Destiny (Cornerstone Deep Book 3)
Page 17
She threw him a grin and scrunched her nose. “Sounds just like Momma. She’s always trying to keep me and Mandy from fighting.” She sniggered, and her gaze lowered, taking in her body. “Do you think they’ll know me, Poppa James? I feel like I don’t even know me.”
“They’ll know who you are Kenzie, not to worry.”
Rhune paused beside the breakfast nook and folded his arms over his chest. “You’re holding up well, my little dove. Do you feel weak or faint?”
Mechenzie shrugged and her long hair fell from her shoulders. “I think I’m okay, Uncle Rhune. Just a little tired.”
He nodded. “Well, I’m here to assist with the Gift of Life if your Terran body fails you.”
James scrubbed at his beard and then raked his fingers over his scalp. His hair had grown to lengths he never thought he’d allow, but he wasn’t going to take the time needed to shave and trim. Linda could choose which way she preferred him, and he’d adjust it to her liking.
He silently thanked the Gods his body only aged the ten years they appeared to have missed, and not been dealt the cards Cole would live with. A twinge of guilt rushed to his cheeks, but it fled as he thought about Linda. He wanted to hold her, feel her soft body wrapped in his firm biceps as she leaned into him. The planes of his chest ached to savor her bosoms press against them; his hands longed to explore the dip of her waist as it made way for her voluptuous hips. “I think we’d both just like to see everybody, Rhune.”
With a nod, Rhune took a step. His shoulders filled the doorframe from jamb to jamb. “My dear family. I believe I have news that will make this day even brighter.”
“For my birthday, Uncle Rhune?”
James didn’t recognize the little quizzical voice.
“For all of us, on your special birthday, my little Lacey doll.” He stepped onto the terrace landing and turned, looking at James and Mechenzie.
“I’m scared,” said Mechenzie. “What if they don’t like how I look? Or that I’m not really sixteen, Poppa James. I just turned six! What do I do?”
James took her hand and gave it a little squeeze. “They’ll love you all the same, Kenzie. Come on, we’ll go together.”
“Okay, but you first.”
He pressed his lips into an understanding grin and walked to face those he loved most. A young girl with fiery red hair hopped onto Vincent’s lap as he sat in a lounge beside the picnic table. Elaina poured colorful liquid into cups, while Linda sliced cake and then placed it onto a plate. Mandy, the identical image of her sister, noticed him first.
Her eyes grew wide. “Pa… Poppa James?”
James’s grin grew to a wide smile and his dimples pressed into his cheeks. “And I’m not alone.”
Mechenzie stepped to his side. “Hi, Mandy.”
“Oh dear Gods! Momma, it’s Kenzie!” Her short hair, feathered with colors of pink and blue, fluttered in the wind as she ran to her twin and threw her arms around her.
Linda dropped the knife from her hand and ran so hard her bosoms bobbed with each lunge. “James! Mechenzie! Oh dear Arylin, oh gracious Taravaughn, dear merciful Gryffin!” She threw a chair from her path. “Get out of my way.” The girls’ little huddle turned into an eight arm struggle to hug tight enough as James and Linda embraced with the twins in the middle.
Jarrett rushed from the side line and seemed unable to find a place to join in the hug. “Kenzie Pop, my golden girl number two! Hey, it’s Daddy. Boy have we missed you!”
A hammer drummed James’s heart as the man’s excitement forced reality into the equation. Jarrett had just spent ten years with Linda and James hadn’t been around to witness all that had happened. Gods, nothing better have happened!
He scowled at the man but it didn’t seem to deter his enthusiasm. Pure joy lit every part of his scrawny body as he hopped around the tight circle as if to say, let me in too!
James refused to accommodate him and leaned his cheek on Linda’s sweet hair. Hot mist manifested under his lids and stung his eyes. He blinked hard to release the tears and allowed the moment to wash over him.
Rhune laughed, his arms bobbing on his chest, as Vincent and Elaina rushed over to join in the circle.
“Lacey, this is your Uncle James and Cousin Mechenzie,” announced Vincent. “Gods are we glad to see you! But where’s Cole? He’s with you, isn’t he?”
