Stomach swooping, I felt lightheaded and confused.What the hell?Looking around, I realized we were now standing on the deck of our new home.Dad held my hand in one of his and the light fixture in the other.
He studied the building and the surroundings.“You’re still close.The ocean can see you.I like it better when you’re on the other side of the road, though.”
The door flew open and Declan was standing there, glaring at my dad.I moved forward, patting his chest and pushing him back inside.
“It’s okay,” I told him.“Dad fixed it.I invited him to dinner.I need to run and get cleaned up before people arrive.”
I moved past Declan and heard my father say, “Daughter?”
When I turned, Dad was pointing at me.I looked down and saw I wasn’t wearing overalls anymore.He’d put me in a long-sleeved dress made of a soft knit fabric.It was light green and went to the floor.My hair was down too, clean and soft.
I pulled at one of my curls.“What kind of conditioner did you use?This is the best my hair has felt in a long time.”
He shrugged a shoulder, then held up the glass branches.“My daughter has created a masterpiece for your home.Where do you want this?”
I waved him forward.“In the dining room.Declan made the table and chairs.”
The glass disappeared from his hand and was glowing on the ceiling.Nodding, he patted my shoulder.“Beautiful.”
Declan kissed me, then studied the light.“It’s perfect.”
I gave him a hug while my dad wandered into the kitchen.
“Everything okay?”he whispered.
I nodded.“Thank you for handling all of this on your own.”
He gave me another kiss as a knock sounded at the front door.“And so it begins,” he murmured, taking my hand and walking me to the door.
Mom was there, looking beautiful and holding a bouquet of flowers.“Good evening, darling.The flowers are a placeholder until I know what you need as a housewarming gift.”She passed me the flowers and took Declan’s hand.“Thank you for having me.”
Mom probably would have preferred I fell in love with a wicche, but she was making her peace with a werewolf in the family.
“Sybil.”Dad was standing to the side, near the dining room, staring at Mom.
“Oh.”Her face flushed.“I didn’t realize.”
“Dad visited this evening,” I told her.“So I invited him to join us.”
She looked between the three of us, a smile painted on her face.“That makes sense.It’s good to see you, Mac.”After one, long awkward moment, Mom turned back to me.“We should put those in water.Why don’t you show me where the kitchen is.”
“This way.”I led her through the dining room and into the kitchen.I held out a hand, gesturing all around me.“What do you think?”
She looked over her shoulder and whispered, “I think you should have told me your father would be here.”
“I meant the kitchen, Mom, and we arrived literally one minute before you did.There was no time to call.”
She ran a hand down her sweater and looked at her slacks.“I should have gone home to change after work.I didn’t want to be late, though.”
There were more voices.It sounded like Elizabeth and her family had arrived.
Mom looked over her shoulder again.“Oh, thank goodness.We need more people here.”She glanced around and stopped.“Arwyn, this kitchen is gorgeous.”
“Hey, you noticed.”I pulled a vase from a cabinet and filled it with water, arranging the flowers inside.“Now that you’re paying attention, come look at the dining room again.”
Hester had arrived as well, and Bracken was walking in the door as I put the flowers on the end table beside the couch.I flicked my fingers, starting the fire in the fireplace.
Dad was standing near the windows overlooking the ocean and away from the group.Tall, gorgeous, with aqua-blue eyes and hair like mine falling to his shoulders, he was impossible to miss, but the others seemed unsure if they were supposed to interact with him.
