Aaron turned his head to see that Carter was smiling softly at him. “It was the best night of my life.”
“Mine too.”
“This is a beautiful view,” Carter commented. “Where are we?”
Aaron peered around. “I actually have no idea.”
“Isn’t that weird?” Carter questioned. “We’re usually walking in the state park or the forest by the house.”
“That’s true.” This was weird. Aaron hoped this didn’t mean they’d be sent on another wild goose chase.
“Any dream slash vision?”
“God I hope not,” Aaron said enthusiastically.
“I knew one day you would come.”
They both jumped as a young woman walked into view. They were sitting in the middle of a beautiful clearing surrounded by their flowers. Aaron knew it was no where they’d been before and they should have seen the woman approaching them.
Carter wrapped the blanket tighter around them. “Excuse us, ma’am. We didn’t know that anyone was here.”
She smiled kindly. “I surprised you. I’m sorry. I’ve just waited a very long time for this moment.”
Leaning forward, Aaron peered at the woman. There was something familiar about her. So familiar that his heart ached.
She knelt in front of them. “Hello, Aaron.”
“Hi,” he said shyly. Sitting on his boyfriend’s lap with only a blanket to cover them was kind of weird. Aaron didn’t know why it seemed like this woman was important. Important to him. But she was. She…
“You don’t remember me,” she said sadly. “That’s okay. I understand. You were so very young when…when we were taken from you.”
“Mo…mom?” Aaron said the word before he could even think about what was happening.
“Hello, baby.” She smiled so sweetly at him.
Aaron swallowed hard. His close wanted to close up. Tears welled in his eyes. This feeling inside him had long ago been something that he pushed down. “Mom? Is that really you?”
“It is.” Her fingers were entwined so tightly they were almost white.
“What? How? Why?” Aaron fumbled for the right words.
“Because you’ve finally found your way,” his mom said. “This must be your mate.”
Aaron turned to look at Carter. They weren’t technically mates. Not yet. “Not…”
“I am,” Carter said. “Carter Moore.”
“MaryAnn. Aaron’s mom,” she responded.
“How is this possible?” Aaron asked.
“What do you mean, dear?” MaryAnn questioned.
“This is a dream. My dreams are always messed up. They don’t make sense. First I start dragging Carter into them and now you? How? Why?”
“Oh, honey.” MaryAnn moved closer. “This is your power. This is how oracles learn. I thought you’d rejected your gift and that was why you never came.”
Aaron shook his head, still not understanding. “I never rejected anything! I didn’t know what to do!”
