.
A profound wave of exhaustion broke over her, and she decided it wouldn’t be so tough to fall asleep after all. In fact, she could do without dinner.
Granny Luna had other ideas.
“It’s just so good to be so open with you. Finally! After all these years. Forgive me for getting carried away. I suppose I should have started by asking you if you were seeing anyone in California?”
“I mean, I date. Occasionally.” Maida yawned.
“I’d wager none of those Ordinary boys were particularly magical in the sack though, were they?” Granny Luna snickered behind her.
“Granny!” Maida suppressed a snort as she kicked off her shoes.
She crawled into the bed and pulled the blankets around herself.
“I assure you I’m not sleeping with anyone!
The truth is…” Maida closed her eyes so Granny wouldn’t have to see the tears threatening to spill out of them.
“I don’t really have any friends in California.
I’ve been trying so hard to build a life for myself there.
But I don’t fit in. It turns out that having a simple life isn’t that simple after all.
It’s actually quite hard. And lonely, too.
” Maida heaved a sigh of relief. It felt so good to confess the truth. Like dropping a heavy burden.
Suddenly, she recalled something and rolled over onto her belly. She patted the bed and felt between the pillows.
“Looking for someone?” Granny Luna asked, plucking Mr. Pants off the apex of the headboard where he was resting like a regal ornament. Maida couldn’t recall how she got the stuffed deer toy. She’d had it since before she could remember.
“I know! You’ve been so lonely, Mr. Pants.
It really feels like we’ve been waiting forever for Maida to come back.
She just had to sort a few things out first.” Granny pretended to chat with and comfort the toy.
“Well, she’s here now, isn’t she? Those aren’t her people.
She belongs back here.” Granny held the deer to her ear and pretended to listen to him.
She held a hand to her mouth in an expression of mock surprise.
“Oh really? What’s that you say? You think she should move to Primrose Court?
And take me with her? I mean, if that’s what you think is best… ”
“Cut it out, Granny,” Maida said sternly. “Give Mr. Pants back to me. He doesn’t like being touched by other people.”
“I’m sure.” Granny nodded, dropping the toy back on the pillow. “He’s fiercely loyal, that one. A girl could do worse for herself.”