Aric shrugged. “I don’t know,” he replied. “We’ll probably be so busy with all the interviews thanks to our daughter becoming a medical marvel that we won’t have time to think about it.”
Sami was horrified. “I want new parents,” she screeched, stomping her foot and then turning on her heel and stalking toward the sliding glass door. “You’re just so … gross!”
Aric and I waited until we heard the screen door shut before giving each other a knowing look and speaking at the same time.
“She gets that from you.”
Two
“How do I look?”
Sami appeared in the archway between the living room and kitchen and defiantly lifted her chin, as if daring me to pick at her choice of tan chinos and a violently bright peasant blouse. I’d learned my lesson about questioning her fashion choices long ago. At the time, I believe she insisted on wearing a princess dress with combat boots and a Batman cape. I thought it would’ve been a better look if she opted for the more colorful Superman cape. I was overruled by fake tears and screaming.
“You look cute,” I replied, narrowing my eyes at her flip-flops. “You can’t wear those around the fire later, though. You might stub your toe or something in the dark.”
Sami gave me her patented “well, duh” face. “I have tennis shoes out and ready for then.”
“Great,” I said, accepting the onion from Aric so I could chop it. He insists the only work I do in the kitchen be minor things, like chopping vegetables and fruit. He says I’m a menace, but I’m pretty sure he’s exaggerating. “As long as you’re prepared.”
“I think you look cute, too,” Aric said, smiling benevolently.
“I’m not trying to look cute,” Sami shot back, contorting her face into an expression I recognized from the mirror. She may look like her father, but her attitude is all me. Yes, I realize it’s karma. There’s no need to comment on it. “I’m trying to look popular.”
I pressed the tip of my tongue against my teeth to bite off a scathing retort. This popularity mantra of hers is enough to drive me right around the bend – where I will promptly hurry back and make a scene if I’m not careful.
“Well, I think you did a good job,” Aric said finally, grabbing the containers of hamburger meat so he could start making patties. “Your friends should start arriving soon.”
“Yes, and I’ll be the one answering the door,” Sami instructed. “It’s my party. I don’t want you guys doing anything embarrassing. In fact … maybe you shouldn’t talk to anyone. Just hide in here or something.”
“Oh, man! I wanted to pick my nose in front of them, too,” Aric groused. “You’ve totally ruined my night.”
“Yeah, and I was going to talk about my malfunctioning underwire and how it makes my boobs lumpy,” I added. “I guess I’m going to have to find another way to entertain myself.”
“You two are … horrible,” Sami muttered, shaking her head and scowling.
“Go wait for you friends by the front door,” Aric ordered. “That’s the only way you’ll be ensured we’re not going to embarrass you.”
“That might work for your father,” I added. “I still think there will be plenty of chances for me embarrass you, so stay on your toes.”
“Other people have good parents,” Sami grumbled as she directed herself toward the front door. “Why couldn’t that happen to me?”
“Because the world wanted to punish me with a miniature version of myself,” I replied.
Aric waited until he was sure Sami was out of earshot before sliding me a sidelong look. “If we got her because the world was punishing you, what does that say about me?”
I shrugged. “Perhaps you’re a glutton for punishment.”
“I guess that’s a fair enough assumption,” Aric said, bopping his hip into mine. “It’s more fun when you punish me, though.”
“Hey, knock that off,” I chided. “You’re embarrassing me.”
Aric snorted as he returned to his food preparations. I could tell something was on his mind, but instead of trying to draw it out I let him get to whatever it was on his own. Finally he sighed and lifted his head again. “Are you as bothered as I am about this popularity thing?”
I nodded. “I don’t remember being like that. I didn’t care what people thought about me.”
“Which is exactly why I liked you,” Aric said. “She reminds me of all those sorority girls who were so desperate to fit in they gave up their sense of uniqueness to be one of the crowd. Sami shouldn’t be one of the crowd. She’s different.”
