* * *
Reggie and Ryssa could barely contain themselves when Mary’s car pulled to a stop in front of their home. A single piece of the tin porch roof was leaned up against the house, the only visible sign of damage from the storm that had passed this way. How long ago had it been?
Terry flew out the front door, running down the steps. “Mom! They’re home!”
Reggie and Ryssa climbed out of the car and ran to meet their brother, who scooped them into his arms, holding them both tight.
“Terry—can’t—breathe,” Reggie laughed jokingly, but hugged his brother back just as tightly. He glanced up and saw his mother standing in the doorway.
She looked tired, but with a touch of the old Debra Chambly sparkle back in her eyes. Reggie thought she had never looked as beautiful as she did at that moment. She actually ran down the steps and threw herself into the circle of her children’s arms.
“It was my birthday wish,” Ryssa said into her mother’s shoulder. “That we’d come back and everything would be okay.”
“Mine too.” Reggie looked surprised. The twins gave each other of understanding.
Mary smiled. “I told you they’d return to you, Debra.”
“So you did, Mary.” Debra’s eyes gleamed with emotion. “So you did. Thank you.”
“You are most welcome. Before I leave, though, I wanted to tell you that arrangements have been made for some special tutoring for the children.”
“I understand,” Debra said, but Reggie thought he detected a slight dampening of her spirits. He wasn’t looking forward to extra lessons, but he knew better than she did that it was necessary.
“Well, that’ll be it, then. I’m off.” Mary waved cheerfully. “See you next summer, children.”
The Chamblys waved their goodbyes and then got back to their business of being happy to be together again.
* * *
Reggie and Ryssa prepared to head out the door for school. Debra handed them their lunches and gave them each a kiss before sending them off.
The previous night had been tough. They hadn’t realized how hard it was going to be to tell their foster mother about camp, but without telling her about Faery. They had managed, but only to keep her from worrying. Football, boat races, craft making—those were things they thought she could handle. Magic, the Slaugh, dead and missing potentials, fireballs, well, they sort of left that stuff out.
The twins stepped out onto the porch to see three familiar faces grinning back at them.
“Hey, brah,” Jet laughed, “ready for the first day back to school?”
Ryssa excitedly hugged Moira and Hammie. “What’s up? I knew Hammie went to our school, but you two—”
“We go to the high school,” Moira said. “Juniors this year. We’ll graduate next year when you guys are freshmen.”
“Way cool.” Reggie happily slapped the porch rail.
“And, we’re also your new tutors.” Jet waggled his eyebrows. “We’re supposed to help you learn more about Faery before next summer.”
“Great,” Ryssa grumbled.
When she saw the hurt cross Moira’s face, Ryssa shook her head. “No—I didn’t mean it like that. I meant about double studies—not looking forward to it. Where’s the free time?”
“Sorry, no recess for you, star-girl,” Jet smiled. “Not until you learn the lessons. Think of it this way—Faery studies should only take a hundred years or so. And you’ll live to be a lot older than that. See? Plenty of free time.”
Ryssa groaned as they headed down the steps. Reggie frowned. He liked school and liked learning about new stuff. But a hundred years of studying? Immortality suddenly took on a whole new dimension. His groan matched that of his twin as they headed for their first day back at school.
###
About the Author
[back to top]
Bo Savino uses different pseudonyms to keep her young adult genres separate from her adult ones, which she writes under A. J. Rand.
If you liked this book, the 2nd book in the series, Reggie & Ryssa and the Scavenger Hunt will be out by December 2011, and Book 3, Reggie & Ryssa and the Faery Corp will be coming in 2012!
If you’d like to sign up for updates and keep on top of what’s coming out, you can sign up for the e-mail list at on the Contact tab at the top of Bo’s website, or the E-mail Sign-up Button on the left at: www.BoSavinoSite.com.
To Friend Bo on Facebook, go to: www.Facebook.com/bosavino.
To Follow Bo on Twitter, go to: www.Twitter.com/bosavino.
Other titles out by Bo Savino as A. J. Rand:
The Yeshua Star Series:
Broken Wings: Genesis (Book 1)
Broken Wings: Alpha (Book 2)
The Nibiran Series:
Sky Gold (Book 1 with co-author Carrassa Sands)
The Tapestry Series:
Keeper of the Flame (Book 1)
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends