He gave me one more kiss and said he would before shimming out of the room. I sagged into Quinn and glanced over to Win, Drex, and Snowden. They seemed worried. My hackles rose. Jamison was off.
My dad cleared his throat and my gaze moved to him. He seemed like he had made up his mind about something and opened his mouth to speak. “That boy needs help. He’s hurting.”
That made Ben start, and his head swung in my dad’s direction. “You saw it too? The kid just lost the only family he had, and he’s acting like nothing happened.”
“Jamison has never done anything by the book,” Dr. Churchill stated. “He’s a puzzle. You can never be sure what he’s going to do or how he’s going to take it.”
“That could have been Hooks, not Jamison,” I said softly. “He might have been strong before, but that was when he had an ancient Lydent attached to him.”
“He misses him,” my dad said simply.
Quinn curved an arm around me. “Why can’t we have a releasing of his spirit? We might not have his body, but we don’t have Hannah’s mom’s either. The Council is shimming her body there. Why can’t they do the same for Hooks? We might not know where every grain of his ashes are, but we sure as hell can picture him in our mind's eye and try to make him whole again that way. It’s worth a try, right?”
Deb nodded. “It’s definitely worth a try. We can ask the council about it.”
Thinking about how my dad seemed to be attuned to what Jamison was feeling raised my suspicions. I stared at him. Did he get his Lydent talent figured out?
“Dad?”
His attention came back to me with his brow raised. “Yeah?”
“How did you know what Jamison was feeling?” I had a sinking feeling I knew how and why he seemed upset with me earlier.
His mouth tilted into a bittersweet smile. “Because I can sense what people are feeling.”
“Mom?”
He gave a slow nod. “Yeah, honey. Like Mom.”
***
The night came quickly. Deb and her husbands had talked to the council about Hooks and what we wanted to try. They weren’t opposed to the idea, but cautioned us that it might not work. We all got ready and shimmed to the mountaintop where the wildflowers grew. Jamison was already there with Carly, her guys, and councilman Patrick. Jamison looked even more agitated than before as he finished his conversation and headed our way.
When he got to me, he brushed a hand across my cheek, curling it around the back of my neck to bring me in for a kiss. When he pulled away, he kissed my forehead.
Win shifted over to us as Jamison stayed tucked in next to me. I clutched the sides of his shirt, enjoying the closeness, but I sensed something was off still.
Win’s hand met the curve of my back. “Where were you?”
Jamison tensed. “Sorry, Carly called. We’ll all talk about it later. Right now, it’s about Hannah’s mom.”
“And Hooks.” Win stated.
Jamison slowly pulled away and I could hardly see him in the night, but someone shimmed in, the light giving me a glimpse of his reaction. His eyes were wide with surprise. He didn’t know yet.
“What?”
By this time, Quinn and Snowden had joined us. Drex was with Dr. Churchill while Deb and some others were setting up.
“We wanted to see if we could pick him up. All of him,” Snowden explained bluntly. I wanted to kick him for his insensitive explanation.
Win push his brother. “Bro.”
“What!”
“Dude,” Quinn echoed.
I squeezed Jamison's arm for his attention. “Hey. Hey, look at me.” His head finally turned my way, but I didn’t know where his gaze was. “He would be fine with this. I’m sure of it.”
He stepped back and growled, “How would you know, Hannah? I’ve known him the longest. The longest of any one of you. You had no right. I-I just can’t do this right now.”
“Hey, man, she was trying to do something nice for you. We all were,” Snowden snapped. “No need to take it out on her.”
“We know you’re hurting, Jamison.” That was Win. Always the one to try and smooth things over.
I reached for Jamison, but he shied away. The pain was so quick, it was as if a needle had pierced my heart. My hand dropped. “I’m sorry,” I whispered softly, trying to push back the hurt. Hurt that I thought was over. Hurt I never wanted to feel again; he did that. Jamison was hurting, and he passed it on to me. “I’m sorry,” I said again before reaching back and letting Quinn grab my hand. Turning away from Jamison, Quinn lead me away and I let the other guys help him.
