by S. J. West
Leah and I hop inside my car. My phone buzzes and I pull it out of my jacket pocket.
120 and counting...about to go talk to your father… wish me luck....
Good luck :)
"From that big, happy grin on your face I think I only need one guess who just sent you that text," Leah says.
"I asked Aiden to the Valentine's Day dance," I tell her.
"And?" She asks anxiously.
"He hasn't said yes yet because he wants to ask my dad for permission to officially date me first," I tell her.
"Aww," Leah says, holding her hands over heart getting all moony eyed on me, "that's just so sweet. I never thought of Aiden as being so old fashioned. It's like asking to court you or something."
"I just hope my dad says yes," I say biting my bottom lip in worry now that I think about what Aiden is about to do.
"You think your dad would say no?"
I shrug. "I'm not sure. I think he'll be ok with it. After Aiden passed his test at dinner last night, he seemed more at ease with the situation. But, you know how protective my dad can get sometimes."
"Yeah, he can be worse than your uncle in the over protective department, which is saying a lot."
I sigh. "I'm not going to think about the negative," I tell Leah as I slide the key into the ignition and start my car. "Only positive thoughts, Leah."
"You're right," Leah says. "No sense in thinking the worst. Miracles have been known to happen. I've seen them."
I feel sure Leah meant for her words to be encouraging. But comparing my father giving his blessing to Aiden to date me to a miracle definitely didn't ease my nervousness.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
When I pull up in the driveway, I see Aunt Tara's car parked in front of the house.
"I wonder what Aunt Tara's doing here," I muse out loud as I turn off the car's engine.
"Let's go find out!" Leah says enthusiastically, immediately hopping out of the car.
Leah loves my Aunt Tara. But, there aren't too many people who don't, once they get used to her bluntness. If Uncle Malcolm was like a second father to me, Aunt Tara was definitely my second mother. If anything ever happened to my parents, I knew we kids would be well taken care of. If not by my aunt and uncle, then Abby and Sebastian or Jess and Mason would take us in. My grandma Cora would probably take care of us too, but she lives with her new husband in the Amish community her parents live in. Becoming Amish wasn't on my life's ‘to do’ list.
As soon as we walk through the door, I know exactly why my Aunt Tara is at our house.
"Oh my god," Leah says making a bee-line for the kitchen, "I'm staying for supper."
The aroma of freshly baked cornbread, fried pork chops, turnip greens, black-eyed peas and candied sweet potatoes welcome us home.
Aunt Tara is standing in the kitchen chopping up some pecans, presumably for one of her pies, when she looks up at us. Her three-year-old daughter, Ella, and Mae are sitting in the middle of the living room floor playing with a plastic princess tea party set dressed up as Snow White and Cinderella, respectively. I can hear Linc and Will upstairs playing pool and taunting each other about who the better player is.
I walk over to Aunt Tara and give her a kiss on the cheek.
"Why are you here cooking?" I ask her, placing my book bag down on the floor beside the kitchen island.
"Your dad called me and said he didn't think he would have time to do it tonight. I took the hint and volunteered. Malik is away taking care of a warehouse distribution problem we've been having in Houston anyway. So, it gives me a chance to make sure you kids don't forget your Southern roots. Don’t get me wrong, your dad's a great cook and all, but he cooks too fancy for my taste buds sometimes."
"Please tell me you intend to make your fried okra too," Leah practically begs.
"Fried okra and fried green tomatoes, hon," Aunt Tara tells her with a wink, knowing they’re Leah’s favorites.
My mom phases into the kitchen. She smiles when she sees all of us there together.
"Why did you phase home?" I ask her.
She and dad always ride home together from the college in his car. My mother rarely uses her phasing ability.
"Your dad had an unexpected visitor right before we were about to leave," she tells me. "I have a feeling you probably know who I'm talking about."
My stomach becomes a bundle of nerves.
