by S. J. West
“When do you want to do it?” I ask.
“We’ll make the daggers tomorrow and test the first one on Belphagor on Monday. We’ve had Watchers tracking his movements and know his routine. I don’t foresee any problems that we’ll have to contend with. It shouldn’t take very long.”
“Good,” I say. “The sooner we take them all down the sooner Aiden and I can start our future together.”
“How did you end up with someone as wonderful as her?” Desmond asks Aiden in a friendly, teasing manner. “You know you don’t deserve her right?”
“So you keep telling me,” Aiden says in mock irritation.
“Well, I don’t do it often,” Slade says, “but I have to agree with the leprechaun about this one. You don’t deserve someone so … good.”
“Anyone else want to tell me how much I don’t deserve Caylin?” Aiden asks in exasperation.
“Well we could,” Andre says with a sly grin, “but what would be the point in being so repetitive?”
I giggle because I know they’re all just teasing Aiden. Unmercifully? Yes. But all in good fun.
“Jealousy doesn’t become you, gentlemen,” Aiden replies, giving back a little of what he’s getting. “And if we’re through here, I think I should take Caylin back home so she can tell her parents what’s happened. I’m sure they’re worried.”
Aiden and I stand.
Jess comes over to me and gives me a hug.
“We’ll be over tomorrow afternoon to get you,” Jess tells me.
She stands back from me and smiles, but I can tell it’s forced. She’s worried about me and can’t seem to hide it. I wouldn’t want her to. It shows me how much she cares.
“I’ll see you all tomorrow,” I say to the group at large.
Everyone says good-bye and I squeeze Aiden’s hand.
“Ready?” I ask him.
He nods and I phase us.
I phase us home, but I make a slight detour and phase us to my studio first.
I don’t have to tell Aiden why I’ve brought us here. He instantly wraps his arms around me, and I melt against him. I need to feel him. I need to be alone with him for just a little while before I have to go inside and explain everything that’s happened to my folks.
I bury my head against his chest and take in a deep breath.
“How are you doing?” Aiden asks, worry for me in his voice.
“I’ll be fine,” I say, not moving my forehead from his chest, just closing my eyes and feeling him, soaking in his nearness like a dry sponge does water.
“I just want things to be over,” I say. “But I have a feeling things have just begun, especially after what God said to me.”
“What do you mean?” Aiden asks. “Did He say something to you that you didn’t tell us about?”
I lift my head from Aiden’s chest and look up at him.
“Right before I phased he said ‘be strong’. It sounded…ominous.”
“He probably meant it to be encouraging,” Aiden tells me, trying to smile. “My father has never been very good at not sounding ominous when He speaks.”
I decide not to say any more about it. Aiden’s worried enough about my welfare. I don’t need to add to it.
“I just need one more thing before we go inside,” I tell Aiden, leaning against him and wrapping my arms around his neck.
“Wow, it’s really hard to read you sometimes,” he says with a playful smile.
“I know. I’m such a closed book to you, but I’m trying to open up a little.”
Aiden chuckles and lowers his head until our lips meet.
The kiss is gentle, not one meant to evoke a passionate response. It’s more a physical pledge of our love for one another.
We don’t linger long over the kiss because I need to go tell my parents what’s happened.
And the sooner I tell my mom about Uncle Malcolm and Anna the better.
When we phase into the house, I find my dad in the kitchen preparing supper, and my mom and Mae in the living room putting a large floor puzzle of a fantasy castle together. They both immediately stop what they’re doing when they see us. My mom picks Mae up and my dad turns off the stove. I sit them both down at the dining table and tell them what happened.
“It’s a good plan,” my dad says. “But I’m a bit surprised by some of your choices. I never thought you would pick Slade or Jered.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Well, Slade can be rather annoying, and Jered is new to being trustworthy.”
“I didn’t tell the others this,” I say, “but God told me the reason they glowed was because they were the ones who wanted to be chosen the most.”
“Maybe you inherited something from your grandfather that let you see how they felt,” my mom suggests. “You know Jess is able to see auras surrounding certain people. That could be the reason you saw them glow.”
“I didn’t think about that as being the reason but it makes sense. And mom,” I say, “Uncle Malcolm glowed too.”
My mother is silent for a moment as if digesting this new bit of information.
“You’re sure?” She finally asks, tears coming to her eyes. “He wants to stay?”
“God said he probably hasn’t admitted it to himself yet, but that he feels like no one else can do the job of keeping our family safe like he can. I don’t think he realizes he’s already made the decision. So, stop feeling guilty about having to ask him to stay because I think he’s already mentally preparing himself to do it after you die.”
My mother does cry, but they’re relieved tears this time, not sad one.
“I guess I should have known he wouldn’t trust anyone else to protect your family. My asking him to do it is probably just a formality to let him know the decision he’s already made is the right one.”
“Yes, I think so too.”
I fall silent because I can’t think of anything else to say.
“Well,” my dad says, taking my silence as his cue, “do you know how to cook, Aiden?”
“Uh,” Aiden looks confused by the unexpected question. “Can’t say I’ve done much of it.”
