by J. E. Cluney
Because Allison was everything to me now. And I wanted to capture every moment with her.
Chapter 8
Lucas.
I stood outside the mansion I’d once called home, forcing myself to stand still despite the nervous energy pulsing through me.
As if she sensed it, Allison slid her hand into mine comfortingly.
“It’s going to be okay, I promise,” she assured me.
I knew she was right. Only my mother was home, something I’d checked as soon as I got here with a little magic.
I was glad Allison had agreed to come with me. My mother wanted to meet her, my mate. I knew she was trying to salvage our relationship, and it was something I did want to accomplish as well. But it was hard, too. I’d been kicked out and disowned in a way, and they’d been so distant and rude towards me. My mother had always tried to stay out of things, but she hated upsetting my father.
My father. Even he was talking to me more, but I guess it was more on a professional level than as family.
I stiffened as the front door swung open, and my mother greeted us.
“Lucas, Allison. It’s so wonderful to meet you,” my mother stepped forward, giving Allison a kiss on each cheek.
I’d warned her ahead of time to expect this, and she was smiling brightly.
Good start.
“It’s so good to finally meet you. I love your dress,” Allison remarked.
“Oh, thank you,” my mother seemed delighted with the compliment, her emerald eyes lighting up. “Yours looks wonderful as well.”
Allison had picked out a beautiful blue and white floral dress, perfect for morning tea. While my mother wore a baby pink day dress.
I’d gone with a less flamboyant suit, choosing out a deep navy blue for the occasion.
“Come, we’ll be doing morning tea out in the garden,” my mother said, stepping aside to allow us into my old home.
I hesitated for only a second before following after Allison.
“So, true mates. I’ve heard of such a thing existing in some supernaturals, but to think my son has found one,” my mother mused as she led the way.
I shifted uneasily, wondering just where my mother was going with this.
“I think I’m quite lucky to have found him,” Allison said sweetly as she slid her hand into mine once more and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“I’m grateful he found you,” my mother said over her shoulder, smiling softly.
We exited through the folding glass doors in the large living area, and I noticed Allison glancing around the enormous home and lavish style in awe.
I was too busy thinking over what my mother had said. She was glad I’d found Allison. Was it because she thought I wasn’t doing stuff with guys now? Surely she knew better.
Or maybe she was just being nice.
I had no way of truly knowing her thoughts.
“It’s beautiful,” Allison breathed as we crossed the small white, wooden bridge into the fancy, perfectly manicured gardens.
My parents had more money than they knew what to do with.
Allison looked content, not anxious or worried, and a quick peek into her emotions revealed she was indeed calm and collected.
It was soothing to know she was feeling at ease, and I relaxed a little with her as we walked under the wisteria trees.
I’d spent many afternoons in the gardens with friends, playing hide and seek or just playing. I’d practiced my magic out here, and had many fond memories with Cathy and my parents doing picnics when we were children.
Too bad they were long lost memories now.
“You don’t have to forget them,” Allison whispered as she gave my hand another comforting squeeze.
She made it sound so easy, like everything could be forgotten and we could be one big, happy family again.
‘No, but you could at least have your mother again,’ Allison thought to me.
I sighed at this.
My mother was trying. She was being polite and friendly, and I knew she was doing her best to mend this.
I couldn’t sabotage it, ruin it before I gave it a chance.
‘Try not to think anything negative,’ Allison suggested.
I knew she only wanted to help me, and I was grateful.
I leaned over, giving her a kiss on the temple as we reached the white gazebo.
I’d had many fancy lunches here when I was a child while my parents had social gatherings. The gazebo was quite a stunning feature of the garden, with marble columns and a stunning dome top. My father had loved the Greek gazebo idea, and the large gardens behind the mansion had many Greek statues sprawled throughout.
“It’s gorgeous,” Allison said, her mouth slightly parted as she took in the structure.
And within it, the marble topped table was covered with all sorts of treats and morning tea food, along with antique china teacups and a teapot.
I knew instantly that she was keen to try the sweeter side of the selection, and I snorted softly at this.
“Come, sit,” my mother beckoned us to sit with her around the smaller table set off to the side.
Another teapot was sitting there, and she got to work pouring us all tea.
“Allison, feel free to call me Camille,” my mother suddenly said, smiling gently as she poured the teas. “And how do you take your tea? Any sugar? Milk?”
“One sugar please, and milk,” Allison replied as she settled into her seat.
I slid into the other, waving my hand gently with my magic.
Scones rose off from the platter before us, along with the butter knife, strawberry jam and cream, and I got my magic to cut up the scones and slather them with both toppings for all three of us.
“Thank you, Lucas,” my mother nodded gently as she sipped her tea after having made ours. She’d even put a teaspoon of sugar in mine.
So she remembered how I liked my tea.
I couldn’t help the immediate need to wave my hand over my drink, my magic checking it for anything that didn’t belong.
A need that had arisen ever since the wendigo had poisoned me.
