"Why did you not tell me?"
A second later, Ptah appeared in the room. “I think it is best we have this conversation face to face. I did not tell you because I wanted you to find out on your own."
"It was when you healed her that you did it. Isn't it?"
"Yes. You had chosen Kendra as your mate so it seemed to be the most logical thing to do at the time. I knew Re would make things right for you both in the end."
Not understanding what Ptah and Nefertem were saying about what Ptah had done to her, and it was obvious he had done something, Kendra broke into their conversation. “Hello, I'm still in the room. Now that I have your attention, can someone please tell me what all this is about?"
Nefertem closed his hands around Kendra's own. He seemed a bit lost for words. “Your ability, to heal yourself, is no side effect Kendra. My father made you an immortal that day."
Kendra's jaw dropped open. She quickly closed her mouth and turned to look at Ptah. “I'm immortal now? As in I will never die?"
Ptah smiled. “Yes.” He stepped closer to her and kissed her cheek. “Welcome to the family, my daughter. And before you can ask, the child you carry is also immortal. I will leave you both alone now, but your mother and I expect to see you very soon.” Ptah disappeared from the room.
Immortal. She was now immortal. It dawned on Kendra exactly what that meant for Nefertem and herself. They would be together forever. Letting out a shriek of joy, Kendra launched herself into Nefertem's arms and kissed him. Nothing would ever come between their love again.
Epilogue
Standing at the entrance to her living room, Kendra watched her husband and their one-month-old daughter. It was a sight she never got tired of seeing.
Nefertem sat slouched down on the couch with little Cleo fast asleep on his broad chest while he watched television. One of his large hands gently rubbed the baby's back. Cleo had her little legs drawn up under her, quite happy to be where she was.
It had been Nefertem's idea to name their daughter after the famous Egyptian queen, Cleopatra. Kendra had consented only after it was agreed the baby's name would be shortened to Cleo. So on their daughter's birth certificate she had the full name of Cleopatra, but Cleo would be the name she went by everyday.
Markus was in the room with his brother-in-law and niece. Ever since Nefertem's return to her life, Markus and he had hit it off. Markus had even managed to get Nefertem hooked on watching sports on television. Something they tended to do a little bit too much for Kendra's liking.
Moving further into the room, Kendra sat down on the couch beside her husband. “Would you like me to take Cleo from you?"
Nefertem kissed the top of the baby's soft downy head. “No, she is perfectly fine where she is."
Slouching down to the same level as her husband, Kendra rested her head on Nefertem's shoulder. “Where is Mahes? I thought he would be here by now."
Mahes came to visit them at least a couple times a week and on sports night, as Kendra liked to call nights like this, he never failed to show up. It wasn't so much that Mahes enjoyed watching the game as it was he enjoyed the beer drinking that went with it.
Markus shrugged. “I have no idea. If he doesn't show up that just means there will be more beer for me."
Kendra rolled her eyes. “Like you don't get enough of the stuff as is. Have you heard from him, Nefertem?"
Nefertem shook his head. “No, but I would not worry overly much. Knowing him, he may very well have found something that sparked his interest more than the idea of coming here."
At that moment, Cleo began to stir. After stretching largely she began to root around on her father's chest, looking for something he could not provide for her.
Kendra chuckled. “Come here, my little girl. Daddy will have to give you up now before you start getting upset.” Picking up the baby, she got up on her feet. Kendra patted her daughter's behind and grimaced in response. “I also think a diaper change is in order. Someone has very soggy drawers indeed."
Getting to his feet, Nefertem followed Kendra out of the room, leaving Markus to continue watching the game. “I'll change Cleo and then you can nurse her."
Walking into what had once been the spare bedroom, but now had been turned into a baby's room; Kendra placed her daughter on the change table. As Nefertem moved to put a dry diaper on Cleo, Kendra went and sat down on the rocking chair to wait until he was finished.
Nefertem made short work of the diaper change and then with reluctance passed Cleo over to her mother. Kendra adjusted her top and settled the baby to her breast.
Nefertem watched as his small daughter greedily suckled at her mother's breast. He still found it hard to believe that he had helped create this small, new little person. Possessing a great number of powers and able to do spectacular things with them, this most elemental one, the ability to procreate, humbled him.
When Kendra shifted Cleo to her shoulder to burp her, Nefertem said, “I hear Stan Wilson's trial finally took place the other day."
Kendra nodded. “Yes. He won't be a free man for a few years. At least he never came back here again. I think you gave him a good scare."
"He deserved more than a scare for what he did to you.” Nefertem said harshly.
"That is water under the bridge, Nefertem. He is out of our lives and that is all that really matters."
Nefertem let the subject of Stan Wilson drop. “By the way, we are expected to visit my parents tomorrow."
"When you say expected, don't you mean that there is no choice in the matter?"
Kendra had finally relented to see Sekhmet a month after Nefertem's return. She had dreaded the meeting with her mother-in-law. But as Nefertem had said, the woman from the hidden chamber was far different from the one she had now become. Kendra had not forgotten what Sekhmet had tried to do, but she was slowly starting to warm up to her mother by marriage.
Nefertem chuckled. “I admit my parents usually don't take no for an answer."
Peering at Cleo, Kendra found her fast asleep. “She is off again.” When Nefertem moved to take the baby from her, she shook her head. “Cleo is going to sleep in the crib. You may like her sleeping on your chest for hours on end, but she needs to get used to sleeping in the crib."
Backing away, Nefertem made room so Kendra could stand up. As he watched his wife tuck their daughter into bed, he let his thoughts wander. His brother's absence bothered him more than he was willing to let on to Kendra. Mahes was missing not only from their home, but from the immortal realm as well. Nefertem could not shake the feeling that what had happened to him ten months before had now become Mahes's fate. Mahes had so far not replied to any of his calls, which was not a good sign.
If indeed Mahes's fate was the same, Nefertem hoped that when the end came Mahes found the happiness he himself now had with Kendra. That was all he could hope for.
The End
About the Author:
Marisa Chenery was always a lover of books, but after reading her first historical romance novel she found herself hooked. Having inherted her father's love for the written word, she soon started writing her own books. She writes historical and paranormal romances.
Marisa lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and four children. You can check out her website at www.marisachenery.com
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