Chapter 532: As It Should Be
I sipped the hot, rich cup of coffee, thick with cream and honey, smiling until my cheeks ached at the happy sight of the family on the sofa across from me. I didn't miss the feeling of Todd squirming around inside me, his spirit and power now back safely where they belonged. I'm not sure what Sassafras told Talee, but the moment she saw me standing on her front step, Tara rushing forward to hug her mother, the stranded demon woman burst into tears, leaving her human husband to lead me to the quiet back bedroom and the still form of their empty son.
It only took moments to restore him, his hazel gaze filling with life before he sat up with a yawn and asked for a snack.
The tall, black-haired Talee, with the wide green eyes and shoulders broader than her husband's, turned to beam at me from the couch as she cuddled her giggling son against her side.
"We can't thank you enough," Taleesharete said, the demon woman reaching out to pull her daughter closer, too, if that was possible while her husband Andrew adjusted his glasses for the millionth time and blinked back tears. Talee's eyes brimmed as well. "I was so sure we'd lost them."
Sassafras stopped lapping at his bowl of cream long enough to purr a few bars. "You have a lovely family," he said. "But you must worry, being so exposed."
"I used to be," Talee said, meeting Andrew's eyes, both with worry on their tired faces. It was pretty clear neither had much sleep since their ordeal started. "But we were complacent, after a while. And when the kids were old enough, we taught them to hide their power." Tara nodded her head while Todd jabbed his sister in her side and giggled. "Since then, we haven't really thought about the dangers." Talee's face crumpled. "I should have been more careful. How did I let this happen?"
I reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "You had no idea," I said. "And Ameline is a particular kind of horrid." Was she ever. And still evading my search for her. "But I want you to know, you don't have to be alone."
Even her husband perked up at that. "What do you mean?" Talee sniffled, resting her cheek on Tara's hair while her accountant husband hugged Todd. Such ordinary people, with ordinary lives.
And an extraordinary secret.
I glanced at Sassafras who winked slowly. "There's safety in numbers," I said. "And though my people are mostly witches, you're welcome to share the protections of my coven."
It was a big offer and I knew it. Not just for this little family, but for my own. I hadn't brought it up to Gram when I'd returned, or mentioned it to Mom when she grilled me about Meira and Ahbi. I'd been tossing the idea around in my head since I crossed over, though, waiting only long enough for Charlotte to calm down and then turn her back on me in cold fury for leaving her behind.
Like it was my fault. Again. Sigh.
I felt my bodywere hovering even now, silent behind me as I made my offer. I could feel her approval and wondered if the family would be so open. Too late.
We Hayles were nothing if not unconventional.
"Sydlynn," Talee said, crying again, but this time in happiness, "we are honored to accept."
Why did I have the feeling I'd be needing them more than they needed me?
***
Mom's reaction to our new additions, who arrived a few days later in their packed minivan, was more motherly than Council Leader so I was happy to see her go to Talee and embrace her when the Happerns pulled up.
I was actually a little surprised to see her anywhere but at Meira's bedside, the place she'd ushered my sister after she'd finally crossed the veil from Dad's care and into Mom's waiting arms.
You could have warned me, Mom sent even as she ushered the family into the kitchen as if she still lived here.
It's not your coven anymore. I sent my words softly, not wanting her to take offence even as Gram cackled in our heads.
She waited in the kitchen, glorious in her pale blue dressing gown and bright purple fuzzy socks, white hair waving in wisps around her, hands clasped under her wrinkled chin as her pale blue eyes sparkled at the sight of Talee's hesitant smile.
"Oh goody," Gram said with a wicked chuckle. "Fresh blood."
Mom's answering mental message warmed me up inside. Silly, she sent. I could have made coffee. And cookies. She smiled at me, touched my cheek as Gram promptly rushed to the refrigerator and pulled out a carton of eggs.
"Breakfast?" She balanced on her toes, eyes roving the newcomers who had no freaking clue what to make of my very odd grandmother. Just the way she liked things, the bratski.
"Gram," I said softly. "It's three in the afternoon."
"Perfect," she winked at Tara and Todd. "Bacon and eggs it is."
I left the smiling family in the care of my grandmother to follow Mom and Sassafras upstairs to Meira's door. The fact my mother was still home and hadn't run off to deal with some Council crisis or another told me volumes.
We paused together at the top of the stairs, staring at Meira's door on the far end of the hall as if none of us wanted to go any further.
"How is she?" I winced at how pathetic my question sounded in my own ears, as if Meira had the flu or something.
Mom's reflexive smile worried me even more than the soft touch her fingertips traced over my hair. "Recovering still," she said. "She's been through so much, Syd." Mom's face crumpled, only for a moment. "I should have been able to protect her."
I'd heard that particular chastisement before, aimed at yours truly by yours truly. "You weren't there," I said softly, hating myself. "I was. And I couldn't," who was I kidding? Didn't, "help."
"Neither did I," Sassafras said, stern and a little snappish. "But blaming ourselves isn't going to help Meira one bit."
I bent and scooped him into my arms, hugging him to me. "You're right."
"As usual," he said. "Meira will be fine. She's a Hayle. And you Hayle witches are nothing if not survivors."
I squeezed Mom's hand as her other stroked Sassy's fur.
"Let's go see for ourselves, shall we?"
With a heavy heart but the hope of Sassafras's years of knowledge to buoy my spirits, I joined my mother and my demon cat as Mom walked through Meira's door.
***
