Everspell (23 page)

“Yep. She’s parking the car. It looks like a rock concert out there. She dropped me off because this rocking horse is so huge.” Tamera tapped the wrapped box. “I’m sure she had to go around the block. There’s probably cars parked half a mile away!”

We were maneuvering the box back in our arms again when Patty ran in the door, flushed and out of breath.

“Whew! That took forever!”

“Wow, Pats, how far away did you park?”

“Don’t ask.”

I guided the huge box into Patty’s arms and pointed them both in the direction of the back yard. “I’m going upstairs to get Jade. She’s getting ready now. Get yourself settled out there and we’ll be down in about five minutes.”

“Okay, Serena. Thanks. See you out there.” I watched Tamera and Patty juggle their gift and hurried upstairs, knowing how excited Jade would be to see them.

I reached the top floor and headed into my room to change when I heard some strange sounds coming from Elizabeth’s bedroom. I last saw her downstairs arranging flowers in the backyard, so I
was
curious who could be in there. Cautiously, I crept near the door and pressed my ear to the wood. I recognized the sound as tears. I knocked softly.

“May I come in?” I could hear the sound of bed springs, then the wood floor boards creaking as someone softly padded across the floor. The door opened and Jade stood there, sniffling and wiping her nose with a tissue.

“Jade? What’s wrong? Are you in pain? What are you doing in Elizabeth’s room?” I put my hand on her arm and turned her around, guiding her back to the bed. We sat together for a minute while she gathered herself. I wondered where Sully might be and why he wasn’t here with her.

Jade read my mind. “I sent him out for ginger ale.”

“My goodness, Jade. We must have twenty kinds of soda downstairs for your guests.”

“I know. But not ginger ale. So I sent him out for some. I didn’t want him here right now and I needed an excuse to send him somewhere. I’m hiding from him.”

“Why would you do that?”

“I don’t want him to see me like this.”

“See you like how?”

Jade turned her tear-stained face up to mine. “Scared.”

I gathered her in my arms in a huge hug, chuckling. “Oh, Jadie. You’re the strongest girl I know. What on earth are you scared of?”

“I’m scared to have these babies and I don’t want Sully to know that.”

“Well, you’re not having them today, so you don’t have to worry about it right now, silly.” I started laughing and expected her to laugh along with me. When she didn’t, I sat back and stared at her. “Are you?”

She just nodded.

“I think I might be having them today. I think I’m in labor, Serena.”

Chapter Thirty-eight

LOGAN

I knew I might be imagining it, but the stranger in front of me looked so much like my dad, I let my guard down. Good thing for me, Skylar never did.

“Logan! There’s another one coming in behind you!” Skylar’s yelling broke me out of my stupor. I spun around to face the intruding figure. Dressed all in black, I expected it to be one of Christophe’s evil followers. It shocked me to be staring at Declan, the man my mother had been seeing only a few weeks ago. I raised my arms to use my powers against him, perhaps to banish him forever from this world, when I heard the stranger who resembled my father speak.

“Logan, no! Declan is a friend! Both to me and to you! Neither of us means you any harm!”

I was stunned. The moment I heard the stranger speak, I knew he
was
my father. I may not have heard his voice in the last four years, but that voice I had heard since I’d been a young boy was one I would never forget. That voice had encouraged me to walk, taught me how to throw a curve ball, how to swim underwater, and convinced me that maybe girls weren’t so bad after all. I held up my hand to Skylar, asking him to stand down. In a voice that hardly sounded like my own, I asked my father, “Where have you been?”

My father’s shoulders slumped and he cast his eyes downward. “Trying to find my way back to you and your sister and your mother for the last four years. The accident…….it wasn’t an accident, Logan. I want to explain it to your mother first, but just know this: your mom and I were being punished for the life we chose. Specifically, for your mom choosing to live without witchcraft.”

I couldn’t absorb everything that my dad said. I felt sick, like I might throw up. I looked around for somewhere to sit and finally settled on the curb in front of my car. I moved there on shaky legs and sat heavily, Skylar following closely, and Charlie lurking nearby, on guard, but surprisingly not in attack mode. Even if I had any doubts about the identity of my father and Declan, my dog didn’t.

