Reflections

by Susan Griscom

  She nodded. “Gerry, where’s Gerry?”

  “I’ll bring him too. Don’t worry. Be back in a flash.” He checked the surrounding area for something to identify it so he’d be able to find it again, noticed a large boulder in the middle of the creek, and dematerialized.

  Cael appeared behind a thicket of bushes, because the trail at the particular spot he wanted had suddenly become busy. He guessed everybody was in a hurry to get home before it really started pouring hard. He walked out to the path and smiled as a young woman hurried by, holding her hands over her head as if they’d protect her from the rain. He looked right and saw the back of Gerry’s light blue jacket up about twenty yards. It’d be faster to teleport to him, but Cael didn’t want to exert any more of that particular energy nor did he want to go back into the bushes and have someone possibly become curious as to why he had. He took off at a fast run, yelling for Gerry and Addison to stop. “I found her!”

  They turned around and ran back toward him.

  “Where? Is she okay?” Gerry pleaded.

  “She will be once Addison gets to her. Her leg is broken,” Cael said in between huge puffs of breath. The rush of adrenalin and the phasing in and out had really taken a toll on his ability. “She’s down by the creek near a huge boulder that’s sitting in the middle of the water.”

  “I know the place. It’s that way,” Gerry said, pointing toward his left. “Addison, I hope your healing powers are up to par.”

  “They are. Let’s go.”

  “Wait. Give me a second,” Cael said, still recuperating. “I need to catch my breath. There’s no way I can transport both of you until I do.”

  “Can you hurry?” Gerry said impatiently. Cael understood the man’s anxiety, but there was nothing he could do about it. It wasn’t as if he didn’t want to. He couldn’t.

  “I’m trying.”

  After a couple of deep slow breaths, he said, “Okay, grab hold,” and when they each took an arm he managed to take them back to the spot where he’d found Maia.

  ***

  This time, Gerry remembered to keep his eyes closed and recovered quickly from the upsetting feeling of his body’s molecules and cells floating through space and then rejoining again, as if he’d done it a million times before. He really couldn’t think past Maia being in pain and cold by the creek in the rain. He opened his eyes and saw her lying there among the wet leaves and twigs; he ran to her and knelt beside her. “Maia! Christ, Maia, what the hell happened?”

  “I’m not sure, but I think someone pushed me. I can’t … my leg, the babies, I’m worried about the babies, but I think my leg is broken, I think.” The words wobbled out of her like wiggling Jell-O as she sobbed and her breath hitched between almost every word.

  “Shhhh, shhhh, baby, you’re going to be okay. Addie is here; she’ll fix your leg and make sure the babies are okay. Shhhh, you can tell me later. I want you to calm down now, let Addie work her magic. Everything will be all right,” he said as Addie lifted Maia’s pant leg and eyed the blood and ragged edge of her tibia protruding from her skin. He frowned and glanced at Addie, not sure she could fix it, but she nodded at him as if she understood his concerns.

  Gerry took Maia’s hand and Cael crouched down on Maia’s other side. Cael had found a small piece of plywood and held it over Maia’s face to keep the rain off. Addie unzipped Maia’s jacket and lifted her top, gently placing the palms of her hands over her aunt’s bare stomach. Gerry was surprised and a little shocked to see the size of Maia’s abdomen. It hadn’t been that large this morning, or had it? Had his lust for her completely hidden the evidence of her pregnancy from him until this very moment? What a bastard he’d been; he shook his head at the thought, wanting to hide his astonishing manifestation from everyone, especially Maia. What kind of father was he going to make when he didn’t even notice the babies expanding his beloved Maia’s womb. No, he’d noticed. This was incredible. Her stomach had grown almost twice the size it was this morning. What was going on?

  Addie’s hands emitted a soft glow and Gerry watched in awe, still amazed at the extraordinary talent she possessed. He knew her capabilities, but this was actually the very first time he’d witnessed one of them and it surprised him. Addie chanted softly, her eyes closed, as her lips moved to words he didn’t recognize. He looked on as Addie performed her miracle healing ability, and for the second time in the span of two minutes, he tried to keep his incredulous expression from showing on his face for fear Maia would become frightened.

