Trees in the Desert (Afterlife Book 8)

by Kaitlyn Meyers

  "Sarah, I'm so glad to hear from you! How are you? How's everything? I'm so glad you called."

  Sarah laughed too, and suddenly everything was better. It mattered little that Brittney was now the keeper of the fey and that her best friend, Chloe, would certainly join her in the forest and stay there where they would remain separated. It mattered little because she was on the phone with her little sister, with Bethy, and it was everything important in the world.

  "I guess I should have called sooner," Sarah said. "I've been busy."

  "You're always busy," Elizabeth said. "That's something I learned a long time ago. How are you, Sarah? Did something happen? Is that why you're calling? Are you alright?"

  "I'm fine," Sarah said. "I was just thinking of you and I realized it had been forever since we'd talked. How are you, Beth?"

  She could almost see Elizabeth smile through the phone. "I'm great," she said. "Sarah, I'm getting married."

  "What?"

  "His name is Jeff," Elizabeth said. "He's absolutely wonderful, and cute, too. You'd love him. He's everything that Dad wasn't. We're going to have a baby, and we thought we'd name it after Mom."

  "Really? That's great," Sarah said. "But you're so young still."

  Elizabeth laughed again. "I'm twenty-two, Sarah."

  "Practically a baby," Sarah joked. "But seriously, Beth, I'm happy for you. When is the wedding? Am I invited?"

  "Of course you are," Elizabeth said. "It won't be until next summer, but you'll be my maid of honor? I meant to call and ask you, but I've been busy, and you've been busy."

  "How's law school?" Sarah asked.

  "It's going well," Elizabeth said. "I want to be a public defender."

  "That's great," Sarah said.

  "And your job with... what was it... Afterlife? How's that going? And are you still working with battered women?"

  "I am," Sarah said. "And Afterlife is doing well. It's a popular place. I'm going back to med school, though. I decided recently. I want to be a doctor still. I want to be able to help in that way too."

  Elizabeth said. "Good for you. Hey, do you remember that doll you gave me when we were kids?"

  "Which one?" Sarah asked.

  "It was my birthday," Elizabeth said. "I was turning six, and you were nine. Mom couldn't afford a present, or maybe Dad just wouldn't let her buy me one. I didn't even have a party. But you took all your money and you bought me a doll. It had red hair, just like us. It was my favorite toy."

  Sarah thought back, and then she did remember. She had saved up all her money from babysitting the neighborhood kids and she'd bought the doll because she wanted Elizabeth to have something nice. "Yeah, I remember."

  "I still have it," Elizabeth said. "I'm going to give it to my daughter."

  Sarah blinked back the tears that suddenly filled her eyes. "You are?"

  "Yes," Elizabeth said. "And I'm going to tell her all about her auntie. She's going to grow up knowing all about you, Sarah, and how you took care of me. I don't think I ever thanked you. I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for you."

  Sarah shook her head. "Sure you would."

  "No, you were the strong one," Elizabeth said. "You were the one who protected me. Throughout all the foster families, you took care of me, and then you took care of me when you turned eighteen. I know I wasn't easy to deal with."

  "I loved you, and I still do, Beth," Sarah said.

  "I'm going to come visit you," Elizabeth said. "I'm taking a break right now from school because of the pregnancy. I might as well come see my big sister. Would that be alright? Could Jeff and I stay with you?"

  "Of course," Sarah said, thinking of her house. She could make it work. "I'd love to have you here."

  She knew, though, that she wouldn't be introducing Elizabeth to the members of Afterlife. It was too dangerous. She wanted her sister safe. "I can't wait to see you."

  Elizabeth laughed. "I have to go for now, Sarah, but I'll text you. We'll plan my trip, alright? I'm thinking maybe sometime in the next couple weeks? Would that work for you?"

  "Yes," Sarah said, and suddenly everything seemed so much brighter. "I can't wait to see you, Beth. I love you."

  "I love you too," Elizabeth said. "Goodbye, Sarah."

  "Goodbye, Bethy."

  TWENTY-THREE

  Chloe sat down at the Afterlife bar and ordered herself a drink. She decided on a strawberry margarita, because it was Brittney's favorite. She wanted to be able to enjoy whatever alcohol she wanted while she still could. Soon enough she would return to the land of the fey to live out her life there. She wasn't about to lose her girlfriend, even if she believed her girlfriend had made a huge mistake.

  She didn't like that Brittney had become keeper, and she made no secret about it, but there was nothing she could do now. Brittney had made her choice. In a way, she was proud of it, but she still hated it. She had told Harper and Alec and Conner and Sarah as much, and she'd gotten agreement out of all of them.

  Sarah, of course, had been the most supportive. That's because she'd bonded with the fey and one of the fairies had convinced her that she should go back to school to become a doctor. Chloe didn't know how she felt about that either; it was a huge time commitment, and Afterlife needed her. Of course, she didn't now if Afterlife would still exist. With her and Brittney gone and Alec and Harper at odds and Sarah in school, it would probably just fall apart.

  The idea made her sad. Afterlife was her home, her family. When the margarita got to her, she took a small sip. It was delicious, as always. Afterlife drinks were always good; it was one of the reasons they were so popular. They didn't water them down or use cheap liquor. Mmm, tequila.

  "Chloe McAllister."

  She looked over when she heard her name and saw a man sitting beside her. He was older with gray streaks and she didn't immediately recognize him, but there was something familiar about him nonetheless.

