Boxed Set

by Brenda K. Davies

  She looked up from the newspaper in front of her. Her large blue eyes blinked in surprise as her mouth dropped open. "Liam?" she gasped.

  Ethan smiled as he slid into the booth across from her. "No, Liam's my father. I'm Ethan."

  A cheerful smile spread over her pretty face. "I'm sorry, it's just... you look just like your father!"

  Ethan slid an arm over the back of the booth. "So I've been told."

  Kathleen's blue eyes rapidly scanned his face and posture as she shook her head in disbelief. "I can see some of your mother in you though. How is she?" she asked eagerly as she leaned across the table.

  Although she’d gained some weight, and her face was aged, she was much like the Kathleen he recalled. She was energetic, with an easy smile, and an amazing amount of warmth pouring from her.

  He felt a stab of sorrow for his parents and their friends. They’d been forced to push Kathleen out of their lives to protect her and themselves. He knew how much it hurt his mother, and from the haunted look in Kathleen's eyes, he could tell it had hurt her too.

  "She's doing well."

  "Are they still living in Oregon?"

  Ethan nodded. "Yes."

  "Does she have the big family she always dreamed of?" she asked eagerly.

  Ethan snorted as he grinned. Big was not the way he would describe the mob that was his family. "Yeah, there are ten of us."

  Kathleen chuckled. "Your father must be going insane with so many kids."

  "Nah, he likes it. Mike and David swear they're going to keep going until they have a thousand kids. Fortunately, they've decided to take a break for a while."

  He bit his bottom lip, stopping himself before he told her they planned to have more later. He wasn't accustomed to speaking with humans, and he knew his comment would have only confused her.

  "Honey, that's not a break, its menopause. Trust me, I know."

  Ethan couldn’t help but laugh. He'd forgotten how blunt, and open, Kathleen was. "I guess so."

  "Mike and David are still around?" she blurted.

  He nodded as he thought of the asses hiding in the alley across the street. "Yeah, so are Jack and Doug."

  "I can't believe it. I don't know how I lost touch with everyone, but I guess as the years go by..." she broke off as she glanced down at the paper before her. "Ah well, such is life. So how about yourself? What have you been up to?"

  Ethan bit his bottom lip. How was he supposed to tell this woman he hadn't been doing anything but living with Mike, Jack, Doug, and David in the house they’d built behind his parents’ home? He didn't have to be up to anything. He didn't have to do anything but lounge around, enjoy his life, and help keep his unruly brood of brothers and sisters under control. He could do other things; he simply didn't want to.

  "Ah, not much," he hedged.

  She grinned as she pointed at him. "That's your mother."

  "Huh?" he asked in confusion.

  "She always used to bite her lip when she felt uncomfortable, or nervous, or when she was deep in thought," she explained with a wistful smile.

  "Yeah, she still does."

  Kathleen’s eyes came back to his. "Well, you have to be up to something. College?"

  "I graduated," he lied. He hadn't felt like being bothered to go away to school. His father, mother, and his friends told him he would enjoy the experience, even if he didn't need the education, but he didn’t want to go. "I do odd jobs here and there." This was at least true.

  Kathleen nodded and took a sip of her water. "I'm sure you'll find your way someday."

  "Yeah."

  Ethan glanced out the window. Mike and Jack remained hidden within the shadows of the alleyway, but he could see them.

  "What about you?" he asked, returning his attention to her. "The last I knew you were going to France, to ah… take pictures?" he recalled.

  Kathleen leaned back in the booth. "That was my ex-husband, he was the photographer. My daughters and I went with him."

  Ethan barely remembered her daughters, and he couldn't recall their names. He knew one was two years younger than him and closer to his sister, Isabelle. The other was very young the last time he'd seen her.

  "I'm actually between jobs right now." Her voice grew distant and thoughtful as her forehead furrowed.

  Ethan realized the paper she was reading was opened to the classified section. He frowned as he wondered what it must be like to have to work and worry about how to pay bills, and survive. He was grateful he would never have to know.

  "What about your mom and dad?" she asked, pulling him out of his wandering thoughts. "What are they doing now?"

