In The Dark

by Sarah K. Jensen

  Memphis caught her breath and Susan smiled. “Mindy, this is your mum’s cousin Memphis Jo, and your da’s cousin Laif, and their son, your cousin, Callan. They are here to visit for a while so let’s show them our best behavior.”

  Mindy nodded, then with the dignity only a five-year-old girl could manage, she gave a little curtsey, smacked her brother on the head, and ran back to the kitchen.

  Over the next week, Callan spent many hours with his cousins-slash-half-siblings—though mostly he thought of them as cousins—playing pirates and exploring the area around their house. It was so cool to have an ocean just down the road. And the huge hill behind their house had caves in it, though they were forbidden to go into any of them.

  His mom and dad spent the nights in their condo, and he got to stay with his cousins and his kind of grandparents or great-aunt and uncle. Whatever they were, he was lucky to have so much family all of a sudden. Being together all day, like a real family. It had just been him and Mom for so long, that sometimes he felt a little overwhelmed.

  Things were going fantastic until they were only a day away from heading home. Callan and his cousins were playing on the hill when Callan saw someone he knew shouldn’t be there.

  “Joe, grab Jamie! Mindy and J.J. get to the house, now! Tell my mom that Kyrell is here!” Callan yelled, turning back to the shadowy man who’d been after his mom for as long as he could remember. Though he’d never seen him before, he knew, with everything inside him, that this being was, indeed, Kyrell.

  He didn’t watch his cousins go but stood his ground. Waiting for Kyrell to attack. He wished he had some kind of weapon, but they hadn’t found any of the swords hidden up in the mountain’s caves. Not that he’d been allowed to look, that had been the adults’ job. His mom hadn’t brought her sword and dagger to Ireland either, not with all the flight restrictions on weapons.

  His stomach hurt. He didn’t want to fight without something, but then he remembered his training, and with as much confidence as he could muster up, he took the bag of white sand Laif had given him from his jeans pocket. As Kyrell moved closer, Callan tossed a handful of sand at the Oíche Scáthanna and chanted, “In ainm an Dia I gceannas duit dul.” In the name of God, I command you to go.

  Kyrell disappeared as Callan heard his mom scream his name. By the time the adults made it to his side, he was shaking like a leaf. Fear had caught up with him and he thought he might be sick. He really didn’t want to barf in front of everyone, so he bent at the knees and took gapping breaths of air into his lungs.

  “You okay, son,” Laif asked, kneeling in front of him.

  Callan closed his eyes and nodded.

  Laif chuckled, patting him on the back. “First time I found myself in front of the Oíche Scáthanna all alone I threw up and then cried like a baby.”

  Callan opened his eyes and just stared. After he thought about it for a few seconds, he asked, “How old were you, five?”

  Laif shook his head. “Fourteen. It’s scary as all get out finding yourself alone with a demon. And I sure didn’t just stand there like I was all bad, I sprinted three blocks before I threw the sand over my shoulder and got lucky with the hit. But Uncle Bryson doesn’t know that part, so how ‘bout we don’t tell him, okay?”

  Callan searched his dad’s face and saw sincerity. “You really ran?”

  “As fast as I could. I’d always had Dad or Bryson with me. I was scared half to death.”

  “So was I,” Callan whispered.

  “Yeah. I’m sure you were. But you stood up to him on your own. I’m proud of you, son.” Laif stood, took Callan’s hand, and said. “I think it’s time we let Callan search the caves with us. Ian did say that it would take a son of Nuadha and a daughter of Síofra to locate the sword and spellbooks.”

  Jacob cocked his head toward the house. “We have a few of those running around.”

  Callan smiled. Yeah, they did. Suddenly, his part in the plan to defeat the Oíche Scáthanna didn’t seem so daunting. And it didn’t seem so bad that he’d have a little sister that he’d have to teach everything to and look after. Suddenly, everything felt like it would be okay. He’d learn to fight and grow stronger. When the time came for the sons and daughters of Nuadha and Síofra to fight, they would be ready. They would fight together. As a family.

  Epilogue

  “I don’t want to do this anymore,” Memphis cried. “Please, Laif.”