He didn’t want me.
Quinn and I made our way over to the place where the ceremony would be conducted. It was too dark to see the low, stone altar Snowden had shown me the last time we were here. The moon had been full and bright so that I could see; now it hung as a crescent, barely providing any light for this night of closure.
People I knew and many I didn’t had shown up for this night. My dad slid up next to me with June on his other side. I moved out of Quinn’s hold and gave my dad a side hug.
“I have so many questions,” he muttered. “Not sure how this is going to work.”
Squeezing him, I answered, “I’m pretty much as clueless as you.” I stared down at the wildflowers at our feet. “Did you get your memories put into the flowers?” I asked him, feeling kinda silly saying it.
He squeezed me back. “Yeah, hard to relive them.” Then he kissed the top of my head. “But I’m glad you get a chance to see them.”
Jamison and the others came up behind me. Then Councilman Patrick, who was still on loan from Flag, along with Councilman Young and his second, Councilman Rick, stepped forward to start the ceremony.
The celtic symbol I had seen before on the altar still looked the same. A triangle of three swirls in a pattern similar to a hypnosis spiral or wheel.
Young stepped out of the group and put a hand up. Everything went quiet, even the crickets that normally seemed to fill the silence. “Because there are those who are new, I will explain this ceremonial passing for them. Myself and these trusted councilmen will bring forth Ann Cain, and then attempt to bring forth Lamont Hall, who was also fondly known by his peers as Hooks.”
There were a few gasps from the people who stood with us around the crowded mountain top. One of the braver Lydent men stepped forward. “So the rumors are true?”
A wolf’s cry pierced the night, causing me to shiver.
“Yes,” Young confirmed. “But only time will tell if the curse is truly broken.”
“And what about our magic? Is it true anyone can take it? That-”
“Enough!” Patrick, the man who had questioned me, stepped forward beside Young. “I’m sorry to intrude, Councilman Young, but this is not the time or place to answer these types of questions.”
Young nodded. “You are right.”
“But the people need to know.”
My dad tensed, speaking up. “After my wife finds her peace. Afterwards, I’m sure they’ll answer your questions.”
“Forgive me,” the man said tersely before withdrawing into the crowd.
“Well, then. As I was saying, the council and I will gather together and bring forth the loved ones so that their bodies can be returned to nature and their spirits released. The symbol on the altar is called a Triskele. It’s the celtic symbol for the flow of nature. When ready, we’ll shim the loved one to lay across the two bottom circles. During this time, you’ll look into yourselves and find your light within and let your Lydent powers shine in order to open the doorway for mother nature to take back what's hers. The third circle is where the spirit will go free and ascend.”
My dad’s voice trembled as he raised his voice to ask, “So, we’ll see her?”
“For a brief moment, yes,” Patrick answered. “Not long enough for anything but a wave.”
I swallowed, a shiver racing up my spine. Did I want that?
Councilman Rick stepped forwa
rd, in line with Young and Patrick, and they took each other’s hands.
“They’re starting,” I heard June whisper to my dad. A hand met my back, just below the arm Quinn had slung around me, and I felt safe. It wasn’t often that I felt that way, but in the midsts of my guys and my only family, I did.
I watched as a light glowed around the councilmen until a body appeared right where Young said it would. A sob caught in my throat as my dad’s hand tightened on mine. The rose floral dress down to the matching highheels we buried her in showed up faded with time and her body was slightly unrecognizable. At the sight of my mom, grief tore at my heart.
“Brave,” a voice echoed from across the way. My gaze shot up across the altar to find David and Adam, my grandfathers, there along with the rest of the family. Neko was the next to speak. “Aunt.” Then he looked straight at me with a nod. His father behind him added to the soft whispers. “Sister.” The other brother echoed the same.
“Wife,” Dad spoke up, getting the gist of it. “Loved. She hated pizza. Loved to laugh. Loved life to the very end, only thinking of her most precious gem, Hannah.” He closed up after that.
