This time my hand connected when I slapped his arm. “I’ll show you drama.”
“Finally! The kid is gone and you’re ready to get naked. Show me what you’ve got.”
“AUNT PARIS!”
Sami was out the front door and racing to the passenger side of the shiny BMW before Aric and I had the front door fully open. Paris, my college roommate and longtime best friend, hopped out of the car, her stomach absolutely behemoth, and threw her arms around Sami.
“How is my girl?”
“I’m good,” Sami said, returning the embrace. “I’m almost a teenager now.”
“I know,” Paris said, smiling when she caught my eye. “I can’t wait until that happens. Your mother has a specific level of karma to hit where you’re concerned and I can’t wait to see what you have planned for her.”
“Keep it up,” I warned, edging down the stairs and giving Paris a warm hug. “I won’t teach you all the important life lessons I’ve learned about raising a teenager when your little bundle of joy hits the world if you’re not careful.”
“Somehow I think I’ll survive,” Paris said dryly, making a face as I ran my hand over her huge stomach. Her shirt was tight, making her protruding navel obvious.
“That’s really gross,” I said, poking it with my finger. “It’s like one of those meat thermometers that pops out to tell you when the turkey is done.”
“You’re always such a joy,” Paris said, turning to Aric. “Hi, handsome.”
“You look great,” Aric said, being careful as he embraced her. He was leery of my stomach when I was pregnant so hugging a friend when he considered her “delicate” was a mental exercise. “How close are you?”
“A few weeks,” Paris replied. “I’m getting really excited.”
“Yes, we all are,” I said. “There’s nothing better than a baby … until they grow up to be twelve and you start embarrassing them by breathing.”
“Ha, ha.” Sami’s face was stony. “That’s so funny I forgot to laugh.”
“Make yourself useful and take Paris’ bag to the guestroom,” I ordered. “That will probably make you laugh.”
Sami stuck out her tongue and earned an ear flick from Aric as he shook his head in warning.
“You don’t have to carry that. I can do it.” Paris’ husband Heath hurried around the front of the car with his own bag slung over his shoulder. His brown hair was slicked away from his face and he appeared nervous. We’d met him only a few times, so he was still getting used to us.
“She can do it,” Aric said. “After the pain in the ass she was last night it’s the least she can do.”
“What happened last night?” Paris asked, slipping a strand of Sami’s hair behind her ear. “Didn’t you have that big sleepover you were talking about?”
“How did you know about that?” Aric asked, narrowing his eyes.
“We Skype three times a week, Dad,” Sami said, groaning as she heaved the bag over her shoulder. “What do you have in here? Are you smuggling in another baby?”
“I have clothes and stuff,” Paris answered. “There also might be a birthday present for you in there.”
Sami brightened. “Can I open it?”
Paris nodded. “Put the bag away first. Don’t upset your parents.”
We watched an elated Sami rush toward the house, remaining quiet until she disappeared inside. The nice moment didn’t last long.
“So, what’s going on?” Paris asked.
“What makes you think anything is going on?” I averted my gaze as I led her toward the front door. “Nothing is going on. Life in the Winters’ household is perfect.”
Paris obviously didn’t believe me because she turned to Aric. “What’s wrong?”
“Sami was sleepwalking or something last night and we’re both worried she’s too obsessed with being popular,” Aric replied, sticking his tongue out and reminding me of Sami when he saw my glare. “What? You were going to eventually tell her anyway. I just cut out a day’s worth of obsessing and hiding your feelings. You should be thanking me.”
“Oh, I’m going to thank you,” I said. “I’m just going to wait until we’re alone.”
“You say that like it’s a threat, but I’m looking forward to it,” Aric said. “I can’t wait to be alone because even if you yell at me I’ll be able to schmooze you into making up before bed. We both know it’s true. Don’t deny it.”
Dang it! I hate it when he’s right. “Show Heath where to put his bag, and I’ll get Paris settled in the living room,” I said. “She’s big and fat, and needs a lot of liquids to keep from falling over.”
