The Secret of Strange Waters (The Light Keeper Series Book 2) (5 page)

The damp, mosquito-infested air didn’t seem appealing. “No, but you could come
in
if you promise to keep it down.”

Owen made a cross over his heart and held his hand up to signify a vow. His lips were still pressed together in a tight line as he pulled out his pocket knife to take off the screen. I sat back to make room for him as he came in. “Where’s Talon?” he asked.

I quickly pulled down the window to keep out the mosquitos. “He’s asleep, so keep it down.”

He glanced down at my stomach. “So
are
you?”

“No!” I crossed my arms over my tummy and grimaced, getting a sick feeling. “Not possible, really.” So that explained his mood. I was glad he’d missed Talon.

“Good,” he said with a sigh. “He needs to keep his grubby hands off you.” He shifted his eyes towards Talon’s room. “So what
was
wrong with you today? Did you two have a fight?” His lips twitched as he held back a smile, but I could see the hope in his eyes.

“No, it’s nothing. I was upset. I had a vision last night, a really strange one—” I hesitated.

Unsatisfied, he planted his feet and crossed his arms. “Tell me,” he demanded.

“No. It was different. This time I saw the future.”

His eyes grew wide. “Future?” he asked. I nodded my reply. “So what did you see?”

“Me and Talon.” I hated to go into it with him. The last thing he really wanted was a peek into our future; though now I wondered, without the baby, what else would change. I was certain we’d thrown everything off balance, like in movies.

“And so?” He waved his hand forward encouraging me to share more. “You two break up?”

“No,” I hissed. His smug smile and the thought of Talon and me being split apart due to our decision ticked me off enough to tell him. “We had a baby!” I hoped the words hurt him, and they did. He sat and stayed quiet for a minute, looking back and forth from me to the door. Then he got the most terrifying expression of hate on his face and stood up. I jumped up too, thinking at any moment he would run into Talon’s room. Instead, he paced back and forth with his hands on his head. “So it does happen, then? Are you sure?” he asked.

“No! It does
not
happen. We’re making sure of it. Look, I’m not getting into this with
you
. It’s none of your business. We’re handling it.” I whispered as low as possible, but really wanted to shout.

“He better make sure! I swear Lily, I’ll strangle him!” His jaw tensed.

“No, you won’t. Stop being dramatic. You know I love him, Owen. Besides, you are getting carried away, nothing is going to happen. We decided.” I put my head down and sadness fell across my face.

“What?” He stood, slack-jawed, searching my expression. “You
wanted
it to happen? You want to be a young un-wed mother, having your step-brother’s baby?” I felt like I was being lectured and scolded.

“Of course not, but…it’s complicated, Owen, you wouldn’t understand. It’s a
girl
thing. And he’s not my step-brother.” Maybe that would get him off of it.

He sat at the foot of my bed and finally calmed down. After a few minutes, he shifted his gaze over to me. “So, you can see the future? How’d that happen?”

“I’m not sure, it just did. I think it’s because I’m alive and I actually have a future, but Alyssa was dead and could only show me things from her lifetime. I don’t lose time, either,” I explained with a shrug.

“Not at all?”

“Well, only the time it takes to have the vision, of course, but otherwise, no, not a single minute more.”

“Do you have a theory on that one?” The furrowing of his brow told me he was trying to figure it out himself, as well as distract from the previous subject.

“Yeah, kind of. I think I lost time before because I was getting time through Alyssa that I wasn’t
supposed
to have in my lifetime. I mean, she is dead and I’m not, obviously, so that has to make some difference. I’m guessing it needed a balance or something, so it had to borrow from my time to make it possible. It’s not like I’ll ever know for sure, but I think it has something to do with balance. Most things do.”

Owen shook his head and smiled as he looked me up and down. “You’re a real freak, you know that?” he teased. I gave him a dirty look. Then all of a sudden, an idea hit him. “Hey, can you tell me if Granny is going to buy us a new car?” He and Hunter had been bugging Granny for the past few months for a car for their birthdays, which were coming up and only a month apart.

I frowned and shook my head. “If I could see that, I wouldn’t ruin the surprise, silly.” I knew exactly what Granny was getting them, but once again, I was sworn to secrecy.

“At least
try
to see if I pass my driver’s test.”

“I’m not your crystal ball, Owen.” Insulted, I crossed my arms.

“Well,
if
you happen
to see it, will you tell me?”

I put my hands to my temples and began to hum “I see...I see...”

“What?” he asked, playing along, knowing that wasn’t how it worked at all.

“I see that you are getting on my nerves.” I slapped at him playfully, and we nearly jumped out of our skins when Holly tapped on the window. She and Hunter were waiting in the darkness.

“What are you doing in there?” Hunter asked as he boosted Holly up and through the window.

“Don’t worry about it,” Owen said. “Where have you two been hiding?” He made kissing noises.

