Trefoil

by M.C. Moore

  Chapter 23…

  The weeks flew by, Meckenzie, Taggart, Kellan and their father had gone down to the school on the following Monday with a cover story about finding their mother and needing to focus on her for a while. They convinced the head master to let them test out of their classes and still receive diplomas at the end of the year. The headmaster wasn’t very happy about the situation and informed Taggart that he would have to forfeit his valedictorian status.

  Taggart, like the wonderful man he is, explained that in life sometimes family is more important than being number one. The headmaster was made to look a fool for implying that they would choose school over their mother.

  Kellan was still moody and uncooperative about leaving. She had on several occasions taken her anger out with Ardan on the sparring mat. Ardan was a good sport about it; he never complained, or got angry with Kellan for it. Meckenzie found so many wonderful things in his personality when he was dealing with Kellan. Kellan would disappear for hours during the day to pout, usually preceded by some kind of outburst. Isabel had actually had some luck teaching her to be able to use her growth ability. On one occasion Kellan had grown on command, but she was still having problems shrinking back down to her normal size. Isabel seemed to think it had to do with her inability to practice patience. Meckenzie thought it was because Kellan just wanted to be difficult.

  Bowen was more than impressed with Taggart’s ability to learn. He was the most proficient at spell casting and potion mixing. Taggart remembered everything. Bowen had an impressive library of books that he brought over from the place he had been staying. Taggart devoured everything he could get his hands on, and most of his free time was spent in Arden and Bowen’s room reading and studying.

  Meckenzie had the most problems with potion making. She had never been good at chemistry, or cooking, which Isabel compared it too. There were so many ingredients that were foreign to her. Dragon scales, pixie dust, wolves bain, and the sap of a tree person, all these mystical items sat on the shelves of the potion area. Meckenzie couldn’t even imagine how you would get a scale of a dragon, or sap from a tree person, for that matter.

  Spell casting came easy for Meckenzie, if she could remember the words. Her natural ability had actually knocked out everyone in a twenty foot radius when she cast a sleeping spell. Luckily Bowen was not there and was able to help her revive Isabel, Taggart, and Kellan.

  They had met with the party planners twice over the past few weeks and finalized all the birthday plans. The invitations had been sent out and it was the bright spot in Kellan’s future, because every time they talked about it she got excited and seemed to smile for hours afterwards.

  Morgan and Meckenzie talked twice a week in the dream state. The first meeting between them had been intense, but it had been nothing compared to the meeting after their fight with Ty. Morgan had been worried and their mother had wanted as many details as Meckenzie could remember. It had been a long meeting and when Meckenzie awoke from it, she was more tired than when she had gone to sleep. Taggart had the wonderful idea of putting an audio recorder on the bedside table so that Meckenzie’s half of the conversation could be recorded and reviewed by the others.

  Their mother had not made the decision yet as to whether their father could come with them. Meckenzie asked every time she met with Morgan. Isabel told her to be patient, but time was running out. Their father had started making arrangements to leave. He had promoted a new partner and started turning his assets into money that he was stashing all over the world. He had met with his lawyers several times to develop a trust to take care of the house and other areas of their lives. Meckenzie didn’t have the heart to think about the possibility that all of his actions may have been for nothing.

  It was the week before their birthday that Meckenzie decided that it was time they went to the safety deposit box and retrieved its contents. She convinced her dad that it was time, so she Kellan, Taggart and their father headed to the bank. Bowen had insisted on going with them for protection, but had stayed in the car when they had arrived at the bank.

  The ride over to the bank was intensely quiet. They all new that the necklace was in the box, but there was a letter for their father as well. Meckenzie was sure that this would be highly emotional for him; no one mentioned its existence.

  The bank manager was very helpful and led them into a private viewing room while the box was retrieved. As they sat waiting for the box, their father paced the small room. Meckenzie grabbed his hand as he circled the room and gave him a big hug.

  He smiled, “What was that for?”

  “You have been the best father any of us could have asked for. Whatever is in that box, just know that there is no scenario in life that would not lead us back to you.”

  Taggart and Kellan agreed. Since their mother had left, it had only been their father and the trips for eight years and he had done the best job he could do raising three kids. He had loved them and spoiled them, and taught them the value of a dollar. He had given them discipline and showed them joy. There were trips to see the world and demonstrations of how being at home is sometimes the best vacation that anyone can ask for.

