by T K Eldridge
I saw her relief as my words reached her and Mira picked up her beer and tapped mine lightly. “To not wasting a single minute,” she said.
A sip of beer to seal the toast and I leaned forward, then lifted the hand I held to press my lips against the back of it. “Mira, I want to handfast with you. I want you to wear my ring. Will you honor me?”
Another flash of relief across her face and I smiled inside. This woman was more suited to me than I could have imagined.
“You honor me in the asking. And thank gods you want a handfasting and not a wedding. I’m Fae enough to want the real thing. Do you know where you want to live?”
“I know you own this house, and it’s a nice house, but I’d like to move us to a house on the Fortin Farm. Having family close is great and having the wards and security means I won’t worry about you and Ethan as much.”
“Why would you worry about our security? Is it because of the kidnapping, or something else?”
“Mostly because of my job. Being an officer in the SPD puts my family at some risk. It’s been our family’s practice to protect ourselves against possible issues since they’ve been in law enforcement for centuries.”
“Well, I’ll have to think about it a little. Yeah, we’re Chosen and bonded and all, but we’ve only known each other a few weeks and I’m not going to upset my son’s routine without careful consideration.”
“I understand that. There’s a lot we need to work out. For now, we’ll just keep spending time together and getting to know one another. I’d like you to get to know my family, too. You’ll love my Grandma Fortin. She’s a real character.”
“Is your sister going to be okay with this?”
“Don’t worry about Sid. She knows we’re Chosen. She’s protective of me, as I am of her, but we don’t smother each other. We’re twins, but we’re individuals, too. She’s working a double shift so I don’t have to go in early tomorrow. I’ll go in for the afternoon and evening shifts.”
“That’s really nice of her.”
“Well, she knew I was coming over and would probably stay on the couch again so we could spend as much time together as possible. The change of circumstance just means her gift of time is even more appreciated.”
Mira laughed at my sly wink and nodded to the food. “Eat up. I’ve got plans for dessert.”
“And showering later?” I teased.
“Oh, you bet.”
Chapter Eight
Sid
After lunch, I dove into my research and did something I’m not supposed to do. I pulled up Corby’s personnel file. How? Uh, I’d rather not say. Anyway, it turns out her mother was only a couple of years older than Grandma Fortin. Patience Grandin married John Corby and had several children. Patience and John had moved to Mexico a few years back instead of re-inventing themselves yet again. Prudence, the only child to have stayed in the area, inherited the house and land. Pru had been a member of the first academy class to allow women in 1950 and had served in the SPD off and on since. Every twenty years or so, she’d leave the department and travel, then come back fifteen or twenty years later and join up again. Lucky for me, it was another few years before she’d take her next freakin’ sabbatical. Oh, yay.
Sin came back with the files from Collegiate and we worked on sorting them before he took off to go to Mira’s. I was working the morning shift to cover for him, so I packed up and headed home to get some sleep before I had to come in again. I really hoped everything went well with him and Mira. She seemed to be good for him.
I pulled up to the cottage and grabbed my bag when I heard Grandma’s voice calling for me. I hadn’t spoken to her since the morning with Sett, and I still felt like crap for upsetting her. I pretended to not hear her at first, but using her magic, she slammed the cottage’s front door shut, right in my face when I went to open it.
“Sidonie Marie Boudreau, don’t you dare pretend you don’t hear me.”
My shoulders slumped and I turned to look at my grandma. “I’m sorry, Grandma. I don’t know what more I can do to tell you how…”
“Hush, Siddie. I’m not upset with you over that. I know you didn’t intend to harm anyone. I’m upset that you’ve been avoiding me ever since. Have I ever been one you could not speak plainly to?”
“No, Grandma, but Sett said…”
“Siddie, Sett is protective and you know that well. She was scared, too.” Grams came up onto the porch and opened my front door. “Come on, let’s go inside and have some coffee and talk.”
