Cursed
Page 31
Mrs. Hastings smiled a little. “How is your mother?”
Elizabeth looked away. She’d have to get used to saying it, but this was the first time and tears filled her eyes. Trying to smile through her tears, she said, “She passed away.”
Mrs. Hastings’s face warmed with sympathy. “I am sorry to hear that. Do you know what your plans will be?”
Leave her drug-addicted sister to be overwhelmed with ten kids? Count on her irresponsible older sister to return? Wait around for her jailbird brother to be free? “I was hoping, in a week or so, to discuss adoption.”
Mrs. Hastings’s eyes widened and alarm crossed her face.
Elizabeth hastily added, “For me. I mean, I want to adopt them. Keep them together.”
The older lady sighed, then relaxed. She nodded. “Once the funeral is over, I’ll come back by.”
Elizabeth smiled her relief. “Thank you.”
Mrs. Hastings looked around at the new fence, the new swing set, and the green grass. Amazing how fast a yard could turn around after just a week’s worth of attention. “The house looks wonderful, Elizabeth. The basement—”
“Of course. That’s next on the list.”
The lady smiled and shook her head. “You don’t have to be super mom. You’ve shown that you care. The kids are happy and well taken care of. Their clothes are clean and their environment is well tended. There is food in the kitchen. Even your sister Felicia has shown marked improvement.”
Elizabeth grinned. “I’m so glad. Thank you.”
Mrs. Hastings walked around her and down the steps. Elizabeth put her hand on the knob and stilled. God, she was so scared to hope.
“Miss Raines?”
Elizabeth looked behind her. “Yes?”
“I like your fiancé. He’s a good man.”
A smile blossomed over Elizabeth’s face and she nearly floated from the porch. “Yes. Yes, he is.”
Throwing open the door, she saw the entire family, Geoffrey included, sitting in the living room. Elizabeth pushed the door shut and approached Alex slowly. Elizabeth’s gaze roamed over him, noting his clean clothes and damp hair, the grin on his face, the love in his sparkling hazel eyes. But nothing was more noticeable than the strands of dark red and white in his normally chestnut-brown hair.
Elizabeth raised a brow. “Had time to get your hair done, huh?”
Alex laughed and held out his arms.
Elizabeth slid into his lap, hugging him tight, her face in his neck. “How?”
His arms tightened around her. “Turns out you have the most amazing family. They’ll help you through anything. Just never try to keep a secret. Or, if you have a secret, don’t leave it sitting on the dining room table.”
Elizabeth pulled back as she looked at the kids. “My laptop is password protected.”
David looked innocently up at the ceiling. Danielle swung her arms and clapped her hands awkwardly. “So, Shelly, you want to get started on our room? We have a lot of cleaning to do.”
Shelly hid her laugh behind Veronica. “Yeah, we can do that. Everyone should help, though. Maybe we can have a yard sale and use the money for a day at the movies?”
Elizabeth met Shelly’s hopeful look. “I think we can manage that.”
Geoffrey stood, a small grin tugging at his lips. “I’ll go supervise.”
“I’ll make dinner.” Felicia nodded and rose, but paused, looking at Elizabeth and Alex. “But, if you two decide to get a little freaky, you might want to take it elsewhere.”
Elizabeth and Alex both laughed.
Felicia circled her finger around. “I’m just saying, we’ve already established the lack of privacy around here.”
“Duly noted.”
“And I heard what you said about adoption.”
Elizabeth’s smile died and she shifted. “Felicia—”
Her sister nodded. “There’s a lot to discuss.”
Elizabeth watched her leave, sinking back into Alex’s embrace. She never wanted to get up. Leaning her head on his shoulder, she looked him in the eye. “So, you want to get married?”
“Would you like me to convince you it’s a good idea?”
She shook her head “I don’t think that’ll be necessary.”
Alex stared at her lips. “Damn.”
Elizabeth laughed, threaded her fingers through his hair, and finally did what she’d fantasized about all through high school. She sat on the couch and made out with her boyfriend.
Straight through walls, up and down floors, Maeve ran. Silas and his sidekick were never far behind. Instinct kicked in. A respite for Alex’s poisonous healing called to her, new and yet somehow strangely familiar. Someone expecting something from her, needy but understanding how far short she fell. Somehow, that love stirred both guilt and fear. It was strange that she should feel that way. Illogical.
Maeve paused, her hand on the foot of a patient’s bed. She closed her eyes, out of breath and panting. She’d lost them, at least temporarily. She had no idea what floor, what room she was in. Maeve took a deep breath and opened her eyes, searching for a clue as to her whereabouts. Instead, she found the culmination of her journey, the reason for the familiar feelings of love and her damning sense of guilt.
“Kai.”
Epilogue
“I now pronounce you, Alexander Michael and Elizabeth Ann …”
Elizabeth stood close to Alex, meeting his warm gaze, and waited for permission to kiss her husband. No doubt, that’s why the dang pastor dragged the words out as long as he could, like each one needed a special hand-engraved invitation. Her hands crept up the front of Alex’s black tux and his hands warmed the white satin at her waist. She stood on tiptoe and Alex leaned down, meeting her halfway.
“Raines.” Like a benediction, Alex’s new last name announced his protection from Maeve.
The pastor chuckled and shook his head. “You may continue your kiss.”
Everyone laughed, the hardest being her family. All of whom were in the wedding party, with the special additions of Geoffrey, Dreux, and, of course, Kalyss—who had half-reluctantly worn a dress instead of a tux to balance out the adults on either side of the bride and groom. The guests, long-time acquaintances, friends, and clients of both the bride and groom filled several beribboned, candlelit pews.
“I told you this would work.” Draven elbowed Silas in the side.
“You did not.” Silas scowled. “You suggested running or hiding, and I really believe you meant both.”
“I said it, but I knew you’d never run. You wouldn’t back out.”
Silas frowned and looked back at the wedding. “You think I’m so predictable?”
“You don’t?”
No. Not anymore. Not after the lines he’d crossed. He’d saved a life. Kept Felicia alive long enough to have a chance at a true future. One with love and healing and redemption. Her course had been corrected. That was good. It was all good. But where were his rules? His guiding principles? And how would ignoring them effect the future?
“So, that’s what my son’s been up to.” Abacus turned away from the scribe’s head and paced his chamber, his long, white wings trailing behind him. The wedding still showed in the midst of the head’s fiery eyes, recording to memory every detail. Maeve should have known better than to try to destroy a scribe. They were indestructible. It was a careless mistake on her part, but a boon for Abacus.
Returning to the scribe, Abacus leaned down against the table, watching carefully. “Now, show me his enemy.”
Cursed
© 2008 Jamie Leigh Hansen
ISBN: 9780765357212
TOR Books
Ed♥n
le(100%); -o-filter: grayscale(100%); -ms-filter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share