Past Truths

by Em Pitts

  38

  I missed home so badly. That feeling when you walk in the door and it smells like comfort. When your shoulders sag in relaxation as you sit on the couch and all your stress melts away from the day. The best feeling though? When you take off your shoes.

  "Ahh." I moaned out sinking into the couch and bringing my hospital issue socked feet up. "This is the life."

  "That looks comfortable," Ollie commented in humor.

  "Very comfortable." Nick agreed and sat beside me. "Yes, very comfortable indeed. How do you get up from here? I would sit all day."

  "Some people do." I snorted. "Abby would if she could."

  "Hey! That's not true at all. You are the lazy one." She plopped down on my other side and leaned against me. We both needed to be close still. Everything felt too raw with almost losing each other. "What now?" She commented looking around at the other three people standing in our living room. "This place is too small for so many people."

  "I'll see what I can do." I kissed the top of her head. "You might need to share the bed with me for a bit." The men could sleep in the living room. I might be able to hit up a furniture store and try to make monthly payments on a sofa bed.

  "I can sleep right here," Nick replied lazily. I looked over at his closed eyes and smiled contentedly. "What's for dinner?" He asked perfectly content to stay right where he was.

  "I'll get something." I tapped Abby's legs to get up. She went to move before Raynor held up his hands to hold me still.

  "I've got it.” He was quick to reassure me. "Just tell me where to find and cook the food." He was looking towards the kitchen strangely trying to figure things out.

  "I'll help. I can teach you how to use the stove." Abby added standing up and stretching.

  "I can get that." I tried again only to be waved off.

  "Enjoy being lazy. You've got to get back to work soon." Abby winked before leading Raynor to the kitchen.

  I watched them for a moment with pride. Abby was trying to give them all a chance. She knows their names now and is comfortable enough alone with them. Nick was even teasing her in the hospital about his hair being better than hers. It felt good seeing them work together. Isaake sat down in the seat Abby vacated and blocked my view.

  "They are fine." He reassured me.

  "I know." I smiled shyly at getting caught watching them. "It's nice to have all of you here is all." Then a thought hit my head that had me frowning. "I'm sorry, I never even asked how you all felt being dragged here." I gasped realizing something else. "Ollie, I'm sorry. You had to leave behind your sister, your niece, and nephews. Maybe we can go back?"

  "No!" Nick said at the same time as Isaake exclaimed out.

  "That's not happening."

  "Definitely not." Ollie agreed.

  "We have a theory." Isaake tried explaining. "When we use our powers too much, we get exhausted. We think maybe you used your power to bring us here and that's what caused you to almost die."

  "We are not risking ever doing that again. Not for any reason." Nick said sternly from my other side. But Ollie...I looked towards him and saw a sympathetic smile.

  "It's different for me than it was for you. Ellyne is grown and has been married to Hector for a while. It was nice getting to see my niece and nephews often, but I know they'll be okay. Hector and Ellyne will take care of them. Even Willoughby." He reassured me.

  "I noticed you didn't mention Jayne," I smirked.

  "There's always a bad one in a group." He replied easily.

  "So, who's the bad one amongst you guys?"

  "Raynor." Was answered unanimously. Raynor and Abby weren't far away in the small apartment and could easily hear our conversation.

  "What did I do?" Raynor responded quickly. "I'm the one helping with dinner. If it's anyone, it's Nick. He is trying to live on your couch." He pointed out. I laughed with the others at the ridiculousness. It was light-hearted banter and it was perfect for us.

  "We are going to need more food." Abby pointed out after we all calmed down. "We should go shopping tomorrow."

  "Yeah, we should." I bit my lip at the thought.

  I had a couple of credit cards. I barely used them but had them in case of emergencies. Needless to say, I didn't have any money when I woke up and the other five needed food while I was in the hospital. Abby knew where my cards were and has been using one for everyone's food these last three days. I wasn't looking forward to how much money I was going to need to spend on taking care of everyone now.

  "We should also look at getting you guys a job." I thought out loud. More people working meant more money. "I wonder if I still have a job?"

  "Earl can't fire you for being in the hospital. If anything, he would be more accommodating to avoid a lawsuit." Abby spoke up sounding so much older right now. It still amazes me sometimes how much she has grown over the years. She was never really a child though.

