“What did they tell you this time?” Oleander asked as he took a seat at the table in the breakfast nook.
“Let’s just say you need to make a move, my son.”
“Sweet Jesus,” he muttered.
That was another thing about Colleen. She was psychic. I’d always been skeptical, but one day, she called me right before I was about to head out of Jordan’s building to go hunt someone down for him. She’d told me when the caw of a crow was heard to duck. Damned if I didn’t do as she said, then a bullet flew just above my head.
I believed her, while still holding onto a bit of skepticism. She’d said she’d teach Oleander and me how to talk to our spirit guides. Oleander rolled his eyes like he always did, kissed her on the cheek, and thanked her for being a good mom. She didn’t teach us. We didn’t want to learn.
A black cat sauntered into the kitchen like she owned the place. There was only one person the cat yielded to.
“Good, you’re up,” Colleen said to the cat. “Celeste, tell the boys to get off their asses and make moves on the men they’re interested in already.”
Celeste looked at us, meowed loudly, then walked to Colleen’s feet, where she sat waiting for a treat. She got one, of course.
“I’m not taking advice from your cat,” I told her.
“She’s smarter than the two of you right now. Too skinny and wandering around in the hallways at night. Honestly, Shel. You’re better than that.”
“Apparently not,” I muttered.
Oleander gripped my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “He’s doing okay, Mom. I’ve got his back.”
In a sudden rush of emotion, my throat felt tight and tears pricked my eyes. I shook my head and looked down at my lap. Celeste chose that moment to wind in and out of my legs.
This was what a family should be. The one I grew up in had an abusive, drunk father, and a mother who couldn’t stand up for me or herself. I still loved her until her last day on this earth. I couldn’t save her, not when she chose to stay over leaving with me.
A soft hand touched my cheek, drawing my eyes up to Colleen’s. Some of her dark brown hair had fallen loose from the messy bun she had piled on top of her head. Her clothes were a size too big. The only time I saw her in shoes was when she had to leave the house. Colleen lived authentically, not caring what anyone thought of her. I’d never known someone who was so in tune with themself as she was.
“Don’t dwell on the past,” she said softly. “Only ghosts live there who have no place being brought into the future. No harm can be done to you now. Don’t let them in.”
I nodded, soaking up the warmth of her touch before she pulled her hand back to bring the bowls of soup to the table.
As usual, lunch was delicious. Warm, with the right amount of spices, chunks of bacon, and a drop of sour cream. This was a meal on its own. Add in the freshly baked bread, and I was a happy man.
“You should move closer to Dremest,” I told her. It had been an ongoing conversation over the years. Colleen preferred to live outside of the city, where the trees were denser and the houses were spaced farther apart. She grew herbs on her windowsills and vegetables in her garden. There were spell books and candles around the house, as well as crystals placed strategically.This was her safe space, and she didn’t let anyone in who could cause harm.
“Please,” she scoffed. “There’s no way I’m leaving this place behind.”
The back door opened, Celeste not moving from where she leaned on my foot. “Col?” Oleander’s father called.
“In the kitchen,” she returned.
Tall with red hair and blue eyes, Oleander’s dad was one of the kindest men I’d ever met. He didn’t have a violent bone in his body. The man saved bugs from the house and released them outside, for fuck’s sake. “Boys, it’s good to see you.”
He kissed us both on the tops of our heads before embracing his wife. The way she leaned into his touch and looked at him like he was her whole world made me envious of their relationship.
He held up his hand, opening his palm to reveal a small stone.
“Oh, that’s pretty,” she said, her eyes lighting up.
“I found it by the creek. I should have been watching my line, but instead got caught up in this.”
“It’s well worth it.” She lifted it from his palm and held it up to the sun. “I know just the place for it.” With a kiss to his cheek, she left the room.
Had this been anyone else, I would have thought they were crazy. How could a rock make someone happy? But this was Colleen. She loved what nature provided, cherished the gifts she’d been given, and lived on her own terms. Her husband handing her a rock he’d found was precious to her.
“Do you want to stay for dinner?” Davis asked.
