Their house itself is two stories and the outside walls are painted a dull yellow. They have an old rusty mailbox out on the main street, that has the word May written on it in a faded white paint. In the main two story house, the upstairs holds three bedrooms and one bathroom. Downstairs is a big family kitchen, that is off limits when his grandmother is busy, an entertainment room, a study and finally a dining room.
Getting out of the truck and grabbing his bag and chest strap out of the bed of the truck, Connor caught up to his grandfather at the front door. Connor looked up at the eve of the door and written on it:
Welcome to May’s
Ranch farm and Black Smith
That sign gave Connor a funny idea.
Opening the front door David called into the house. “Hey Honey, guess who’s going to be staying with us for awhile?”
From the kitchen Connor heard her voice “What have you gotten us into now, David?”
“Hi Grandma, how are you doing today?” Rhoda entered the room at the sound of his voice, wearing faded pink shorts with a purple and white polka-a-dot t-shirt. She has a few wrinkles like any respectable grandmother, but don’t let her looks fool you. She knows where to hit any man where it counts, right in the stomach, with no food. She retired not too long ago from being a chef at a local five star restaurant. That being said, she is a terrific cook. Her hair is mostly grey with natural blonde camouflage peppered in and it is kept in a neat perm. She is as tall as his mother, but is about a head taller than Kara.
“Connor! Welcome home.” She then looked to his right and held a deadly accurate wooden spoon in her right hand. Rhoda walked up to David and ruthlessly cracked him hard over his head with it and the impact alone was hard enough that Connor heard even his own skull rattle. “Why didn’t you tell me that Connor was staying over?!”
“Rhoda, I wanted to give you a good surprise.” David sat down on the arm of the sofa and rubbed his head where she probably fractured the skull. After so many decades he should be used to it by now.
“Your surprises are the worst… usually.” Chastising him has always been Rhoda’s favorite game, seconded only by hitting his head, one that she’s a master of. Many spoons lay massacred over the long years.
“Play nice, Honey.” He smiled weakly.
“Oh, I will play Nice later.” She said menacingly and then spoke playfully to say “We both know how much our grandson needs to eat, to keep up his strength.” She turned to Connor and smiled warmly. “Welcome home.”
Knowing his grandma was just teasing, in her way, Connor said “Sorry to cause so much trouble.” he smiled to her and leaned on the door frame. He sat his duffle bag of clothes inside and slid Tool out of his belt loop and rested it on top of the bag because his grandma will not allow him to carry it on his person, inside the house. The only weapons are at her disposal.
“Oh no worries. I love cooking, you know that, and you only eat so much because you burn off your energy just as quick. Also I was looking for an excuse to clock your grandfather over the head.” She pointed to her husband, turned and started walking towards the kitchen with a pleased grin. “Supper will have to be pushed back till seven.”
Before his grandmother left the room his grandfather blurted “Rhoda, do you remember me telling you about Connor’s girlfriend, Sarah?” She stopped in her tracks, but didn’t turn around as she asked “Yes, why?” He said seriously to her back “He showed Sarah the X on his chest.”
Rhoda spun around to look at Connor still leaning on the doorway, as he now crossed his arms. “How did she react to it?” He gave her a proud grin as an appropriate answer. She smiled and seemed satisfied with the simple response. She walked into the kitchen again, wearing a pleased expression.
When she left, he looked at his grandfather, who still rubbed the top of his head. “I need to do some research online. May I use your computer in the study?” David looked up, smiling. He’s used to his wife’s treatment.
“Sure, go right ahead. I will see you at supper anyways.” He stood up and entered the kitchen, taking his life in his own hands.
Pushing himself off the door frame, Connor walked down the hall and entered the study. There were many books covering the wall in no particular order. There was one big desk and a comfortable chair. The walls were painted in a sky blue and a fan on the ceiling remained motionless. On the desk sat his grandfather’s laptop and connected to it was a mouse and a printer. David recently upgraded to digital, high-speed internet, not too long ago and it really helped when anyone needed to do some research and not hog the phone line.
After sitting down and turning on the computer, Connor went directly to his favorite search engine. The first topic he entered into the search line was house foundation diagrams. They were then printed on a few papers, showing lengths, diagrams and angles to fit his needs. He continued searching and printing everything he deemed necessary for the upcoming project; from plumbing, furniture, fireplaces to kitchens.
Sarah’s mother, Jillian kept creeping into his mind. She kept telling him about Balancers and their powers. And an idea struck.
Connor didn’t want to research anything on Balancers because he wanted to hear it all from the woman he loved, but he did want to know more about the elements. In the computer, he typed Elemental representations, and there were over two hundred million possible results. He sifted through many websites until he found exactly what he was looking for.
Understanding washed over him as Connor read this particular site. Originally he thought that there were only the four elements; Fire, Air, Water and Earth. But there was much more to it than that. In fact there are five basic elements, all with a different meaning. The screen showed the name and their definitions.
Fire (Energy) – The movement of molecules that can either emanate heat as it moves faster or cool as it decelerates. Kinetic energy is the source of warmth.
Terra (Earth) – Solid material that holds minerals.