Aric barked out a laugh as he clapped Heath on the shoulder and directed him toward the door. “That’s our cue to give them a few moments,” he said. “They want to talk about chick things without the men around.”
“Eww, chick things?” Heath made a face. “Gross.”
“I’ll get you a beer and we can sit on the deck,” Aric said. “I find that eases the pain of being outnumbered by women.”
“That sounds like a plan.”
Paris remained focused on my face as we walked into the house, rubbing her hands over her expansive tummy as she studied my features. Her expression was almost to the point of tripping from annoying to creepy when she finally spoke. “You’re upset about the sleepwalking, aren’t you?”
“I’m not upset about it,” I replied. “I’m … confused.”
“Because?”
“Because I’ve never done it and neither has Aric,” I said. “It came out of nowhere. She doesn’t remember doing it. I … that can’t be normal.”
“Zoe, you and Aric have been watching Sami for twelve years and expecting something abnormal to happen,” Paris said. “You shouldn’t be surprised now that it’s finally occurred.”
“I know that,” I said, hating how Paris could see right through me and get to the heart of the matter. “It’s just … it came out of the blue. We spent years watching her as if she was a bomb about to go off, and only a few things happened.
“She set a few fires and scared that one babysitter when her eyes glowed blue,” I continued. “That thing she did with the books was neat, though. She’s been so … normal … that I thought she might have a chance to escape all of this mage stuff.”
“You say ‘normal’ like it’s a good thing,” Paris said. “You’re not normal. Aric isn’t normal. I’m certainly not normal. Why do you want Sami to be normal?”
“Because her life will be easier that way,” I answered honestly. “If she starts manifesting powers now … .” I felt helpless as I held my hands palms-up.
“Then people might come for her,” Paris surmised. “I admit that’s a problem, Zoe. She’s going to be a tempting target for people looking to amass power. You and Aric have raised her well, though. She knows not to go with strangers and she can link with you telepathically.
“Someone would have to be an absolute idiot to move on her,” she continued. “What you did at Quinn’s compound … and at Covenant College … and to those witches right before the wedding … well, it’s made the rounds. You’re a legend.”
I wasn’t thrilled with having my past monster-hunting deeds brought up, but I knew she had a point.
“Think about it, Zoe,” Paris prodded. “You and Aric have given Sami the world. You can’t expect her not to live in it. If she starts manifesting powers, then you’ll deal with it. It can’t be any harder than it was when you started burning people alive and bringing down bolts of lightning on yourself.”
I chuckled despite myself. “I guess not.”
“It’s going to be okay,” Paris said. “You can guide Sami through all of this because you’ve been through it yourself. She’s already better off than you were.”
“You’re right,” I said, flashing a genuine smile. “Are you ready to sit down and put your feet up? We can make the guys wait on us and bring us drinks. You’re pregnant, so that works to our advantage.”
“How does that work to your advantage?”
“Because you’re pregnant I get to remind Aric of the joy we shared at Sami’s birth,” I answered. “He still feels guilty about that. He’ll gladly play fetch for the night.”
“You’re a sick woman, but I like the way you think.”
“Just wait until I demand seafood at dinner,” I said. “You’re going to love me then.”
FIVE
“W e’ll be at the sports bar doing important guy things while you women spend your weight in money,” Aric said later that afternoon, grinning when I glared at him. “Paris, that should be a pretty impressive amount for you, so if you need to drop off packages we’ll be here … doing important stuff.”
“Yes, staring at the chicks wearing cheerleading uniforms as you watch the NBA playoffs sounds extremely important,” I deadpanned. “I don’t know how you don’t crumble under the weight of your responsibilities.”
“That’s why I have you,” Aric said, pressing a quick kiss to my mouth before shifting his attention to Sami. “You do what your mother says and don’t wander off.”
