"How did you even do that?" ReNew asked, sounding both concerned and amused. "Slow down, Charlene. You're giving me whiplash."
ReNew gently wiped away Charlene's tears, her actions tender. "We are one, remember?" they said in unison, both of them stopping to giggle at the oddity of their synchronized words. "Ha ha ha!"
Charlene smiled through her tears, but the sense of urgency began to creep back. ReNew's voice returned, more focused this time. "Are you good now, Charlene? I just needed you to see a friendly face. It's easier to talk when you feel understood."
Charlene nodded, her breath still shaky. ReNew continued, "I'm not making excuses for your mom, and I'm certainly not making excuses for your dad either," she said, her hands gently resting on Charlene's shoulders. "But if we want answers, we have to talk to her. And who would know where she is?"
In unison, they both said, "Grandmom." Again.
Charlene's heart raced. She hadn't seen her grandmother for days. Mabel Green, her grandmother, worked tirelessly at the local community center and was always busy. But there was no time to wait. Charlene's eyes filled with determination.
As she hurried toward the nearest bus stop, she could already feel the weight of what was to come. The thought of confronting her grandmother left her uneasy, but the need to find her mother was greater.
Mabel Green was preparing for her lunch break when Charlene arrived at the community center. She had been working there for over ten years, planning events, managing fundraisers, and organizing the beloved bingo nights for seniors. But today, her mind was elsewhere, caught in a whirlwind of thoughts about her daughter, Tamara.
"Where are you, Tamara?" Mabel sighed, scanning through her email inbox again. There had been no word from her in over two weeks, not since she dropped Charlene off and left to search for Seth.
The door to Mabel's office creaked open, and Charlene stepped in hesitantly. "Hi, Grandma," she called softly.
Mabel looked up, a worried expression crossing her face. "Baby girl, what are you doing here in the middle of the day?" Her voice was filled with concern. "Is everything okay?"
Charlene nodded but didn't smile. "I just need to ask you something. Do you have time?"
"Of course," Mabel replied, her face softening. "What's on your mind, sweetheart?"
"It's about Mom," Charlene said, her voice trembling.
Mabel's face darkened, and she tried to change the subject. "What about your mom?" she asked, a little too quickly.
"Where is she?" Charlene asked, her tone sharp.
Mabel hesitated. "What do you mean, sweetheart? I don't know where she is." Her eyes darted nervously.
"I know she told you where she was going when she dropped me off," Charlene pressed. "Where is she?"
Mabel sighed, avoiding eye contact. "I'm not sure, darling. But I can reach out to her—send her an email if you like."
Charlene could see through her grandmother's lies. "No, I need to speak to her. Please, Grandma. It's important."
Mabel motioned for Charlene to sit down, her face heavy with indecision. "Sit down, darling. Let me know what's going on. You've got me worried."
Charlene sat, fighting back the tears. "Grandma, I know what I am. I know what happened. I need to know where my mom is."
Mabel looked at her granddaughter, confused. "What do you mean, sweetheart?"
"I need to find her," Charlene insisted. "Please, Grandma. If you love me, you'll help me."
Mabel sat quietly, contemplating. She knew more than she was letting on, but the promise she made to her daughter weighed heavily on her. "The last place I know she was…" Mabel trailed off, sifting through papers on her desk. "It was a church," she finally said. "I don't know much more than that, but here's an address for the church. And here's Tamara's email." She handed Charlene the paper, her fingers trembling.
Charlene grabbed the paper, her heart pounding. "Thanks, Grandma," she said quickly, standing up and hurrying out the door.
As she left, ReNew spoke in her mind, "How did you know where to go?"
Charlene smiled, her confidence returning. "Mom restores old covered bridges and renovates historical buildings. We spent a summer here a few years ago. She always said if she ever had the chance, she'd come back to restore this old church." She grinned. "When you said 'church,' I put two and two together."
ReNew laughed. "Way to use that big brain of yours."
Charlene didn't waste any time. She followed the familiar path toward the church, where scaffolding surrounded the old building. She knew she had found the right place.
"Mom? Are you in there?" Charlene called, her voice shaking as she approached the church doors.
"Hold up!" ReNew warned. "We can't just charge in. This is holy ground. You've never been inside a church for a reason, remember?"
Charlene paused, realizing the truth in ReNew's words. "Right, no powers. We need her to come out to us."
Frustrated, Charlene began shouting, "Mom! It's me, Charlene!"
Inside the church, Tamera, Charlene's mother, carefully unwrapped relics from the church's history, humming along to a 90s R&B tune. "Baby, I'm yours if you want it tonight…" she sang, pausing when she heard a voice.
She cracked the door open and saw a girl with long braids and big doe eyes. "Can I help you?" Tamera asked, confused.
"Mom, it's me, Charlene!" The words felt strange, as if Tamera didn't recognize her. But Charlene's gaze landed on the necklace. Tamera wore— the hidden stone, the key to everything.
ReNew gasped. "Charlene, if she's been wearing that for months, we have a serious problem. It's not meant to be worn for that long."
Charlene's heart sank. "How are we going to fix this?"
ReNew's voice was calm, guiding Charlene's next steps. "Where do you think your mom is staying?
Charlene thought for a moment. "Most likely, at the bed and breakfast we passed earlier.
They set off together, determined. "Let's go," Charlene said, her resolve clear.
When they arrived, the woman behind the counter, Miss Abernathy, greeted Charlene with a warm hug. "It's been so long, sweetheart," she said. "How's your dad?"
"He's great, but I'm here with my mom today," Charlene said, her voice steady. "Can I have my own room? I've developed a snoring problem."
"Of course," Miss Abernathy replied, giving Charlene the key to her room.
Charlene made her way upstairs, but ReNew had a plan. "We'll have to wait until your mom falls asleep."
For the time being, they relaxed, ordered room service, and shared laughter. A bubble bath, a pillow fight, and silly songs filled the room. At that moment, Charlene wasn't just waiting for answers. She was building the courage to face the truth—whatever it might be.
And no matter what, she would have ReNew by her side.