Liquid (Water) – All forms of non-solid elements like water. (The air we breathe is classified as a fluid just like the water you swim in or drink.)
Pressure (Wind) – The application of force on an object to alter and change its outcome, movement or shape.
Metal – An alloy that is capable of being fashioned into a new form and can be liquefied and reshaped by heat. It is a malleable element.
After reading everything on the site, an image popped into his mind that could represent all of these most basic elements. It was a simple and elegant mental image. It felt right.
The last line of the site read “If all of these elements come together, you create life, but take just one element away, it will result in death.” It reminded Connor of Sarah. “Without knowing her secret and her not knowing mine, we were like the five elements. It was all or nothing. Sarah, I love you, all of you.” He looked up at the now spinning ceiling fan in the study. “When you see the surprise I have in store for you, I hope it’s to your liking.”
“Connor, Dinners Ready!” Rhoda announced from the dining room. He looked at the clock on the wall and outside the window to notice how dark it became. The hours of research flew by all too quickly.
Connor sat all of the printouts on the side of the desk and grabbed the spiral notebook and a pen and sat them all together.
Entering the dining room, Connor stopped suddenly. A mouthwatering scene laid out before him. His grandparents were both sitting together across from where he usually sits at the table and seemed to gloat from his reaction. The old oak dining room table sat brimming with food. Upon it were three crystal glasses, filled with sweet iced tea and lemon, stuffing, mashed potatoes, Corn bread, Cranberry sauce, biscuits, sweet potatoes and last but not least was a large, uncut slab of steak. It felt almost like a May’s Thanksgiving dinner.
Connor sat down in a daze and asked “What is all of this?”
Rhoda looked beyond pleased at his response and started “Jenny called here just after you left the house to come over
and said for us to trust you with whatever you are up to. Your mom also said ‘Connor’s ecstatic about something. So Mom, please cook up something hardy for him.’”
Davis looked at her in obvious confusion. “You mean to tell me you knew he was coming, yet you still hit me on the head?”
She looked at him with a feral smile. “I told you I was looking for an excuse to hit you, didn’t I? This simply fit in with my plans.” He shook his head in defeat as she looked back at Connor and said with a playful smile “Let’s dig in.”
After ten minutes of eating, David started the conversation they all wanted to hear, after putting his fork down on the table. “Alright, Son. Now we may talk about whatever you have planned.”
Taking a breath and laying his utensils down Connor started with “I know I do not have any money, but I’m strong enough to work off whatever debt I accumulate. If you need anything done around here I’ll do it, no questions asked. Give me the tasks that are especially too difficult for you to do.”
“Go on.” David wore his calm business expression.
“Well I will need some building supplies bought and to borrow some of your tools. I’ll need to also borrow your trailer to haul the materials.” Looking businesslike himself came easily and natural.
“You may borrow whatever you need. Do you need to use my truck?”
“Only for a part of the way, I’ll pull it myself for the rest of the journey, when I find the ideal spot. That’s why I brought my harness that I pull Kara to school in every morning. I’m going to use everything I’ve got for this project.”
“That’s understandable, now what kind of supplies are you going to need?” David leaned forward, interlacing his thick fingers on the table.
“Some lumber, plywood panels, plenty of two by fours and several posts, insulation, some piping; preferably PVC, some concrete, plenty of nails, glue, calking, red bricks, and some double pane glass panels. I will get you a more accurate list in the morning; I still need to plan and draw out everything I have in my head.”
“Sounds like your building a house?” Rhoda jumped in the conversation.
“A small cottage.” He corrected with a smile.
“But why?” She looked frustrated.
“I’ve only told Mark this, but it looks like I need to tell you as well. I need your word that you will not tell anyone. Not a single person can know or the surprise will be ruined, not even Mom can know and especially Kara.” He looked them in the eyes seriously.
“You have our word.” Said Rhoda and David nodded in agreement.
“Sarah and I are now privately engaged. I want to make a small house just for the two of us. After I am finished with everything, I will show it to Sarah as an early wedding present, then I will bring everyone over to see our home.” Connor leaned back in his chair to let this sink in. They grinned at each other and Connor continued “I will also need to use your forge for another side project.”
“I think that we can handle that! Anything else you need from us?” David asked calmly.
Connor then steadied himself. “This last request is going to be more difficult to acquire.”
“Well out with it! I’m getting excited; I’m looking forward to this project.” Rhoda chimed in and began bubbling over with anticipation.
“I need raw silver ore, about the size of my fist.” He balled up his fist to show as an example.
“That might be difficult, as you said.” David said, looking up to think.
“Not for me!” Rhoda blurted out with a gleeful laugh. Grandfather and grandson both looked at her with dumbfounded expressions. It made her laugh harder. “I might be an old woman, but jewelry is still my best friend. I have a girlfriend who owns a jewelry store. She and her husband make everything themselves from raw materials. She buys raw ore and uncut stones all the time. Since I personally financed her store to open a few years ago, she owes me Big. So Connor don’t worry, I will get you that silver on one condition?”
“Anything.” And he meant it.
“Whatever you make from it, I want to see the final product first.”