  Laif smiled at her, hoping to reassure her, and wiped beads of sweat off her brow. “Honey, you can’t stop. You’re doing so well. Just a little longer.”

  Her hand tightened into a vice grip over his. “Ooowwwwhhhh,” she hollered, bending at the waist as her body tensed. When her body relaxed a little, she began to cry again. “Please. I’m too tired. I can’t keep doing this. Having Callan wasn’t like this.”

  Laif pulled her face into his chest and held on to her for another minute before the hard contraction returned.

  “The baby’s crowning,” Dr. Olsen said. “You’re almost there.”

  Memphis relaxed a bit again. Steady tears fell. Laif hated watching her suffer. If only she hadn’t had the gangrene infection, the doctor could’ve given her pain medication. But her cervix had been behind the baby’s head when her water had broken, and so they didn’t know that it had happened.

  She had gone almost five days, having what they assumed were Braxton hick’s contractions, when in reality, she’d been in labor and her water had broken.

  Then to watch as the doctor had to push the baby back up and hold the cervix in place with some kind of clip while she contracted, just about did them both in. He’d cried right along with her.

  The green fuzz of amniotic fluid that rushed out of her, almost made Laif lose his lunch. The smell turned his stomach even more. She had been in so much pain that she didn’t seem to notice. And Laif realized the intensity of her pain had to be tremendous to not notice the overwhelming stench of rot.

  “Okay, I’m going to try to help ease the head out,” Dr. Olsen said.

  Memphis nodded and stared into Laif’s wet eyes and whispered, “I love you.”

  He couldn’t help but chuckle. Weren’t women supposed to cuss and scream and hate their husbands for doing this to them? But not his precious wife. She still loved him. Even in excruciating pain, she loved him.

  “I love you too. And I’m so proud of you. You know you’re the most amazing woman I know. This last year has been the most miraculous of my life. I thank God for letting us be married and for the family we have.”

  Laif wiped tears and sweat from her face as she began to contract again. His heart was breaking for her. How he wanted to remove her burdens. Take away her pain.

  “Give me another push.”

  Memphis screamed as the head broke through.

  “Okay, breath Memphis, you’re doing great,” his mom said.

  She and Alannah were both assisting. Memphis had insisted that her new Mom and her baby’s Godmother be present. Laif, of course, had no problem with that. His mom had advised him beyond what they had learned in Lamaze classes. And she helped Memphis focus and truly breath. Not short hyperventilating breaths, but slow, deep, cleansing ones.

  Laif bent down and gently kissed her lips. “You amaze me, sweetheart. I love you so much. Thank you for doing this.”

  She smiled, but only for a second before her face screwed into pain and she contracted again. “Aaaagggggggggg.”

  And at the end of that push, the most amazing sound came. A crying baby. Memphis had just performed a miracle. She had given Laif the world.

  “She has ten little fingers, and ten little toes,” Alannah said. “She looks perfect.”

  Memphis cried, this time it seemed, out of joy. “Can I see her? Can I have my baby?”

  Just as soon as she was cleaned up, weighed, and measured, Lydia wrapped her in a blanket and laid her across Memphis’s chest.

  Memphis whispered, “Hey there, my little one, I’ve been waiting for you.�
��

  Laif’s heart contracted with the immense love he had for them both. My little girls. He couldn’t imagine loving anyone more than he loved Memphis, Callan, and this tiny baby girl right now. He sat next to Memphis as their little girl opened her mouth and searched for dinner.

  “They’re going to have to take her to run tests. She could have some pretty nasty infections. She needs to be started on antibiotics right away,” Alannah said.

  Alannah and Bryson had married the day after they had returned from Ireland, with a small bundle of swords that had cost a small fortune to send home. Strangely, the broadsword Áinle had cast, wasn’t among the swords they’d found. Ian said it was for someone else to find.

  “Can’t I nurse her first? She’s hungry,” Memphis asked, pleading in those sweet green eyes.

  Alannah looked back at the doctor. He nodded. “But only for a few minutes. We really need to get going on those meds.”