I nodded and held the door for her as she went in. I dropped my bag on the bench in the foyer, pulled off my boots and headed for the kitchen. “I still have some of that blueberry cobbler you made. Want some with the coffee?”
“I’ll get it, Siddie. You go change. I know you don’t like wearing your uniform around the house.”
Grams took the coffee pot from my hands and shooed me away. I kissed her cheek and went to my room to get changed. What did it say about my life that my grandmother knew more about my schedule than any potential boyfriend? It said that it was the life of a single woman, I guess.
A few minutes later, I was back in the kitchen and settled into a chair at the table while Grams put plates of cobbler and mugs of fresh coffee in front of us. Today, her hair was in two braids from the front into one braid down her back, the silver white hue glowing against her bright purple t-shirt. This shirt said “I put the ‘boo’ in booty”. Chino cargo pants and slip on sneakers completed her outfit today. I almost snorted my coffee when I read her shirt.
“Grams, I know I’ve probably said this before, but you have the best t-shirts. Where do you get them?”
“Oh, some I order online, some I’ve picked up at different shops. This one? Your Grampa Walsh sent me.”
That made me choke for real. I coughed up the inhaled sip of coffee and patted my chest. “Oh, gods, Grams. Don’t do that when I’m drinking.”
“Don’t drink when you’re asking about my wardrobe,” Grams quipped back. “Now, what did you learn about the case today?”
“You know I’m not supposed to tell you about active cases, Grandma.”
“Yes, but you started it the other day. Now you have to keep me informed.”
“Okay,” I said. “But don’t tell Grampa Walsh I’m telling you or he’ll reprimand me and I don’t need to be writing parking tickets for the next six months, got it?”
Grams made a zipping motion across her lips and I shook my head.
“Use your words, Grandma. You always told us a promise doesn’t count unless it’s spoken.”
“I promise to not tell Liam Walsh that you’re keeping me updated on an active case.”
“Good. So, did you know a Patience Grandin?”
Grandma made a soft ‘huh’ sound and sipped her coffee. “Now, that’s a name I’ve not heard in a decade or three. Patience married John Corby back in 1890 or so. They had three kids right off, then about twenty-five years later, had another four.”
“Her daughter, Prudence Corby, is with the SPD.”
“Now that name I do remember. She gave your parents a ton of grief over the years because of their mixing species. She’s a real piece of work, that one.”
“Well, I had an incident with her myself today. Would’ve been nice to know she had a thing against our family.”
“Oh, sweetheart, if we warned you about everyone that’s caused this family grief at one time or another, you’d be paranoid about ever meeting anyone. That’s no way to live a life. And people change. I’m just sorry Pru Corby hasn’t yet.”
“She seemed really bitter, Grams. Like I’d done something personal to hurt her. It doesn’t make sense.”
I knew I was leading her a bit, but I was hoping she’d talk about the kids.
“Well, Pru doesn’t have any reason to be like that, but her parents sure did. Patience and John were a few years older than me. Their families lived in Belle Cove, but I was kept close to home. Mama taught me at the house
, because my powers came in early and it wasn’t safe for me to go to the schoolhouse.”
I took another bite of cobbler and sipped my coffee. Grams had her hands wrapped around the mug but she wasn’t looking at me, she was staring into the distance. Or the past. “What kinds of powers, Grams?”
“Air powers. The teacher got quite upset when the chalk kept floating from her hand and out the window every time she tried to write math problems on the board.”
I chuckled as Grams continued.
“One day, Ma saw something outside and told me to go and hide in the barn. She made me take my dark cloak, then sent me out the back door towards the barn. I ran and climbed into the storage shed to burrow into the sacks of herbs. Before I hid, I saw Ma race towards the fields where Pa was plowing. It was a few minutes later that I heard strange men’s voices. I was so frightened, I couldn’t focus enough to use my magic.”
“How old were you, Grams?”
“Seven? Eight? Somewhere around there. I’d only been able to go to the schoolhouse for two seasons before I was kept home, so probably closer to eight years old.”
“Then what happened?”