“She is different,” I agreed. “She doesn’t want to admit that, though. I think not knowing I was different while growing up allowed me to spread my wings whenever I wanted. We’ve always told Sami she was different … and special … and that she has to be careful. I’m starting to wonder if that was a mistake.”
Aric glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was listening. “We both agreed she had to know,” he argued. “You didn’t know, and you were left exposed when you ended up at Covenant College. Everyone knew there was something different about you, but you were oblivious.”
“That wasn’t a good situation,” I said. “I had a normal childhood, though. We’ve been so busy watching her to make sure she didn’t accidentally set the school Christmas program on fire when she lost out on the lead role that I think we forgot what it was like to be a normal kid.
“She never got a chance to be truly normal because we watched her like neutered stalkers,” I continued. “It wasn’t fair in a lot of ways. It’s done, though. We can’t go back and fix things. We have to look forward because … no matter what … she’s going to draw more interest as she gets older.”
In truth, the multitude of attacks Aric and I feared upon her birth never materialized. Sure, there were a few crackpots who tried to get their hands on her, but we easily defeated them and sent a clear message when it happened. People feared taking us on and word spread that we weren’t messing around, so she got to live out her childhood in relative peace.
As far as powers, she displayed an aptitude for fire when her temper flared several times when she was younger – which she totally got from me – but it dissipated as she grew older. She could also talk to Aric and me in our heads when the mood struck. We think she did it numerous times as a baby, but we could never be sure. Suddenly a picture of a bottle or juice would pop into my head, and I knew she was hungry. When she was having a bad dream she could project the picture to our room and wake us. I didn’t realize she was actively doing it until she was three and Aric was reading her a bedtime story. She used her imagination to create an image of the world and sent it to both of us. It became something of a game until she outgrew story time. Other than that, though, she hadn’t manifested anything akin to what happened the day of her birth.
That didn’t mean it wasn’t coming.
“I’m not looking forward to when the hormones hit,” I said. “That’s going to be a nightmare. What happens when she has a crush and a boy breaks her heart?”
“Then I break his neck,” Aric replied, not missing a beat.
“Really?” I couldn’t help but be dubious. “You broke my heart and you’re still standing.”
“Well, thank you for bringing that up,” Aric deadpanned, rolling his eyes. “Was that really necessary?”
I shrugged. “I’m just keeping things in perspective,” I said, poking his ribs to let him know I was joking. “You can’t keep her from getting her heart broken. It’s impossible.”
“We don’t have to worry about that for a long time,” Aric said. “She’s a child. She won’t be thinking about boys for another ten years.”
I tried to swallow my laughter and failed miserably. “Do you really think she’s not going to crush on a boy until she’s twenty-two?”
“Yup. Then she can go on her first date.”
“You do realize that you and I were having sex when I was nineteen and living together by the time I was tw
enty-two, right?”
Aric stilled, frowning as he did the math in his head. “That can’t be right.”
“I met you when I was eighteen,” I reminded him. “That’s six years from now for her.”
“Then I was a demented pervert and your father should’ve shot me,” Aric grumbled, mixing the raw meat with the chopped onions. He has a special formula for hamburger patties that even I can’t deny is divine.
“I think my father wanted to shoot you,” I said. “He also realized I loved you and when to let go.”
“I’m never letting Sami go,” Aric said. “In fact … do they still have nunneries?”
I laughed so hard I accidentally spit on his face, causing him to give me a murderous look as he wiped the spot. “You’re so classy. I would marry you all over again given that little demonstration.”
“Keep it up,” I warned. “If you’re not careful I’ll embarrass you tonight, too.”
“Oh, yeah? How will you do that?”
“Maybe I’ll wear that hat Sami hates and do a little dance,” I replied. “How does that sound?”
“I love it when you do a little dance,” Aric said, kissing the tip of my nose. “If you do it when we’re in the hot tub tonight I’ll embarrass you with my dance.”