Thankfully, mother didn’t notice, and I bit into my scone after checking it over as well. If I didn’t cook the meal myself or make my own drink, I was always checking them now.
“So, Allison, I hear you’re studying to be a vet. And my husband tells me you’re a banshee. Now that’s something I’ve never encountered or even heard of really. He’s told me a bit about your powers. And that you have more than one mate,” my mother looked merely curious, but I still nearly choked on a bite of my scone, and quickly took a gulp of the sweet tea to wash it down.
“Yes, that’s all true. I’m mated to all the men in Lucas’ house,” Allison said, her eyes flicking to me uneasily.
“Relax, child. It is what it is, it may be different for some of us, but it is what’s normal for others. I’ve come to see that there are many things that may seem different and even wrong at first, but it isn’t so,” she mused, her emerald eyes catching mine.
“It was certainly something big and new for me, but we all work together well, and they’re already like a family,” Allison said sweetly as she sipped her tea and then moved onto her scone.
“They’ve all been friends for such a long time. I remember them coming over as children, testing out their abilities. How they grew up so fast,” my mother sighed as she took a bite out of the scone.
“So, how’s Gregory?” I asked when the pause in conversation grew a little too much. Gregory had been our chef, and I wondered if he was the one who’d put together today’s morning tea.
My mother had done cooking herself over the years, but my father insisted on a chef to help her out. He occasionally took on more butler-like duties.
“He’s good! His little girl has just started school, and his wife, Sheree, is doing extremely well with her editing and writing business. He doesn’t spend as much time here now, only weekends really when everyone is normally home. He pops by some
nights too if your father asks him to, to help with dinner,” my mother said.
“Great, I’m glad he’s doing well and still working.”
“He got all of this prepared for today. He really is wonderful,” she sighed, before focusing on Allison. “So, Allison, tell me about yourself. Lucas hasn’t told me too much about you, we’ve mostly spoken about other things. But he said you work in town at the ‘Dingo Diner'?”
I sat back, the uncertainty slowly seeping from me as Allison began chatting with my mother.
They were both smiling, and I was grateful my mother seemed to like her. Honestly, the fact she was trying to put in effort in repairing all the damage done was enough to make me soften a little towards her.
But I’d play it safe. I wouldn’t just pretend the past hadn’t happened.
Allison’s words rang out in my head, and I winced. At least I had my mother still, and she was trying.
I’d focus on that. Maybe I did need to give her another chance, work with her. I was trying, but it wasn’t easy after being cut off from the family for years.
I spoke up whenever I found a suitable pause or when a question was directed my way, but we settled into light conversation as we ate the other goodies Gregory had made for us.
And I found myself enjoying the morning with my mother, almost settling back into normal life, feeling nearly at home as I sat in the gazebo of my childhood home.
Nearly.
I was full, leaning back in my chair as Allison and my mother laughed at some childhood stories about me. My mother wanted to go and get photo albums, but as she stood, a familiar voice pierced the air.
“I’m surprised he’s here.”
I grimaced at my sister’s high, unhappy tone.
“Oh, Lucas was just introducing me to his partner,” my mother said, clearly surprised that Cathy had turned up.
My mother stood awkwardly near us, having been headed to the house for the photo albums. Cathy joined us, standing at the edge of the gazebo, clearly unimpressed.
“I thought Lucas wasn’t welcome here,” Cathy said as she crossed her arms and glared at me.
“He’s family,” my mother murmured.
My heart skipped a beat at the words, and my eyes flicked to my mother.
She really wanted things to be different. Enough that she was even going to stand up to my sister.
“Does father know he’s here?” Cathy sneered, tapping her foot impatiently.
“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. Don’t you think it’s time we move past this?” my mother said, standing her ground.
“Wow, you’re too soft, Mom. He tarnished our family’s name. People talk about us behind our backs because of him,” Cathy spat.
“Is it really so wrong? I think your father was too quick to judge and push him away. I know he’s old-school, but things are different. And abandoning family over something they can’t control isn’t right. I see that now,” my mother spoke firmly, and I found myself staring at her, my throat tightening.
“You were more than happy to kick him out with father, I didn’t see you saying anything then,” Cathy said as she twirled a strand of hair.
“I was doing what I thought was best. But it wasn’t. Your father is a wonderful man who serves this community well, but he was raised with old beliefs. Beliefs that aren’t…” my mother paused as Cathy scowled at her.
“So you don’t care that he’s fucked men? That he still does? So he’s got a mate now, but he shares her with other men, and I’m sure she shares the men with him,” Cathy sneered.
“Catherine!” my mother reprimanded her, but my sister just shrugged.
“I think we’ve outstayed our welcome. Thank you, Mom. It was nice spending the morning with you,” I said as I rose, my words sincere. I offered my hand to Allison, who looked like she’d rather be anywhere but here.
I hated that things had turned out like this. Everything had been going so well.
“Take your little girlfriend and don’t come back. You’re not welcome here,” Cathy growled.
