“I’ve got this, mom,” she said. “Trust me.”
I nodded slowly then held my breath. It was difficult to come to terms with that a few days ago, she was a baby, and now she was walking out unarmed to a bunch of the deadliest Demons around. I knew I was supposed to give my child wings so she could fly, but I’d only been a freaking mom for less than a year. This timeline was seriously warped.
Without any fear, Alana Catherine took Jennifer and Shitty Ritchie by their hands. She spoke to them in a quiet voice and they nodded. Jennifer looked like a lost child, but she raised her chin and adjusted her mail uniform. The trio left the porch and walked forward. Shitty Ritchie strutted with pride. The tiny dingbat even grabbed his crotch a few times. My guess was that it was to impress the females. It didn’t work. Jennifer looked like she was about to lose her cookies. Her entire body trembled. Next to me, Tim was just as much of a wreck as I was. I crossed my fingers hard that my child knew what she was doing.
I shouldn’t have worried. Underestimating my daughter was a waste of time. Learning that was hard, but I was working on it.
Alana Catherine led her cohorts past the Grim Reaper, the Enforcer and the Keeper of Fate. Gideon’s body tensed like a bomb about to detonate, but he didn’t stop them. The Trinity stopped about ten feet in front of the line of curious Demons. I could feel my heart beating in my throat. If this went south, I was ready to smack down. I shoved my sparking hands into my pockets and hoped that I didn’t set my pants on fire.
Hand-in-hand, without any fanfare or spoken words, the new Higher Power began to glow. It was so bright, I had toshield my eyes. First came a brilliant orange that morphed into a blinding red. The colors green, blue, pink, purple and shimmering sliver followed. Once each of the colors had danced though the air individually, all of them joined together creating a rainbow that was so extraordinary the Demons cried out in awe. A gentle and fragrant breeze began to blow and the crowd dropped to their knees in reverence.
“It’s like the aurora borealis,” Heather whispered with her hands on her heart.
“Very much so,” Tim agreed, going right to facts to calm himself down. “Although, the aurora borealis is caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with gasses in the Earth’s atmosphere. Green and red are caused by oxygen and blue and purple from nitrogen.” He swiped tears from his eyes as the colors continued to grow brighter and tendrils of light wound their way around the three people who would improve our world immeasurably. “This… this is beyond what nature can do. It’s glorious, rare and unimaginable magic.”
Though I’d only seen pictures of the Northern Lights, I was hyper aware that this light show beat it hands down. And, it had answered the Demons’ question to their satisfaction.
The silence was broken by the gal who’d been terrified only a short while ago. “Holy shit,” Jennifer shouted gleefully, glancing back at the gang. “Did y’all see that? Way better than Edward inTwilight. Screw sparkly. I’m a dang rainbow!”
The Demons weren’t sure what to make of the short, over-Botoxed Higher Power on the left, but I laughed. Jennifer’s joy was contagious. We just needed to make sure she stayed alive to continue spreading it around.
As the light died down, Alana Catherine led Shitty Ritchie and Jennifer back to the porch. Jennifer was smiling so wide,mycheeks hurt. Shitty Ritchie seemed to be in a state of shock and was unusually subdued. I was pretty sure the news ofbecoming the Higher Power was finally sinking in. Only Alana Catherine was as calm as a cucumber. She gathered her partners to her and hugged them. My daughter whispered in each of their ears, and immediately they became as serene as she was.
I knew I’d just observed something otherworldly. It was humbling and scary at the same time. Was I about to lose my daughter? Would she need me or Gideon anymore? Would she become so powerful that calling her to chat or grab lunch would be off the table? My mind raced with so many terrible thoughts about losing my child to this thing she was becoming that my knees went weak. Grabbing the railing on the porch, I steadied myself and gulped in some much-needed oxygen.
“Live in the moment, mom,” Alana Catherine said softly from behind me. “The future will work itself out the way it’s supposed to. The present is all we have control of.”
Nodding jerkily, I turned and gave her a smile that I was positive looked like I was constipated. She giggled and wrapped her slim arms around me.
“I love you,” I said. “So much.”
“I love you more,” she told me.
My tears had a mind of their own. They leaked from my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. She’d just spoken the words Gideon and I spoke to each other. I was sure she’d never heard us say it, but it shouldn’t be a surprise. She was our daughter and so far, it seemed like she’d gotten the best of each of us.
“Not possible,” I finished the ritual. “It’s just not possible. I love you so much it’s unexplainable.”
She laughed. “I think we need a little family time before Jennifer’s training. Sound good?”
“Sounds fabulous,” Gideon said, joining the hug.
“Does that include me?” Gram asked, floating in and wedging herself into the lovefest.
“One hundred percent,” Alana Catherine assured her.
“Hot diggity dog!” Gram sang. “Love me some family time!”
Gideon grinned. “I have just the place in mind for a family reunion. Trust me?”
“With my life, Gram’s life—so to speak, and the life of our daughter,” I told him.
“Follow me,” he directed.
Gideon didn’t have to ask twice.
“Even into the fire,” I said, as he took my hand.
“No infernos today, babe.” He glanced at the small Demon army. “At least, I hope not.”
