Night Magic

by Susan Squires

  Everyone on the far side of the table, as well as Brian down at the far end, was in a position to see the new arrivals. Brian jerked up from the table.

  “Jane, what happened?” His voice was baritone and commanding, a near miss for Kemble’s. It took a moment to realize that Brian couldn’t know about the betrothal. He was talking about her cheek. She’d forgotten its nagging throb. She raised a shaky hand to cover it.

  Brina turned around and gasped. Now everyone craned to see. Maggie stopped short, still holding Jesse’s hand. Brina pushed up and hurried over, along with Brian. “Oh, my dear. That looks so painful. Let me take care of that.”

  “How did this happen, Jane?” Brian repeated.

  “Her mother.” Kemble bit out the words. Good thing. Jane wasn’t sure she could answer.

  “Come with me,” Brina said, taking her hand. But Jane stayed where she was, looking to Kemble. He was right. They might was well get this over with. He nodded.

  “Uh, before you go, Jane and I have something to tell you all.”

  Oh, dear. That’s just how Devin broke the news to the family about loving Keelan. They’d think Kemble loved her. But they’d soon know it wasn’t true. No powers in store for either of them. Humiliating. Would they understand that she was ready to be satisfied with just affection, or at least a warm regard? And that he needed the security of getting on with his life? Would they know she could be a support for him? Would they even value that?

  Brian looked from one to the other, realization dawning. As a matter of fact, discovery was in the eyes of most of those at the table. Maggie was grinning, though Tristram looked lost. Keelan and Devin had sucked in their breaths and their expressions softened. Lanyon looked disgusted, but only in the way of twenty-three-year-old boy-men who’d had their fill of weddings recently. Tamsen was suppressing an incipient squeal. Brina had turned back and was examining first Jane’s face, and then her son’s. Drew looked the unhappiest of all of them. That was a little shocking. But Drew was always smart. She would realize Jane had taken advantage of Kemble’s pain to insinuate herself into the family in a more formal way. God, but that sounded so calculating. Was it true? She clasped her hands together to keep the Tremaine family from seeing them tremble.

  Kemble cleared his throat. He’d made the survey, too. Stick to your guns, Kemble, she thought. Or we’re lost.

  “We’re getting married.”

  Tamsen erupted in a squeal. Keelan and Devin both broke into grins that matched Maggie’s. Lanyon rolled his eyes. Drew pursed her lips and looked away. Brian looked thoughtful and Brina flashed concern before she grabbed for Jane’s hands and gently unclasped them. Jane saw the moment when everyone’s eyes caught the sparkle of the ring.

  “I’m so happy for you both,” Brina said, still examining both their faces.

  “What’s your power, Jane?” Tamsen crowed.

  Jane felt like the proverbial deer in the headlights. Now they’d know what a fraud she was and that Kemble might just have given away his only chance to find his magic, unless Destiny somehow found him. In which case Jane would be spending the rest of her life in regret. Which she might be doing anyway. What a mess.

  Kemble slipped his arm through hers and dragged her out of his mother’s grasp and up against his side. The feel of his body next to hers, the way his hip fitted into her waist, made her lungs grab for air. She could feel his heat even through his slacks and his sport coat. It made her melt into him and close her eyes, just for a moment. How she had longed for this closeness with him and how horrible to have it happen in front of those she loved, who would be so disappointed that she’d stolen Kemble’s future.

  “It isn’t like that for us,” Kemble said, his voice surprisingly firm. “I’ve known for some time that the gene is recessive in me. I’m not like you all. So it’s time to get on with life.” He looked to his father and nodded. “Father and I agreed. So Jane and I talked it over and thought we would suit.” He took a breath in the silence. “We’re going down to the County courthouse tomorrow and tying the knot.”

  “What?” Keelan asked, looking stunned. “No big wedding?”

  “No bridesmaids?” Tamsen practically wailed. “I was on a roll.”

  “Edwards and one of his guys can witness,” Kemble said. “They have to come anyway.”