I took a deep breath, my voice wavering for a moment. “She was my mom. The kisser of my scratches and scrapes. The one who would make me cupcakes and let me eat the leftover frosting. Who taught me to be brave when I was scared. The one who always knew what I needed. She loved me.” I left the shelter of Quinn’s arm to turn into my dad’s chest.
Others started to chime in, and when it was time, my dad squeezed my shoulders. “Look,” he said in awe. I shook my head. I couldn’t look. I didn’t want to. I’d get a glimpse and then have to watch her leave. I couldn’t do that. Not again. I wasn’t that strong. So I refused to look, and I now understood why Jamison was so upset.
He didn’t want to be here for this. He was having a hard time letting go, and seeing Hooks again would bring up the fresh emotions he’d buried.
I turned away from my dad and sought out Jamison. He was standing by Drex and his family. He looked so short beside Drex, who had his hand on Jamison’s shoulder. Drex was probably helping him with his bottled up emotions. I scooted past Snowden and Win to curl my arms around Jamison and press my face into his neck. I was going to save him from this. He didn’t need to see Hooks if he didn’t want to. “Do you want to go?”
His body stiffened as his hand met the back of my head and he leaned down to whisper, “What about you?”
I never hesitated. “I don’t want to watch. Shim us out of here, please.”
His body relaxed and he did as I asked, taking us back to my bedroom, on my bed, at home. And he just held me. “What changed your mind?” His voice was gruff, but I knew he wasn’t mad anymore.
“I couldn’t see her like that and watch her leave me again. I’d want her to stay.”
He sighed. “I understand.”
Laying on his chest was comforting, but I realized it was time to tell him about Hooks and the in-between. But where to start...?
As if he knew what was coming, he stopped me. “Not now, sweetness. Go to sleep. We’ll talk in the morning.”
Not sure what else to do, I did as I was told... and woke up to him gone. We didn’t talk that day. Not the day after either. The third day, I didn’t see him at all. By the fourth day, I sent Snowden to check on him. He came back tight lipped and flickered a glance to his twin. Win went the fifth day.
The sixth day, I was a mess. What was going on?
Epilogue
We were having dinner at the Churchill home, again, and I went to use the restroom before eating. I wanted to get a grip on things. My dad and I were starting Hydrent, the Lydents’ school for talents and magic, on Monday I still had nightmares about Vic and started giving myself pep talks all the time to stay strong. I just told myself repeatedly that I could get through this. That I wasn’t alone.
Heading out of the bathroom and down the hall toward the kitchen, I bit my lip as I entered. Everyone was sitting down at the long, wood table. I was unnerved by the attention for once and silently wished to be back at the Snake Bridge again.
“Babe.” My gaze sought out Snowden, who was the only one I allowed to call me that, and noticed an empty seat between him and Win. I moved to the chair and sat between them. Their crazy siblings were seated elsewhere at a kids’ table.
Snowden's hand slipped off the table and secretively rested on my knee. My gaze flew to him, but he was listening to something his dad was saying while he ate with the fork in his right hand. Win’s arm was resting on the back of my chair, his hand underneath my curtain of hair, massaging my neck. Both of them touching me warmed my body, and those feelings of hurt from Jamison’s distance took a backseat.
I hardly ate wondering what he was doing. Then it hit me like the force of a fireball: with Hooks gone, he was alone. I leaned in to Snowden and asked, “What’s going on with Jamison?”
Sad green eyes met my own. “He needs time.”
My heart ached. I went to get up, but Win stopped me by tightening his fingers on my neck, and Snowden put slight pressure on my knee. Frustrated, I relaxed. Snowden leaned in, kissed my lips, and whispered, “Baby, he needs time.”
I moved my lips from Snowden's, and I brushed my cheek along his to whisper in his ear, “Warrior, he has nobody. No one to be there for him.” I pulled back and gave him a wobbly, sad smile. “He’s hurting. Jamison doesn’t need space, he needs his family. Now even more than ever.”