My dad and Declan gave me some space. They leaned against the side of my car, near me but not so close that I would be uncomfortable with their location. After a short silence, my dad continued his story.

“Declan finally helped me figure out a way to make contact with you in a way that wouldn’t scare you off. With Christophe in charge of the Council, he had the ability to keep me imprisoned and he did. He assigned a “keeper” to watch me and that turned out to be Declan here.” He indicated the other man, who bowed deeply, which seemed comical, considering we were in a parking lot. “I learned to trust Declan and he earned my respect first, then my friendship. I thought it could be a trick, another deception of Christophe’s, until he connected me with you and Skylar through the computer. That’s when I became a believer.” He looked over at Declan. “And I’m a believer still, since he’s the reason I’m here.”

I shook my head, trying to wrap my head around the whole thing. “So, wait a minute….are you telling me, he,” I jerked my thumb at Declan, “he’s the one who brought you here?”

My dad nodded.

“And him dating mom….also part of the plan?” I knew I sounded like a tool, but I had to know if my dad knew.

“Yes, Logan. I knew about it. All part of the design. Declan went to your mom’s flower shop at my urging. I had to know if she had moved on. If she still thought about me, or even still missed me at all. I had my answer when she wore the earrings we bought her for her anniversary on one of their dates. She became so overcome by memories of me, she could hardly finish the meal.” My dad smiled as he said this.

“How did you know what she even thought about? You’re a Regular. You can’t mindread.”

“No, I can’t. But Declan can and he knew she had been thinking about me. And, it seems, you and your sister. I knew I had to come back soon or risk missing even more of your lives than I already had.”

I looked from him to Skylar and Declan, then back to him again. I only had one thing to say. “Man, is Mom going to flip.”

****

I wasn’t sure how Dad and Declan got to the parking lot, but we took a conventional way home; we all got in my car and Skylar drove us there. I felt too shaky to take the wheel and there was still so much to be said. While Skylar navigated us the short drive home, I called Serena and gave her a brief description of what had kept us. She was stunned, but in her usual Zen fashion, she kept her cool and agreed to let me give her the full story when we arrived home.

We spent the majority of the drive catching up. I brought Dad up to speed on the last three years, at least plugging the holes from things he didn’t know about versus things he did. It appeared he had tried to keep up with our lives but the latest big things, Jade’s pregnancy and marriage, and mine and Serena’s engagements, had escaped his knowledge. We got so involved in our conversation, I neglected to advise him that today we were holding her baby shower until we got close to our street.

“Holy smokes, Logan! Check this out! Looks like the party is already happening. We must be really late!” Skylar swung the car onto our block and I looked out the window. Both sides of the street were lined with cars, parked bumper to bumper and jammed in tight. I didn’t realize my sister had invited this many people. My dad stared out the window too, amazed.

“Logan, what’s going on here?”

I laughed. “You know Jade, Dad. She loves to be the center of attention, right? Well, today is her baby shower. Oh, and by the way, she’s having twins.”

“Twins? That’s my girl, all right. Full of drama!” My dad laughed out loud and in the rear view mirror I could see him lean forward in the back seat, anticipating the reunion. I knew my sister would practically lose her mind. I just wondered what my mom would do.

Chapter Thirty-nine

SERENA

I hustled downstairs and looked wildly about the house and patio for Eden. I tried mindspeaking to get her attention, but for some reason I couldn’t get an answer from her. There were girls and women everywhere now, eating appetizers, drinking frothy punch drinks and chatting and laughing loudly. Eden was nowhere in sight. Next, I tried to find Lily, but she wasn’t in the area either. Frustrated, I returned to the house and started to head back toward the stairs.

At that moment the front door banged opened with a thud and Logan and Skylar stood there with Declan and another man who had to be Logan’s father. I cast my eyes upstairs, knowing I had a swift decision to make. I decided a few minutes wouldn’t matter and smiling brightly, walked to the door.