My dad stands from his chair. “Then why don’t you go change clothes and come back. I’ll give you a quick lesson. You’re going to need it if you plan on marrying my daughter one day.”
“And... why is that exactly?” Aiden asks, even more confused.
“Because, unfortunately, my daughter inherited her mother’s proficiency in the kitchen. If the two of you intend to ever eat or feed your children, at least one of you needs to know how to cook and not burn your home down.”
“Dad,” I say, drawing out the word and feeling completely mortified by him revealing one of my shortfalls to the love of my life.
Aiden wasn’t supposed to know about my imperfections so soon, at least that was the way I thought about it anyway.
Aiden looks at me and smiles.
“Then I guess cooking lessons will be helpful,” he says. “I’ll go change.”
Mentally, I’m thinking “do you have to change?” Because I really like looking at Aiden in his princely outfit. But, I guess a black feathered cloak isn’t exactly the safest thing to wear near a gas stove. Though, I don’t see anything wrong with him just taking it off and cooking half naked. What would be wrong with that?
“I’ll be right back,” Aiden says to me before phasing.
My dad returns to the kitchen and mom, Mae and I go back to finish the floor puzzle in the living room.
“Mom,” I say in a whisper as we’re sitting on the floor across from one another, “God told me you could tell dad about meeting Anna, but neither of us will be allowed to mention her name to anyone.”
I go on to explain why He’s laid down that particular rule.
“It makes sense He wouldn’t want them to know her name,” my Mom says after my explanation. “And thank you for telling me. I hate not sharing everything with your father. It makes me feel like I’m lying to him.”
; “Have you always shared everything?” I ask. “Isn’t there anything you’ve kept secret from him?”
“No, not really,” my mother says. “Though there were a few things concerning your Uncle Malcolm I wish I had kept to myself.”
“Like what?” I ask, completely intrigued by this little window into my mother’s past with Uncle Malcolm.
“It’s probably not something I should tell you,” my mother says, looking uncomfortable all of a sudden.
“Why? Is it that bad? What did the two of you do?” I ask, my mind racing with the possibilities.
“Well, it’s nothing that bad,” my mother says, obviously sensing my mind is coming up with things far worse than reality.
“I let your Uncle Malcolm kiss me a long time ago before your father and I were married. It was one of the few things I wish I had kept to myself.”
“Well…how was it?” I ask, finding this new piece of information about my mother’s past extremely interesting. “And did dad go ballistic when he found out?”
“I’m not going to lie and say the kiss wasn’t… interesting. But no one can make me feel like your father does with a simple kiss. And your dad made it known to your Uncle Malcolm that such a thing would not be tolerated again.”
I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that my mom and Uncle Malcolm kissed in a romantic way. Over the years, I’ve seen them kiss each other’s cheeks, but those kisses were innocent and quick, simply meant as a show of affection.
“Was dad the first boy you kissed?” I ask.
“No, he wasn’t the first.”
“Who was?”
“My friend Will.”
My brother’s namesake wasn’t mentioned very often. I think it hurt my mother too much to think about him. From what I understood, he sacrificed himself in an attempt to stop Lucifer from taking control of her body. As an ordinary rebellion angel, Will simply wasn’t strong enough to stop Lucifer. But, apparently his self-sacrifice garnered him a special place back in Heaven.
So, my mother has kissed three men in her life while I will only have kissed one in mine. Honestly, I’m ok with that. I can’t imagine anyone even coming close to making me feel the way Aiden does when he kisses me. He is the only man I will ever kiss and the only man I will share my heart with. I lift my hand to the crystal pendant around my neck and start swaying it back and forth along its chain, thinking about the one who gave it to me.
Aiden phases back into the house, standing behind the chair he was sitting in at the dining table before he left. He’s dressed simply in a pair of jeans and a white V-neck t-shirt. How can someone look just as good with clothes on as he did half-dressed?
“Ahh, just in time to watch me make the pasta,” my dad says to him waving Aiden into the kitchen.
Aiden looks over at me and smiles. I can tell he likes the fact that my father is taking the time to show him how to cook for us. And a small part of me is guiltily thankful that he’s willing to learn. I love to eat but hate to cook. And, my father is right. I did not inherit his innate ability to whip up something even coming close to being remotely edible.
My father even taught Uncle Malcolm how to cook once upon a time, which was a miracle unto itself. A miracle they both survived the ordeal anyway.
Supper turns out to be one of my father’s simpler meals: spaghetti with meatballs and homemade tomato sauce, salad and knot yeast rolls. My mother has to drag my brother Will away from his video game, but finally we’re all sitting around the table as a family and eating supper together.
It feels right to have Aiden with us. It’s almost like he’s always been a part of our family.
After the meal, Aiden and I clean up, allowing my parents to spend some time with Mae and Will. As I hand the dishes to Aiden to place them in the racks in the dishwasher, I can’t help but feel at peace by doing such a menial chore with him. It’s something a couple would do together and further proof, to me at least, that we belong with one another.
While I’m wiping down the countertops with a rag, Aiden leans against the kitchen island and asks, “Would you like to go out on a real date tomorrow night?”
