“There is nowhere else in the universe that I would rather be,” the witch began to run her fingers through golden hair, knowing that it would put her wife to sleep.
“No Raelin, don’t make me sleep. I don’t want to have the dreams again,” Del mumbled, struggling to stay awake under the soothing strokes of Raelin’s fingers. She felt the tears spill over and cursed her inability to keep her emotions under control.
“There will be no dreams tonight Delaney. Just a restful sleep. I promise,” Raelin whispered. She knew that she could keep this promise and muttered a spell underneath her breath.
“Please don’t leave me. Promise you’ll stay,” she begged, struggling to stay awake long enough hear the words.
“Shh, go to sleep Darlin’. You need your rest,” Raelin whispered, unable to promise her wife. There was something that she needed to do, and she had to go into town as soon as possible.
Unable to fight any longer, Del slipped into sleep, cheeks still wet with her tears.
Raelin stayed where she was for almost an hour, running her fingers through Del’s hair, and rubbing her back. Closing her eyes, she spoke another spell to make sure that the blonde wouldn’t wake, and then she carefully got out of bed, got dressed, and went downstairs. She was about to walk out the back door when Rori came in.
“Hey, there is something I need to do and I want you to watch over Del until I get back,” the brunette pulled her hair back into a ponytail.
“I’ll keep an eye on her. Please tell me whatever you planning won’t get you in trouble?” He sighed, whiskers twitching in amusement.
“No, and it may help out Delaney in the long run, I don’t know, but it’s something that must be done. Please stay with her.” And with that, Raelin was out the door and getting into her truck to drive to the department.
Parking in front, she got out and went into the lobby to tap on the door. Deputy Michaels looked up in surprise and came to open the door.
“Mrs. Delacroix, it’s awfully late to see you out this way,” he said surprised as he opened the door and let her in. “What can I do for you?”
“I need to see Duke Delacroix please.” Raelin knew that this was out of the ordinary, but she hoped that the Deputy would allow her to see her father-in-law.
“It’s a bit late for visits, but he’s in holding cell three. Do you know where it is or would you like me to take you there?” He hadn’t been here long, but from what he’d heard about Raelin since that afternoon, he figured she wouldn’t have come all the way out here without a good reason.
“Would you mind going in and making sure that he’s awake and presentable? I just need to talk to him for a few moments,” she asked and smiled at the young man.
Michaels near swooned at the sweet smile Raelin flashed him and nodded as he led her to the holding cells. He opened the door and woke the man up, making sure he was mostly roused and totally dressed. Walking back out, he addressed Raelin, “He’s up and presentable, I’ll be right over here. He tries to pull anything, you just yell for me and I’ll take care of him for you. Okay?”
Raelin thanked the young man and stepped into the doorway. Duke was wiping his face, trying to wake up a bit more. “Mr. Delacroix, do you remember who I am?”
The older man looked up and blinked at her blearily, trying to open his eyes against the headache that was throbbing between his eyes. “Why sure, you’re Delaney’s wife. Raelin I believe it was. I heard that you arranged to have me picked up tomorrow for rehab. Thank you for that,” he answered, sobriety making him far more respectful.
The witch wasn’t going to beat around the bush. “I know why you hate Delaney so much. You wanted a son, but you and Grace were told that she shouldn’t have kids, but you wanted a son so much that you talked her into it. Didn’t you?”
“How would you know that? Not even Delaney’s ever been told that,” he asked warily, standing from his cot.
“Grace told me... She also told me that you weren’t there when she went into labor. That you were at a ballgame and no one could find you. She went through the delivery with Fiona by her side, not you. And when you found out that she had died and Delaney was a girl, you blamed her. Somewhere in your mixed up mind, you thought that since you had a daughter instead of a son, that it was her fault when it was your own. You thought that your own needs were above your wife’s life, and then when Fiona died, you were forced to take care of Delaney.” Raelin stood in the doorway with her hands fisted.
“What do you know? You certainly were not there. Besides by the looks of things Delaney is close enough to a son anyway, she married a woman and she’s the Chief, isn’t she? And what do you mean Grace told you?” he asked defensively. He couldn’t deny of the woman’s words, but he found it highly doubtful she got the information out of his dead wife.
“I am a lot like your mother Fiona was. I am a witch, and Grace and your mother are here with us now, and they are not happy with you at all,” Raelin growled out.
“Oh God, the witch thing again. Look, I’m not sure what they have to complain about. She turned out just fine, don’t you think? She’s successful and happy. Sure, I made a few mistakes and I’d probably do a few things differently, but that’s why I want the rehab. Yeah, I wanted a son, but what man doesn’t?” he responded, rubbing his forehead.
“She’s not just fine. She thinks that you never loved her. That she wasn’t good enough for you. You told her that you hated her and she knows that you tried to cut off her life support when she was in the coma. What was the matter? Was the hospital using the money that you wanted to buy your booze with?” Raelin was trying to keep her temper in check, but it was proving to be very hard.
“You have no right to judge me. You don’t know me and you don’t know my life,” he said angrily. He’d known he’d made mistakes, especially in the way of raising his daughter but he didn’t need them continually shoved down his throat. “I’d lost my wife, my mother, and nearly my only child. I was beyond depressed. I still regret ever even thinking of cutting her off. “
“I have every right to judge you. Your daughter is terrified of sleeping because of the nightmares that she has. However, you are right; I don’t know your life. And I won’t have you hurting Delaney anymore, so go to your rehab. Fix yourself. It’s always been about you anyway. Never anyone else.” Raelin took a step back to leave.
