“Emma told me the rather rude comments a boy was making were meant to entice me to find him attractive.” Her elbow resting on the table she placed her chin in her palm. “I don’t understand how asking me if I think he is hot is the same as asking if I think he is attractive. Nor do I understand why he wanted to ‘tweet me’.” Looking at me, she shook her head. “Isn’t that something only a bird can do, Cat?”
I would have laughed if not for the completely dejected look on her face. Emma cut in before I could respond.
“Anna, I told you digits are your phone number, email address, and that sort of thing.” Emma looked at me and smiled while rubbing Anna’s back. “Don’t worry, Cat. I jumped in and saved your cousin before she misinterpreted anything else and laid the poor boy out. You really should explain how flirting and boys work, Cat.” Moving closer to me, she whispered, “The poor girl acts like she grew up on the moon or something.”
Her comment hit awfully close to home, and I snorted. “I’ll be sure to fill her in before she starts school, Em. I promise.”
Emma, not trusting me, took it upon herself to explain a few of the finer points of flirting throughout the remainder of the day. Our shopping trip was full of unsolicited information and advice for Anna, and she took it all in stride, just as she had everything else.
On the home front, Aunt Lucie and I had exhausted all efforts to learn more about Anna’s condition and potential with little to show for it. Aunt Lucie enlisted the help of her teacher, Julia, hoping she might be able to uncover something in the spirit realm, and I requested assistance from Millie who was already looking through her ancient tomes for information, as well.
Zane and I tried our best to avoid situations that would leave us alone together, and mercifully, I hadn’t received any new Tourists’ names, making the situation just a little easier still. Research truly was the name of the game. I was able to uncover information on a Guide and Guardian from long ago with Millie’s help, yet again, and found that this couple had a very similar connection and were able form a loving attachment without much complication. They had lived long and productive lives together without any mention of it hindering their ability to work together effectively. One point one for the home team!
That night I sneaked into Zane’s room and left a note for him to meet me in the barn. After everyone said their goodnights and fell asleep, I took the pages of text I’d copied and a flashlight with me to wait in the old barn. Every little creak of the old structure and hoot of our resident owl sent me jumping in fright. Zane arrived just as I was just beginning to wonder if I had made a mistake asking him to meet me here. As he walked through the doors, I nearly tackled him with my fierce hug and searing kiss. “What took you so long, old man? I was nearly ready to call it a night and head back to the house.”
He lowered his head to my neck, breathing me in, and chuckled, tickling the sensitive skin there. “Cat, we really need to work on your patience. I couldn’t leave the house right behind you.” He kissed the spot he was nuzzling and pulled back to look at me. “I don’t think your parents are as oblivious as you would like to believe.” His smile seemed to light up the dark space. For a moment, I forgot exactly what it was I had asked him out here to discuss. Leaning in, I kissed him slowly, but he pulled back and laughed again.
“You know, all this laughing when I’m kissing you is doing nothing for my fragile ego, Mr. Laroche.” I raised my brow in annoyance.
“First, you do not have a fragile ego, Cat. Next, I know you didn’t request my presence for a make out session.” Mimicking my look, he cocked his brow and squeezed my hip.
My face heated slowly as I realized I’d almost forgotten the important information I had, and I smiled shyly. “Uh, Millie may have found evidence to support the fact that Guides and their Caomhnóirs have, in fact, had romantic relationships without difficulty. In fact, this particular couple was made stronger because of their romantic bond.”
Without warning he picked me up and held me close, swinging us around in a circle. He smiled. “Millie’s got all the answers, doesn’t she?” He laughed and set me on my own feet. “So there’s hope for us yet.” His face softened as he stared into my eyes and rubbed his thumb on the apple of my cheek. “Is it too soon to tell you... What I mean to say, Cat, is...” His flustered sigh made me grin, which in turn made him smile and relax. “I think I love you, Catherine Dalry. I hope that doesn’t upset you because I know it’s soon, but I truly believe that I was put in your life to serve you as a protector and partner.” His eyes closed as though he were afraid of my reaction.
“Zane?” I smoothed my hand over his cheek until he looked at me. “Nothing this wonderful could ever upset me. I think I feel the same way.” I leaned in and kissed his lips softly, surprised when his hand came up to cradle the back of my head, holding me there to deepen the kiss.
Needing air, he pulled back and stared at me for the longest time. “Cat, I promise to never call you “kid” again if you’ll stop calling me “old man,” okay?” We chuckled, and I agreed. We read the pages I’d printed by flashlight.
The story of the young couple was compelling, giving us more than hope that our situation wasn’t a recipe for broken hearts on both ends.
“This is interesting.” He pointed to a passage that discussed the main reason a relationship between a Guide and Caomhnóir was initially taboo. Given that they shared a mother, they were related. Of course it went against the thoughts of a time that often had cousins and sometimes even siblings marrying, but the idea that mingling the lines might eventually bring downfall to both powers was enough to stop them.
“Hmm... You know, that isn’t really a concern for us. I haven’t read any other reasons to support our not being together either. Have you?”