Snowden's eyes widened. Win leaned into our huddle and agreed. “She’s right. We should have never given him time. He needs to grieve with us. Not alone.”
Win stood up, taking me with him, and Snowden followed. Their parents looked to us. “Mom, Dads, we’re going to be at Jamison’s.”
“You can pop in randomly. We don’t care,” Snowden announced.
“He can’t stay holed up in his house and ignore life. Ignore me. He needs us,” I stated firmly.
“Go.” Deb nodded, understanding. “Go, spend time with him and bring him back.”
“All of them,” Ben said. “You all need to be together. We will put out air mattresses in the living room.”
“And when you get here,” Dr. Churchill continued, his green stare focused on me. “The kid gloves are coming off. Both of you are going to see a counselor. No more ignoring this, got it?”
I nodded. “Agreed.”
Both of the twins took a hold of my hands and shimmed us into Jamison’s home, and then we looked for him. I wandered with the the twins around the space, but he wasn’t there. Back in the kitchen and living area, I glanced outside the back window. In the dark, I saw him, his shadow, sitting alone in a chair. I moved that way, sliding the glass door open, and causing him to twist my way. I couldn’t see his face in the dark, and he didn’t say anything, but he stood up and opened his arms. I went to him, my arms circling around his waist. The scent of a long ago sucked on peppermint candy still lingered on him.
“Sorry, sweetness,” he spoke softly, bowing his head next to mine. Why had he stayed away?
I swallowed, holding him tight as I kept those questions for later. “Are you okay?”
“It’s...hard. Not having him here,” he murmured. “Are you okay?”
“I saw him.” I pulled away from Jamison and smiled when his green eyes met mine. “He explained some things.”
His brows lifted up and he seemed unsure. “What do you mean, you saw him? He’s gone, Hannah. He was so old he turned to ash.”
“I believe her,” Snowden voiced from behind us. Jamison lifted his head up, looking over my shoulder at him.
“We’re different,” Win voiced. I had guessed both of them were there. “So are others. I don’t think it’s in the realm of the impossible, when you think about it. Look at what you and Hooks were able to do. That in itself should have you thinking outside the box.”
Jamison’s lips twisted. “I wasn’t doubting her, just confused. Will you explain?”
I
pulled away and he sat back down in his chair, taking me with him. I settled on his lap with his arms wrapped around my waist and mine on his shoulder and chest for balance. Then I told him about my first trip to the in-between. From there, I told him about the second time when I met with Hooks.
“So, I was meant to die so Hooks could be free?” he asked, trying to clarify.
“No. Remember you telling me that story? About me being Anna’s descendant?”
“Yeah.”
“The curse depended on Hooks trading his life for mine in a life or death situation, but he couldn’t die if you were still living.”
Jamison sighed. “Yes. I get this, but why did he come to you and not to me?”
“He might come to you,” Win voiced. “If he did it with her, he could do it with you.”
Jamison shook his head. “No. I was told once a body is given back, the spirit ascends. Only the Lydent half stays now because his light has nowhere to go.”
“Where do you think it went?” Snowden questioned. “We might need to know...”
Win shoved his hands into his denim pockets, looking down as he thought aloud. “Times are changing. We all need to adjust. Lydent lights aren’t being passed down equally among descendants. It's behaving irrationally. We need to prepare for this.”
“That is a problem, but first we need to fix us.” I ran my fingers through Jamison's hair and made him look at me. “With what we’ve gone through, it’s going to be hard to heal.” I leaned in to kiss him and when I pulled away, I let the truth roll. “We are not okay. Both of us need help to get through this. Come back with us. Bring your stuff, close up the house, and we’ll figure out where you’re going to stay. We still have school to get through and you need to be around family.”
“She right, Jamison,” Win agreed.
“You saved her first, now let her save you,” Snowden whispered.
I rubbed my thumb along his cheek. “Please?”
After a moment he asked innocently, “Can I live with you?”
I chuckled and leaned down to kiss him. “I highly doubt my dad will go for that.”
The Bridge Over Snake Creek Page 25