  Laif couldn’t begin to describe how beautiful it was to watch his wife nurse their little girl. Motherhood came so naturally to Memphis. The baby’s tiny hand wrapped around his finger when he touched her, and her eyes opened. She stared at her momma and then looked at Laif. And then she amazed them all. She stopped nursing and smiled.

  It didn’t matter to Laif that the doctor said that babies didn’t smile this early, Lydia said that he had. Memphis and Laif watched their little miracle go back to her meal, and when the nurse went to take her, she gripped his finger and clasped Memphis’s gown. Tiny tears formed in her eyes and she screamed.

  Talk about heartbreaking. Alannah took her, promising to bring her back as soon as possible. The doctor had just finished up at the foot of the bed, and when he stood, Laif noticed the look of concern on his face.

  “What is it?” Laif asked.

  “Well, about ninety percent of her placenta is eaten up with gangrene. Honestly, I don’t know how either one of them made it. I truly believe God must really want them both here. I don’t know if you’re believers, but after this, I sure am. They should’ve both died. At least in my medical opinion.”

  Scared, Laif asked, “They’re both going to be alright though, aren’t they?”

  “I think they’ll both be fine. I’ll put them on some heavy-duty antibiotics and keep them here for a few days, but yeah, I think they’ll be just fine.” He smiled as he turned to the door. “I’m going to go check on that little girl of yours.”

  Lydia smiled at Laif and Memphis. “I’m so proud of how well you did. And Laif, I’m sure you noticed that Memphis didn’t cuss once, but you did. Maybe you should take lessons from your wife.” She bent and kissed Memphis on the cheek. “I love you, honey. You were perfect.”

  She straightened up. “Now, I’m going to go take care of my grandbaby. If you need anything, call. And we’ll bring her back quickly. I’ll also let everyone in the waiting room know what’s going on and tell them that they can see the baby in a bit. I’m sure Callan is going crazy out there waiting.”

  Memphis took Lydia’s hand and kissed it. “Thanks, Mom, that’ll be fine. I love you.” Then she turned back to Laif. “Oh, Laif. I love you so much.” And she snuggled into his arms and cried.

  “What’s wrong? Are you hurting? I think they can give you something now.”

  “I want our baby back. I don’t like them taking her.”

  “She’ll be okay. She’s with Alannah. And Mom will be there soon.” He smoothed her damp hair off her face. “So, when do we want to tell Mom what we’ve named her? Are we still naming her after them?”

  She wiped her eyes. “Yes. That’s okay, isn’t it? You’re still okay with it?”

  He smiled and kissed her tender lips. “Of course, it’s okay. I think it’s perfect. I think you’re perfect. And you’ve given me a perfect little girl and the best son a father could ask for.”

  Memphis fell asleep in his arms, exactly where he always wanted her. It took over an hour before Alannah brought their baby girl back to them, screaming. She had tiny tubes in her hand and was hooked up to monitors, just like her momma. As soon as she was placed in Memphis’s arms, she settled down. After searching Memphis’s face, she looked at Laif and smiled again. Then she went looking for her momma’s breast.

  When she had nursed until she fell asleep, Lydia let all the rest of the family in the room. Kambry with her fiancé Shane Evans and Mikia with her fiancé Jason Claybourn came in first. They planned on a double wedding in a few short months. Tiegan and Julz, stood back by Laif’s younger sisters, holding their two little ones as Bryson and Alannah came up to the side of the bed.

  Regan and Lydia stood on the side of the bed Laif sat on. Regan had his cell phone out with Fiona Craig-Riley and family, and Ewen Craig and family joining over Zoom. Callan, Kiley, and Joan came in and came straight to the bed. Fisher and Caitlyn stood just behind Kiley and Joan.

  Callan crawled up on the bed beside his mom and baby sister. When she looked up at him, he told her, “I’m going to be the best big brother any girl ever had. I won’t ever let anyone hurt her. And she will never think that she’s not loved.” At that vow, he bent and kissed her tiny head, then asked if he could hold her.

  The family all “oohed” and “awed” over their miracle before Mikia, standing wrapped in the arms of her fiancé, finally asked, “So what’s her name?”

  Memphis smiled and looked to Callan, who answered, “Lydia Ruth Craig.”

