I wasn’t quite finished with the story I was telling by the time 2025 ended and so decided to continue it until it reached an ending point. Then I will start a new one. Besides, I kind of want to see where Penelope ends up. And so we have…
Day 174: She thought about the investigation Michaelson said was launched.
She thought about the investigation Michaelson said was launched. At the moment she suspected that would have more of an impact on her life than incidents long ago that might have made her magic flare.
‘After all I know I inherited skills with plants,’ she thought. Images of the lake and conversations with the Guardian flitted through her mind. ‘And other skills but those aren’t something to mention to anyone yet.’
The investigation was something done without her involvement. The family broke the law and the requisite governing bodies were dealing with it. Her agent said she could add her list of grievances to the proceedings legally if she wanted. Penelope leaned back in the chair. Did she want to?
She thought of the hurt, the belittlement and the dismissing of herself that went on in the house over the years. A part of her wanted to make them suffer. She knew money and standing were important to Jeanette and Trinity. What her father held dear was not knowledge she had. She once might have said Jeanette, but before she moved out there were signs her father was cheating on her step mother.
She was certain Jeanette figured that out as well.
As much as she thought she might relish in them losing their standing and helping in the downfall of perception, mostly Penelope realized she wanted nothing to do with them. She didn’t want Trinity or Jeanette in her life. Now that she knew her father had been in on the siphoning of money from her account as well as not doing anything to stand up for her with Jeanette, she wanted little to do with him either.
‘Not that I really had much to do with him before.’
She shook her head. The thought that he might not be her biological father made it feel a little like his distance might not be her fault. It was a relief but it wasn’t the reason she wanted to distance herself. She suspected it might get messy. She could envision dramatic scenes where she was painted as sullen and even vengeful ogre.
Penelope snorted. How often had Jeanette called her ungrateful over the years? She lost count.
‘I think it is best to stay out of it,” Penelope decided.
She jumped a little, nearly spilling lemonade on herself as the doorbell downstairs rang. Penelope put the glass down and hurried to the stairwell. There were a limited number of people who knew where she lived. With most of her friends out of town at the moment she hadn’t told anyone she was really moving. She planned to do so once settled, but hadn’t yet gotten settled.
Mrs. Merriweather knew where she lived and promised to send Jermoe’s books. Agent Michaelson knew where she lived and was investigating her neighbors. Her neighbors of course knew she was here but she was avoiding them. She wasn’t entirely certain who else would arrive.
Penelope made it downstairs and hesitantly peered through the peephole in the doorway. A man wearing a messenger’s outfit stood on her doorstep.
Ten til Midnight 