“Yeah, she’s Ivana Dick’s sister.” Jude waggled his eyebrows, as Ronan burst out laughing.
“Unicorns!” Aurora squealed, running across the street. Thankfully, traffic had been closed off, making Commercial Street a pedestrian way.
“Come on, Daddy. You promised.” Everly took Ronan’s hand and dragged him to the booth selling handmade unicorns knitted in every color of the rainbow.
“I know there’s been a lot of attention on Everly over her vision of the shipwreck, but how are you doing?” Cope asked.
“I’m okay. I’ve never seen people die in a vision before. It was gut-wrenching. I could feel their fear as if it were my own.” Ten sighed. “What bothered me more than anything else is that Everly has visions like this all the time. More detailed and complete than mine have ever been.”
“Everly seems to be handling it like a champ.”
“That’s what worries me. Shouldn’t she be more upset? Crying or maybe even hysterical. I sure as hell wouldn’t have been able to handle what she sees when I was her age.”
“The reason she’s handling what she saw so well is because of you and Ronan. You’ve always encouraged her to let her giftgrow. You’ve never been ashamed of what she can do or asked her to hide herself, either directly or indirectly.”
Ten thought about Cope’s words. Kaye and David hadn’t been particularly supportive as he was growing up. As much as Ten hated playing football, David made him tough it out. Same went for Kaye and subjecting Tennyson to a church that was anti-LGBTQIA+. “You’re right,” Ten agreed. “The way we’ve treated Everly’s gift is probably invaluable.”
“Exactly,” Cope agreed. “You’ve also given her the time and space she’s needed to discuss things with you and Ronan. She knows she can always come to you guys. I never had that with my parents. I’ve tried to model my behavior with Lizzie after you. You’re a great girl dad, Ten.”
Ten felt like he was going to burst into tears in the middle of the street. “Thank you. That means so much.”
“Dad! Look!” Everly called. She was holding six new unicorns in a range of sizes and colors.
Ten noticed Fitz was carrying the same amount for Aurora. “This is what we need the stroller for.”
“Unicorn transportation?” Cope snickered.
“That and whatever else Ronan buys her today. I hope he sets aside gas money for the trip home. I’m not in the mood to walk back to Salem.”
Ten browsed the unicorn booth and was impressed with the craftsmanship. He found one dressed like a carnival psychic with a head scarf, holding a crystal ball. He bought it for his desk at work.
“Daddy! Look!” Everly called from the next booth down.
From what Ten could see it looked like a face painting booth. The closer he got, he realized it was so much more. Drag queens worked the booth, applying their signature makeup.
“I want to get my eyes done!” Everly said, tugging on Ten’s hand.
“You know what? Me too!” Ten had been in love with drag queen style for years. He and Ronan set the DVR forRuPaul’s Drag Raceand watched it after the kids went to bed. It was their guilty pleasure, but now, Ten had a feeling Everly was going to fall in love with queens too.
“Who’s next?” A queen, dressed in a slinky aqua dress and matching makeup, with blonde hair stacked to the gods, asked.
“We are!” Ten raised his hand, fluttering his hand.
“Come on in and have a seat. What are your names?”
“I’m Tennyson and this is my daughter, Everly.” Ten settled himself into the makeshift make up chair, while a queen dressed in bright pink sequins wrapped a cape around him.
“Aren’t you the most beautiful girl in the world!” Everly’s queen said.
“Thanks, Anita Banger!”
The queen looked taken aback. “How do you know my name, sugarplum? Not a lot of people outside of Provincetown know who I am.”
Everly tapped the side of her head. “You have your superpowers and I have mine.”
Anita looked as if she were going to burst into tears. “What kind of look can I do for you today?”
“I want my eyes to look like yours, only purple instead of aqua.” Everly looked Anita up and down. “Those shoes are killer, girl!”
