Talent

by Annie B Matthews

  “So,” Eric sipped his tea. “Here we are. The seer, the empath and the telepath. It certainly makes for an interesting mix. I won’t ask how often you read my mind, Jackson.”

  “I didn’t,” Jackson grinned suddenly. “I was too scared.”

  Eric laughed at that and everyone seemed to relax. Libby felt almost calm. She wondered with a start if this is what Jackson had meant about her father. She shot him a look, but he just smirked.

  Maybe he was onto something.

  “I know you’re angry, Libby.” Francis said quietly. “You have every right to be. You were unprepared and that was my fault. I was never comfortable discussing it. My parents hated the talent. Feared it, I suppose. I never lived openly with that side of my life. If it wasn’t for my aunt and my sister, I would have been unprepared and unable to handle any of it. I never intended for you to come into your talent alone.”

  “They were talents?”

  “They were. My aunt was a Seer, a very talented one.” Her mother stood, moved over to the kitchen bench to pick up a slim book. “The family history, if you like. I added to it over the years. You’ll want to read it, add your own experiences.”

  Libby took the worn journal. “Thanks.”

  “We have a lot to catch up on.” Francis flicked her gaze to Jackson. “Eric, can I talk to you for a moment?”

  Libby watched her parents leave, wrinkling her nose. “What now?”

  Grinning, Jackson sat back in his chair. He looked relaxed. “She’s trying to give us a few minutes together.”

  Libby looked at him blankly. “What for?”

  There were so many questions to ask, so many explanations needed. She needed her mother for that.

  “We’re linked.”

  She rolled her eyes. Why was this the answer to everything these days? Amused, Jackson explained. “She’s giving us time to talk. Giving you time, mostly. In case you need to run anything by me.”

  “But I need to talk to her,” Libby replied, mystified.

  “I know.” He tugged on an errant curl, teasing her. “This is a good thing. She’s accepted us.”

  My God, she thought in exasperation. This really was a whole new world she’d found herself in.

  “Mum, we’re done here,” she yelled, making Jackson laugh.

  Francis returned almost instantly. “Okay. Where do you want to start?”

  “Where the hell have you been?”

  “Language, Libby,” Francis replied reprovingly. Then she sighed. “I’m sorry. I know you resent me for leaving you, and I don’t blame you. But shielding is hard for me. It always has been. I wasn’t coping and it was better that I left, believe me.”

  She could, Libby realized. She could trust that her mother would tell her the truth, as always.

  “I was close by, in fact,” Francis told her with a wry smile. “The centre is less than twenty miles from Beauton.”

  Libby leaned forward, propping her chin on her hands. “And what happens there? Is it like some rehab place?”

  “Yes,” her mother replied frankly. “There are some very troubled talents there - my problems were small by comparison. It took a while to work through my problems with shielding this time; I was motivated to learn the technique thoroughly.”

  Seeing her mother shake her head sadly, Libby reached out to take her hand. “Because of me.”

  She nodded. “I knew you would be showing your talent soon. If I’d known…when I got your emails yesterday I wrapped up the program and came back.”

  Exhaling slowly, Libby considered that. “Mum, if you need more time you have to go back. I’m okay.”

  “I see that.” It seemed to sadden her and Libby felt a stab of guilt.

  “I don’t mean…I was lucky, that’s all.” She tried to explain. “Kelly is amazing. You’ll love her. She’s so open and matter of fact about it all that I didn’t stand a chance of freaking out over my empathy. Anna helped with the shield. And Jackson...well, I've had plenty of support.”

  “Anna must be a good teacher. How long did it take you to master it?”

  Libby shrugged uncomfortably. “A few hours.”

  The shock on her mother’s face made her laugh in spite of herself.

  “Libby…a few hours? Do you realize how amazing that is?”

  “Um, Anna said it was unusual.” She shrugged again, painfully self-conscious. “It’s no big deal.”