"Yes, Aiden told me he was going to talk to dad," I admit.
"I didn't stay," my mom says, "because Aiden looked nervous enough. I didn't think he needed both your parents sitting there passing judgment on him. Do you know why he wanted to speak with your father?"
"I asked him to go with me to the Valentine's Day dance," I tell her. "He said he couldn't agree until dad gave us his blessing to start dating."
"Well that's just down right sweet," Aunt Tara says, waving the hand with the knife in the air to make her point. "I don't care if he did used to drink blood. I like that boy."
"Do you think dad will say no?" I ask my mom. If anyone knows what my dad's reaction will be, it's my mom.
"I don't think your father will say no. But, I do think he'll make sure Aiden understands how we expect him to treat you. Your father doesn't want to keep you locked up like a hermit, Caylin. He just wants to make sure Aiden knows we won't stand idly by and watch you be mistreated by anyone, soul mate or not."
"I don't think Aiden would ever mistreat me," I say, feeling as though I need to defend him.
"No, I don't think he will either," my mother admits. "Especially since he felt the need to come and ask your dad for his blessing before accepting your invitation to the dance. Jess called me and said she invited you and Aiden to her house in the Bahamas tomorrow. How did you manage to get out of your classes?"
I tell my mom all about the sex ed class Uncle Malcolm made me endure and my 'project' which was now safely stowed behind the seat of my car. She laughs.
"It sounds like something your uncle would do," she says.
"Well, I'm just glad he showed you how to put on a condom," Aunt Tara says in a relieved voice.
Leah giggles.
"Tara," my mom says, as she raises an eyebrow in her best friend’s direction, "I would like to think she won't need that particular skill for a while yet."
Can your cheeks burn red hot? Because mine feel like they're about to melt off my bones they're so hot with the turn this conversation is taking.
"Lilly Rayne, have you actually let yourself look at Aiden? I realize he’s probably gonna be your future son-in law so you have blinders on, but, Lord have mercy, I swear if I wasn't a happily married woman I would have a hard time not jumping on that if I got the chance."
"Aunt Tara," I moan, leaning my folded arms on the counter of the bar attached to the kitchen island and burying my head on top of them in utter and complete mortification.
"I'm just being honest here," Aunt Tara says, not seeing anything wrong with her admission. "That man is fine. And that's saying a lot considering how many Watchers I've seen in my lifetime. I'm not saying I think you need to have your way with him anytime soon now, but, good Lord, girl, I couldn't blame you if you did."
"I have faith Caylin will know when the time is right for her to share herself in that way with Aiden," my mom says.
I peek up from my folded arms and look at my mom.
Of all the people in my life, her words have always carried the most weight with me. She was the voice of reason when some of those around me would caution me a little too overzealously. Her faith in my judgment made me more confident in my own decisions. And, I knew if I ever did something completely bone headed she would be the first one to point it out.
Almost a half an hour later, my dad finally makes it home. He doesn't say much when he first gets there, just kisses my mom and says he needs to do some things in his office until supper is ready. I assumed he would have wanted to talk to me about his meeting with Aiden, but he doesn't seem to be in any rush to tell me what happ
ened.
Curiosity gets the better of me, and I seek him out in his office at the back of the house.
I knock on the door softly and hear an equally soft, "Come in, Caylin."
I walk into the room and find my dad standing behind his desk looking out the bay window, which faces towards the lake. The afternoon sun is just setting on the horizon and turning the day into evening, casting shadows throughout the quickly darkening study.
I walk over to stand beside him, peering out at the tranquility of the lake I grew up by.
It takes a few seconds, but my dad finally looks over at me.
"I suppose you want to know whether or not I gave Aiden my blessing," he says.
I nod but refrain from saying anything else, not wanting to push him to tell me what happened.
"I gave it to him," my dad tells me, "and I talked to him about how I expected him to treat you. I got the feeling I didn't need to, but he listened to what I had to say, and it made me feel better getting everything out in the open with him."