I stop what I’m doing and look over at him.
“Do you think we’ll have time?”
Aiden shrugs. “I don’t see why not. Making the daggers shouldn’t take all day. And I owe you a do over date considering how our last one ended.”
“That wasn’t your fault,” I tell him.
“I know. But, it wasn’t exactly the way I imagined our first date ending either.”
“And how exactly did you see it ending?”
Aiden smiles. “I saw it ending with you in my arms kissing me until I almost reached my breaking point. I have hopes that’s the way this one will end.”
“Then I accept your invitation,” I tell him. “And I guess we’ll see if it ends the way you imagine.”
“I don’t have any doubts that it will,” he says rather cockily.
I smile back at him. “Well, now I’m just going to have to make you work for it.”
“Will I enjoy this work?”
I shrug. “Depends I guess.”
“Then I look forward to any challenge you set in my path,” he tells me. “There isn’t anything that I won’t do to have you just the way I see you in my mind by the end of the evening.”
“How should I dress?”
“Dress up. I want to take you somewhere nice, beautiful.”
I smile. Every time Aiden calls me ‘beautiful’, it makes my heart sing. And for him to want to take me on a real date, shows me how much he cares for me and wants to treat me with the respect I deserve.
“But, right now, I should be going,” Aiden announces. “You and your family will probably want to get to bed soon.”
I don’t want him to go, but I know he’s right. I’m not sure what all tomorrow will entail, but I do know it will end well. Of that, I have no doubt, no doubt at all.
Aiden says his goodnights to my family, and I walk him out to the front porch. There’s no way I’m letting him leave without him kissing me first. In my mind, it’s imperative that we make that a necessity anytime we separate.
Once we finally pull apart, Aiden says, “You do make it hard to leave you.”
“Good,” I say. “Because I don’t want you to ever think it’s easy on me either.”
Aiden smiles and kisses me gently on the lips.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, beautiful. Sweet dreams.”
Aiden phases and I stand there determined to fill my dreams with a certain angel.
CHAPTER NINE
The next morning Mason brings Leah and Joshua over to have breakfast with us. I’m thankful to him for knowing I would need my friends close by me that day.
Mason tells me, “Jess and I are high-jacking your boyfriend for some actual work this morning. So I thought Leah and Joshua could make up for him not being here.”
“What work?” I ask.
“Hunter.”
I don’t need any more clarification than that. I know what they intend to do with the changeling who took over Hunter’s identity. The Hunter Manning I knew doesn’t exist anymore, and I am more than happy to see the demon who killed him pay for what he did to a decent guy who just happened to fall in love with the wrong girl.
“Good luck,” I tell Mason, giving him my full blessing.
Mason nods, not needing to say anything else about the matter.
While we’re at the table eating the buttermilk-chocolate chip pancakes my father made for breakfast, I get a text message on my phone from Aiden.
Sorry I couldn’t come over this morning, but Mason told me he explained things to you. Have you picked out what you will wear tonight?
Uh, no. But I’ve got it handled
I'm sure whatever you wear you will look beautiful, Beautiful. Was that too redundant?
Absolutely not! Say it as many times as you want...
Ok, Beautiful...See you later
“Mom, do you think JoJo would mind me calling her?” I ask.
“No,” my mom says, taking her plate of pancakes from my dad, “but why do you need to speak with her?”
“Aiden is taking me out tonight, and I want something new to wear. JoJo has the best clothes.”
“You know she’s not your own personal closet,” my mom says.
“Honestly?” Leah says. “I tried to buy a dress once and JoJo heard about it. She called me crying, Ms. Lilly. She thought I didn’t like her designs anymore. So, don’t think you’re bothering her by asking her for clothes. She gets really emotional if you don’t.”
My mom laughs. “Well, since you put it that way, Leah. I guess you had better call her, Caylin. We certainly don’t want our little French seamstress to have her feelings hurt.”
I find JoJo’s number on my phone and call.
“Mon Cher,” JoJo says when she answers, “what is wrong?”
Odd that she would automatically assume something is wrong.
“Nothing’s wrong, JoJo. I just need a dress for a date with Aiden tonight.”
“Oh!” She says excitedly. “Come, come then. I am at my studio in New York.”
“Have you eaten breakfast yet?” I ask.
“Uh, no, Mon Ami. Why do you ask?”
“I’ll bring you something then.”
“Oh, Brand cooked? I am salivating already. Hurry, hurry!”
“Be right there.”
My father obviously heard my promise to JoJo. He quickly makes her a plate for me to take.
“Do you want to go with us?” I ask my mom.
“No, I told your Aunt Tara I would watch Ella and Linc while she and Malik took care of something this morning. You kids go ahead.”
Joshua and Leah hold hands and Leah lays her free hand on my shoulder.
I phase us to JoJo’s New York studio and find her alone in the large open space. Bolts of fabric and vacant worktables dot the area. A large glass wall faces toward Central Park giving the room an almost outdoorsy feel.
“Do you ever do anything but work?” I ask JoJo as we walk over to her worktable. I see she’s designing a pantsuit on one of her headless mannequins.