Sami perfected my eye roll by the time she was five. By the time she hit ten she’d bettered it. Now it was a work of art. Truly, I was impressed. “I have no intention of wandering off,” she said. “If I did want to wander off, though, I could without getting in any trouble. I’m not a baby.”
“You’re still my baby,” Aric said.
Sami pursed her lips as she considered the statement. “Will you give your baby shopping money?”
I knew darned well he was going to do it, but when he slid a questioning look in my direction I wanted to smack him. “Don’t look at me. She asked you for money.”
Aric heaved out a sigh only a man living with a fighting wife and daughter could muster and then dug in his wallet. He dropped five twenties in Sami’s outstretched hand and shot me another look. I kept my face blank and waited while he slipped a fifty on top of the pile.
“Thank you.” Sami was all smiles as she pressed a happy kiss to his cheek. “You’re the best daddy in the world.”
She only called him “daddy” when she thought she got one over on me thanks to him. I opened my hand expectantly. “Where’s my money?”
Aric frowned. “You make as much money as I do.”
“Oh, I see how it is,” I said. “Sami gets all of your love, affection and money, and I get to watch the kid all afternoon. That seems fair and balanced.”
“And after you gave birth to her and everything,” Paris said, making a sad clucking noise. “It’s tragic really.”
“It is tragic,” I agreed.
“Oh, you suck,” Aric muttered, although he grabbed a one-hundred out of his wallet and tossed it in my hand. “I’ll expect something in exchange for that tonight.”
“Oh, gross!” Sami furtively looked around to make sure one of her mall-happy friends wasn’t within earshot. “You guys are just … .”
“I was talking about a special massage,” Aric said, referring to my magic healing fingers and how they made him feel like a man of thirty again. “You have a dirty mind, Sami. You get it from your mother.”
“Yes, that’s obviously the case,” I said, pocketing the money. “We’ll probably stop by with bags occasionally, so don’t pick up any women.”
“Oh, no, how will I ever stop myself?” Aric pressed a hand to the spot above his heart. “There goes my afternoon.”
Heath chuckled worriedly as his gaze bounced between Paris and Aric. He obviously didn’t want to look like a wuss in front of an alpha male, but he wasn’t keen on ticking off Paris and her hormones. “Do you want me to come with you and help pick out baby things?” He looked as if that was the last thing he wanted to do.
“I think I’ll manage,” Paris said. “Have fun doing your guy stuff with Aric. We won’t be far.”
“Yes, do your guy stuff,” I said, winking. “Thump your chests and talk about free throw percentages while you debate the merits of a man-to-man or a zone defense.”
“Oh, baby, you know it turns me on when you talk sports,” Aric said.
Sami’s cheeks were crimson when I risked a glance at her. She couldn’t very well scold her father after he gave her a pile of money, though, so she wisely kept her mouth shut.
“I’ll see you in a little bit,” I said. “I might need more money, so I won’t wander too far away.”
“Hey, I’ll just keep adding it to your tab,” Aric said. “Something tells me it’s going to be a good night.”
“Oh, gross!”
“OH, YOU can’t tell me it’s not fun having a girl,” Paris gushed, watching from across the store as Sami lifted a billowy tank top and held it against her slim frame in front of a mirror. “Is there anything better than shopping together?”
I could think of about a million things. Shopping with a girl of a certain age is a nightmare. I’m not going to lie. “She’s not shopping with us,” I pointed out. “She’s in the same store with us and happens to be shopping, but look around. She’s avoiding us as if embarrassment is somehow catchy in case one of her mindless zombie friends happens to walk by.”
“Wow!” Paris widened her eyes to comic proportions. “Tell me how you really feel.”
“I really feel as if … she doesn’t like me.” I wouldn’t have admitted it to anyone else in the world, not even Aric. The truth is that I’m pretty sure Sami hates me. I can’t explain it, but the underlying tension between us had to be something for the record books.
Paris’ laughter took me by surprise. “Oh, you are priceless,” she said, shaking her head so hard her long dark waves brushed against her shoulders.