  “I think that should do it,” Addie said, smiling at Maia. “I believe the babies are fine. How do you feel here now?” Addie stroked small circles around Maia’s stomach.

  “Better. Not so jumbly. There is no other way to explain that awful feeling, other than it felt like the twins were doing somersaults every few seconds.”

  Addie nodded.

  “They’re moving?” Gerry asked with a bit more astonishment in his voice than he intended. When did this start?” This was something new. Maia hadn’t mentioned this before, had she? Christ, he needed to start paying more attention to all this baby stuff.

  “Just today …” Maia managed to say, tightly squeezing her eyes shut and opening them again, the pain from her leg evident in her speech. “A little fluttering movement. After I fell, though, I don’t think they liked rolling down the hill.”

  Gerry glanced at Cael, noticed his eyes fixed on Addie, concern written all over his face. Was his concern for Maia or Addie?

  Addie looked at Maia’s leg, gently shaking her head at Cael.

  “What’s wrong?” Cael and Gerry said at the same time.

  “Fuck,” Gerry swore under his breath. The last thing he wanted was to alarm Maia.

  “What is it?” Maia managed, squeezing her eyes tight from the pain again as she asked.

  “Nothing, sweetie,” Addie said, then continued in a whisper, “I’m not sure I can do this. I don’t know how, the bone is sticking out. I don’t think my powers are going to make it go back together correctly. I can heal cuts and stuff. I really don’t want my aunt crippled for the rest of her life because I couldn’t get my powers to align the bone at the right spot.”

  “You have to try. You can move things with your mind. So can I. Maybe if we both …” Gerry shook his head, not even finishing his statement. “You’re right. We can’t. We don’t have the skills. We’d probably place it in the wrong position.”

  “I shouldn’t try to teleport her. I don’t know how the transport would work with the broken bone. Maybe we should call 911 for this one,” Cael suggested.

  “Addie wouldn’t be able to use her powers then. Wait, what about Red?” When Cael and Addie just looked at him, he continued, “You know, that Red doctor guy at the Sectory. Can’t you go get him and bring him back?”

  Cael nodded in agreement. “Good idea. Yeah, I’ll be back in a flash.” Cael leaned toward Addie, gave her a quick peck on the lips and disappeared.

  Gerry stared at Addie and sighed. Thank God, they hadn’t let that kiss linger as they usually did. Gerry gave her a half smile then turned his attention to Maia, stroking her head, wanting to do something to make her more comfortable, but not sure what he could do.

  Chapter 12

  Secret Outings and Voices

  Careen slipped back the dark green hood from her head. Running her hands over her hair to tame down any strays, she plopped down on the antique Victorian chair in front of the mirror. She was glad the small hotel room was stylish enough to at least have a dressing table. She stared into the mirror, unable to contain the impish smile forming on her lips.

  “Where were you?”

  She turned with a start. “Jesus, Finn. You scared the living daylights out of me. When did you get here?”

  “About thirty minutes ago,” Finn said. He stood by the bathroom door, naked, drying his hair with one of the small, white hotel towels. “Where have you been?”

  “I told you earlier. I went to check on the funds.”<
br />
  “You were gone a long time. You look pretty dry. I was afraid you’d be caught in that down pour. How’d you manage to avoid that?”

  Careen took the brush and stroked it through her hair a few times before turning to Finn. “If you were that concerned you could have come with me.”

  “I had things to do,” he said, bending to kiss her. She smelled the liquor on his breath and knew exactly where he’d been. “You smell of booze, Finn. Why do you need to drink all day long anyway? You know it makes you sloppy, and sloppy is something we can’t afford right now.”

  “Come on, baby, let’s not fight. You’d be pleased to know what I did today and I just showered for you and everything, ‘cause, I did get caught in that monstrous storm.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t know how you avoided it.”