  He forced himself not to bite his lip as he met her steady gaze. "Dad's a lawyer," he lied.

  "Never thought I'd see that," she said with a rueful smile. "I never thought your dad was the type to settle down, at least not until he met your mom."

  He shrugged as his gaze traveled longingly toward the window. He was growing more uncomfortable by the second; he just wanted to be back outside, where he was free. And where Jack and Mike were waiting to bombard him with questions, he realized.

  "Well, I thought I would say hi and see how you were doing. I have to get going now," he said.

  He was very adept at lying. He should be, he had been doing it his whole life, and he thought nothing of letting them roll off his tongue now.

  "Oh yeah," she said quickly. "Of course. Tell everyone I say hi, and tell your mom..." her voice trailed off as her eyes became distant again. "Tell your mom I miss her."

  Again, Ethan felt a twinge of sorrow. His mother had given up her friends, more so than his father. He suddenly understood the wistful look that crossed her face when his dad, David, Doug, Jack, and Mike recalled stories of their younger days in high school and college. Without thinking, Ethan took her hand and squeezed it. She seemed as startled by the gesture as he did. He'd never touched a human being to offer them comfort, but this woman looked so sad he needed to give her some solace.

  "I will," he promised.

  She patted his hand before releasing it. "Are they still living at the same place?"

  "Yes."

  She nodded her eyes still sad and distant. "Maybe I'll give her a call."

  "I'm sure she would like that."

  He turned to leave. "Ethan."

  "Yeah?" He paused to look back at her.

  "Are they still as in love as they used to be?"

  "Even more so," he said honestly.

  She beamed at him as tears filled her large eyes. "That's wonderful.”

  Ethan left before she started to cry. He didn't deal well with humans under normal conditions; he sure didn't know how to handle an emotional one. Not that his sisters didn't get erratically emotional sometimes, but they were stronger and tougher than any human could ever be. He dashed across the street where Mike and Jack almost pounced on him.

  "Let's get to the car first," he said briskly. "I'm ready to go home."

  They exchanged glances, but they followed him back to the car. Ethan filled them in on the conversation as they left California behind and headed into Oregon.

  Chapter One

  "For God's sake, Ethan, get up!" Isabelle cried as she tugged at his arm.

  Her brother groaned as he stubbornly refused to look at her. "Isabelle, I'm telling you right now, if you don't get out of my room, I'll—"

  "You'll what?" she demanded. "Nothing, that's what, now get up!"

  Planting her hands on her hips, she scowled at him as he opened one emerald-colored eye to peep up at her.

  "What are you doing here anyway? Go back to your own house," he grumbled as he rolled over and buried himself beneath the sheet.

  She reached down and ripped the sheet off.

  "Hey!" he yelled as he tried to pull the sheet back.

  She refused to relent as they were caught in a tug of war she was determined to win. "Ethan Joseph, get out of this bed right now!"

  He scowled ferociously at her. She didn't back down as
she met his look with one just as ferocious. "What do you want?" he snapped.

  "Kyle and Cassidy climbed up a tree; they refuse to come down."

  "Get Ian," he grumbled as he finally managed to wrench his sheet back.

  She instantly grabbed it again. "Ian is with Mike, David, Doug, Jack, dad, and Aiden, so forget about Aiden too. They got out of bed this morning, unlike some people, and went to town to get more wood for the new house."

  Ethan groaned as he threw his arm over his eyes. "They're immortal, tell them to jump."

  "Ethan!" she cried in exasperation. "They can still break bones, and what if they accidentally stake themselves on the way down?"

  She knew he was trying to stifle a laugh at the image her words conjured. The only thing holding him back from doing so was knowing his brother and sister as well as she did. The possibility of them accidentally staking themselves was good. With a loud groan, he threw the sheet aside and swung his legs out of bed. Isabelle smiled smugly as she stepped back.

  He didn't bother to look at her as he tugged on his jeans and a T-shirt. "How do they manage to get themselves into these messes?" he muttered.

  "The same way we did."

  He groaned as he shook back his tousled hair. "Who dared them to go up the tree?" he grumbled.

  "Julian."