  Brina caught her husband’s eyes. Then she deliberately smiled. “I’m so happy for you, my dear.” She leaned in and kissed Jane on the unblemished cheek. “I couldn’t ask for anyone better for Kemble.”

  “Thank you,” Jane murmured.

  Then everyone was up from the table and clustering around. Congratulations were offered, gruffly by the men, slapping Kemble on the back, and were accompanied by hugs for Jane from the women. All but Drew. She hung back, watching Jane with cool regard. But in all the eyes there was a sense of puzzlement, disappointment. They didn’t understand what had happened. They weren’t sure Kemble was doing the right thing.

  Join the club.

  “Girls, why don’t you come with me while I take care of Jane?” Brina’s question was really a command. The women in the room heard that loud and clearly. The female cluster moved off to the living room, an unavoidable wave that washed Jane along with them. Maggie took Jesse to bed and promised she’d be right back to hear all. Jane felt the sand shifting under her feet. What would she say to all the questions they were bound to ask? How would she bear their judgment?

  *****

  “Well, son, I think a celebratory drink is in order, don’t you?” Senior looked around. “What say we go out on the terrace?”

  Kemble nodded. He noted that even Lanyon wasn’t in such a hurry to get to his music now. The grill was about to get hotter.

  “I’ll grab some Scotch, unless anyone has another preference. Maybe some girly champagne?” Michael was six foot five of solid muscle. He’d been Delta Force before he met Drew. He could match the Tremaine brothers for height and then some. Michael was short for Michelangelo, the name a gift from his Italian mother. But he got his Merlin gene and the last name of Redmond from a father he hated. At first he hadn’t wanted the business his father left him. But with the conclusion of the contracts now in Senior’s office, it would come under the Tremaine Enterprises umbrella and be redirected to green energy projects and manufacture, the first product being the engine Tristram had built to run on used motor oil. Devin had some ideas for desalinization that looked promising too. Without obligations to his father’s company, Michael could do what he did best—Find things. Right now, he was Finding abducted children. Too bad he couldn’t Find Talismans. The ones Morgan had in her possession were Cloaked by one of the Clan, and Michael would have to know what the others looked like in order to locate them. But Kemble couldn’t provide that data.

  As they made their way out the French doors, the men were silent. Only Lanyon and Kemble didn’t have magic. At least Lanyon had hope. He was only twenty-three.

  The night air was still brisk at the ocean in May, but the cold felt bracing. The stars were out. The marine layer the locals called June Gloom wouldn’t set in for a few weeks. The grass was wet with dew. Kemble could smell the aroma of his mother’s roses drifting over the salt and seaweed smell of the Pacific. The kitchen windows cast warm channels of light out onto the terrace, but the rumble of waves at the base of the cliff sounded stark and threatening. Kemble wished he could stop here, on the brink of summer, with no judgments yet made by his family about his decision, no aspersions cast, no recriminations. But nothing would stop Senior.

  “Well, son, you certainly surprised us.”

  Michael appeared with the decanter from the bar in the living room and a stack of glasses. Everyone took a glass and Michael started sloshing Scotch into them.

  “Don’t know why you’d be surprised,” Kemble said, taking a gulp. The burn felt good. “We agreed yesterday I needed to get on with life and settle down. Who better than Jane?”

  “Jane’s great,” Tristram agreed. “It, uh, just
seems kind of sudden.”

  “I’ve known I wasn’t going to get magic for a while,” Kemble said. Damn. His tone was defensive. Maybe he should have talked about how long he’d known Jane, not about the magic.

  “Nobody knows they have it, until they just . . . do,” Devin said, hesitating. “What if you, uh, meet the one who raises it later?”

  “Not happening, brother. And don’t think Jane didn’t try that one on me. Said she’d stand down if it happened. Like it’s going to happen. No worries there.”

  There were several pairs of raised eyebrows around the circle. Michael sipped thoughtfully. “Guess we can’t expect you to go through life alone, but. . . .”