“Come on, Little Brother, you gotta crawl out of there sometime.” Hunter punched his palm and cracked his knuckles. Owen shot him a glare and hugged me goodnight, an action that was not unusual for us. I hugged Hunter at times, too, but Owen held my hand. I kind of liked it. Maybe I was just needy. After all, I didn’t have much of a family before they came along.

“Hey, by the way, how was your game?” I wanted to ask him all night.

“We won, thanks to me,” he replied. He brushed off his shoulder and blew on his knuckles. “I made three touchdowns. No one can catch me.” He smiled and he gave me a wink. His ego was going to implode someday. I shook my head and Holly rolled her eyes at Hunter, who reached to grab Owen’s arm and began trying to pull him out. “Easy, easy, these arms are priceless,” he teased. Then he finally crawled out of the window. As Holly leaned to kiss Hunter goodnight, he groaned, “You two give it a rest.” Then Hunter punched his arm as they walked away.

After they left, I had to know what happened with Holly and Hunter. “So, where were you? Owen said you weren’t on the patio when he got home?”

“We were in Hunter’s room. He showed me all of his electronics and his computer.” Her porcelain pale cheeks were tinted pink. “We kissed and he told me that he thinks he loves me!” She was beaming, and her joy gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling. She talked about everything from their wedding, the honeymoon, and even what their kids would be named. She had it all planned out. For a brief second I remembered the little face from my vision. A lump crept into my throat, and I drifted to sleep as Holly rambled on.

WE WOKE
UP EARLY
to my mom’s cheerful shouting up the hall: “Lily, it’s time to get up! Don’t waste your day, honey! Up, up, up!” I pulled the covers over my head and Holly moaned.

“Does she do that often?” she asked.

“Yes, every Saturday. Mom thinks sleep is a waste of time.” I thought back to the days when it was only the two of us. Mom would wake me early, and we’d get our day started with a walk on the beach. Then we’d hit the farmer’s market for fresh vegetables and visit the neighbors. One of them sold shrimp on the weekends, and before he headed out for the day, he’d drop off a couple pounds for our lunch. We’d clean house and let the gulf air sweep its salty breeze through our windows and listen to music as we danced with our dust rags. I missed those days at times, but wouldn’t trade my current life to have them back.

Talon knocked on the doorframe, and I motioned him in. His usual kiss good morning met my forehead. “Good morning, Holly.” He smiled down to where she lay on the blow up mattress. “Hunter’s on his way over, he called my cell.”

“What!” She jumped up with her covers still wrapped around her and ran into the bathroom. By the time Hunter arrived, she managed to brush her teeth and hair and get dressed. We had breakfast together before going over to visit with Granny.

* * *

Later, Tom and I drove Holly home. On the way back, we talked. “Lily, I’d appreciate you looking after Talon for me. Help keep him in line. I know you’ll be a good influence on him, he really likes and respects you. I’m glad you two are friends.” He glanced my way with a smile.

“I really like and respect him too,” I said, feeling the blood rush to my face. He had no idea how much.

“Good. I’m glad he has you. You’re a good friend, Lily. You’ll be a great sister.” He turned on the radio, ending the conversation. I stared out the window, watching the trees go by. It made me kind of sad to think he would never accept me as anything more than a step-sister for Talon.

* * *

We left school early on Tuesday to ride to the airport in Houston. Tom’s plane left at 3p.m. Afterward, we headed home. Talon drove because Mom was too tired and upset. She promised Tom she wouldn’t cry, but she broke down after he boarded the plane. I couldn’t imagine Talon leaving me for months, especially not even knowing exactly how many.

We stopped to eat Mexican food on the way home at my favorite restaurant. Mom tried to make small talk, but her mind was on Tom and the long wait ahead. “So, how do you like school?” she asked us both. We both shrugged and groaned. “Come on, any cute boys?” She nudged my way.

Talon laughed. “Yeah, anyone catching your eye?” he teased. His eyes seemed to brighten with his smile as he watched me squirm.

“Seriously, if you know someone, you should fix her up. She’ll need a date for the homecoming dance.” Nothing makes a girl feel more pathetic than her mother asking someone to fix her up, and nothing was weirder when that someone was her secret boyfriend.

“I’m not going to Homecoming.” I picked at my food with my fork, wishing she would change the subject.

Talon smirked. “What if someone asks you?” he said. He was enjoying this.

“Highly unlikely,” I retorted. And it was true. Everyone knew he and I were together, except Mom, who pressed on.

“Come on Lily, you’re beautiful! There has to be someone planning to ask you. Right, Talon?” She piled the sour cream on her nachos.

He chuckled, totally enjoying my discomfort. “I bet there are quite a few who‘d love to take you.”

“Okay, that’s enough about me. So what about you, Talon? Who are you going to ask?” I turned the awkwardness on him to watch him squirm. But he didn’t. He was as cool as ever.

