by L M Lacee
Harper snagged one of the only empty outside tables left and lowered the kitten on to the table. She asked the lovely little kitten as she sat looking up at her. “Apparently this is your favorite place to eat so you have to decide now, will you eat as human or kitten?” Within seconds a shower of sparkles tingled over Harper’s skin as Kelsey shifted back to human. “Hello aunty Harper.” Said a subdued Kelsey.
“Well hello niece, so would you like to dress first? Then we can order when your mom gets here.”
She nodded and stared glumly at Harper as she helped her dress. “So your mom will be here soon, want to tell me why you are sad?”
Kelsey sighed. “Cara gets everything now she is a unicorn. Dada never takes me flying anymore, he is all about unicorns now. I am just a cat.”
Harper nodded and said. “Mmmm! I see and your mommy?”
“She has Justice, he is cute but a hatchling and Mama is working with Aunty Scarlett and Aunty Sage and there is no one my age to play with!” She burst out, which seemed to be the biggest problem.
Harper sighed when Kelsey did, then said. “Well kitten those are a lot of things that would make you unhappy, so what do you think we should do about them?”
“I don’t know Aunty Harper, what can we do?”
“We could talk to your mom and then you and she could talk to your dad.”
Kelsey looked at her and her eyes were tragic as she sighed deeply again. “But Aunty Harper what can they do, they cannot play with me all the time and they cannot stop Cara from being a unicorn or Justice being cute. No I am doomed!” Kelsey shook her head as she had seen her Granma Verity do. “I am sad to say, it is a lost cause.”
That was her Uncle Johner’s favorite saying when playing games and losing with her dada. Such a drama kitty! Harper thought as she silently laughed at Charlie who rolled her eyes and sat as she said. “I have no idea where she gets this from.”
Harper grinned. “Cats… all drama queens.”
Kelsey smiled at her mother who tweaked her hair. “Hi my Kelsey.”
Kelsey sighed loudly. “Hi mama.”
Charlie grinned as she said. “What miss kitty is not telling you aunty Harper is she starts school on Monday.”
“But mama, Monday is a long time away.” Kelsey moaned as she looked pitifully at her mother who told her. “Monday is four days away, we will discuss this at home. Maybe we can find something for you to do for the next few days.”
“Maybe dada will take me flying?” Kelsey asked hopefully.
“Well I am sure he would love too.” Charlie did not tell her that he already planned to do something with just Kelsey on Saturday when he could get another day off.
Harper said. “Maybe miss kitty might like to come to my place tomorrow morning and we can go visit my new barn, see how far they have got.”
“Oh I am sure she would love that. What do you think Kelsey?” asked Charlie.
“Oh mama can I. That would be amazing!” Kelsey looked at Harper with eyes that held a large dose of hero worship.
When the waitress came over they ordered burgers and fries with shakes while Justice slept peacefully in his carrier and Kelsey told her mother about her morning. When she had finished and the burgers arrived Charlie asked Harper. “Why did you want to meet me apart from giving my daughter back?” She smiled as she said it letting Harper know she did not worry about her having Kelsey.
“I have something for you.” She reached inside the shopping bag she had beside her chair and pulled out a photo album and flash drive. She passed both to Charlie. Kelsey's eyes widened, she knew aunty Harper had no albums in there when the lady at the phone shop handed the bag to her. She looked at Harper who grinned and whispered. “Magic!”
“Oh!” Kelsey whispered back she then looked at her mama who was flipping pages with photos on them over in the book.
Harper told her. “There are more on the drive. I had them copied onto there to save them, they were all loose photos in a box if you want I can get the originals?”
“Thank you, these are great.” Charlie stopped when she came to a photo of their mom and them laughing at the camera, they were at a park it looked like on a picnic. “Oh Harper I don’t know what to say.”
Harper shrugged. “We are sisters, family, this is my… I am sorry for being a pain regardless of what has happened. I missed you.”