  “Look,” Kemble said, staring around the circle of male concern. “I proposed to Jane. I’m standing by that, so don’t try to talk me out of it.”

  “Not trying to talk you out of it, buddy,” Michael said. “Just want to be sure you do right by her.”

  Really? A guy who only married into the family was giving him grief? “I’ll be a faithful husband, Michael,” he gritted out.

  “I don’t think Michael was questioning your fidelity, Kemble,” his father said. “We just want to be sure this is something that will make you both happy.”

  They were worried about happy? Kemble ran a hand through his hair. This wasn’t about happy. Happy was having somebody who was your soul mate, your destiny, who had magic in her genes that matched your magic. The best he could hope for and the best he could probably give Jane was contentment. But, damn it, contentment was more than most people had. What did they all want from him? “Jane needs to get away from her mother. She needs a place of her own. You don’t know what she’s been living with because none of us ever bothered to find out. Well, I can get her out of that mess. I can protect her, give her a life, make sure she feels like she belongs to the family. I’ll care for her, respect her, give her everything she needs.” And that was that. They’d better get used to it.

  “What about you?” Tristram growled.

  “It is what it is.” Now he was getting really angry. “Look, I’ve been looking for magic for nearly twenty years and been disappointed every damned day when I didn’t find it. Game over. I just want to get off the merry-go-round. That’s what will make me happy.” He thought of another awful possibility. “And don’t any of you start badgering Jane. It’s not like she trapped me into this because she wanted me to take care of her problems. And she isn’t angling to be a Tremaine because she wants money or security. If you know anything about Jane, you know she isn’t capable of that. She was as surprised as any of you when I asked her.”

  Senior gave the others in the circle a hard stare and they all looked down or away in the face of it. He took a sip of his Scotch. “We want for you what you want, son. And you know we love Jane. She’s already part of the family.” He raised his glass. “To the sanctity of marriage, and all its many benefits.”

  Recovering, Michael and Tristram exchanged wicked grins and clinked glasses.

  “Hear, hear,” Michael said.

  “To the benefits,” Tristram agreed.

  Their joy in their own relationships was another slash at Kemble’s heart.

  Kemble raised his glass slowly. He realized they would accept this just because they loved Jane and didn’t want to cause her any pain. Okay. He’d take that. He lifted his glass and clinked with the other four. “To Jane,” he said.

  “To Jane,” the rumbling chorus echoed back.

  First hurdle passed.

  They all sipped their Scotch. “You know the women will want to make it a family expedition down to the courthouse tomorrow,” Kemble said to his father. “I’m leaving it to you to tell them why that’s not a good idea.”

  “Oh, no,” his father said, shaking his head and smiling. “First you’ll have to talk them out of a full-scale wedding they want to have in six months so they can have all the fun of planning every detail. I take it you don’t plan to wait that long.”

  “Absolutely not. It’s happening tomorrow, come hell or high water.”

  Unless his mother had talked Jane out of it by then.

  *****

  “Now, everyone keep quiet while I take care of Jane,” Brina said, shushing her daughters and her daughter-in-law. She sat Jane on the sofa next to the Remington bronze of the cowboy on a bucking bronco—the famous one. Brina sat beside her.

  Jane had never been so afraid in her life. All her qualms assailed her now. She should never have agreed to marry Kemble. Had she really done it? But she wouldn’t have five pairs of female eyes glued to her if she hadn’t. So she must have. She looked around wildly.

  “Just close your eyes, Jane,” Brina said, putting a gentle hand on her wrist. “It always helps if you can be calm.”

  Jane heaved in a jerky breath and nodded, closing her eyes. She tried to relax. Finding her shoulders were still up by her ears, she took another breath and worked to let them go. Her face muscles stopped clenching. In . . . hold for two . . . out. There. It wasn’t the first time Brina had Healed her. Over the years, she’d had chicken pox, and the flu a couple of times. She had cut herself pretty badly trying to carve a pumpkin once. It wasn’t like she fell out of trees or off skateboards like the boys. She’d never broken bones. Her ailments were just little jobs for Brina. But she never got used to Brina’s talent, either.

