Chapter 251: Back to (Para)Normal
By the time Mom arrived later that day, everything was back to abnormal. Not that I was complaining she was home or anything. Even though she still hadn't found Gram, she decided to stay. Uncle Frank agreed to go on alone, sending back reports as often as he could, though I could tell from Mom's frequent moments of quiet anxiety they weren't often enough for her liking.
It was pretty comforting to have her address the entire coven and tell them as much as she commended them for standing with me in the end, her disappointment at their doubting me from the beginning hurt her deeply. Mom was so good at the whole emotional manipulation thing she had all of the family witches in tears at the end of it, begging me to forgive them. I did, and right away. They'd paid their dues and more.
With one exception, of course. Celeste was a stone set so deep in her own slop she refused to budge. And while she calmly accepted Mom's chastisement, I knew her anger still lived. Naturally the woman claimed innocence, that she only had the well being of the coven in mind, that her little trip to my room was in an effort to locate me. She played the good little witch, but Mom was at the end of her rope.
Since there was no proof, as usual, that Celeste had anything to do with any wrongdoing, I couldn't come out and accuse her. Getting her kicked out required coven law and so far she managed to keep herself squeaky clean.
Trouble was, she was needed, too. Poor James Crossman was suddenly a widower. The snapped thread I'd felt as I returned to the Gate, the gaping emptiness left behind, belonged to his wife, Sandra. I'd felt her die, we all had, in a terrible car accident, lost while she rushed to meet us all. Yeah, I still carried that guilt, you betcha. As for James, being a former Purity witch, Mom deemed it important he have someone he respected spend time with him and Celeste was it.
Didn't say much for his taste, but whatever.
I had no contact from Quaid since the night we fought and my fear for him only grew stronger. But as long as the connection between us remained, I could only hope he was okay and just being a jerk still.
Funny how that was my preference.
A few hours after I arrived home from town hall, I received a text from Alison. She was leaving, going to New York with her mom and dad, taking the rest of the semester off. I tried calling her, but her phone just went right to voicemail and no amount of attempts at contact were returned so I sadly let her go.
I'm sure her mom told her I was supposed to show up the night before and when I hadn't she chose to hold it against me. I just hoped my friend would be okay after a fresh start in a new city.
Which meant I was alone again. Sure, there was Liam to chat with, and at least he knew all about my real life, so that was kind of comforting. But he seemed to have co-opted my dog. Galleytrot was usually in the Gate cavern with Liam and very rarely showed up at home anymore. His excuse was that I obviously didn't need a bodyguard. And while I agreed with him, I still missed having him around.
And yes, I still had Beth too, sort of. Enough to say hello to in the halls at school, but that was about it. I did remember to tell my mother about Beth's family problems and from the kind and gentle smile on Mom's face and the hug she gave me, I doubted those troubles would last much longer.
Liam was kind of adopted by the coven. Only a couple of months from eighteen anyway, he decided to take his chances and dodge the authorities, something Mom agreed to help him with. Since the whole town was literally on his side because of the Gate magic, we all figured he'd get away with it no problem.
He'd taken to living in the Gate cavern where his grandfather once did. He confessed his mom sent him a letter, but he refused to open it and neither Galleytrot nor I were about to force the issue. We worried about him, of course, and the fact it was likely Sonja wasn't on the happy list in Unseelieland, but the fact she sent the letter had to mean she was at least okay.
At least, I hoped so.
He'd settled into his new job really well, pouring over the endless pile of books in the chamber. Shaylee would have nothing to do with the Gate from then on so I couldn't help him in his research because I didn't read Gaelic. But I could feel the Gate now, loud and clear, and wondered why I'd missed it before, or the pull of the fairy realm. I was pretty sure I hadn't seen the last of Thalion and worried every once in a while about what the Unseelie Lord Venemeth had planned next.
And what he would do about me, now that I was on his radar.
One bright spot in this whole mess. I learned so much about the history of Wilding Springs, I got an A on my history project. And our old Vice Principal was back, recovered from a mysterious 'illness' which meant no more Ms. Spaft. Though if I saw that woman again, she wouldn't be handing out detention. Not after I was finished with her.
My deepest concern, to be totally honest, was Dad. After the morning we closed the Gate, he turned really dark and angry. Almost like he'd had enough of things happening around him and being unable to do anything about it. So angry, I actually asked Mom if we should take steps. And while she smiled it away, said he was fine, I was sure I wasn't the only one with the niggling fear in the back of my mind.
What a way to start the school year.
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Dedication
To my sister Cathi, a shining star.
Thank you for your love and support.
**