“I hardly think it’s a laughing matter,” I sniffed, crossing my arms over my chest as I watched Sami head for the display wall of shoes. She gave the Converse a wide berth and headed straight for the J-41s. It was as if she was trying to shove a dagger right through my heart.
“It’s totally a laughing matter,” Paris countered, her smile bright enough to irk me. “Sami doesn’t hate you. She loves you.”
“No, she doesn’t.”
“Give me a break, Zoe,” Paris said, her tone slipping. “Don’t you remember what it was like to be that age? She’s trying to find herself, and all she knows is that she can’t be like you because it’s never cool to be like your mom.”
“She thinks you’re cool,” I pointed out. “She asks what shoes you like. She asks what shirt you like. She even asks what kind of purses you like and she doesn’t like purses.”
“That’s exactly it,” Paris said. “I’m her bohemian aunt. I pop into town every few months and tell her what she wants to hear and earn all of the love and accolades. You do all of the hard stuff.
“I mean, you’re the one who limits her time on the internet so a predator doesn’t find her,” she continued. “You’re the one who takes care of her when she’s sick. You’re the one who feeds her. You’re the one who comforts her when she has a nightmare.”
“Aric does all of those things.”
Paris wrinkled her forehead. “He doesn’t do all of those things,” she argued. “You’re there and help. Sure, you don’t cook, but I remember when she was seven and got pneumonia. You were the one who sat at her bedside for hours.”
“That’s because I tried to heal her and it didn’t work right away,” I said. “It was like I was blocked or something.”
“I think fear blocked you,” Paris said. “It was the first time since she was an infant that you realized how truly vulnerable she was. You guys raised her to be rough and tumble, so she has this larger-than-life persona. I will never forget that first week you guys brought her home, though. Do you remember that?”
How could I forget? The kid refused to sleep, screeching at the top of her lungs and only settling when Aric held her. I went on a rampage about him baby-proofing the house while ignoring how hungry I was because I was determined to get back into my pre-pregnancy pants within a week. It didn’t end well. �
�I remember that being a great week,” I lied.
“Oh, you’re so full of crap,” Paris said. “You and Aric were so exhausted your mothers showed up to take Sami off your hands and forced you to sleep. I remember your mom holding Sami and whispering about how her parents were crazy but she’d love them anyway.
“You guys slept for fifteen straight hours,” she continued. “You didn’t move. You were dead to the world. You never told me what happened, but you held hands the entire time. I always envisioned you sharing a dream.”
That was an ability that manifested while I was pregnant with Sami. I think she’s the one who gave it to me, although I carried it with me after her birth. We did dream together that day. It was the simplest of all dreams. We sat in the hot tub and just talked for hours. It was, for lack of a better word, magical.
“She still hates me,” I said. “She loves Aric, but she hates me.”
“You’re being a moron,” Paris chided. “I watch Sami when she thinks no one is looking. She doesn’t hate you. She admires you and wants to be you. She tries to mimic your walk, and it drives her nuts that she doesn’t look like you.”
“She looks like Aric. How could anyone hate that?”
“I don’t think it’s a rational hate,” Paris said. “She sees how much Aric loves you and when she looks in a mirror she sees him. In her head she probably thinks that means she won’t get someone as wonderful as Aric. She probably thinks she has to look like you for that to happen.”
“That’s ludicrous,” I said. “Have you listened to the way that kid talks to me? She’s mean.”
“Oh, that’s rich coming from you,” Paris said. “You’re the meanest person I know. You were mean to Aric. You were mean to me. You were mean to Kelsey. I’m sure you were mean to your mother when you were Sami’s age. Are you saying you don’t love all of us?”
That was an unfair question – mostly because I didn’t have an acceptable answer. “No,” I said finally. “I was also mean to Will, Professor Blake, Brittany, Jessica, Paul and Mark. Did I love them? No, I hated them.”
Haunted Covenant (Dying Covenant Trilogy Book 1) Page 5
