Mind Games

Architect John Fox and interior designer Cora Fox drive their children, Althea “Thea” Fox (12) and Remington “Rem” Fox (10), seven hours from their home in Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Redbud Hollow, Kentucky, for their annual summer visit to their maternal grandmother, Lucinda “Lucy” Lannigan. The children will spend two weeks helping their grandmother on her farm while John and Cora take a break.

During the drive, Thea thinks about her parents’ college romance and their current business, Fox and Fox Homes. She also reflects on her psychic ability to hear thoughts, especially those of her paternal grandmother, Christine Fox, whose thoughts are loud and intrusive. Thea prefers her maternal grandmother, whom she calls “Grammie,” who calls weekly and visits at Christmas. She finds Kentucky beautiful and wonders why her mother ever left. Cora, however, worries about Thea’s gift and discourages her from using it.

Lucy warmly welcomes the family when they arrive. Thea settles into the kitchen, which is filled with the dried flowers that Lucy uses for her soap and candle business, Mountain Magic. While the children check on the animals, Cora talks privately with Lucy about her complicated relationship with John’s judgmental parents. Cora promises to visit more often and invites Lucy, along with her brothers Waylon and Caleb and their extended family, to join them at a vacation rental in North Carolina before school starts.