  She stood, shoving his naked torso out of her way and stepped into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Finn was the last person she felt like touching, especially when he was drinking. He usually couldn’t get it up in that state anyway. Why waste her time? She needed a real man like Gerry and she would do just about anything to get him, including making that pregnant bitch of his sorry she even knew him, let alone carry his children to term. Twins. Who would have thought Gerry would want kids. Surely Maia must have trapped him into that little adventure. I bet she told him she was on the pill and wasn’t. The Gerry I know would never want to be saddled with kids. He was too much of a player, a womanizer. She smiled at her reflection in the fogged mirror, barely able to see herself. Once Maia lost those babies, Gerry would be free. Free to be with her; she only had to make it happen. Damn Finn. He had other plans for those kids, but he’d never see them, she’d seen to that. His plan only benefitted Finn—like all of his plans. But this time, it would never work. There was no way in hell Finn would ever be able to make that bitch believe Gerry was not good for her. Turn Maia against Gerry, make her fall in love with Finn, knowing Gerry would always support those brats and Finn would be set for life? Ha. She almost choked on her chuckle. What the hell was he thinking? Her plan was better and Finn needed to fall into step or she’d have to do something about him. Hmmm. Leaning in close to the mirror, she studied the small bruise by the corner of her left eye. Barely noticeable, but it hurt like a son of a bitch. Maybe it would be better if Finn wasn’t around, then he would never lay another one of his filthy hands on her again. Just like her stepfather; he’d beat her but she’d left home shortly after the second time. Now Finn. If he ever, ever struck her again, on purpose or by accident, she’d kill him.

  ***

  By some miracle, Gerry managed to locate a cardboard box someone had discarded the size of a large flat screen TV. Under normal circumstances, he’d be pissed that someone so carelessly dumped their trash by the beautiful creek, but at the moment, he was thankful. The box fit perfectly between the two trees on either side of Maia, sheltering her from the violent afternoon downpour.

  Cael and Red materialized back by the creek within a few minutes. As soon as Cael let go of the doc’s arm, he approached Maia, knelt down beside her, and placed a small black bag on the ground before opening it.

  Red didn’t even seem fazed by the quick trip with Cael. Gerry expected him to be a bit dizzy, like he’d been. Maybe the guy was used to having his body’s molecules disperse into thin air and then merge back together again. Hell, Gerry didn’t know what kind of abilities the doc might possess, but at this particular juncture, he didn’t give a fuck. All he cared about was Maia and getting her healed and to safety. God help the bastard who knocked her down. He would find him and make him pay dearly, even if he had to use every ounce of compulsion his mind could muster to get the truth. He’d question every person in this God-forsaken town and the next one if necessary.

  “Maia,” Red said, placing his hand on her shoulder.

  She blinked her eyes open and a small smile appeared on her lips at the sight of the doc.

  “Hi, Red, long time. How are you?” Even in pain, Maia was quite the lady; you wouldn’t hear her moan or complain, Gerry mused.

  “Me? I’m good. You look like you’ve gotten yourself into a bit of a pickle, though.”

  “Oh please, Red, don’t mention food right now. I’m feeling a bit queasy.”

  Red chuckled. “And I was hoping for another meatball battle.”

  “Maybe some other time.”

  “Can you help her?” Gerry asked, a bit of impatience building in his gut.

  Red glanced up at Gerry and nodded, looking back at Maia. “We’ll get you fixed up, Maia, don’t worry. I’m gonna give you a shot to help you relax.”

  “No, no. No shot. Gerry? No shot.”

  “Don’t worry, it’s Nalbuphine and very safe. It won’t hurt the babies.” He looked at Gerry. “I don’t think she’ll be able to handle the pain when I snap her bone back into position without it.”

  “No! Damn it, Red.” She grabbed his arm and by the way her knuckles turned white, Gerry figured she squeezed pretty hard. “I said no.” Maia sobbed out the words. It had to have been the very first time Gerry had ever heard her swear.

  Red placed the syringe back in the bag. “Okay, sweetie. No shot. But it’s going to hurt like a son-of-a-bitch, worse than anything you’ve ever felt before. You might even pass out from the pain.”

