Claiming Family
Page 20
My stomach fluttered. “I had a memory.” The words caught in my throat, but I pushed them out. “A terrible memory.” Throat still tight, my eyes began to burn. “There were two people, Mark and Tara, and they didn’t… didn’t want me anymore. You had to take me away…”
Wetness streaked down my cheek, and I realized I’d begun to cry.
“Oh, darling.” May rose and closed the distance between us. She crouched, gathered me into her arms, and held me close for a moment before releasing me. “You were too young to understand, then you didn’t seem to remember any of it. I should have talked to you about it years ago.”
She settled back into the chair before continuing. “When you were five, Tara found out she was pregnant.”
“And then she didn’t want me anymore,” I finished the statement for her.
May shook her head. “No, honey. She couldn’t take care of you. Tara loved you very much. So did Mark.”
It was hard to believe her, but I wanted to, so I stayed quiet.
“They tried for years to have children, but Tara couldn’t maintain a pregnancy. When your mom died, I knew she’d be thrilled to take you in. She wanted to adopt you, but the rest of the Concilium wanted to wait. When she got pregnant, her doctor told her she needed to be extra cautious. She tried, for about three months, but she had a scare, and her doctor put her on bed rest. That’s when she called me. She wasn’t able to take care of an active five-year-old.”
Time slowed down around me as my reality readjusted. For weeks, well years if I was honest, I thought Tara gave me up because she simply didn’t want me anymore, because I was too much trouble or work. But May said Tara did want me, that she loved me? I barely registered the arm pulling me close.
“It broke her heart to tell me. She hoped to be able to get you back after the baby was born, but her health became very delicate. She asked about you for years. Wanted to know everything about you.” The way her eyes suddenly went sad made my heart fall.
“May?” Please don’t say it. “Could I talk to her?”
Please don’t let it be true. Don’t say it.
“I’m sorry, darling. She died several years ago.”
More tears escaped me. Tara loved me. My brain couldn’t wrap itself around that.
Silence filled the room, but I couldn’t do anything more than curl into Brooks and cry silently.
May rubbed my back. “Mark would love to see you. He still asks about you. When you’re ready, honey.”
I nodded. I did want to see him, talk to him. Eventually.
Michael added quietly, “We would be happy to set up a dinner or lunch, if they live in state.”
“Beautiful,” Brooks whispered. “What about the power surge?”
Thankful for the reminder, I wiped my eyes looked back up at May. Tears still glistened in her eyes.
“Something odd happened during training.” I swallowed down a sob and tried to continue. “I didn’t mean to, but somehow my power surged or something, and I burned Souta badly. I didn’t… I don’t have that much power. I’ve never been able to do anything like that before, but it’s happened twice.”
May stayed silent for several minutes.
I snuggled into Brooks and settled my feet in Souta’s lap. My hand found JJ’s hair and ran through it. Physical connection to my boys was what I needed right now. The mystery still bothered me, but I had put the surge out of my mind, especially when I’d been unable to find any answers in the Tabularium.
After a few minutes of contemplation, May rose. “I have some ideas on the matter, but I’m not entirely sure. Let me look into it.” She gathered her purse to head out, and I rose, too. “I don’t want to give you false information, sweetie.”
I walked her to the door, grateful again the Mother saw fit to give me such an incredible guardian.
At that moment, standing by the door with the one woman who always stood by my side, it hit me how much I’d taken her for granted. Without thinking about it, I threw my arms around her and hugged her tight.
Her shock froze her for a second, then she enfolded me in her arms.
“May, I’m so sorry.” The urge to tell her how I felt came out. She’d been the one steady presence in my life since the day I was born. “I’ve taken you for granted for so long.” My throat closed again, and I cursed this new tendency to cry at the drop of a hat.
“Oh, child.” May ran a hand over my hair. “I don’t think that’s true.”
“But it is.” I pulled back to look at her. “I never realized, I never thought…” My words failed, and for half a second, panic overtook me. Pausing, I forced a deep breath and tried again, “I’ve spent years thinking I was alone in the world, and the whole time you were there, in the background. Every time I called, every holiday. You’ve always been there for everything. I was never alone, and I failed to see it.”
“Child, don’t you know how much I love you? I’ve always thought of you as one of my grandchildren. Family is there for each other, without question and without thanks needed.” Her hands squeezed mine. “And it doesn’t matter that you have the boys, Michael, Kelly and Ash now. I will still be only a phone call away.”
“I’ve still been an idiot.” I gave her half a smile and shoved some hair out of my face.
“No, Sera. Not an idiot. What you’ve been is hurt and growing up.” She leaned in and pecked my cheek. “I have to go, but I expect phone calls, hear?”
“I will.” I nodded.
My heart felt like it would burst from happiness as I watched her walk out the door.
A hand came down gently on my shoulder and squeezed. Looking back, I found Michael standing there. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but she’s right, you know. Family doesn’t ask for thanks or even acknowledgment. They are simply there because of love.”
“I think I’m starting to understand that.” Closing the door, I turned to face him. “And I wanted to tell you that I accept your offer. If it’s still okay, I would love to come live with you.”
The grin practically broke his face, and I didn’t bother to stop my answering one. The roller coaster I’d been on the last few days left me a little lightheaded, but I didn’t mind. It felt better than being nearly numb for the last eighteen years.
“Come on, then.” He jerked his head toward the living room where the boys still waited. “Why don’t we go figure out some house rules with your boys?”
This should be interesting. What kind of rules would he set down?
The boys looked up from the couch when we walked in, questions all over their faces. I went over and tossed myself down in the middle of them, making them laugh as they tried to rearrange us into a more comfortable pile.
“Alright, guys.” Michael laughed as we settled. “With Seraphina’s agreement to live here, I think we need to establish a few rules. You are all welcome anytime, but absolutely no closed doors, okay?”
“Seriously, Dad?” Ash snorted as he walked in. “That’s it? No closed doors?”
He spun to face the guys, and I bit back a laugh at the expression on his face. It was a cross between fierce older brother and class clown, which really shouldn’t work.
“That’s my little sister.” He thrust a finger at me. “How about this rule?” He turned toward me and the guys. “Remember she’s got an older brother who won’t hesitate to kick your asses and let that guide you.”
It was a battle to hold in the laughter bubbling up in my chest. Ash knew I could take care of myself, but I rather enjoyed having him in my corner.
Michael didn’t bother holding in his chuckle as he clapped a hand down on Ash’s shoulder. “A curfew will be set, but we’ll figure out the rest of the rules as we go. It will take a little adjusting for all of us.”
Kelly came in with a tray of snacks, smiling as she set it on the coffee table and settled into a chair. I still didn’t know her well, but that would change with me living here. I wasn’t sure what kind of role she’d have in my life, but she was imp
ortant to Michael, so she was important to me.
It hit me then, how many people I now had who were important to me, who mattered, who I cared for. It felt new and odd, and I was still adjusting, but with the guys’ help, I would figure things out.
And Chester, and the power surges? We would figure all that out, too.
We had plenty of help now, plenty of people in our corner. Answers would come in time.
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About the Author
Desi Lin lives in Central Florida with her husband, four kids, and one spoiled, pure black kitty. She enjoys a good cup of coffee, a great tune and delicious food. When not writing, she can be found cooking, taking photographs, playing on her Xbox and driving her kids nuts.