  "Of course," he groaned.

  Isabelle waited for him to slip his sneakers on before heading outdoors. She led the way down the path through the woods before veering off on another path leading further into the forest. They spent many hours playing in these woods as children, and Isabelle knew the trails like the back of her hand.

  "Does mom know?" Ethan demanded.

  "Like I was going to tell her, she has enough on her mind right now."

  "Huh?" Ethan asked tiredly.

  Isabelle shook her hair back as she cast a scowl over her shoulder at him. "Never mind," she muttered.

  Ethan stuck his tongue out at her. Isabelle forced herself not to laugh as she made a face at him. They may be adults now, but he was the one person who could always bring out her childish side, and she loved that the most about him. She turned down the path leading to the tree house.

  The distinct chant of, "Jump! Jump!" drifted to them.

  "Ah, hell!" Ethan muttered as he broke into a run.

  Isabelle was right on his heels as they burst into a small clearing. Willow and Julian stood at the base of a huge sycamore, looking up into its high, leaf-filled branches as they continued to shout at their younger siblings. Cassidy scooted down a branch, trying to adjust her hold as she started to slide sideways. Kyle, the less daring of the twins, had a death grip on his branch.

  "Don't you dare jump!" Ethan bellowed, causing even Isabelle to start.

  Willow and Julian spun around to gaze guiltily at them. Cassidy let out a yelp as she jerked in surprise. With horrifying clarity, Isabelle realized Cassidy wasn't going to keep her hold on the branch as she slid perilously. Ethan rushed forward, catching her just before she hit the ground. He grunted under the weight of her tiny body, his knees hitting the ground from the force of the impact.

  Isabelle rushed up to them, a little breathless as her heart hammered with dread. Cassidy lay for a moment, her tiny face scrunched up. Then, one dazzling blue eye popped open, and she warily looked up at Ethan. She twisted her head, her long sandy blonde hair covering her face as she looked at the ground just inches beneath her. She turned back and burst into a brilliant grin as she easily hopped out of his arms.

  "Thanks!" Cassidy cried.

  "Don't mention it," Ethan grumbled, shaking his head as he rose.

  "Good catch," Julian said in awe.

  Ethan wiped the dirt off the knees of his jeans. "Show off," Isabelle teased. He scowled at her before smiling. She lifted her head to peer through the thick branches at Kyle. "How are you going to get the other one?"

  "Think they could both fall out alive?" he asked hopefully

  "Do you think a snowball could survive in Hell?" she retorted.

  "Yeah, that's what I thought too," he mumbled unhappily.

  She slapped him on the back. "When was the last time you climbed a tree?"

  His face twisted thoughtfully. "Ten years, maybe."

  Kyle was clinging to his branch, his face white as a ghost.

  "Jump, Kyle; it's fun!" Cassidy urged her twin.

  "Don't you dare jump!" Isabelle yelled at her brother, shooting Cassidy a silencing look.

  Cassidy smiled back as she hopped from foot to foot, not the least bit ashamed. "Well, it is!" she protested.

  "And if I hadn't caught you?" Ethan demanded.

  She shrugged, refusing to be intimidated by her older siblings. "It would hurt, but I heal fast!"

  Isabelle shook her head and fought not to laugh as she met Ethan's aggravated gaze. "How do you argue with that?" she inquired.

  "Easily," he said before turning back to Cassidy. "Mom and dad would find out what you did."

  Cassidy's mouth dropped as she worriedly looked over at Willow and Julian. "We only climbed a tree! There's nothing wrong with that!" she protested.

  "After those two dared you!" he snapped, shooting a censuring look at Willow and Julian. They didn't look remotely ashamed as they stared unabashedly back at him.

  "Forget it, Ethan, you're fighting a losing battle," Isabelle told him. "Kyle, scoot to the branch below you! It's a pretty clear drop from there.”

  "I'm scared!" Kyle wailed. "I don't want to let go."

  "What kind of immortal is scared to fall from a tree?" Julian taunted.

  "The smart kind!" Ethan retorted.

  "I think you're going to have to go get him," she told Ethan.

