“I’m not too heavy?” he asked but didn’t make a move to releaseher.
“Right now, you’re all that’s holding me together. So, no, Costin, you are definitely not tooheavy.”
He lifted his head, pressed his lips to her neck, and then settled back down on her. Sally closed her eyes and let out a slow breath. As she exhaled, she felt the tightness in her chest begin to dissipate, and the panic there slowly receded. This time when she fell asleep, there were nodreams.
* * *
Chris frowned at his wife.“You’resure?”
Cindynodded.
“How do youknow?”
“They contacted me four daysago.”
His eyes narrowed. “Why are you just now tellingme?”
“Because I didn’t know she was going to come home. I didn’t want to speak anything out loud, giving power to possibilities, unless it was absolutely necessary. But now she’s here, and there’s something definitely not okay with her.” Cindy began to pace as she spoke. “She looks haunted, Chris. Our sweet, gentle Sally has eyes like a wraith. There’s a blackness inside of them. Something dark has touchedher.”
“Then she’s come to the right place. Jen was right to send her home,” hesaid.
“She was, but then Jen doesn’t know what I am. She sent her home because she knew Sally needed her family.” She sighed and stopped pacing. “I’m just thankful that she came. If she hadn’t…” Cindy stopped before she spoke anything out loud she wouldn’t be able to take back. Chris had always admired that about his wife. She understood how powerful words were and she was careful how she used them and to whatend.
“She’ll be getting up soon.” Chris glanced at his watch. “Do you want to tell them together, or do you want some mother/daughtertime?”
“I think this needs to be something we talk about alone. She can speak to her mate about it after she’s processed it. Then she can proceed in whatever way she feels isbest.”
He stood up and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “She’s going to bealright.”
Cindy nodded. “She is. I’m owning that. Sally, my amazing daughter, is going to be better thanalright.”
* * *
Cindy finished getting dressedafter Chris left the room to go start preparing breakfast. She was tired and hadn’t slept well. She was restless, and she knew it was because of Sally and the magic in the necklace her daughterwore.
Cindy took a deep breath and pushed out all the negative energy that had gathered inside of her. Sally needed her. Whatever the girl had gone through, or was still going through, was bad enough that she’d left a host of powerful, magical beings to come home to her family, who she believed to be human. It was time for Sally to know the truth. Cindy owed it to her daughter. The woman squared her shoulders and gave herself a mental shove as she left herbedroom.
Everyone was gathered around the table eating the breakfast Chris had made for them when Cindy finally gathered her nerves. “Sally, I was wondering if we might have a girls’day.”
Sally nodded. “That would be great.” She turned to Costin and narrowed her eyes on him. “A girls’ day means you stayhere.”
Costin smiled innocently. “I wouldn’t dare invade on girls’day.”
Cindy chuckled. “For some reason, I don’t believehim.”
Sally pointed her fork at her. “First rule of thumb when dealing with Costin, err on the side of caution when it comes to taking his words at facevalue.”
“Ouch, beautiful,” Costin said, putting his hand to his heart. “Give it a final twist and just finish meoff.”
“I don’t want you finished off, just weak enough that you can’t boss me around,” Sallyretorted.
Chris was shaking his head at them. “I can tell Jennifer has been rubbing off onyou.”
Sally smiled. “She helped me fine my innerJen.”
“Of course, she did.” Chrisgrumbled.
Cindy stood and began gathering the empty plates. “We’ll leave in ten minutes, Sally,” She called out over her shoulder. She was growing more and more anxious. It was past time she cleared the air, and Cindy was ready to have the burden of her secretsremoved.