“Hi honey,” said Logan, shyly. “This is my dad, Evan Daniels.” He stepped sideways and a tall, handsome man with his eyes and the same boyish, unruly hair offered me his hand.

“Hello, Serena. It’s wonderful to meet you.”

I took Evan’s hand and gazing up into his eyes, I found the same warmth I always experienced when I looked into Logan’s. I had no doubt this man and Logan were related.

“It’s truly my pleasure, Mr. Daniels.”

“Call me Evan, please. I understand we’re to be related soon. Mr. Daniels seems way too formal.” He gave me a warm smile and his eyes twinkled.

“Of course. Please come in.”

“Thank you. And this is my friend Declan.” I shook his friend’s hand as well and managed to shoot Logan a look. He lowered his eyes and mindspoke to me.

There’s a long story there.
I promise I’ll tell you later.
Declan helped my dad escape Christophe.
Dad
says he can be trusted.

And you are sure of that?

I’ll be honest…everything has happened so fast, I
don’t have a reason to.
But Charlie hasn’t barked or growled or anything, so he must be okay.

I trust you, Logan.
If you are okay with him, then so am I.

“So where are my daughter and wife?”

“I actually have some news about Jade. She may be in labor right now.”

“What!” Logan exclaimed. “Does my mom know?”

“I was trying to find her when you came in.” I turned and waved my hand in the general direction of the patio. “As you can see, there are a ton of people here. I can’t find anyone in this mass of bodies. Maybe you can help.”

“Sure. What can we do?”

“Help me find Eden or Lily. I need to get back upstairs with Jade. Sully is out at the store. Don’t ask. Find either of them or wait for Sully and let me know when he gets here. I’ll be upstairs. I’m genuinely pleased to meet you, Mr. Daniels. I’m sure we’ll talk more later.” I didn’t wait for a response. I leaned over, pecked Logan on the cheek and scurried up the stairs.

When I got to Elizabeth’s room, I found Jade in the bathroom.

“Honey, are you okay in there?”

Jade’s muffled voice came from behind the bathroom door. “I’m fine. But, I’m more sure than ever that I’m in labor now.”

“What makes you say that?”

“My water just broke.”

“Oh my.” I had to get someone else up here! I tried mindspeaking again. I had to get through to someone.

Eden, can you hear me?
I really need you.

Yes, I can hear you fine.
Why do you sound so panicked?
Are you in some distress?

Oh thank goodness!
Yes, Eden, you could say that.
I am upstairs in Elizabeth’s bedroom with Jade
and I think she’s
in labor.
Sully is out at the store, and Jade’s
afraid
about having the babies.
And we have an interesting new visitor downstairs.
I could use some help.

Say no more, Serena.
Prudence and Raven and I are on the way up.
Stay put.

I went to the bathroom door and tried to speak through it.

“Jade? Can you come out?”

“Yes. Give me a minute.” I heard a shuffling noise, then the toilet flushed and the door opened. Jade stood there, flushed and tired-looking, cheeks pink and stark fear evident in her eyes. I did my best to calm her down.

“Hi. Eden is on her way upstairs with reinforcements. You won’t be stuck up here with just me soon.”

“I like being here with you. You have this way of talking me off my ledge just when I feel like jumping. I thought about what you said, you know.” Jade let me lead her over to the bed and we sat down next to each other.

“And what was that?”

“You said I’m a strong person. I thought about that and decided you were right. I am strong. I’ve been through some crazy things, haven’t I?” I nodded, not wanting to stop her flow. “I figured out about being a witch all by myself, I’ve been kidnapped and rescued and then they tried it again. And just like you, Serena, I met my soulmate. And now I’m going to have his babies, his twins.” Jade lovingly caressed the mound of her belly. “I’m going to be a mommy. Today.” She looked at me with a wide grin. “Serena, I’m going to be a mommy.”

I gave her a hug. “You sure are. You are going to be the best mommy in the world, because you
are
going to have those babies today.”

“You’re going to do what today?” We both jerked our heads up to see Sully standing in the doorway of the bedroom, a six-pack of soda in his hands. Crowding in behind him were Eden, Prudence and Raven. They caught Sully as his knees buckled and he fainted.