“What do you want from me? I’m trying to make it as right as I can. I know I failed her; I’m reminded every day when she shuts me out. I was young, and stupid. Why did you really come here, it couldn’t have been just to ram my failures down my throat,” he said, sinking back onto the bed.
“You’re going to have to admit your failures in rehab and take responsibility for them, and that’s going to be the hardest thing you’ve ever done. You have to be man enough to admit them to yourself...I came here because it needed to be said and Delaney couldn’t say it. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she wants your love and approval. It’s too bad that you couldn’t walk in Delaney’s shoes so you could know what she’s gone through. Have a good night sleep Mr. Delacroix,” Raelin muttered something underneath her breath and flicked her wrist at the man before walking off.
Duke watched the witch walk off and crawled back into bed as the Deputy silently clanged his door shut. He closed his eyes and fell into a fitful sleep, full of his daughter and the hurt and anguish she suffered trying to live up so something she could never be. Then the agonizing helplessness, shame, and sense of failure when she gave up trying. He would get no rest this night.
Raelin thanked Deputy Michaels and went outside to get into her truck. She sat in front of the department for a long time, feeling a little bit guilty about what she had done, but prayed to her Goddess that she would be forgiven. Starting up the engine, she pulled out of the parking spot and headed home.
Once she was home, she went inside and opened the fridge to pour a glass of juice and turned to see Rori sitting on his bench. “Did she wake up?”<
br />
“No, she hasn’t stirred, but for the few minutes I laid with her, she kept reaching out for you. That and I don’t think she’s ever frowned so deeply since I’ve met her.” He sighed, shaking his head.
Shaking her own head, Raelin sipped her juice. “Her father came into town, got drunk at the bar, and made a little scene. Then he comes out here and... I don’t know Rori. He says that he’s been told that he has only months to live and that he wants to go into rehab and spend time with her, but after talking to him, I don’t know what to believe.”
“Well, what does Delaney think,” he asked, jumping up to sit next to his witch on the counter.
“She believes that he hates her. I don’t think she wants to spend time with him, but it is her decision that matters. I can only stand by her when she makes it,” she reached out to scratch him behind his ears. “How did your meeting with the new field cat go?”
“I well uh...she’s very nice. She was grateful I showed her around and would like to help the brigade anyway she can,” he replied carefully.
Carefully hiding the smile while taking another sip, Raelin muttered. “Well, that’s good. Invite her over for dinner if you want. I picked up some fresh tuna at the market that I thought that you might like to share with her.”
“Perhaps I will. Thank you. Now it’s late and I know a certain Chief who is probably missing her witch. Head up to bed child, it was a long day for you both,” he purred, rubbing against the witch’s chin.
“Night Rori.” Raelin put the glass in the sink and quietly made her way upstairs. Once there, she got undressed and slid into bed next to her wife.
Del felt Raelin’s presence even in sleep and pressed into to her usual place against Raelin’s front, her face relaxing as Raelin held her close. Letting out a deep breath, the blonde cuddled in, seeking the extra warmth from her wife.
Running her hand over Del’s hair soothed Raelin’s nerves as she laid there and thought about their day. She hoped that the blonde wouldn’t be too upset once she heard about her visit to the department, but wasn’t going to hold her breath. Closing her eyes, she was soon sound asleep.
A THE END, FOR NOWa
For more go to www.Shadoepublishing.com to purchase the complete book when it is available or for many other delightful offerings.
About the Author
Jennis Slaughter was born in Florida in the late fifties and was told by her mother that she was always overly dramatic. When Hollywood didn’t beckon, she turned to writing stories in her head. Once she spoke with another online author, she was encouraged to start writing on her own and the rest to say is history. She prefers writing mysteries and drama and has been called ‘The Angst Queen’ more than once. She is a firm believer in happy endings and true love.
Other books by Shadoe Publishing:
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Baroness Lydia Von Horn has never met an American like Analisa Meunier. Hiding her own identity leads to problems in their initial relationship, but making a family, a life, and surviving with both intact is the real challenge.
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What do you do when you meet someone who changes everything you know about love and passion?
Paige Harlow is a good girl. She's always known where she was going in life: top grades, an ivy league school, a medical degree, regular church attendance, and a happy marriage to a man. So falling in love with her gorgeous roommate and best friend Alyssa Torres is no small crisis. Alyssa is chasing demons of her own, a medical condition that makes her an outcast and a family dysfunctional to the point of disintegration make her a questionable choice for any stable relationship. But Paige's heart is no longer her own. She must now battle the prejudices of her family, friends, and church and come to peace with her new sexuality before she can hope to win the affections of the woman of her dreams. But will love be enough?
Coming out is hard. Coming out in the public eye is even harder. People think they own a piece of you, your work, and your life, they feel they have the right to judge you. You lose not only friends but fans and ultimately, possibly, your career…or your life.
Cassie Summers is a Southern Rock Star; she came out so that she could feel true to herself. Her family including her band and those important to her support her but there are others that feel she betrayed them, they have revenge on their minds…
Karin Myers is a Rock Star in her own right; she is one of those new super promoters: Manager, go-to gal, agent, public relations expert, and hand-holder all in one. Her name is synonymous with getting someone recognized, promoted, and making money. She only handles particular clients though; she’s choosy…for some very specific reasons.
Meeting Cassie at a party there is a definite attraction. She does not however wish to represent her despite her excellent reputation. She fights it tooth and nail until she is contractually required to do so. In nearly costs them more than either of them anticipated….their lives.
If you have enjoyed this book and the others listed here Shadoe Publishing is always looking for first, second, or third time authors. Please check out our website @ www.shadoepublishing.com for information or contact us at [email protected].
We may be able to help you make your dreams of becoming a published author come true.
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