“Done.” Connor got out of the chair, ran around the table and picked her up in a hug and spun her around saying “Thank You So Much, Grandma.” She giggled ever so happily. Setting her on the ground again and looking at them both, he said honestly “Thank you. Both of you. You will not regret it.”
“Well a good man takes care of his woman and the woman does the same. A relationship won’t work if it’s one sided.” Rhoda said, smiling up at him.
As he left the dining room, Connor overheard his grandfather say to his grandmother “Your right honey, this will be exciting. Well it seems like I need to find some things for him to do around here, huh?”
She said “You’re right, David. He will be upset if we gave it all to him without him feeling like he owes us. I’ll call Monday morning about the ore…”
Entering the study again, he acquired the printouts and drawing instruments and then headed upstairs. Connor spread the papers over the spare bed and began the first step of building a home for Sarah and himself. He first began drawing out the dimensions and estimating the materials he’d need to begin construction.
***
After waving goodbye to her future mate as he left in the red truck with his grandfather, Sarah’s weekend felt so slow. She wouldn’t see him for a month and that thought kept her spirits down. She so badly wanted to be near him and secretly figure out his plans, but that wouldn’t happen.
Waking up Monday morning, she couldn’t keep certain images from her mind. All of the anguish on Connor’s face as he revealed the pattern on his chest and how he was preparing himself for the worst of her expectations, kept being repeated over and over in her mind. His story about how the mark painfully seared into him gave her the chills every time her mind touched the subject. And the relief that washed over him as she told him that she loved him made her melt. The truth was that the mark over his chest made him look even manlier. Rugged and dangerous personified the mark. At least to her it did. His godly musculature and their first real kiss… “I’ll never forget any of it.”
Getting out of bed to get ready for school, Sarah took a steaming hot shower and put on her usual clothes, a silver t-shirt and knee high shorts. “Since you won’t be there, I won’t care how I look.”
Entering the living room, she noticed the lights were on. Sarah’s parents are never up this early in the morning without reason. “Good morning, Sarah.” Jillian announced cheerfully, even at this early hour. Something was happening. She was wearing only her usual red silk robe that tied around her waist and she wasn’t wearing any foot apparel. She sat on the loveseat with a cup of coffee in her hands, looking excited for some reason.
“Morning…” Sarah said while yawning. “Why are you up so early?”
“We have company.” Her face remained neutral.
Now awake and alert to what she said, Sarah asked quietly “At this hour?” And Jillian smiled a playful smile. She was up to something yet again.
Seeing movement in the kitchen Sarah spotted sandy blond hair at the sink. “Connor! Why are you back so soon?” She yelled in excitement.
“Nope! Try again.” Said a chirpy voice and her heart crashed in on itself.
Recognition hit like a truck. “Kara?” she asked skeptically.
“Bingo!” Kara stepped out of the kitchen, wearing a cutoff pink halter top and blue shorts. She held a cup of coffee in one hand and walked past Sarah to sit down with her mother on the sofa. She looked at Jillian and said “Your little sister needs to get her eyes checked. She mistook little ol me, for my gigantic brother. Don’t you agree, Jillian?”
Jillian stole a quick glance at Sarah. “Nah, but she gets ahead of herself when she gets excited… Especially recently.”
Quickly processing what’s going on Sarah figured it out. Connor told Kara that her mother was her sister. Jillian entered her mind and said “Connor is keeping our surreptitio
us life closed to the public and is keeping up our usual cover story. It seems Jack and I were right in trusting him.”
Only one thing didn’t add up so Sarah asked “Kara, why are you here so early in the morning?”
“Oh, Brother said that while he was gone that you would take me to school.” She looked at Jillian and then back, after realizing the looks they both shared. “He said it would be alright.” Tilting her head to the side she asked “Brother, did ask you right?”
“Of course, I’m sorry I just didn’t remember it. Being so early in the morning I had forgotten.” Jillian hid a giggle in a cough and Sarah thought “I know he didn’t ask me, Mother. We were all there when he left. I don’t see any problems in giving her a ride though.” She knew her mother heard telepathically.
Jillian spoke with her mind “Push her for information. I really want to know what my future son-in-law has up his sleeve.”
“You and me both. He will be my mate remember?” She nodded, catching the drift. And then a light smile touched her lips.
“Kara, would you like to bring a snack with you to school? We have fresh fruit and granola bars.” Jillian was trying to be a good host in her offering.
“I wouldn’t want to impose.” Kara said while leaning away.
Jillian said quickly “No imposition really. We are after all, almost family.”
Kara playfully smacked Jillian’s arm. “Yeah, at the rate Brother and Sarah are heading, we will be. Hey Jillian, have you seen a change in your sister as I have in my brother?”
Kara waited for an answer. Moments later Jillian sat her coffee on the table and leaned back into the sofa. She looked right at her child and her golden eyes began twinkling. “Yes Sarah has changed. She used to be so shy and quiet, unsure of herself as well as looking plain and beaten down.” She smiled a little more brightly. “In the past few weeks after meeting Connor, she radiates happiness. She looks fulfilled and more beautiful as a woman than I ever could have imagined her to ever be. It has been a remarkable change.”
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