“I do have this one girl in mind actually, but she’s kind of intimidating,” he said.

“Is she pretty?” Mom asked with a singsong tone.

“Oh, without a doubt the most gorgeous girl in school—next to Lily, of course,” he reassured Mom. “But she’ll probably turn me down.” He tried to poke his lip out in feigned disappointment, but cracked a smile as he looked my way. Mom didn’t notice. She was too busy scooping beans onto her chip.

“That’s nonsense,” she said with a scolding tone. “Any girl would be lucky to have you on her arm.” I only wished she wouldn’t mind if that girl was me.

We finished our food and headed home. Mom didn’t feel well, so she went straight to bed once we got there. It was no wonder; she stuffed her face like she hadn’t eaten in days.

Talon and I watched TV on the sofa. He was kicked back in the recliner on the end, and I lay next to him with my head on a throw pillow. He stroked my hair till I was almost asleep. During a commercial break I sat up and tried to stay awake. He pulled me onto his lap and kissed me. His lips made their way to my neck, and I tilted my head to the side and giggled.

That’s when I saw her. Standing in the darkened kitchen, mouth gaping and eyes wide. She had caught us, and there was no denying
anything
now.

“Lily!” she screamed. I froze as she put her hand over her mouth and ran to the bathroom.

I figured it would be a shock if she ever found out, but I didn’t think it would be so repulsive that she would feel the need to puke.

I jumped up to run after her, but she slammed her bathroom door before I even hit the kitchen. I turned to look at Talon, who sat on the couch with his head in his hands. “I’m sorry, Lily,” he said. For exactly which part, I wasn’t sure.

I ran to the bathroom door and could hear Mom being sick on the other side. “I’m sorry,” I yelled through the door. “Are you all right?”

“No! I’m not,” she said with a strained voice. She coughed again. I heard the faucet come on, and then Mom was gargling and spitting. “I can’t believe this, Lily! How long has this been going on?” I was glad I couldn’t see her face. I had pictured this happening many times, and it was never anything like this.

I felt tiny, like her little girl. The tone she used was one I haven’t heard since I was much younger. “June,” I answered.

Mom swung the door open. “The
whole
time?” she asked. I nodded. Then a suspicious look came across her face. “Has he
touched
you?” Her accusation made my stomach clench.

“No, it’s not like that! Don‘t go there, please!” The conversation was nauseating
me
.

“It’s like
something
! I saw you just now!” She sat on her bed. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Her faint voice cracked. I wasn’t sure what hurt her more: me being with Talon, or keeping it from her.

“We were going to. We weren’t sure how y’all would take it and we didn’t want to cause any problems.”

“
He’s
gonna tell Tom, not me!” She threw a hand to her head as if it was pounding. “Talon,” she called. He walked in from around the corner, where he‘d been listening.

“I heard. I’ll tell him.” His eyes met hers directly. “I’m sorry, but I love her, Cate.”

Mom sighed. She considered him as if he were an insect. “First thing in the morning, before school, y
ou
will call him then.” She put her hand on her stomach and ran to the bathroom.

* * *

When I woke up the next morning, I could hear Mom and Talon talking at the kitchen table. “I promise,” he said.

“You better mean it.” Mom’s voice echoed down the hall.

By the time I got out of bed, brushed my teeth, and got to them, Talon was on the phone with Tom. “I know, I do, yes,” he said into the phone. I wish I had heard the question, but I could guess. “It’s not like that, Dad, I swear. Nothing’s going to go wrong. I promise.” Mom and I listened as he defended, defined, and declared us. “Yes, she’s right here.” Mom held out her hand and took the phone.

“I know. I’m shocked. I thought they were getting along, but this is ridiculous. Well, I agree. Yes, I think it will be fine. If we tell them they can’t see each other you know they’ll just do it anyway. Well, if you suspected you could have clued me in!” She raised her voice. “Well, they aren’t
really
related! I know. I think he really means it. Yes, her too. Okay, here she is.”

I was taken by surprise when Mom passed the phone off to me. “H—hello,” I stuttered.

“Lily, do you really want this? He’s not pressuring you into anything?” Tom sounded exhausted. I felt bad that he had more important things to worry about than drama happening at home.

“Yes I do, very much, and no, he hasn’t. He’s been very
respectful
.” I hoped he remembered our conversation days before.

“Well, I meant what I said the other day, I’m glad he has you. Take care of each other, and look after your mom. She said she wasn’t feeling well.”

“I will,” I promised, and then he asked for Mom again. As she talked, Talon smiled at me and took my hand.

“What did he say to you?” I asked.

“I can’t repeat some of it,” he said. “But bottom line is, if I screw this up, I gotta go live with my mom.”

I pulled him to me and buried my face in his chest. He kissed my head. Mom threw down the phone and ran for the bathroom. Once again I wasn’t sure it wasn’t in reaction to us. I ran after her, and Talon explained to Tom what had happened.