  "I'm too old for this crap," he muttered as he angrily tugged on his shaggy black hair.

  Isabelle grinned at him, not deterred by his sour expression. "You're only twenty-five; just think how you're going to feel in a hundred years."

  He turned away from her and grabbed one of the thick lower branches. Isabelle shaded her eyes against the sun as he climbed to their brother. Kyle slid his small arms around Ethan's neck and climbed onto his back; he clung to him for dear life. Isabelle stifled a laugh at the sound of Ethan's choking. She knew he would be annoyed if he heard her laughing at him, but it took all she had not to. A lot of curses, scratches, and mumbled threats later, he slid safely back to the ground. The minute he hit the ground, Kyle hopped off his back and raced over to join his siblings.

  "Not so fast!" Isabelle yelled as they turned to bolt down the path. "There will be no more climbing trees! And if I find out the two of you dare them to do something stupid again, I'm going to tell mom and dad, and you'll be grounded for a month! Understand?"

  "Yeah, yeah," Willow and Julian mumbled.

  "Don't you yeah, yeah me, or I'll go and tell them right now."

  "No don't!" they both yelled. "We'll be good."

  "Good, and you two," she continued as she turned to her younger siblings. "I want your promise that if they do dare you to do something, you will not do it."

  "We promise!" Kyle and Cassidy vowed in unison.

  It was a useless promise; it would only be a matter of time before they were back into some mischief or another. "Go," she said wearily.

  They turned and bolted down the path, disappearing easily into the woods. "How long do you think it will be before they're in trouble again?" Ethan asked as he absently pulled a twig from his shirt.

  "Before they hit the end of the path," Isabelle answered with a small smile.

  "Most likely. So, what's going on with mom?"

  Isabelle started back down the path. "Nothing really, she's been quiet since you told her about running into her friend Karen last month."

  "Kathleen," Ethan corrected.

  "Whatever," she replied absently. "Plus, with Aiden going to college this fall, she's a little upset."

  "Starting to get empty nest syndrome?"

  Isabelle laughed as she pushed against his shoulder. "I do
n't think this nest will ever be empty."

  Ethan grinned back at her. "Not with the two of us here. She was that upset about Kathleen?"

  "Yeah, she was," Isabelle replied sadly. "She's been talking about her a lot since then, reminiscing and stuff."

  Ethan frowned thoughtfully. "I know Kathleen seemed to miss her."

  "Mom feels the same way. Every time she mentions her name, she gets this distant look in her eyes. It's sad."

  "Well, there's nothing we can do about it."

  "I know," Isabelle whispered.

  "Hey, don't get all glum on me now!"

  Isabelle grinned at him as she shoved his arm. He smiled as he playfully pushed her back. Out of all her siblings, Ethan was the most like her, and the one she was closest to. Neither of them had much use for the human race, other than food, and Isabelle didn't even bother with them for that.

  The idea of actually going out in the world, and living amongst people, didn’t appeal to either of them. Unlike the two of them though, Ian was already attending the University of Oregon, and he loved it. Aiden was thrilled about going away to school in the fall, and although Victoria and Abigail were only fifteen, they were already flipping through college brochures.

  However, she and Ethan were content to stay here. Isabelle rarely went out into the world, rarely even left her yard. Ethan went out more than she did, but not nearly as often as The Stooges did (as they referred to Mike, Doug, Jack, and David), or Ian, Aiden, Vicky, and Abby. Isabelle wasn't particularly fond of humans as it was, and the idea of actually living amongst them didn’t appeal to her.

  She liked her life here, the peace and security it offered. She supposed it was cowardly of her to stay hidden away when there was a huge world she could easily explore. However, she harbored a secret fear, and the possibility of her fear coming true was enough to make her never want to leave.

  She glanced over at Ethan to find him smiling, his hands in his pockets, and his black head bowed. "What are you thinking about?" she asked teasingly.

  Ethan instantly wiped the grin from his face. "Nothing."

  She cocked an elegant eyebrow as she smiled at him slyly. "Girls?"

  "Hardly," he retorted.

  She laughed as she tossed back her hair. "Don't lie, Ethan, I know you."