  Lydia cried. “Oh, Memphis.”

  They hugged, and Lydia wanted to hold her namesake. Laif could tell how hard it was for Callan to let her go, even though his grandma stayed right beside him.

  After everyone took their turn holding Lydia Ruth, Laif took her in his arms for the first time. He’d known that if he held her before them, he wouldn’t let any of his family hold her tonight.

  Smiling at his daughter as she looked up at him, Laif knew how blessed he’d been. He may not truly deserve it, who did. But he’d thank God every night for the rest of his life that He’d seen fit to give him, a wretched soul, this beautiful life.

  A little over an hour later, when everyone had left, his parents taking Callan home with them. Laif lay in the bed and practically held his daughter to Memphis’s breast. He wanted both of them in his arms. Forever.

  Watching them both the next day, it astonished Laif how aware Lydia Ruth was of her surroundings. Especially of her mom and him. She tensed every time anyone took her away from them. Even if it was family. But when she left the room for tests or to be cleaned up, the nurses said she screamed from the time they walked out the door, until they brought her back.

  Laif’s mom said that she hadn’t known of babies doing that, but it didn’t necessarily mean anything either. Alannah volunteered to go with the nurse on the second day when they took her for more tests.

  “She tensed, and seemed uncomfortable away from you,” Alannah said. “But she didn’t scream. I wonder if she knows we’re family. That’s got to be it.”

  But when his mom took her on the next trip, she howled the whole time they were gone. Breaking Lydia’s heart. As soon as they were back by the room, Lydia placed her in Laif’s arms, and his tiny daughter grabbed at his face.

  “So, precious angel, what’s got you so worked up?” Laif asked, still in the doorway. As if answering his question, she turned her little head toward the hall. Shock and panic hit Laif in the gut as Kyrell disappeared into the room across the corridor. Lydia Ruth looked into Laif’s eyes and her cries quieted down.

  Irish Glossary

  Ciaran (keer awn) means Little Dark One

  Áinle (AN l'yeh) means Champion

  Caoimhe (Kee vah) means Kind, Gentle, and Comely

  Síofra (SHEE fra) means Elf

  Nuadha (NOO a) means Fog

  Maolisa (Mail issa) means Follower of Jesus

  Mamaí (Mah-mee) means Mother

  Scian Naofa (Skin NA-fa) means Sacred Knife

  Dag Dia means Dagda in Old Irish (The Dagda a god known for agriculture, f
ertility, manliness, and strength. He also associated with the druids.)

  Tuatha Dé Danann (too-her day danon) means People of the Goddess Danu, the fae people

  mo chuisle (muh khwish-la) means My Pulse

  Oíche Scáthanna (EE-heh Ska-Ha-NO) means Night Shadows

  Caomhnóirí na Oíche (Quee-Vee na EE-heh) means Guardian of the Night

  shonuachar (sun-oo-uh-chur (ch as in loch) - oo-uh is said together quickly) means Soulmate or someone you’re happily married to

  Is tú mo shonuachar (Iss two muh sun-oo-uh-chur - oo-uh) means You’re my Soulmate

  mo shonuachar (muh sun-oo-uh-chur - oo-uh) means My Soulmate

  A chuisle mo chroí (mu khwish-la muh khree) means Pulse of my Heart

  Is tú mo ghrá, mo chuisle: (Iss two muh guhraw muh khwish-la) means I love you, my pulse

  Caomhnóireacht means Guardianship

  About the Author

  Best-selling author Sarah K. Jensen uses writing as a medium to help empower others to develop skills to release pain and heartache and embrace love and happiness. Though many of her novels may appear dark, there is always a bright point of light to offer hope to those in need.

  She is also an inspirational speaker, mentor, and motivational life coach who specializes in empowering people around the world to uncover hidden challenges that sabotage their success and happiness and to move forward boldly, nobly, and with real intent. Sarah is a powerful listener and uses this talent to connect with people from all walks of life, allowing them to feel inspired, renewed, and re-energized to move forward with confidence.

  Sarah is the organizer of the Awaken Your Brilliance Conference. She is a member of several speaking associations, including the Women Speakers Association and the International Association of Women.