Charlie looked up from the photo and into the grey eyes so much like her own, except within Harper’s was a hardness she never saw in hers. “I missed you too. Frankie made you do this right?”
Harper shrugged a smile playing around her mouth. “Maybe! She mentioned it!”
Charlie grinned. “She’s a nagger huh?”
Harper blew out a breath. “So much! Always with a friggin smile.”
“Must be annoying!”
“You have no idea?”
“I like Frankie.” Kelsey stated as she sipped her shake.
“As we all do!” said Harper.
“Oh my goodness. I cannot believe this!” Charlie said as she quickly flicked through pages of the album.
“Can I see mama?” asked Kelsey.
“When we are home I will show you all the photos. Oh look one of your grandmother and grandfather.” She had found a photo of her father and her mother laughing. She flipped it around so Kelsey and Harper could see it. “You could see they were in love.”
Harper nodded. “You have gotta wonder what happen to them?”
“He became an a.s.s.h.o.l.e!” Charlie spelt out for the sake of Kelsey as she closed the album reverently.
“Well yeah that he did.”
“I cannot believe you got all these?”
“Hid them for years, so she never found them.” Harper told her simply.
Charlie asked. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”
Harper smiled at the waitress as she delivered their food and then took a bite of her burger ignoring the question and moaned saying as she chewed. “Oh my Goddess this is one great burger.” They ate and in between bites discussed the library, Broadswords and the museum. Kelsey told her about the school she was starting and her new teacher Miss Amelia Gill, who was apparently a puma.
When they had finished and Harper ordered coffee for both her and Charlie, and Kelsey was playing in the newly erected playground, Harper finally answered Charlie’s earlier question. She looked at her over her cup and said. “To answer your question, no Charlie I really do not want to tell you what happened. Can we just mark it down as done with? Will it change who we are, for you to know?”
Charlie looked back at her. “No I suppose it won’t just answer me one question. Was it necessary?”
“Yeah he was going to hurt a lot of people maybe even kill them. I did not want to do it. But in truth, I have not had a sleepless night since doing so. He had totally gone crazy, he always had a touch of it after Juna died but he really lost it after you left home.”
Charlie looked off to Kelsey, then back to her. “She said he hurt you and you killed him.”
Harper raised her eyebrows. “If by hurt she meant he wounded my heart for being like he was, yeah but physically no. There were kids Charlie, Kelsey’s age and younger. He was going to do it for money, he was desperate. Things were not good between them so he sought a way to get the income Juna use to bring into the home by hurting others. I could not let that happen. Her and her family were all involved in case you were wondering?”
Charlie nodded. “Well okay enough said, they all deserved it, justice was served.”
“Yeah that’s how I feel about it.”
“Good well so your barn is almost up?” And just like that the topic was done with. Several deaths justified as far as the Easton sisters were concerned and as Charlie looked at Harper she knew they would never think or talk of it again. It was well and truly in the past. The future is what they had to concentrate on now. “Yeah it is almost complete.” Harper smiled. “So happy I cannot wait to get back to work.”
> They spent another half hour talking, mainly about Charlie’s young and Harper’s work, not touching on anything sensitive. Then when Justice started making baby noises they called it a day. Harper kissed Kelsey goodbye and looked at Charlie with longing. Charlie hugged her quickly unable to bear that look in her sisters eyes, not knowing the same one was in hers.
She was glad Harper had taken the step of seeking to reunite with the photos, they touched more than just Charlie’s heart as they showed she was still in many ways the same sister she had always been.
Charlie held Kelsey’s hand as they walked to the castle. “Mama is Aunty Harper gonna stay with us?”
“Yes baby girl she is.”
“Good I love her heaps.”
“Yeah me too.” Charlie told her with a smile.
CHAPTER SEVEN:
O ver the following days Harper and Frankie familiarized themselves with the Royal family and the people of the castle. Much to Frankie’s delight, Johner, true to his word, courted her relentlessly which was also to Frankie’s delight as she basked daily in his attention.
