"You're lucky. It's a hard lesson to learn that most don't live through. I'll be forever thankful that Flynn was there today. I'll invite him over for dinner this week to thank him." Fiona smiled.
Keelin started to protest and then stopped. Margaret had bred manners into her and she knew that a thank you would be polite. She was grateful that Fiona didn't make a bigger deal of her reasons behind going to the cove today. She was embarrassed to realize how selfish she had been in her goals. In doing so, she had disrupted sacred waters.
"Plus he gave you this sweet puppy. Does this mean that you are staying then?" Fiona asked, casually cleaning up their glasses and putting the book away.
Startled, Keelin looked up at Fiona. She certainly knew how to cut to the quick of things.
"I, um, well. Yes, I was considering extending my stay indefinitely if you didn't mind. I think it is time to take myself more seriously. I mean, you know, this healing stuff." Keelin flushed.
"Ah, yes." Fiona nodded and smiled.
"I think a part of me will die if I don't," Keelin blurted out.
"That is the way of power. Most people are intuitive, you know, though most don't have the type of gifts that you and I have. However, a gift of power, denied repeatedly, dims, and eventually one can no longer hear it or feel it. It is no longer your reality. In denying it, a piece of youwilldie."
Keelin had suspected as much. She thought again of life in Boston. Finish school, marry a nice young man, start a family…and on into oblivion. There was no punch, no spice in Boston. Grace's Cove was magic and so was she. It was time to accept it and harness it. Light filled her and she smiled. Her gut sang and she knew her intuition was right. She was home. Her mother was going to lose it.
"I'll be glad to have the company. It gets lonely here," Fiona said.
"I'll be here, Grandma. You have me now."
CHAPTER 13
The next day dawned with a gentle breeze. The sun kissed the shoreline as Ronan yipped to go outside. Keelin struggled awake from a night of steamy dreams about Flynn. That man was going to drive her crazy. Ronan whined at the foot of her bed.
"Okay, let's go outside."
She pulled a loose sweatshirt on over her tank and sleep shorts and padded outside, enjoying the sunshine and stunning view while Ronan did his business. She shielded her eyes against the sun and looked up to the ridgeline. Flynn's dog watched her. She waved and she could have sworn the dog damn near waved back as it lifted its paw.
"I must be losing it."
Too much talk of power and magic was making her a little nuts. She laughed as she imagined what Margaret would make of all this. She made a note to call her mother later that day.
Ronan let out a warning growl, his hair on end. Fiona approached from the path and, recognizing her scent, he letout happy barks and raced to meet her, upending himself and rolling over as he got to her. She laughed like a girl and ruffled his ears. Ronan was good for them both, Keelin thought.
"Where were you?" Keelin asked.
"I was gathering some special herbs that were ready to harvest. I have a tincture that I am making for Mrs. Sullivan in the village. Her arthritis is acting up."
Keelin realized that she had been so focused on her own stuff that she hadn't thought to ask Fiona about her "practice."
"Do you do this a lot? Provide remedies for people on a regular basis? I got the impression that people only came to you in serious times of need."
Fiona stretched her lower back and looked out at the water before answering.
"It depends. Some people fear me. They make the sign of the cross as I pass, as though I was something evil and not a God-fearing Christian such as themselves. Little do they know that there is more than just God out there and they need to open their minds. However, there are plenty of people that see me for what I am – a healer. Most assume that is through potions, tinctures, and herbal ointments that I create. Some suspect magic. Very few have seen the physical effects of what I am able to do with my hands. Those that have say nothing, as it is usually done only in the direst of circumstances. Only when people are pushed to the threshold of pain for themselves or a loved one are they willing to suspend their beliefs on what works. Only then will they believe that healing can come in many ways not prescribed by modern medicine."
"What do you say to people when they see you heal?"
"Nothing. I'm not required to explain myself, nor do I think I could accurately do so. I can no more tell you why I have this gift than I can tell you how many stars there are in the sky.”
Keelin supposed it made sense. From a scientific standpoint, there was no logical explanation for healing through touch. The closest thing she could think of was massage or acupuncture, but to close wounds or to pull sickness from a body? That was a whole different realm. She wondered if studies had been done on this.
Keelin looked down at her hands. Small, with rounded nails cut short, and no nail polish, they hid the power they held. Was it time to step into her own and accept that she would never be normal?
"I want to learn. All of it. I'll start taking my lessons seriously. On one condition."
Fiona turned and looked at her, a smile hovering on her lips.