  She offered a small smile. "I'm sorry," she said. "I don't think we've met."

  "We have," he said. "I knew you when you were but a small child. I remember you well; you were always getting into trouble. You drove your parents crazy. They came to me a time or two for advice on how to handle such a strong-willed child. They were afraid you wouldn't fit in with the rest of your people."

  Chloe blinked. Then she smiled. "You're a fairy," she said. "You come from the forest."

  "I come from the forest," he agreed. "But I am not fey."

  Suddenly it dawned on her. "You're the keeper, then," she said. "You guard the forest against people who would enter."

  He nodded. "That's right. My name is Craig. I've been keeper for over seventy years."

  Chloe glared at him. "And you left," she said. "You abandoned them. Now they're being attacked by demons, and my girlfriend was forced to become keeper in your stead. How could you do that? How could you just leave?"

  Craig shrugged. "Do you know what a burden it is being a keeper? To never leave the forest? To live in a land where you are believed to be fey, but you are not? To live amongst racism and prejudice?"

  "Not all fey are like that," Chloe said. "I'm not. Marissa, the leader, isn't. Neither is her partner, Joseph. They help humans."

  "They are unique," Craig said.

  Chloe considered for a moment. He was right; the majority of fairies did not believe in engaging with humans of any kind, and demons... well, they killed them on sight. She thought of how Conner had been banished for something that had nothing to do with him being a demon. It sickened her sometimes to think of how her people acted.

  "I understand," she said. "But they need you. You made a commitment."

  Craig sighed. "I know, and I know I must return. I knew it as soon as I heard that a new keeper had been named. It's not fair to ask someone to take my place and live the life that I agreed to abide by. Yet, I have enjoyed my freedom. I will not deny that. It has been nice to have a taste of the outside world."

  "So come back," Chloe said. "Come back with me right now."
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br />   Craig nodded. "It seems that I must."

  Chloe quickly called up the rest of the Afterlife crew. They met in front of the tree in front of the club. Everyone was excited to meet Craig and hear that he was willing to return to his post. Harper placed her hand on the tree. She whispered Marissa's name and the wood nymph appeared.

  "How can I help you, Harper?"

  "We found your keeper," Chloe said quickly, not giving anyone else a chance to say anything. "He's willing to return." She pointed at Craig.

  Marissa observed him for a moment. "Is this true?

  Craig nodded.

  "Then we will return together," Marissa said.

  The group left together to go to the forest. Alec and Harper barely looked at each other, and Chloe couldn't help but notice that Harper and Conner were holding hands. They must have gotten back together. Chloe didn't know how she felt about that; it was good, perhaps, but she felt sorry for Alec. She had known him the longest. But if you could find happiness in this world, then you had to take it. That was something the fey would never understand, but Chloe did.

  When they returned to the forest, Brittney met with them. "What's going on? Why are you all back? I told you, I made a choice. Coming together won't change my mind about this."

  "Brittney," Chloe said. "This is Craig. He is the keeper. He's come to reclaim his place."

  "What?"

  Craig nodded. "I left because I wanted a taste of the outside world, but I can't expect you to take my place. I have returned to resume my duties." He looked over at Marissa. "Can you cast the spell?"

  "Yes," Marissa said. She quickly murmured a few words, and sprinkled dust on both of them. "You are now keeper again," she told Craig. To Brittney, she said, "You are free."

  "I don't want to be free," Brittney said.

  "What?"

  "I want to be fey," Brittney said. She looked over at Chloe. "You were told that someday you would end up with a fey. I want to be that person. I love you, Chloe McAllister. The idea of you ending up with someone else, just because I'm human is... upsetting to say the least. I thought this would make it so we could stay together."

  Marissa smiled. "My people owe you a great debt of gratitude," she said. "We will not forget that you were willing to sacrifice your life in order to guard ours. Brittney Conley, I name you an honorary fairy. You are human, but you shall be considered fey among our people."

  "Really? You can do that?"

  "Yes."

  Chloe sucked in a deep breath. She hadn't been expecting that. "Good," she finally said. "Brittney, you know what that means? It means that we'll end up together. Now you can stop worrying."

  "I know."

  "As nice as that is, I'd like to get back to our lives," Alec said.

  Harper nodded. "Peter is waiting for us back at the house, Brittney. We still have to take him car shopping, and I'm sure Ash misses you."

  "And we have jobs to do," Conner said. "Come on, let's go home."

  The Afterlife stood side-by-side and left the forest together. Marissa, Joseph and Craig watched them go. Once they left the forest, it disappeared from view. Chloe would be able to return, and perhaps Brittney, but for the rest of them, the forest was now invisible once more. The keeper had returned.

  As they walked, Harper looked up at sky. A droplet of water had fallen on her chin.

  "Look," she said to nobody in particular. "It's raining."

  About the Author

  Kaitlyn Meyers lives in the western United States near Lake Tahoe, CA. You can find her on the shores of the lake anytime of the year.

  A Message from Kaitlyn Meyers

  I hope you enjoyed reading my book! If you did, please leave a review and let me know!

  Visit my website at kaitlynbooks.com to see the entire Afterlife series and get the latest updates on what I'm working on. Join the Club for a chance to win free gifts and prizes. I'm also giving out pre-release copies of my latest work, so signup today!

  - Kaitlyn

  Join Afterlife in the next book! Book 9: An Ugly Duckling.