My dad turns away from the window to fully face me.
"I assume this means you and Aiden will be going to the dance on Friday night?"
"I think so," I say, not completely sure. "He said he couldn't give me an answer until after he talked with you."
"This will be your first real date," my dad says. "The one you had with Joshua really doesn't count, does it?"
"No," I admit. "After I saw Aiden at the concert, it turned into more of a friend's night out for me than my first date."
"Were you wanting to forgo our usual date this Valentine's Day and spend it with Aiden instead?" My dad asks.
It's an unexpected question, but I immediately reply without even having to think about it, "No. I want to spend it with you because it will be our last one."
My dad smiles sadly. "Good. I was hoping I would get one more with you."
"Even if Aiden wasn't in the picture, I figured it would be our last Valentine’s together since I'll be in college next year. I doubt I can just up and take the day off like I have been. Plus, it's time you started taking Mae out and teaching her what she should expect from any man in her life. I hope you know how much I've always appreciated you and Uncle Malcolm for being such good role models for me. I know how I deserve to be treated because of what the two of you have done, and I’ll always remember the times we've spent together."
My dad hugs me then and I hug him back.
I think he understands I won't accept being treated badly by Aiden because he raised me to expect better from any man I let into my life. I've always felt special because the people around me fostered that idea by their actions, not just their words. Words are easy to say, but showing someone you love them by spending time with them and investing yourself in who they become lasts longer and means more. Knowing I am someone special enough to garner the attention of a man as wonderful as my dad proves to me that I am someone who deserves the best life has to offer. He is the man I have always compared other men to. And I have faith Aiden will be up to the challenge of meeting the high standard my father has set.
My dad and I are cleaning the kitchen after supper when Jess and Mason arrive at our house. Jess is wearing her sword on her back, safely sheathed in the black leather baldric JoJo made for her a long time ago.
"Are you guys ready?" Jess asks us but is looking at me when she says it.
It's my future we're about to delve into after all. I'm the one who will have to deal with what we end up seeing.
"I'm ready," I tell her, setting the washrag in my hand into the sink.
"We're all meeting at my house in Cypress Hollow," Jess tells me. "Aiden's picking up Rafe and Gabe, and Malcolm is getting JoJo and Chandler. Poor Zack, I think he's just grateful for a good excuse to get away from the wedding preparations. He and Remy are still trying to make all those stupid origami swans Mama Lynn wants for decorations. Remy has so many paper cuts I'm gonna have to get Rafe to heal them before he leaves tonight."
Leah giggles. "I know my dad will appreciate that, Jess."
My dad gives me a hug.
"Wish I could go in there with you," he tells me. "But apparently we regular humans aren't allowed to come into the inner sanctum."
I hug him back. "You're anything but regular, Dad."
"I just hope you figure out how to kick Baal's ass," Aunt Tara says, her arms crossed in front of her.
"That's what we're hoping for," Jess tells her.
"If nothing else," Mason says, "we should be given a clue showing us what needs to be done about him. I don't think any of us want Caylin to spend the rest of her life constantly looking over her shoulder. There has to be a way to get him out of the picture."
"Why don't you just hack him to death with that flaming sword of yours, Jess?" Aunt Tara asks.
"Trust me," Jess says, "I would love nothing more, but from what Gabe said about his death, I'm not the one destined to do it. I hope we learn more about that tonight because it seems to be connected directly with Caylin's future."
I hug my dad one more time and walk over to Jess and Mason.
"Then let's go," I say. "Let's figure this out so I can start living my life."
Mason takes Jess’ hand and they phase.
"Hey," my Aunt Tara says drawing my attention to her, "chin up, baby. Everything will work out the way it should. God is on your side. Don’t you forget that."
I nod because I know she’s right. With God on our side, there’s nothing we can’t handle as a family.
