To everyone’s surprise, Elijah growled a tiny baby growl, while slapping at Carrik’s face.
Carrik laughed boisterously and pretended to bite at him again. “He’s a brave little thing!” Carrik exclaimed happily.
Brandt, grinning proudly nodded. “That’s my boy!”
Tempest leaned over and kissed Brandt’s cheek. “You know he’s going to be more powerful than most everybody at home, right?”
“That’s why we have to raise him right,” Brandt said. He reached across the table and tickled Elijah’s ribs. Elijah laughed and squirmed away from his father’s fingers.
“Has he already started to show signs?” Lily asked.
“No, I’m just assuming,” Tempest said.
“I do have one question,” Avaleigh said as Lily put a plate of food in front of her.
“Of course,” Lily said, pausing to allow Avaleigh to ask her question before she went to fill another plate.
“Where are our bags? We did have bags with us when we left,” Avaleigh said.
Daniel’s head swiveled back and forth as he glanced around the kitchen looking for bags he hadn’t realized were missing.
“They’re here in the extra bedroom. I thought I’d go ahead and send them there so you wouldn’t have to worry about them later,” Tempest said.
“Thank you,” Daniel said. “Very thoughtful.”
“You’re welcome. Angelle, yours are at yours and Boon’s house. If you don’t want to stay there I can zap them over here, or to my grandparents’ house,” Tempest offered.
“If I may, I just want to put this out there… you are all welcome to stay with us. I’ve prepared the guest room in case you’d like to stay here. Tempest and Brandt will stay in her old room, but we’ve got plenty of room and can turn the living room into a bedroom, too, if it’s needed.”
“You’re welcome to stay with us, too,” Boon said to Daniel and Avaleigh. “We’ve got plenty of room as well.”
“I’d certainly like to see your house, Boon. Can we wait until later to decide where we’ll stay?” Daniel asked.
Avaleigh shot him a look, staring directly into his eyes.
Daniel stared right back. He knew she wanted to give Angelle and Boon time to speak, time to relax around each other, the freedom to not to have worry about their words being monitored.
“I’ll take you to see the house right after we finish eating. It’ll give me a chance to show you around Whispers a little, too,” Boon said.
“That’d be great,” Daniel said. “I’m anxious to see it all. The way Tempest talks about it, I’m sure it’s beautiful.”
“It is. It’s almost untouched,” Boon said. “We live here, but a lot of us live like they did at the turn of the century. There’s no pollution, it’s quiet. Lots of animals and plants and flowers.”
“Can’t wait to see it,” Daniel said.
Lily made sure that everyone had a filled plate before she sat down and they all enjoyed a meal together. After the regularpleasantries and questions from both, she focused on Angelle. “So, are you excited to be here in Whispers?”
“I haven’t decided yet. I’m a little anxious, to tell you the truth.”
“Whatever for? We’re just people like you and yours,” Lily said.
“Oh, that’s not what bothers me. I’m not the least bit concerned with everyone living here. I’m just not good with large groups of people. I always end up second guessing myself and everything I’ve said or didn’t say. I’m just so awkward,” she finally admitted with a soft laugh.
“I think you’re perfect. There aren’t many people who are as genuine as you. Except Boon. He is more like you than you know,” Lily said.
Angelle glanced over at Boon sitting next to her and smiled at him. “He told me that he was, but now I’m beginning to see it for myself.”
“Good,” Lily said. “And for the record, when we have the party, there will be a lot of people there, but anytime it gets to be too much, feel free to slip away. You’re welcome to a bedroom, or just sneak out the back door and I won’t think a thing about it,” Lily said with a laugh.