As promised he asked Keeper to visit with Frankie and explain what he could do to help her. Frankie had decided to remove all the unwanted and unknown memories after discussing it with Harper and Johner.
On the Friday, Keeper came very early in the morning after his visit which lasted a heart pounding hour. Having a dragon pacing ones lounge was considered heart pounding Harper decided. Keeper told them Frankie would sleep for a full day, Johner had made it clear he would be staying with her.
Feeling like she was invading their privacy Harper left Johner to his vigil and made herself scarce deciding to visit Edith who had arrived back home the previous night.
Johner told her no one missed the Sunday family day unless on a mission or dead as Edith and Sharm were not on a mission or dead, they would be home and if Edith was home she would be in her studio or gallery.
Harper decided to try the studio first. She followed Johner’s directions and found Edith was exactly where he said she would be in a room converted to a studio on the main level. She was restoring a large painting. Edith looked over at the female as she stood in the doorway, she had known she was coming but what she did not know was how much like Charlie she looked. “Wow you are like twins huh?” Harper didn’t even pretend she had no idea what she meant. “So we have been told, she is older though!”
Edith grinned as she asked. “I bet she loves you telling everyone that?”
Harper grinned back. “Not so much.”
Edith laughed, then said. “Well, I am ready for coffee, would you like some?”
“Yes please.”
Edith eyed her as she asked. “So Keeper is with your friend?” Harper was not surprised she knew what was happening, it seemed Johner was right, gossip in the castle was fast. “Her name is Frankie and no he is done. Johner finished pacing the carpet off my lounge floor and is with her now, so…” She shrugged.
“Yeah I get that.” Edith climbed down from her ladder as she motioned for Harper to enter and was pleased she had waited not many realized as a bear her studio was like her den. I like her even with darkness she is nice! Her bear said.
True and her art, oh my!
You are excited?
I am hoping she will show case her work at the gallery.
The cougar told you she was coming.
No Claire told us someone with gifts was coming.
You quibble!
Whatever!
As Edith moved to her outside table that held her urn of coffee, she watched Harper walk around looking at the paintings, she finally asked. “What do you think?”
“Masters.”
“Oh definitely, mostly unsigned but great works of art.”
“Yes,” Harper sighed. “They truly are.” She walked over and took the cup of coffee Edith offered and sat. “So what can I do for you?” Edith asked.
“You own the gallery?”
“I do, yes.”
“Want to show my work?”
Edith almost vibrated off her chair with excitement. “Yes most desperately!”
“Oh…Oh, well okay.” A little startled Harper kept one eye on Edith and pulled her phone from her pocket saying. “These are available.”
Edith nodded without touching the phone or looking at the photos. “I will take them all.”
“Umm you haven’t looked at them yet?”
“Do not care, just get them here! Do you need help?”
“Ahh! No, when do you want them?” A very bemused Harper asked, wishing Frankie was with her as she would get a kick out of this conversation.
“Asap! I can devote the whole gallery to them. They just finished painting and decorating it.”
“Okay so there are twenty five sculptures and forty paintings.”
“Excellent so when can you have them here?”
“When do you want them?”
Edith grinned. “Now!”
“Done! Let’s go.”
“How?” Edith asked then she gasped. “Friggin hell are they here at the castle.” Imagining crates all throughout the castle. Edith hurried to her wash room to clean her hands as Harper stood and stretched saying. “In a manner of speaking.”
Edith turned from the taps and stared at Harper, who grinned. “It is called a kind of magic!”
Edith grinned wide remembering the movie. “Fabulous give me a minute to clean my hands and then we can go to the gallery and decide where to place everything.”
Harper nodded as she sipped the remainder of her coffee and walked around looking at the art waiting to be cleaned or in the process of being restored. “You do really good work.” She praised Edith.
“Thank you.” Edith said when she came and joined her, “I know I need a bigger space. I am taking on students as well.”