  “Fine,” she said through clenched teeth. “If I pass out then I won’t feel it anymore.”

  “Gerry, Cael, I want one of you on either side of Maia’s shoulders to hold her down. Addie, as soon as I say ‘ready’, I want you to work your magic and start the healing, okay?”

  “Okay,” Addie crouched closer to Maia’s leg and placed her hands above the broken bone to make sure she would be ready. Cael took hold of Maia’s shoulder and pressed down firmly and Gerry did the same, but with one hand. He placed his other over her good leg to help steady her.

  “Press down hard on her shoulders and her leg. I need her completely still. I’m going to count to three. One, two—” SNAP! Maia let out a blood-curdling scream loud enough to wake the dead before she lost consciousness. Thank God.

  “What happened to ‘three?’” Gerry asked.

  Red smiled. “Has anyone ever waited until three? Better to just do it than drag out the anticipation. Go ahead Addie.”

  Addie began chanting as the comforting soft glow the palms of her hands emitted spread over Maia’s lower limb. In less than five minutes, Maia’s leg completely healed. Gerry picked her up and kissed her on the forehead before handing her over to Cael.

  “Hurry back for us, baby,” Addie said, kissing Cael on the lips before Cael, Gerry, and Maia disappeared to the safety of Maia’s and Gerry’s bedroom.

  Cael laid Maia on the bed and Gerry pulled the duvet cover over her still unconscious body. “Thanks, man.”

  Cael nodded. “Be right back.”

  Gerry went to Maia’s side and she began to stir. A few seconds later, Cael appeared with Addie and the doctor.

  Red examined her leg, rubbing his hand over her calf. Gerry assumed he was feeling how the bone went back together.

  “It seems to have healed very well. Let’s take a look at it with the sonogram machine and while we’re at it, we’ll look at those babies too.”

  Gerry nodded, appreciating the chance to get an actual professional’s opinion on just what exactly they were supposed to be looking for on that thing. He recognized the babies’ heartbeats, but other than that, he had no clue. To him, they looked like a mass of blurry smudges. He hoped the image would get clearer as they grew.

  ***

  The rain subsided, letting the twilight colors of the last of the sunset trickle in through the kitchen window as the sun sank deep into the vast ocean. Maia left Gerry’s side, walked to the table and sat; picking up her cup, she sipped the herbal tea Addie had made. Gerry stayed at the window, too hyped to sit still. Maia wished he’d try to settle down. The scowl on his face was enough to make her want to go back upstairs and hide her head under the c
overs. If Addie and Cael hadn’t been there, she would do just that.

  “Look, Maia, I don’t care that everything is fine now. I still think we should call Chief Thompson. He’d want to know about this.”

  “What’s the point? You know there is no way of knowing who pushed me. I never saw a thing. I felt a shove, that’s all. I don’t even know if it was done on purpose. Maybe they didn’t even realize they knocked me down. I mean they were going very fast and …”

  She stopped as Gerry shook his head.

  “What?” Maia asked, confused by his actions.

  “There’s something I haven’t told you.”

  “What? Is something wrong? Did something happen while I was unconscious?”

  “No. No. You were only out for a few minutes. Nothing happened then, but before we found you. When I was at the bar, I heard you … or someone that sounded a lot like you.” He walked to the table and sat across from her, reaching his hand out to take hers. He brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckles. “It was a warning that you were in danger. That you needed my help.”

  “A voice? Are you saying you think you heard the same voice I’ve been hearing?”

  “Yeah, I guess. Bloody hell, it sounded just like you, though. Is there any way that maybe you were projecting your thoughts to me while you were in trouble?”

  “I don’t know. I did call out for help. I was thinking about you most of the time, wishing you were there, but …”

  “But what?”

  “I saw that old woman again while I was lying there in the dirt, helpless. She sort of appeared out of nowhere, gathering wild flowers and placing them in a basket. She seemed to go in and out of focus at first, like in the store. I remember her humming a tune as she placed the flowers in her basket. That’s what woke me up, I think—unless I was dreaming the whole thing.