“Sold.”
He scorched me with a hot kiss, one that promised fun later, and we only parted when Sami started making gagging noises in the archway.
Aric reluctantly removed his lips from mine and stared at our daughter. “What do you want?”
“I want you two to stop doing that,” Sami seethed. “My guests are here. Don’t even think about doing any of the stuff you usually do. I will cry if you do.” She had an extra flair to her stomp as she turned and raced back toward the front door.
“She definitely gets that from you,” Aric said. “Can you hand me the Worcestershire sauce?”
And just like that, we were parents with an almost-teenaged daughter. How did that even happen?
“OH, WOW! Thank you, Katie.”
Sami’s smile was serene as she stared at the bottle of perfume her so-called popular friend gave her. We decided to open gifts inside before moving the party outside for dinner and a bonfire. Most of the items came in the form of gift cards – which I preferred – but Katie Dolloway insisted on bringing a bottle of perfume that looked as if it had fishnet stockings draped over it.
“It’s called Tease and it’s supposed to make the boys crazy,” Katie enthused, tucking a strand of her blond hair behind her ear. “You need help in that department, so I thought it was a good gift.”
I frowned from my spot in the archway between the kitchen and living room. The girls had already taken over the great room and spread out sleeping bags and makeup caboodles everywhere. I didn’t remember taking makeup to sleepovers at that age, but I’d vowed to keep any mean thoughts to myself for the duration of the party.
“What’s that?” Aric asked, ambling up behind me and resting his chin on top of my head. He was ridiculously tall on a normal day, but because I was slouching to keep myself from drawing attention he absolutely dwarfed me.
“It’s perfume to help Sami catch a man,” I replied, keeping my voice low. “It’s called Tease.”
“No,” Aric moaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I can’t deal with this. She’s my baby.”
I pursed my lips, love washing over me. He was a great father. He was an even better husband. His distress amused me, though. What? I have a rotten streak. Where do you think Sami gets it from? “She’s growing up.”
“But that perfume is not an appropriate gift,” Aric argued.
“It’s definitely tacky,” I said. “Don’t worry, I’ll make something bad happen to Katie Dolloway’s mother as payback, and we’ll toss the perfume as soon as these kids hit the pavement tomorrow morning.”
“Your mind is always working,” Aric said. “That’s one of the things I love most about you.”
“Yes, well, it keeps me young.” I turned so I could meet Aric’s gaze. “How is the food coming?”
“It’s ready to go, but I thought it would be better if I stuck close to you,” Aric replied, causing me to narrow my eyes. “I just can’t get enough of you.”
“That’s not why,” I argued. He’s a terrible liar. I don’t even know why he tries.
“Fine, I’m worried you’re going to throttle two or three of these kids because they’re little monsters, and I don’t think I can afford to pay wrongful death settlements for more than one.”
We were beyond wealthy thanks to my romance novels and his family’s lumber business, so I didn’t think that was true, but the insinuation grated. “I promised not to be mean to them.”
“I know, Zoe, and I think you meant it when you said it,” Aric said. “I also think you have the patience of a gnat and you won’t be able to help yourself. I was thinking you might want to help me cook the big feast.”
“You don’t trust me with our own daughter?” That was unbelievably hurtful.
“I trust you with our daughter,” Aric answered. “I don’t trust you with three of her snottier friends.”
He had a point. Still … . “I am perfectly capable of holding my temper in check.”
“Uh-huh.” Aric didn’t look convinced.
“We should go shoe shopping this week, Sami,” Katie said as everyone passed the bottle of perfume around and spritzed it on their wrists and necks. “Those flip-flops are ugly.”
Those flip-flops drove me crazy, but for the little hellion to say that bothered me no end. I could feel my temper flaring.
“You probably don’t realize they’re ugly, though,” Katie mused. “Your mom wears man shoes, so she probably never taught you about good shoes. My mom will do that, though.”