  While most kids in their school who had two parents only saw them on rare occasions, they had their father every night for dinner. He had made choices in his life that always put his kids first, and they were not ever going to leave him behind because the parent that ran away said they had to.

  “You will be the grandfather to our children.” Taggart added. “Whether we are here or there, they will know you.”

  “She has to let you come with us, she owes us that much.” Kellan was still so angry with their mother.

  Just then an attendant came in with the box. They all sat around the table staring at it, dreading the contents. Finally, their father took out the key and opened the box. Inside was a velvet bag, which had to hold the necklace. There was a letter underneath it addressed to their father. Under that was a photo, it surprised them that there was something else in the box. It was a picture of their mother and father in the hospital, holding the three of them as newborns. On the back were the words, “the happiest I’ve ever been.” It was their mother’s handwriting.

  In the photo they were wrapped in blankets. Their father was holding Taggart with his little blue blanket. Meckenzie and Kellan were snuggled into each of their mother’s arms. Everyone was smiling and content. The photo managed to capture the love that Diedra had for her children. It radiated right out of the picture and Meckenzie felt in her heart. Even Kellan softened as she beheld the photo.

  Finally, all attention turned to their father. He held in his hand the letter addressed to him, but he had not opened it. He was struggling with what to do; a hundred different emotions played out on his face. Their father tucked the letter inside his jacket and stood.

  “Well, I think we should get this home.” He held up the pouch with the necklace inside. “We can discuss the letter after I read it in private, if I feel it needs to be discussed.”

  With that they left the bank and headed home. Their father had retired to his study with the letter, leaving the necklace pouch in Taggart’s hands. The triplets took the bag and headed for the gym that had basically become training headquarters. There they found Isabel and Bowen laughing and talking. It seemed that the spark was not gone between these two.

  They gathered around the table in Bowen and Ardan’s makeshift room. They knew the velvet bag Taggart placed in the middle of the table was last touched by their mother. The last person to wear the necklace inside was their mother.

  “Well, someone’s got to take it out.” Kellan said as she reached for the bag, no one stopped her. She untied the string that held the bag closed and slid it open. As Kellan turned the bag over, the necklace slipped out into her hand. It looked like a three leaf clover. Each leaf sparkled with a beautiful jewel. Kellan spread the bag out
on the table and laid the necklace on top of it so everyone could see it.

  “I don’t see what the big deal is all about.” Kellan said unimpressed. “It’s just a necklace.”

  “It’s not just a necklace; it holds all the power of your ancestors.” Isabel impatiently interjected. “You don’t understand the sacrifice that went into this necklace. Powers were surrendered into it and a life was taken to bind those powers there. Our powers are there within those shiny stones. Legend says whoever wears the necklace has all that power at their control. So it would reason that it amplifies powers. Each of you will wear a piece of it; therefore each of you will be stronger because of it.”

  She picked up the necklace and slid the chain off of the charm. She twisted the stem of the clover and slid it up. The three leaves of the clover slid off. Each a beautiful formed heart pendant. There was a green stoned heart that Isabel handed to Kellan. The red one was given to Taggart, and the blue one to Meckenzie.

  Meckenzie slid her fingers across the stone’s smooth surface. A shiver of warmth emanated up her arm into her head. She turned the pendant over and found a tiny loop on the back meant for a chain. Kellan had already retrieved the chain from the necklace and was threading it through her charm. She put the necklace on and the green stone sparkled against her skin.

  “Whoa.” Kellan exclaimed. “This is freaky.”

  “Did you feel something?” Isabel curiously inquired.

  “Yes it’s like warmth spreading all over my body. I feel lighter and heavier at the same time.”

  Isabel reached for the velvet bag. Tucked away in a small pocket inside the bag were two other chains. She handed one to each Taggart and Meckenzie. They slid the chains in place and put on their charms.

  The warmth hit Meckenzie in the middle of her chest and spread outwards. She felt it most potently in her head. It was like she had a fire burning in her brain warming her from the inside out. Without even trying Meckenzie could hear everyone’s thoughts. She didn’t even have to concentrate; the words just came streaming in. It would be very nerve wracking if she couldn’t figure out how to control it, but as soon as she thought of controlling it, the words were gone and it was quiet again in her head.