  "I thought you were confusing before, but I really don't understand anything you say now," Nick commented.

  "I understood most of that." Isaake chimed in sounding proud of himself. I tapped his leg happy for him.

  "We need more money to afford to live." I tried to explain. "And I've still got a job because I got sick. That's about it. I should call my job though and make sure."

  "I can do that for you." Ollie offered.

  He had been watching people using phones and wanted to try it out. It still amazed him that you could speak to someone from far away in that manner. Nick still thought his telepathy was better though. I agreed with Nick; it was pretty damn cool to speak in my head to him.

  "Tomorrow." Abby chimed in. "Today you rest and relax. You can't really do that in a hospital. Tomorrow we can go back to the real world and worry about all the problems. Today we watch TV and eat shepherd’s pie." She sounded strict again. When did she start parenting me?

  "I've got the T.V.,” Nick replied happily. He got to use the remote in the hospital. Apparently, “he who has the remote, has the power.”

  "I'm picking what we are watching this time," Ollie replied and came to sit with us. I was lifted up and placed in his lap, before I realized what was happening. "I want to watch the show with all the questions that are supposed to be answers."

  "Jeopardy only comes on at 7:30 at night," I told him. "But you can find some other game shows on here." I directed Nick to the right channel so we could settle in.

  I looked over my shoulder and saw Abby cooking some meat while Raynor peeled potatoes beside her. This was happiness.

  The debt we were about to get in, didn't matter right now. The power that I didn't understand that flowed through me, was inconsequential. Right now, I had my family. And that was all I needed. Together we could face the rest.

  39

  Epilogue

  Vivian

  Knuckles rapped on the door echoing in the silence of the cabin. Vivian sat still in her chair waiting to see if the visitor would leave. She wasn't in the mood for company at the moment.

  The handle turned and opened easily as her brother entered without her permission. It seems her absence has driven him to lose his manners.

  His body jolted to a standstill at the sight of her alive and well, relaxed in her rocking chair.

  "Vivian," he breathed out in relief. "You've worried me this time."

  "Your worry will cause you wrinkles, brother. I am fine, as I've always been." Her shiny black hair fell over her shoulder as she rocked in her chair once again.

  "Where were you? It has been weeks with no word. I feared your boredom had caused the worst." Victor reclined on the only other chair in the tiny hut.

  "It was simply boredom that drove me away. It seems solitude for such a time takes a toll on me. I needed to breathe the fresh air and feel the world beneath me feet. Worry not, for I am home now."

  "I am glad you enjoyed your time away. If you wish to leave again, I'll gladly accompany you. I too, enjoy the fresh air on occasion."

  "Your wife may disagree with
your absence." She smiled truly at the thought of the vicious demon.

  "Miranda is more understanding than you give her credit for." Her naïve brother spoke on behalf of his wife. This is the same woman who disemboweled a demon for touching her property. Understanding, was not the best word used to describe Miranda.

  "Hmm. I like her knew name. It does not suit her at all. My dear brother, it seems you have much to learn if your expecting mate is already willing to be rid of you for a few weeks."

  "She doesn't wish to be rid...expecting?" Victor asked surprised.

  "Did I ruin the news? Take it easy on her, she may not know herself yet." Vivian laughed lightly as her brother jumped out of his chair rushing to the door.

  "Boy or girl?" He remembered to ask before he departed.

  "I've ruined enough surprises, brother. Enjoy your blessing." She waved him off and watched as he ran away from her hut.

  Vivian loved those beautiful moments in life and was thankful for all the children she had watched grow to date. This would be Victor's first set of twins, and another reason she was sure of her recent actions.

  Vivian's right hand rose as she watched the skin change from that of a beautiful young woman, to the middle-aged body she inhabited the past few weeks. The veins stood out more as her calluses formed and nails chipped into the broken hard-working hands. She almost missed it.

  Soon, she will need to leave her cottage again. Perhaps she can ask one of the humans for a candy bar, something chocolate. Then we wait for fate to take its course again.

  About the Author

  Em Pitts is an emerging author who has a love for romance. Having read hundreds of romantic novels, Em decided to combine all the aspects she enjoys into her own stories. Em wrote her first story in the fourth grade and has continued to polish her work ever since. Currently, Em lives with her husband and two children in the Big Bend of Florida.

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