James straightened and looked him in the eyes. “Yes, he’s here. But there’s something you should know before you see him.”
“Wait. He’s okay, isn’t he?”
A tired voice came from the door. “He’s just fine. Just a little…old.”
“Holy skylark,” shouted Jarrett as Cole and Mianna came around them. “Talk about the spitting image of a wizard!”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Linda, Jarrett, and Mandy seemed unable to tear their gazes from Mechenzie as they stood beside the hearth of the study. How the girl would manage to mature quickly enough to catch up to her body, Cole didn’t know. She displayed a personality advanced for her six-year-old self in the past, perhaps her soul’s experiences would aid in the process.
Vincent balanced Lacey on his knee, while Elaina held her hand at his side. The peculiar phenomenon definitely ranked up there with extraordinary blessings to Shilo Manor, but he believed, while Mandy and Mechenzie seemed mild and preoccupied with each other at play, this young one would be a handful. A chuckled played in his heart. I bet Kid is getting his payback for his youthful stunts. With humor in his foresight, he imagined many more outbursts between him and Vincent over the matter. A child. He shook his head and his heart melted. A true blessing to the Shilomacj family.
James took his place in the master chair. Linda obviously preferred her men clean shaven as he’d returned to his trimmed, neatly presentable self in a matter of hours.
Rhune leaned on the door jamb in a very Vincent-like manner. Mianna closed the door, and then joined him beside the wide tapestries along the east wall. Her arm wrapped around his waist as her hand settled atop his long beard. Cole smiled. Mianna seemed to have found the whole aging process amazing and couldn’t manage to keep her hands off the thing. So be it, if it made her happy. He’d play the wise old coot.
He glanced at the beautiful renditions of Meridian beside them, his home realm; the five moons, indigo sun, white fields, and the Arched Spectrum of Realms. Never again would he feel nostalgic over the place. His home was now here with Mianna, and a house full of lovingly irritating bustle.
James issued the essential command. “Eko silyst.”
As he passed his hand over the family’s Candle Vignette, a wide flame flickered to life. He looked at each family member in turn, and Cole followed his regard. He loved them, cherished them, and would want to spend the rest of his life with no other group of people.
James’s gaze fell on Rhune, and Cole widened his perception to read the emotions emitted. If he read James right, and he knew he did, tenderness had replaced all anger at the man. His thoughts came to Cole clearly, but he wasn’t who needed to hear them. “James, is there something you’d like to say before we begin?”
“Yes.” Lacing his fingers in front of him, James seemed to consider his words. “We’ve all been through a lot. We’ve lost, we’ve discovered things about ourselves, and we’ve deepened our love. By the grace of the Gods, we’ve made it to this moment. But by the care of one man, we’ve been able to stay close and continue our lives together.” He looked at his father and his lips teetered as she spoke. “Rhune, you’ve watched over our loved ones, protected them when we weren’t here to do so. You’ve shared the Gift of Life. You’ve…become invaluable to the family.”
Rhune lowered his gaze and smiled. “Thank you, son.”
“But I will never be able to call you father,” James chuckled. “No matter how many times you call me son…or rainbow flower…or whatever other name you come up with.”
A chorus of laughter sprang in muffled tones within the silencing spell of the room.
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br /> “No offense,” James nodded toward Rhune.
“None taken, son.”
“So, back to the reason we’re here.” He looked at the Candle Vignette. “The Chronicles of Shilo Manor.” The heading appeared within the flame as James dictated, and reverence replaced the cheer in the hallowed study. “A new era has begun. Enter… Midway Summit.”
End Book Three
Coming Soon:
Look for more of the Shilos in the
Midway Summit series
by
Charlene A. Wilson
About the Author
Charlene A. Wilson is an author of tales that sweep you to other dimensions. She weaves magic, lasting love, and intrigue to immerse you into the lives of her characters.
She began writing in her early teens when her vivid dreams stayed with her long after she had them. The characters and worlds were so amazing; she brought them to life through her books.
Charlene resides in a small community in Arkansas, USA, with her two beautiful daughters, husband, a cuddly Pekingese, and a very chatty cockatiel named Todder.
Author site: http://CharleneAWilson.com
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