He shook his head and leaned back in the chair. “Not one.”
We spent the next hour discussing theories and any repercussions to our decision to be a couple before I got my wish for an impromptu make out session.
That night visions of Zane replaced my dreams of Ireland. For the most part, this was a good thing as most of my dreams of my ancestors’ homeland were actually night terrors filled with headless men and man-eating seals. Dreams of the Badbeh faded from my nighttime visions, as well, but I lived in fear that with my next Tourist they would resume, and with a vengeance. Not giving in to the Badbeh’s ploys would be easier now, but I was anything but safe.
As Thanksgiving passed and Christmas approached, everyone’s cheeriness level was off the charts. Our small home was festively decorated in the bold colors of the season. Reds, greens, and golds glittered in every corner. The small forgotten piano that had once been covered with books now sparkled and rang with traditional carols played by Anna and sung by the brave few not afraid to be laughed at. We all enjoyed reminding Anna what it was like to be a part of a family, especially Will, who had taken to sticking up for Anna when my brothers got a little too rough or rude.
Will and Emma had resumed waiting for me in the parking lot at school as though I had never been gone. My month long absence, explained away as a case of Mono, hadn’t been accepted as readily as Anna’s arrival, but eventually the furor died down and life resumed its predictable rhythm... I thought.
Two weeks before Christmas, Will ambushed me in the school library, intent on reminding me about a promise I had made more than a year ago, a promise I had dreaded trying to fulfill.
“So, you remember when I asked you to help my Gran cross over?” He jumped right in, no skirting around the issue for him.
“I do. But I have to be honest and tell you I still don’t know if I can,” I whispered.
“I thought maybe we could talk to her together and just try to do what you normally do. Maybe after New Year’s?” His eyes searched mine for an answer.
Not the eyes... crap, caught in the vortex of those big, sad, puppy dog eyes.
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“We can try. I just can’t promise anything.”
I would do anything for my crazy, psychic best friend and he knew it, but he never took advantage. Feeling a sudden surge of overpowering love and friendship, I hugged him as tightly as I could to let him know I would always be there.
“Okay, Cat! You can stop now, people are staring.” His voice cracked and we both started laughing, which got us kicked out of the library and made us laugh even harder.
“Hey, study session tonight at Emma’s. Mark will be there.” He snickered.
“I’ll be there but not because your girlfriend is still trying to fix me up with Mark.” My voice echoed off the metal lockers lining the hall, lessening the stern effect I meant to impart.
“She just wants to see you both happy.” He closed his locker and looked down at his feet. “So, when were you going to fill me in on your feelings for Zane the protector?”
His question took me off guard. I choked on the water I’d just drank from my water bottle before turning to him with what I’m sure was a crazed look on my face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I hadn’t felt it necessary to fill Will in on my revelation regarding Zane, so I had let them force poor Mark into our friendly triangle, effectively making it a square.
“Cat, you forget that I know you.” He looked at me the way he always did and saw straight through my carefully constructed walls. “You love him.” It wasn’t an accusation or a question. It was a simple statement.
Lowering my gaze, I nodded and whispered, “I do.”
Without pause, I felt his arms go around me and instinctively mine went around him. “I’m happy for you, Cat. You deserve something good.” His sigh was comically long and loud. “But you get to break it to Emma.” We stood there for a few moments, laughing and rocking back and forth before he added, “Seriously, Cat. She’ll be devastated that you won’t be the future Mrs. Mark Whitby.”
My reaction was swift and merciless as I sucker punched him in the side.
That night as I sat feigning participation in study both Will and I knew I didn’t need, I noticed how fun Mark was even as I noticed his lack of eye contact with me.
Seizing the first opportunity alone I approached him about our one and only date and the resulting kiss. “I hope this isn’t awkward for you. I mean I’ve enjoyed our study sessions with Will and Emma, but I hate the idea that she keeps including you in the hopes we’ll ‘hit it off’ finally.” I smiled shyly and put my hair behind my ear.
“Not really. I’ve tried to discourage her, but once Emma sets her mind to something not even a natural disaster can divert her.” He began laughing.
“Yeah, I’ve figured that out, uh, the hard way.” I thought back to her insistence that I allow her to set me up on a blind date to begin with. “You know, I really did have a great time on our date. I’ve been putting this off but I feel like I should be up front and tell you there is someone else. What I mean is, there is someone else I care for. It’s kind of a new revelation but the feelings have been there for a while. I’ll understand if you don’t want to hang out anymore. I feel like I kind of led you on since I told you I didn’t really have the time to date.”
“I can’t pretend I’m not a little disappointed. Were you being honest with me when you told me that or was it just a nice way to brush me off?” He shrugged and dug his hands into his pockets.
“It was the truth, and honestly if the man I’m seeing wasn’t who he is, I wouldn’t be seeing him either.” I laughed, thinking about what I said and how vague and mysterious it sounded.
Mark laughed with me and shook his head. “I believe you. I hope he’s a good guy because if not then I’ll offer to kick his butt. Thanks for the honesty, Cat. I really do appreciate it and I can’t let you seeing someone stop me from hanging out with you, as selfish as that is. It’s just too fun.” His smile was warm, and I realized at that very moment that I had added to my friend count by one more.