I opened my mouth to say something hateful, but Aric clapped his hand over it to keep me quiet.
“Ignore her,” Aric whispered.
“These are Converse,” I snapped, jerking his hand away. “They’re not man shoes.”
“I love your Converse,” Aric said. “I just … please. This is Sami’s party.”
His pleading cut through the red haze in my mind, but only marginally. “I’m going to shove my man shoes up her … .”
“Does your dad make your mom wear his shoes?” Katie asked. “Can’t your mom afford regular shoes?”
“That did it.” Just as Katie accepted the bottle of perfume I lashed out with my magic, causing it to explode in her hand. The liquid inside flew out in a multitude of directions, but the bulk of it landed on Katie.
“Omigod!”
“What happened?” one of the girls asked, flustered. “What did you do?”
“I don’t know,” Katie said. “I must’ve squeezed it too hard. Oh, my … I’m going to pass out. It’s too strong.”
“Come on,” Sami said, grabbing the girl’s arm and hauling her to her feet. “You can change into something else in my room.” Sami’s gaze locked with mine. She knew exactly what happened. Oops.
“So, um, you need help cooking, huh?”
Aric’s face was sober, but his eyes lit with mirth when I turned to him. “Come on, Trouble. I’ll make you my junior chef. You can even wear my ‘Kiss the Chef’ apron and I’ll kiss you whenever pre-teen girls aren’t looking.”
Sadly, it was the best offer I’d had all day. “Lead the way.”
“It’s going to be a long night, isn’t it?” Aric’s smile was rueful as he handed me a Tupperware bin filled with hamburger patties.
“You have no idea.”
Three
“Omigod. Your dad is so hot, Sami.”
Katie Dolloway practically drooled by the bonfire shortly after dark as Aric handed her a metal prong to roast marshmallows. The meal was a smashing success, with all the girls giggling every time Aric offered to cook them something else. Finally he got uncomfortable with the staring and made himself scarce until it was time to build the bonfire. Now that he was back he was the center of a
ttention again.
“He’s not hot,” Sami said, making a face as mortification climbed her cheeks in the flickering glow of the fire. “He’s … a dad.”
“Thank you, honey,” Aric deadpanned, glancing around the fire. “Does anyone need anything else? If not, I’m going to join the other old one over yonder while you guys do … whatever it is you’re going to do.”
“We’re going to talk about you.” I was pretty sure Katie’s smile was meant to be pretty, but it had a predatory tinge.
“I’m not very interesting,” Aric said, shifting from one foot to the other as he cast a “help me” look in my direction. “Just ask my wife.”
“Oh no,” I said, shaking my head as I grabbed two bars of chocolate from the stack. “He’s extremely interesting. I think he’s the most interesting man on the planet.”
Aric scowled. “You’re funny.”
“I try.”
“My mom says that you had to marry Sami’s mom because she got pregnant,” Katie said. “Is that true?” The girl was either purposely obtuse or legitimately oblivious. I was leaning toward the former.
“That is not true,” Aric replied. “Don’t believe that, Sami.”
“Yeah, but Sami was born like six months after your wedding,” Katie pressed. “My mom says that’s why you guys got married so fast and that everyone knows it.”
“Oh, yeah?” Aric’s temper was at the breaking point. “You tell your mom that we all know that you have the mailman’s smile.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing as Aric stomped in my direction. For her part, Katie couldn’t quite seem to grasp the meaning of Aric’s dig.
“I’ll tell her,” Katie said. “She probably won’t get it either.”
“I don’t think she gets much of anything,” Aric said, grabbing my hand and dragging me toward the wooden swing at the back of our property. He was a sputtering mess by the time we distanced ourselves from the girls. “Okay, whatever you want to do to Mrs. Dolloway is fine in my book. I think fire would be a good start.”
Dying Covenant: The Complete Series Page 3