  Brina was making soothing noises and clucking to herself as she touched Jane’s forehead and traced her temple down to her cheek. Jane knew Brina had to touch the split cheek and the knot beneath it directly in order to work her magic. Brina was just trying to make sure she didn’t surprise Jane. “Here we go,” she said finally, laying her hand over the bruised and swollen area. “This won’t take a minute.”

  The familiar warmth and well-being flowed through Jane as the magic swelled. It was as if her soul was lunging toward the touch of that kind woman. Pain subsided. The knitting tissues tingled. Brina started to hum a little tune that sounded like it might be a lullaby.

  “Okay, open your eyes,” Brina said.

  Jane was totally relaxed, to the point that she felt like a custard. She opened her eyes to see Brina smiling. “Better?”

  Jane nodded. “Thank you so much.”

  “It was nothing.” Of course it wasn’t nothing. It cost Brina to Heal. She was a little out of breath. “Tamsen, why don’t you get a bottle of champagne from the wine fridge? I think the occasion calls for it,” she said as her breathing started to slow. Tamsen jumped and ran for the bar at the far end of the living room.

  “Get the good stuff, Tammy,” Keelan called after her. “We’re celebrating a betrothal.”

  Jane felt her cheeks begin to heat, especially when she met Drew’s cool gray eyes. Her friend for nearly twenty years didn’t approve of Jane marrying her brother. Why should she?

  “Now, while Tamsen is trying to figure out how to pop a champagne cork, tell us the thrilling details,” Brina said. She still had hold of Jane’s hand.

  “Where did he propose?” Maggie asked.

  “In the parking lot behind the Admiral Risty.” That got blank stares. “We were in his car,” she explained.

  “So—no getting down on one knee, I guess.” Tamsen sighed from across the room.

  “I can’t imagine Kemble on one knee,” Drew drawled. It was the first thing she’d said. That was an improvement, right?

  “The ring is lovely.” Keelan sat down on the couch opposite. Maggie took the chair on Jane’s left.

  Jane held it out. “He said he knew I wouldn’t want a big stone that stuck out and got caught on everything.” That did make her smile.

  “He must have found some time before Kee’s wedding to shop for it. We were all so busy we didn’t even notice,” Maggie marveled.

  Oh, dear. They had the wrong idea. And the minute any of them talked to Kemble for more than two seconds, they’d figure out the truth. She was pretty sure Brina knew, and maybe Drew. She was surprised the others hadn’t figured it
out from what he’d said already.

  Well, she should clear the air right now. She took in a big breath and let it out. Then she looked right at Drew. “I think he dashed up to the mall on Deep Valley Drive and got it this evening. I expect his decision to propose was very sudden.” She swallowed and tried to concentrate on having a spine. “I know you must think I’m very selfish to accept his offer. But I believe I can give him a good life. We won’t have anything like your relationships of course. As he said, we’re not talking Destiny here. And I’m not . . . well, I’m pretty ordinary.” She managed a half-laugh. “I never did see why you let me be your friend, Drew. But you all must have seen how unhappy he’s been in the last year or two. I think I can make him comfortable. I can help him live with not having magic. As well as he can, anyway. I’d like you all to let me try.”

  She saw Drew soften then look away. Keelan’s eyes were full. Pretty pathetic, Jane Butler. But true. That was the best she could do.

  “I think Kemble couldn’t have made a better choice,” Brina said, patting her hand. She looked up. “Tamsen, will you bring that bottle over here for Drew to open? If you finally do manage the cork I’ll have champagne all over the living room ceiling.”

  Drew held out an elegant hand. “Cough it up, Tammy.”

  “Oh, okay.” Tamsen stomped over and handed a bar cloth and the bottle to her oldest sister, then went to retrieve glasses.