  Francis smiled as Jackson made a scoffing noise. “It’s a major deal, sweetie. Your talent must be much stronger than mine. We should get you some tutoring.”

  Recoiling, Libby shook her head. “No. No way.”

  “Let Anna work with you, then, if she agrees to.” Francis replied calmly. “The stronger the talent, the more important it is that you can use and control it.”

  “Okay. Maybe.” Libby closed her eyes for a moment. That was something for later. “So, do you need to go back? Honestly?”

  “No.” Francis met her gaze steadily. “I’m fine. I will be going back regularly for sessions though. It will be easier, now you know everything.”

  Relieved, Libby sat back. She could understand that. “Okay. We need to talk about what’s been going on here.”

  “The manipulative talent.” Francis winced. “It goes without saying that I expect you to be careful, with that man being in Beauton. I could hardly believe what I was reading, when I received your email.”

  “You’ve never come across this before?” Jackson asked curiously.

  Francis hesitated. “I wish I hadn’t. But in Beauton, of all places!”

  Libby took a deep breath. She had to tell her mother everything. Paul believed Francis would be able to shed some light on the man’s identity and it was up to her to get the information.

  Francis listened carefully, her face filled with concern.

  “I can’t understand it.” She frowned, her gaze on Libby. “You’re sure it was a link?”

  “Yes.” Libby bit back her frustration as it became clear that Francis had no idea of who the man could be. “It was. And he knows me. He wasn’t surprised when he saw me. He was…amused.”

  Jackson shifted next to her and she felt his disquiet. “Paul and dad went back to the pub that night, but there was no sign of him. He hasn’t shown up since.”

  Francis grimaced. “I suppose it’s too much to hope that he has moved on.” Sighing, she ran her hands through her hair. “I need to speak with your parents, Jackson, as soon as possible. In the meantime I must tell your father.”

  Libby pushed to her feet. “I need some air. Jack?”

  He stood next to her. “We’ll just head to the park,” he told Francis, almost as if asking permission.

  Libby saw a glance pass between them before her mother nodded. “You’re welcome to stay for lunch, Jackson.”

  He grinned. “That would be great, thanks.”

  As they headed down the street, Libby kept her silence. Whatever had passed between them concerned her, but for once she didn’t want to know. Perhaps it was some talent version of a secret handshake.

  “That went well,” Jackson commented lightly as they reached the park. Libby made a noise of agreement as she pulled away from him. Taking one of the swings, she looked up at the sky.

  Grey.

  “How big a deal is it?”

  “Your ability?” Jackson leaned one shoulder against the frame of the swing, his eyes on a group of kids who swarmed over the climbing frame nearby. “It’s a big deal. How quickly you picked up the shield, the distance you can sense emotions…for a new talent, that’s amazing stuff.”

  “You can hear people at a distance,” she pointed out.

  He looked at her then, his expression wry. “Yeah, in the radius of a few metres. You read people, and clearly, at a much greater distance. You knew Kelly had passed her piano exam before Danny did.”

  “By a split second! She was so relieved,” Libby objected. “How could I not pick it up?”

  “Libby, she was the other
side of the school.” He stared at her for a moment, disbelieving. “You really don’t think this is a big deal.”

  Uncomfortable, she shrugged and turned her gaze back to the sky.

  “Libby,” he moved in front of her, his hands covering hers on the chains. His eyes met hers as he looked down at her. “You talent is incredible. Stronger than mine, than Kelly’s…Paul is the strongest talent I know and he thinks you’ll outstrip him with some training.”

  Pride pumped from him in waves and she felt herself reddening.

  “I’m not sure how I feel about that.”

  “Feel good about it.” He grinned. “I can’t say I’m surprised. You’re a natural at most things.”

  She thought about her sporting failures and he laughed.

  “I did say most things.”

  Grinning, Libby pulled herself up. Her body was flush against his and she felt the heat spike between them.

  “So I’m stronger than you?”

  His eyes shone in amusement as he linked his fingers through hers. “In many ways.”