“One of the men found me and hauled me out like a sack of grain. I screamed and struggled, but he dropped me on the back of a wagon. John, Patience, and little Tommy Webb were bound and lying in the back of it. He was about to tie me up when Ma threaded an arrow right through his throat.”
“Wow, great-grandma Margaret was a pro shot, huh?”
“My father used a sword and took down one of the others, and wounded a third. My parents were farmers, but they had been warriors. One never forgets how to wield a weapon to save a life.”
“What happened the other day, Grams?”
“My mother must have done a memory spell on us kids. It had worn down over the years, but when you and I were talking, it broke. It caused a bad reaction, is all. Sett was frightened, so she spoke sharply. It wasn’t anger at you, Siddie.”
“I was angry with myself, Grams. I’m so sorry. Grampa Walsh told me to leave it alone, and I didn’t. My arrogance caused you pain, and I never want to hurt you.”
Grandma wrapped me in a hug and kissed the top of my head. “You are a sweet woman, Sidonie. Don’t fret. It is a good thing that the spell broke. Now I can help you with the case.”
Grams sat back down, looking all excited about helping and I got a worried feeling. The last thing I needed was my grandmother going all secret squirrel on me.
“You can’t get involved, Grams. We can talk about stuff, sure, but if you get physically involved, it could ruin the case and allow whoever is doing this to get off. Promise me you won’t go off on your own?”
“I won’t go off on my own. I’ll make sure to bring one of you kids or Cosette with me.”
I sighed and shook my head. “More coffee?”
“Sure, now eat your cobbler. You’re getting too skinny.”
I poured her coffee and settled back to eat a couple of bites of the cooled cobbler. “Grams, have you thought about why they tried to take you and the other kids?”
Grandma took a sip of her coffee, then nodded. “I think it’s because we were all elemental witches.”
“Aren’t all witches tied to the elements?” I was trying to get her to put it together without me coming out and saying it.
“Well, yes, all witches are. But some are stronger in certain elements. I’m very strong with earth. Patience is strong with air. John, with earth and a bit with water. Tommy is a fire mage.”
“And what types of witches become elemental?”
“Well, just like some people have red hair, some are elemental. It’s genetics.”
“Yeah, Grams. DNA tests have shown what kinds of witches are good with elements like you and the others.”
She must’ve picked up something in my tone, because I watched my grandma lean back and lay both hands flat on the table, bracing herself. “What kinds? Just say it, Sidonie.”
“Fae blood makes a witch an elemental specialist. Your mother was Fae.”
A faint shake of her head and Grams spoke. “I’ll need to see proof.”
“Talk to Grampa Walsh. Sin and I had DNA tests done. We both have Fae and Mythic traces in our witch and shifter bloodlines. Grandma Walsh was a mythic – a sylph. Air elemental. Margaret Fraser was Fae. I read a letter where Marcel called Margaret his ‘little fairy’ and I thought it was an endearment. Then Liam wrote back to be careful because who knew who might read these. When I later learned about mythics and fae and spoke to Grampa Walsh, the letters suddenly made sense. I found the letters in one of Mom’s magic boxes stuffed in the attic a couple of years ago, but didn’t know what I was reading until recently.”
“It sounds like you’re trying to put together an explanation out of bits and pieces, Siddie. I’ll talk to Liam about this later, but for now, I’d appreciate it if you kept it to yourself. If I am a half-breed, then I don’t want it spread around town.”
Gram’s tone had chilled and I sucked in a breath. “So, it’s fine if Sin and I are, but it’s not okay if you are? That’s being racist, Grandmother, and I’m disappointed in you.”
I got to my feet and picked up my dishes, putting them in the sink. “You can see yourself out. I need to go take care of some things.” I heard my grandmother’s sigh as I left the room and headed for the stairs.
“Just give me time, Siddie,” she said quietly. “I love you.”