  Taggart was smiling from ear to ear. He had his hand over the charm sitting on his chest. There was something very calming in his manner.

  “This is amazing. I feel like my heart is warm.” Taggart’s hand was still resting on his chest.

  “My whole body is warm.” Kellan added.

  Everyone turned to Meckenzie. “My mind is toasty.” She said laughing. “I guess the stones warm the part of you associated with your powers.”

  “It’s not really warming you.” Isabel explained. “It is producing an amplification of your powers. So the area that your powers come from feels warmer because more energy is being produced.”

  They were all marveling at their charms when Ardan came into the room with a box. “Your masks for your birthday party have arrived.” He said sitting the box down on the table. They opened it up and found costume masks decorated in bright colors. Meckenzie’s looked like a fairy princess which was ironic. Taggart had a wolf mask done in white, gold and silver. Kellan’s mask was a butterfly with wings that flowed from the side. Everyone would wear masks to the party, so there were some extras in the box for their father, Isabel, and the two guys.

  “Are you starting to get excited?” Bowen asked.

  “About our birthday, yes, about leaving, no. We need to know about dad.” Meckenzie responded.

  “Your mom will make a decision soon.” Said Isabel.

  Kellan was frustrated with that answer, “What in the world could she be considering? She wants us there, she wants us to be happy, then she wants dad there too. She can’t run off and then expect us to leave him as well.”

  They had been having this argument for a couple of weeks and Isabel was finally done.

  “I can’t make her answer you. This is not the life she would have chosen for you three. It is not the life she would have chosen for herself. Do you think she wanted to leave you? Do you think she wanted to leave…” Isabel paused

  From behind them, their father finished her sentence, “the man she loved.”

  Everyone turned to find him standing in the door holding the letter they had retrieved earlier. He looked haggard. His eyes were red and puffy from crying.

  “She loved me, I know she did. The picture in the box showed our love. The letter says she had to leave but that she never wanted to. She had always hoped that we would be together forever. Living our little lives with our three beautiful children. If she hasn’t made a decision yet, then it is because she is worried about me. I think it is best if we stop questioning her decision until she makes it. Isabel can’t fix it and no amount of complaining about your mother will take away the last eight years, so it’s time for you three to grow up. She also told me some super-secret fairy stuff in that letter. If these people who are waging a war against your land win, they will come here next. They plan on using their magic to enslave all of mankind. When your mother went back she went to hold them at bay so you could grow up with as normal a childhood as could be expected.”

  Their father paused and took in a deep breath as if steading himself for what he was about to say.

  “Your mother is afraid that I will obstruct you in some way. If there comes a time where you have to give your life to preserve peace, she knows I would never allow it. She knows I would protect you with my own life which in turn would put your life in danger. If you are trying to save me all the time, then who will be watching out for you. It might be necessary for me to be somewhere else while all of this is going on, hiding somewhere else in this world. Your mother has asked me to do as much in the letter. She has asked me to leave you and not try to find you. I think she thought I would remarry. In her letter she indicates that I should save myself and my loved ones and let you do your duty. This is why she hasn’t answered. She was waiting for me to read the letter and tell you that I wasn’t going to go.”

  “But dad you can’t leave us.” Tears were flowing down Kellan’s face. This just might push her over the edge. “I won’t go if you don’t.”

  “This is the last time we are going to talk about this until your mother responds.” He said. “If she says no, I will go away. I have everything in place to leave, so no one will be able find me here. I have some ideas of where I’d like to hide if I have to. It will be like an early retirement. There is enough money to last a lifetime. Actually there is enough to last my lifetime, your lifetime, and your children’s lifetime. So I will start making plans for that option. If I have to leave, we will find a way for you to contact me. I will leave word with my lawyer and set up a mailbox somewhere for correspondence. Then it can be forwarded anywhere in the world.”

  “That I love you three enough to walk away should tell you how much I respect your mother. I know she is trying to do what is best for everyone in this world and in hers. So it’s time you forgive her. You will need her if I’m gone. You will need to trust her. If I can ask you three for one thing, then I ask you to forgive her, for me.” Their father left the room and his three children to think about what he had said.