But several?
That usually signaled bad news.
I hadn’t even had a chance to call him back yet. A bounding rabbit had caught Oban’s attention and the subsequent chase, squealing of tires, and trip to the vet meant I’d forgotten the missed calls entirely. Sighing, I scrubbed a hand over my face and opened my fridge to examine the contents. I still hadn’t slept and could feel the energy seeping from me as I pulled out a leftover box of pizza. It would do, for now, and after a nap I’d grill up fish and vegetables for my dinner.
My phone rang again and seeing my father’s name, I sighed, before swiping it open.
“I’m sorry. I just got off shift and then Oban was hurt. I wasn’t ignoring your calls.” I crammed a bite of pizza in my mouth and picked up the kettle to pour more water in my mug.
“I was wondering why I hadn’t heard from you. Whathappened with Oban? Is he all right?” My father’s voice, strong and sure, took on a concerned note.
“Aye, he’s fine. He got out of the gate and a car hit him. But the new vet fixed him right up. He’s resting now.”
“Such a shame.” My father made a tsking noise with his mouth. I stilled, waiting for what was next. “Maybe it’s best you come home now.”
“Maybe it’s best you come home now.”Home. Scalloway.Where I’d grown from a wee bairn to a man, but it was past tense now.
“We’ve talked about this.” I’d moved to Loren Brae over a year ago, had built a reputation in A&E and frankly, this place suited me nicely. It was quiet. It didn’t hold on to my past with a vise-like grip. It felt…like me. And yet, my father used any problem—any hint of disruption—to try and persuade me to return to Scalloway.
“I don’t see why this has to be an issue. Your mum misses you.”
I winced. He loved playing the “Mum” card.
“I’ll visit soon.” I wasn’t going to start an argument, but now that I knew my father had only called to talk me into returning home, I needed to distract him. Dr. Faelan Fletcher popped into my mind again, and I believed using her as a diversion wasn’t too inappropriate.Because I have a feeling about how she treated Oban, or rather, why my pup is alive and well.“Say, Dad, question for you. I remember you told me that after I was born you went after those healers. Whatever ended up happening with that?”
Silence greeted me. I knew I was picking at a scab, and my father would resent me for it, but I’d lived under theguilt of my birth for years now, and nothing would change that.
“Those chancers? No, never did find them.” Frustration laced my father’s voice.
“There was a family of them, though, right? Still in the area?” My father was also a doctor, though he specialized in cardiology, while I thrived in the A&E. He’d been mid surgery when my mum had gone into labor and had arrived home late.Too late. It was one of the reasons I so rarely brought the healer up, but I thought broaching the topic today was necessary.Sorry, Dad.
“I only know of the one that hurt your mother. I think we were too overwhelmed with everything to investigate further at the time, and then when we could focus on finding them, they’d vanished. But if you’re asking about my take on healers in general? I don’t think one can dismiss the power of the mind, as there’s been enough studies on the placebo effect to prove it to be a viable alternative.” My father’s voice lowered, and I heard a door closing behind him. “However, you bloody well know how I feel. They can all burn, as far as I’m concerned.”For what they did to your mother. His voice trailed off, and I heard him take a sip of his drink through the phone. There was no need for him to repeat the words I’d heard so many times before.
“But is it possible? To heal with magick? And be used for good?” I dropped a fresh tea bag in my mug and leaned against the counter, my eyes going to where Oban snoozed by the fire.
“I’m not remotely objective in this. As far as I’m concerned, science is the answer for healing. We’ve seen firsthand just how horribly wrongit can go.”
“And you haven’t come across any since … then? Nothing at the hospital? Healers, that is?”
“Why are you asking? Have you met a healer?”
My father was incredibly astute. He hadn’t risen to the top of his field by sheer determination alone. At the same time, I wasn’t sure I wanted Faelan to land on my father’s radar. Or anyone’s really. There was something about her that made me want to protect her just as much as I wanted to learn all her secrets.
“Not really. Just curious. The nurses were reading a book about it at work.”
“Hmm.” My father paused. “Son, as much as I hate to say it, if you do run into someone with such abilities, you have a responsibility.”
“I know.” I pressed my lips together. The rain intensified, mirroring my mood, and Oban shifted, lifting his head at the noise. “That’s Oban awake. I’ll be off then.”
“Give him our love. And, son, think about what I said. You shouldn’t be alone out there. It’s not right.”
“Give Mum a hug from me. Gotta run.” I hung up before he got started on his favorite topic again and crossed the room to where Oban blinked wearily up at me.
“Hey, pal.” I dropped to the floor and ran my hands over his fur, scratching his ears lightly. Turning his head, he licked my palm with his sandpaper-like tongue. “I’m sorry. I’m sososorry. It’s a bloody eejit, I am, that’s the truth of it. I know better than to leave that gate open.”
“It’s not your fault,” Oban said, his voice rough and scratchy after the day he’d had. “I knew better than to chase after that damn rabbit.”
I breathed a sigh of relief at hearing his voice in my head.