  “I see.”

  She mused over this. “I think mum is right. I’ll take the training.”

  His lips curved, millimeters from her own. “You definitely should.”

  “I should know exactly how to use my strengths,” she went on, brushing her lips against his. His fingers flexed around hers and she smiled. “So I know how to use them to my advantage.”

  “I think you’ve managed to learn that already.” His voice sounded a little strained.

  “Really?” She released her hands from his, sliding her arms up and around his neck.

  “Really.”

  She was grinning when he kissed her.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  It was blissfully warm inside the Beauton Arms. Libby unwound her scarf as she scanned the room, first for the man she’d seen the other night, and then for Jackson. She saw neither, but knew Jackson was there somewhere.

  Danny, his face relaxed in a smile, sat across the room in a booth with some other boys. As she drew closer she saw that the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, but Libby doubted that the boys at the table noticed.

  “Hey Danny.”

  “Libby.” He seemed pleased to see her. “How are you?”

  “Good. Very good, actually.” She shrugged off her coat, smiling at the two boys sitting opposite him. She recognized them from the basketball team. “What’s Kelly up to tonight?”

  It felt weird asking. She had so rarely seen them apart after all. He smiled a little, an attempt to reassure her.

  “She’s out with Anna.”

  “Sounds like mother and daughter night all round,” she replied, thinking of the evening she’d spent with her own mum. Jack had invited her down, but she hadn’t known if she would make it. In the end, since it was only her mother’s second night back, she had wanted to give her parents some privacy. “Is Jack making the beer from hops or what?”

  “Hilarious.”

  She turned to face him with a grin on her face, wondering if she’d always feel that leap inside her at the sight of him. He was balancing three pints of ale, so she stepped aside to give him access to the table. It occurred to her that she was intruding on a boys’ night out and she winced.

  “I didn’t realize you were meeting friends,” she murmured as he turned back to her. “I should go.”

  “Don’t be daft.” He rubbed her arm gently. “What do you want to drink?”

  “Nothing. Really. We can catch up tomorrow.”

  He caught hold of her coat as she started to put it back on. “Libs, stay.”

  Shaking her head, Libby tried to step away and then sighed as he refused to release her. “Jackson, I’m leaving. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “No, you should stay. Have an orange juice.”

  A smile tugged at her lips as his eyes met hers, laughing. “Sounds exciting.”

  “Come on, sit down.”

  He nudged her into the booth next to Danny.

  It was nice. Now Francis was back, it seemed as though everything had settled. Jackson laughed his way through a story, undeterred by the heckling from the other boys. The four of them had been loud and lively for most of the evening, talking over each other and dragging her in to verify or be judicator. She hadn’t enjoyed herself so much in a long time.

  This is what it felt like to be happy, she realized with a start. She was completely happy.

  “I’ve got to go.” Danny drained his coke. He’d been on soft drinks all night. In fact, Libby had rarely seen him drink alcohol. She had the impression that his reasons were similar to her own. “Kelly asked me to collect her from the restaurant.”

  The lads laughed.

  “Under the thumb, Danny. It’s sad.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” he replied, unconcerned. “I won’t remind you about your last girlfriend, Dave.”

  Dave shuddered. “You got me.”

  Danny flicked his gaze between Libby and Jackson. “You want me to pick you up on the way back?”

  “I’ll drive him.” Libby offered. Jackson threaded his fingers through hers.

  “No, Danny can come by on his way back.”

  She met his eyes, unable to stop grinning. “I’ll drive you.”

  Jackson tilted his head. “You're in a rare mood.”

  “Can you drop us on the way?” Dave chipped in before she could respond. “It’s too cold out to walk.”

  Libby nodded. “Sure.”

  Jackson sighed and she squeezed his hand before releasing him to pull on her coat. It wasn’t far to Dave and Paul’s houses. Once they were alone, Jackson turned in the seat to watch her.

  “Drive to your house. Danny can pick me up from there.”

