Smiling, I picked up the glass branches and went next door.It was still pretty warm.I flicked my fingers, opening the doors, and went to the hot shop’s black tile worktable.I put down the branch tubes before going to the annealer to gather all the glass flowers I’d made.
Little by little, spell by spell, I remolded the metal housing so it fit properly, then attached the sockets to the ends of the branches.Only a couple required the use of my blowtorch to get the fit right.I’d given the branches a texture that looked like bark, so adding flowers was tricky, especially the large ones I used to hide the sockets.I needed to leave enough room to screw in the lightbulbs, but I wanted the bulbs hidden behind colorful glass petals.
When I was done, joy had pushed out the hurt.It was beautiful.We’d have flowering branches glowing in our dining room.I checked the time.Five-thirty.Shit.I still needed to get cleaned up before people arrived.
I’d picked up the light fixture and took out my phone to call for a pickup when I noticed a shadow on the deck.I stepped out and found my father sitting on the bench we’d shared earlier.Cradling the flowering glass branches, I waited to get reprimanded for walking out on him.
He glanced over, then turned back to the ocean, his expression hard.“I’ve returned, daughter.”
“I see that,” I said.I was pretty sure he was waiting for an apology, but I didn’t have one in me to give.
Posture stiff, he said, “I made a mistake.If you’ll allow me, I’d like to repair what I have broken.”
When I didn’t move, he turned to me again.“I apologize, child.I thought I knew best.When I was hit with your grief and heard what that man was thinking…I realized what I had done.You’d gone in, though, before I could mend your mental wall.”
He went back to staring at the ocean, his strong jaw flexed as though waiting for a punch.“Your heartbreak…disturbed me.I’m not used to being wrong.”
I took a step closer to him.“I understand what you meant to do—and I appreciate it—but I can’t go back to hearing everything everyone is thinking.It drove me mad.And I agree I should learn so I can stop experiencing pain in visions, but my life has changed.I’m not puttering around in my abandoned cannery anymore.I have people in my life, people I don’t want to give up.I can’t live with their thoughts shouting in my head all day long.”
He nodded, patting the seat beside him.The light fixture disappeared from my arms, appearing on the bench across from him, so I sat.
“It was my mistake trying to speed things along.I need to remember you’re part wicche.These things don’t come innately to you.We’ll go slow and have you learn how to ignore others’ thoughts a few at a time, without making you contend with everyone all at once.”
It felt like a hundred pounds had been lifted from my shoulders.“Yes.Thank you.”
He patted my knee, looked uncomfortable for a moment, then blurted out, “I’ll still get to see the babe, won’t I?”
I squeezed his hand.“Of course.”
Nodding decisively, he said, “Good.”He took both my hands, the gloves disappearing again.“I’ll close up the wall.Shall I leave a crack or two so you can practice?”
I wanted to say no, but he was right.I needed to learn how to tune them out.“One.”
He closed his eyes and I felt power zing through my body again before a bright flash blinded me.“There,” he said.“All fixed.”
I felt like my blood had been carbonated.My stomach fluttered and my hand reflexively covered it, protecting her.
He noticed, silently holding up his hand, asking to check on the baby.I nodded and his big hand was on my abdomen.
Eyes crinkling, he grinned down at me.“She’s strong.She felt that and is moving around.”
I put my hand over his.“Would you like to join us for dinner tonight?Mom, Elizabeth and her family, Bracken, and Hester are all coming over to discuss a wicche family who seems to have it out for us.”
“Us?”he asked.“You too?”
I nodded.“One of them tried to curse the gallery and our new home a couple of nights ago.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”He seemed to grow bigger with his anger.
“My wards are good.She couldn’t get past them.Unfortunately, she tried Elizabeth’s home too and now Mom’s Pacific Grove house.”
He stood, giving me his hand.“Yes.I will attend your meeting.I will help keep my daughter and granddaughter safe.”
“Great.We’ll need to hurry.They should be arriving soon, and I still need to clean up and install that light fixture.”I gestured to the flowering glass branches.“I’ll call Declan for a pickup.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
Awkward Encounters