Every night that week, I spent part of the evening “cramming” for midterms with them. The majority of our time together consisted more of laughing and joking around than actual studying, and I found myself searching my mental memory bank for single funny girls to hook Mark up with. Looking at it from that angle it seemed kind of warped but for all the right reasons.
“Hey, I ran into Sarah Graham today and she mentioned seeing you at Emma’s house a couple weekends ago... she thought you were really cute.” I raised my eyebrows trying to elicit a positive reaction from Mark, but all he did was laugh at me.
“Just because I accept the fact that you don’t have a thing for me doesn’t mean I’m blind to all the silly girls out there that do, Cat. I think I’m just looking for more, you know.”
I did know. Boy, how I knew.
“All right, but just know I won’t give up that easily.” With that we both began laughing until tears ran down our faces and our breathing hitched.
“Looks like you two have a lot in common,” Emma smirked.
I looked at Mark who was shaking his head and mouthing “natural disaster.”
“Don’t. You. Start!” I gasped. “Just friends.”
“Exactly, just friends,” Mark added wiping tears from his eyes and trying to refocus on the history book in front of him.
“Hey, guys, I’ve gotta get home. Mom has some special dinner planned for Anna and my presence is not negotiable.” I packed my things back into my dingy pack and headed toward the door.
“Is it that time already?” Will looked at his watch and stood up to gather his things as well. “Your mom invited Emma and I too. What’s it for?”
Shrugging, I looked at him and tilted my head. “I don’t know but it must be big if she’s inviting friends as well as family.” I turned to Mark and noticed he was gathering his things. “Hey, would you like to come, too?”
His bright smile was immediate as he shook his head. “Naw. I need to get home anyway. I have a hot date with a piece of my mom’s pecan pie and a frosty glass of milk.” He rubbed his stomach for effect and we all laughed.
The drive home found me contemplating the week of study nights with my friends. Being there with normal teenagers made me feel like a part of some time-honored tradition, but the minute I left their company reality hit me, hard and fast. Once upon a time, that would have reduced me to a sobbing mess but now I took it in stride. The challenges I faced were no longer a burden but a blessing. And how could a situation that included bringing Zane into my life truly be terrible?
Zane. The man, the protector, the instigator of many an argument, even now. One day I would tell Emma why Mark and I could be only friends and why that was enough for both of us.
The dinner my mom had planned for that evening was for Anna’s birthday, a fact the two cohorts had hidden from the rest of us for weeks. I suppose it could be considered a reverse surprise party since Anna was in on it. The house was full of brightly colored streamers and balloons, very fitting for a girl who just a few weeks ago looked like a seven-year-old but now resembled someone twice that age.
As I walked through the front hall and into the study, I noticed Zane huddled in a corner with my dad, laughing and talking. I felt the familiar pull to him but overcame the sensation by making brief eye contact with Zane and smiling. Better to leave it for now, I reminded myself.
Turning around before I gave in to the instinct to pull him outside and kiss him silly, I went in search of my mother, calling to her as I walked toward the kitchen. “Mom, do you need some help?”
“Oh, there you are, love. I do need some help. Can you grab the food and start putting it on the table?” She shuffled a few dishes around on our limited countertop and smiled at me.
“Consider it done. Hey, what are Zane and Dad laughing about in there? They seem awfully chummy lately.” I tried to act nonchalant but fell short—som
ewhere between asking why my secret boyfriend and my dad were laughing together and using the word chummy, which had never entered my vocabulary until that point.
“I wouldn’t have a clue, love. You know how men are; they find the strangest things funny. Besides, is it such a bad thing, the two of them getting along? I see the way you look at him.” She winked.
Nearly dropping the dish I had picked up, I stared at her for a moment before responding, “Am I that transparent?”
Wiping the mashed potatoes from the front of her apron, she peered at me with a wicked knowing smile. “You are indeed, and close your mouth, dear. You’ll likely to catch a fly like that.” She leaned against the counter and looked at me in a way that only a mother can look. “Can I ask what caused the dramatic change?”
How was I supposed to explain the thing between Zane and me to my mother when I didn’t really understand it myself? Sighing, I set the bowl of corn back on the counter and tried to put words to what had happened. “It does seem dramatic, doesn’t it? It’s a long story, Mom, best saved for another day... when we can just sit and talk. But I can tell you that he feels the same. We’re avoiding telling everyone about the situation until we can figure out what the ramifications of having a relationship will be. The whole Guide/ Caomhnóir mess you know.”
Her light steps went unnoticed as I finished my thought with my eyes closed, holding back the tears that always threatened to overcome me when I thought about the situation. When I opened them she was standing beside me, arms outstretched. “Come here.” She wrapped me up in her loving embrace and whispered her wisdom-filled words into my ear. “Savor the feelings you have for him. My daughter wouldn’t fall for the first boy that showed her attention, so this young man has to be something special. Guide laws be damned, my love, you hold onto him and don’t let go.”
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