I heard the front door close behind her as she left. I loved her too, but I was just bone-weary of the stupidity of racial bias and behavior. I knew how to deal with it with co-workers and fellow students. Even figured out how to deal with it with some of my professors when I was at college. Having to deal with it from my own blood family was just too much. I had hoped after the mess with Jolie and Mom, that things would be better at home.
Guess I was wrong.
I’d have to take a few minutes and let Sin know that Grams was still having some bias issues, before he brought Mira over and introduced her to the family. We didn’t need Grams saying something rude to Sin’s Chosen, and causing more chaos and conflict. Maybe my best angle would be to talk to Sin, then go talk to Grampa Walsh. He could explain things in a way that Grams would process better than if it came from me.
I took a deep breath and let it out. I felt a little better, having some kind of game plan to go on. I also needed to talk to Auntie Sett. Sin was going to need space for his new family. I wondered if she might want a roommate.
I’d need to fix things with her, first. I grabbed my running shoes and keys, and headed over to Sett’s. If she wasn’t home, I’d just go for a run.
* * *
Sett was in her side yard at her potting bench. Looked like she was moving some house plants to larger pots and setting up some new seedlings. I noticed she had earbuds in, so I waved as I got closer.
Sett pulled out an earbud and looked up at me, expression neutral. “Sidonie. Can I help you with something?”
“Um, yeah. You could accept my apology for triggering a memory break on Grandma. I was scared too, and had no idea what was going on.”
I saw my aunt’s shoulders sag. “I was terrified,” Sett said. “I felt something shift and then the panic from the two of you. I accept your apology – if you will accept mine. I am sorry I snapped at you like that.”
I stepped up beside her and gave her a hug. “It’s all good, Auntie. Do you want some help with this?” I waved a hand at the potting bench.
“Sure, there are gloves on that shelf over there. I saw my Mom drive her ATV from your place to home. She looked…well, a mix of upset and pissed off. What happened?”
I pulled on the gloves and sighed. “She asked some questions, I gave her some answers, and she didn’t like them. She said something rude and I told her I was done discussing my racial makeup and left the room.”
“Ohh,” Sett said. “Her bigotry rearing its ugly head again? You know she loves you, right?”
“I know.”
“And she is from a time when bigotry was accepted and taught.”
“I know that, too. But she’s a smart woman who has accepted technology and change for over a century now. Why is this one piece so hard for her?”
Sett laughed. “You think because she knows how to use a smartphone, she’s going to stop behavior that has been ingrained since childhood?”
“A girl can dream, can’t she?” Then I stopped with a spider plant in one hand and dirt in the other. “Sett, you know you’re part fae, right? None of this is a surprise to you?”
“I know. And no, I didn’t tell anyone else in the family.” Sett put down the plant pot in her hands and looked at me. “I was a coward. I didn’t want to stir things up after how I saw everyone freak out over you and your brother.”
I stared at her for a long moment. “Sett, really? I’ve never seen you as anything remotely cowardly. What about Jolie and Micah? Mom? You know this impacts a person’s magic.”
“Right, and everyone’s been born with it so they already know how to work their magic with the added power.” Sett took the seedling and dirt from me, tucked the plant into the pot, settled the dirt around it, and then whispered something to it. A good soaking from the sprayer and I could see the plant visibly grow a few new leaves as it adjusted to its new home. “My gift has always been with the earth. I could’ve stayed on the farm, but I found that if I listened properly, I could hear where a body was buried or where someone was hiding. That has helped with my police work more than you might imagine.”
“Holy cow, yeah, that would be helpful. Care to teach me that?”
“Sure, but let’s get this task finished first. Did you feel what I did to boost the seedling?”
“Sort of?”
“Okay, get the next one done and I’ll show you again, then you can try it.”
We worked together until all of the repotting and planting was done, and by the second try, I was able to boost the seedlings without overdoing it. My first try, I boosted it too much and the plant exploded the pot from growing too quickly. There was a lot of laughter and by the time we had them all done, I had a solid grip on how to boost plants. My sickly African Violet didn’t know what was going to happen to it when I got home.