When I phase to Jess and Mason's Cypress Hollow home, Uncle Malcolm is already there with JoJo and Chandler. JoJo is wearing her talisman, Joseph’s coat of many colors, and Chandler is twirling his talisman, an ivory flute, between his fingers as he chats with Leah.
“So on Friday, make sure you don’t just play your own songs at the dance. Otherwise, people might get suspicious,” she tells him.
“Leah, Leah, Leah,” Chandler says reassuringly, “I’m not completely egocentric. I do know other songs besides my own. No one will figure out it’s me under my disguise. I’ve used it a hundred times and never had anyone guess who I am.”
“I know but I don’t want any of the kids at school figuring it out. If they do, it’ll just cause all kinds of drama.”
“No one is going to know,” Chandler assures her. “I’ll just be Jimmy James, struggling rock musician doing a high school gig to make ends meet. Trust me, no one will know it’s actually Chandler Cain, rock god extraordinaire, playing at your little shindig.”
“Why are you doing it anyway?” Uncle Malcolm asks, looking completely suspicious of Chandler’s motives. “Not exactly your usual venue. Won’t you miss having a stadium full of horny teenage girls screaming your name?”
“I’m doing it because Leah asked me to,” Chandler shrugs. “You know I would do anything for her. She’s like my little sister.”
“Some rock god you are you big softy,” Jess says, running her fingers through the top of Chandler’s perfectly coifed hair and messing it up.
“Hey, hey, watch the do, woman. It takes a team of highly trained professionals to make me look this good every day.”
“I guess some people need the help,” Uncle Malcolm says, his arms crossed as he smiles smugly at Chandler.
“Not all of us can pull off the bare the chest to distract from everything else effect,” Chandler quips back.
Uncle Malcolm’s eyes narrow on Chandler.
“Watch what you say rock star god,” Uncle Malcolm says snidely, “or you might be visiting that stairway to Heaven sooner than you think.”
Chandler opens his mouth like he’s about to say something smart back, but Jess slaps her hand over his lips before he can get a word out.
“Let’s not have a pissing match tonight, boys,” she says. “We have more important things to do. Both of you need to keep in mind why and who we’re here for.”
Jess looks over at my mom. “Lilly, did you warn Caylin about who she’ll see
in our inner realm?”
“I completely forgot, Jess. Thanks for reminding me,” my mom says before walking over to me.
“Who will I see?” I ask my mom.
“You get to see your grandfather,” my mom says, “or at least Jess’ version of him.”
“I totally forgot about that too,” Leah says beside me. “Sorry, Caylin, I should have remembered. It’s just been so long since we used it that that part slipped my mind.”
“I’ll get to see Michael?” I ask.
“You’ll get to see all of the archangels,” my mom tells me.
I look at Leah. “So I’ll see Uriel?”
Leah hesitates but nods. “Yeah, you’ll see him too.”
I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about that. He tried to kill my mother after all. How do you act civil to someone who tried to kill a person you love?
I look back at my mother.
“Have you been inside before? Have you seen Jess’ version of your father?”
My mom smiles. “Yes, I’ve seen him. They took me in once so that I could spend some time with him.”
“Why didn’t you take me with you?”
“I wanted to wait until you were older,” my mom says. “We had planned to wait and do this when you turned eighteen.”
“You mean you were going to take me in to see my future then or just to meet my grandfather?”
“To do both. We wanted to make sure we knew all we could before you went off to college.”
“He’s looking forward to finally being able to hold you,” Jess tells me. “So don’t look so worried, kiddo.”
I didn’t realize I was worried until Jess mentioned it. I nod to her that I understand and try to relax some. It isn’t like my grandfather hasn’t been around since I met Jess.
From what Leah told me, her archangel often appears to her, but she is the only one who can see and talk to him. I didn’t expect to see my grandfather tonight, but the more I think about it the more I view it as an opportunity to finally meet the man who fathered my mother and started my family on the path we are destined to follow.