“This is my house, Catherine. And I say he’s welcome here. I will no longer turn the other cheek. Lucas is my son, and that is all that matters,” my mother said firmly, her voice rising as she took a step towards my sister.
My sister’s face dropped, and she narrowed her eyes at our mother.
“What about father?” Catherine muttered.
I knew she’d been twisted, taking to heart my father’s harsh words towards me. I had no idea how my relationship with my father was going, but I thought he was beginning to understand me more.
Apparently Catherine had been influenced too much and was stuck in her beliefs.
“Your father is the Area Enforcer, and thus knows that not everything is black and white. He knows we need to evolve, and I believe he will come ‘round. After all, Lucas is his son too. And he’s your brother, Cat. You spent years helping him with his homework, running around out here with him, practicing spells and magic together. Was that all nothing?” my mother sighed, staring sadly at my sister.
I had to avert my eyes, hating how much this was affecting me. I couldn’t believe my mother, how she’d changed and grown. I wanted to hug her and thank her, tell her how much I loved her and missed her. Sure, we’d had rough times, but she’d been the nicest to me up until the very end. I knew she was only following the others, doing what she thought was the right thing to do for the family name.
But did the name really matter?
“People mock us because of him,” Cathy murmured, but she was frowning now and shifting uneasily. Obviously my mother’s words had hit home.
“People judge everyone. It’s in their nature. Anything they don’t understand or don’t agree with is something they’ll always have issues with. But that doesn’t mean it’s right,” my mother said softly.
“Whatever,” Cathy growled, clearly not wanting to deal with this as she turned away.
But for a split second, I thought her eyes had grown teary. I didn’t get a chance to have a good look though as she stormed off to the house.
“I’m so sorry about that,” my mother sighed as she turned to us. “I had a lovely time seeing you both. You’re more than welcome to stay longer.”
“Thanks mom, but Allison has work,” I mumbled, shifting uneasily.
Allison squeezed my hand once more, and I knew she wanted me to speak my thoughts.
“Mom?”
“Mmm?”
“Thank you. For everything you said. For reaching out to me. For trying to fix us. It means a lot to me,” I said, swallowing back the wave of emotions whirling through me.
My mother simply smiled, a smile that held no judgement, only love and affection.
I stepped forward, and she pulled me into a hug.
“I lost my way, Lucas I’m so sorry. I hope you can forgive me. I love you, always,” she murmured as she held me tight.
“I understand, and I do forgive you. I love you too,” I said, my voice hitching.
God dammit.
I pulled away, fighting the tears that wanted to spill forth.
“You two take care of each other. Don’t be strangers. Maybe I can come visit you all sometime, if you’ll have me,” she said gently.
“Of course, you’re more than welcome,” I nodded, having to bite my lip.
“Thank you for having me, it was wonderful meeting you, you have an amazing son,” Allison said sweetly.
“You too. And I know,” my mother’s smile touched her eyes as she looked at us both.
I turned away, taking Allison’s hand, needing her comforting presence to ground me.
I focused on her feelings, wanting them to override the ones running havoc inside me.
We headed back the way we came, and I drew in a shaky breath.
“Your mom loves you more than anything else,” Allison murmured as she leaned into my side.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how I feel about it all. I never thought my fa
mily would ever accept me, but mom has,” I said, my chest tightening once more.
A part of me was annoyed, I was always the one holding myself together, doing my best to keep my emotions in check. But right now, I couldn’t.
“It’s okay. You’re allowed to feel,” Allison said softly.
We walked through the house, and I was grateful Cathy was nowhere to be seen.
Because as we exited the front doors, I couldn’t help the tear that escaped and trailed down my cheek.
Chapter 9
Lucas drove me to work, and it was a quiet trip. I’d packed my work clothes, and he magicked them onto me on the way, saving me the hassle of changing when I got there.
I knew he had an inner turmoil going. He was happy about his mother, but confused, and wondered what the rest of his family would do. Was his dad really slowly coming ‘round to accepting his son for who he was?
My mind moved to the moment when I could’ve sworn he’d smiled when he’d learned Lucas was mastering portals.
He still cared, I knew that. So there was hope.
I made sure he knew he had me, and if he wanted to talk, I was right there.
He was thankful, but he needed to think, to take in everything that had happened this morning.
To make sense of everything.
And he wanted to call his mom. He felt like he hadn’t said enough.
Now I was busy serving coffee and taking orders, keeping myself occupied and trying not to check in on him to see how he was going.
The flow of customers was holding steady, and I was glad Gina and Henry were doing so well with the business, getting many repeat customers.
“So, how are the boys? I haven’t seen them in as much with you now that you’ve got your own little car,” Gina’s cheery voice cut through the hum of the coffee machine as I worked on a large order for a group of students I recognized from uni.
“They’re really good, things are going well all around for them,” I answered, not really sure what to say. They were all doing mostly well.
I knew Ollie was off working the horses, and he was loving it. I was looking forward to the barrel racing event after our camping trip.