  She glanced at him before turning her attention back to the road. “Seriously? What’s the big deal?”

  “I don’t want you driving home alone.”

  Libby couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her face. “You’re so sweet.”

  “Just the word I long to hear from my girlfriend.”

  The dark tone had her fighting a grin. “Okay.”

  She felt his surprise, his wariness as though waiting for the catch.

  “Okay?”

  “You’re right. It’s late. You live out of town and I don’t have my phone on me.” She shrugged. “We’ll head back to my house and call Danny from there.”

  He pulled his mobile out of his jeans pocket, started texting.

  “Done. You know, I think I’m in shock.”

  Libby threw him an amused glance.

  “I’m not that difficult, surely.” When he didn’t reply, she figured it was better to change the subject. “I had a good time tonight. Thank you.”

  “You seem more relaxed. More something.”

  “I am very, very content right now. I can’t think why. Could it be that my life is finally reverting to normal?” They shared a grin as she pulled into her driveway. There was nothing normal about her life right now. She turned her gaze to the lit windows. “Looks like mum and dad are still up.”

  “Of course they are. They’re waiting for you.”

  Her parents were curled up on the sofa together watching a movie. Her dad shifted to hit the pause button, smiled at them both. He seemed happy too, Libby acknowledged. Apparently neither of them functioned at full capacity without her mother.

  “Did you have a nice time?”

  “Yes, we did.” Libby dropped into the other sofa, pulling Jackson down next to her. “What’s the movie?”

  “A bad chick flick your mother conned me into.” Eric squeezed Francis’ shoulder as he got to his feet. “I need a coffee. Anyone want a drink?”

  “Tea, please.” Francis yawned as she straightened up. “It is a pretty bad movie, to be fair.”

  She smiled at Jackson. “Thanks for seeing Libby home.”

  “That’s okay. Danny will be here shortly and I’ll be out of your way.”

  “You’re always welcome here, Ja
ckson.” She got to her feet. “I’ll help your dad with that tea.”

  “And that was tactful,” Libby muttered in embarrassment. “Jeez.”

  Jack grimaced. “Hmm. I’m not sure what they expect us to be doing out here while they’re in the next room.”

  Libby laughed at that. “Talking, maybe?”

  “What about? You haven’t shielded all night.” He leered at her comically. “I know everything about you, Liberty Bell.”

  “Don't call me that, it's just cruel.” She shoved his shoulder. “Tell me what’s going on with Danny and Kelly. I spoke with her last night and something was definitely off.”

  “Last night?” He asked, surprised.

  “I had to sneak downstairs for a snack,” she admitted with a laugh. “Anyway, Kelly was in the kitchen, just sitting there in the dark.”

  This time his grimace was real. “Where to start?”

  Libby rolled her eyes at that. “She keeps saying that everything is fine.”

  “It is, kind of. They’re always together and they talk and everything. It all sounds normal.” He rubbed his hands over his face. “It’s not. There are these awkward undercurrents. And Kelly…she just seems tired. Really tired.”

  Concerned now, Libby chewed her lip. “It’s just a row.”

  “Sure. And it’s not like they can break up, after all.”

  Couldn’t they? Linked or not, if neither person were happy…

  “No,” Jackson’s reply reminded her that she wasn’t shielding. “It’s worse to be apart. Trust me.”

  “What do you mean?” Even as she asked, she remembered what he'd told her the night her mum had returned.

  “It becomes difficult for linked couples to separate for any length of time and impossible to conceive of not being with that person.” He flicked her a glance. “It’s early days for us.”

  And it was bad already when he wasn’t around. Libby frowned. This was something she really wanted to talk to her mother about. And soon. Not to mention that other link.

  The buzz of the doorbell startled her.

  “I wish you could stay.”

  He kissed her, and it was pitifully brief.

  “Me too. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She walked with him to the door, opening it to find Kelly on the other side. She seemed a bit closer to her old self.