Harper said casually. “You can borrow some space in my barn if you want.”
“Oh really!” Edith almost clapped her hands as Molly did when she was happy in scoring space for her students with Harper. Hoping she could also get her to teach, casually she asked. “Are you interested in teaching?”
“Well… Frankie’s always on my ass about sharing my knowledge, so… maybe?”
Edith closed her door as they left saying. “Well if you decide to do so let me know. I can help with that.”
Her only answer was a grunt so Edith was not any the wiser if she would teach or not. Normally she would not take that as an answer but she also knew the value of stalking, in this she listened to her bear, who advised her how to hunt and catch her quarry.
Once they got to the gallery Harper called her art there using her magic. Edith was amazed never having seen magic on that scale, up close and personal before. As piece after piece appeared the display of magic entranced her bear as she stared out at the materializing art. They spent time moving the art into their right positions by using Harper’s magic, which she explained to Edith was based on affinity. She loved her work and each piece possessed a bit of her essence, until she let it go. So when she called it to come to her it was eager too. Much as a puppy would run to someone who held a treat for them. Edith stood and watched her place a sculpture of a unicorn with a foal and could literally see the love within the piece.
It was a humbling experience and an insight into what made Harper who she was. She was all about love and family. Edith watched her as she ran a loving hand over a bronze statue that stood about twenty four inches tall of a woman, an obvious faerie in a flowing gown with wings that encased two young girls. The look of love on the faeries eternally beautiful young face was startlingly similar to Scarlett’s. “Oh my Goddess that is beautiful it looks like Scarlett?”
Harper smiled. “It does, our mother was her sister.”
“I don’t know what to say it is simply beautiful, and personal I think.”
“It is. I made two of these only. One for me and one for Charlie. This is mine. So it is not for sale.” She growled at Edith who grinn
ed. “As if I would. So…” She grabbed her tablet and they went through the art with Harper naming what Edith could sell and what she could display only.
Edith was thrilled the gallery was everything she had hoped for and having Harper’s pieces there just validated her belief that Dragon’s Gap was ready for the gallery, plus she hoped it would encourage others to show and sell their art.
Edith called Verity to come and see what they had done. Within a few minutes Verity was in the gallery walking around looking at the pieces enthralled, exclaiming over and over. “Oh my… Oh my!”
She stopped in front of a portrait of a male with a much lived in face. It was easy to see it had been done with layers of love and compassion in each brush stroke.
Harper stood with her as Verity asked. “Is this for sale?” Harper shook her head. “No he was one of my instructors and friends.”
“Yes I can believe that. You are very good Harper.”
“Thank you and I appreciate you saying so.”
Verity looked around for a little longer but she already had an idea of what she wanted, and she would put that plan into action at a later date. She decided they needed feeding, so took them to Grace’s home and introduced Harper to the older bear. Harper enjoyed meeting the feisty females, who never once asked her about her past or brought up Charlie it was an amazing relaxing afternoon. She was happy as she wandered back to the castle just in time to shower and greet Frankie who woke not long after Harper had arrived home.
Frankie was happy and seemed much more centered and quieter whether that would last remained to be seen. She did admit to Harper she was still never going to like closed in spaces but at least the crippling fear of them she had lived with was gone. They lingered over another dinner perfectly prepared by Johner as Harper told them of her day and listened to Johner explain that her barn was almost finished. When she mentioned how far ahead they seemed to be, he told her they would be completed by morning as the dragons were to place the roof on overnight.
After dinner Frankie and Johner went for a walk, Frankie was to stay at Johner’s place again leaving Harper alone with a beer for company. She sat on her balcony watching dragons lowering the huge roof for her barn into place, as Reighn had promised it would be finished by morning. She sipped her beer while she watched what seemed like hundreds of people male and female scurry over and in the barn. When she got tired of watching them do stuff she had no idea about, she turned in for the night. More settled than she had been for many years.
