Page 33 of Out of Sight

Lucia smiled weakly. “She’s here.”

He hugged her, and tears started to course down her cheeks.

Lucia whispered, and he nodded.

When they separated, he turned to Nora. “Nora, this is my second cousin, Lucia. She and Ted share a grandmother. She’s been gone over a decade.”

Nora smiled and walked up to her for a hug. “Well, thank you for returning to this insane family, Lucia. I look forward to hearing stories about Sabin’s youth.”

“Oh, he was a fun cousin. He didn’t let the others trample me and grabbed my legs to get apples out of my Nanna’s trees. He used me like a vertical claw machine, but we always split stuff fifty-fifty.”

Sabin chuckled. “She was an excellent apple-picker, but that was when she was twelve. After that, she had to make dumplings with the aunties.”

“I have made a lot of dumplings.” Lucia smiled. “A lot of dumplings. And nothing else.”

Nora smiled. “Not one for the parties?”

“Not invited. I looked like a beta through and through, and Nanna Anya couldn’t see anything in my future, so I kept to the kitchen and kept out of the way. My brothers had futures, and I didn’t. Now I know why.”

Ted looked at her. “Can you do this?”

“Probably. Nora, may I hide in your house if things become too much? I haven’t been out in a while.”

Nora nodded. “Of course. Aurora is also good at distracting people. Aren’t you, Roar?”

Aurora smiled and stated a full sentence “Yes, Mama. When we are done, can I play with Cici?”

Lucia stiffened. “Cici?”

Nora nodded. “Her invisible friend.”

“Oh. That’s fun.” Lucia asked, “Is Cici fun?”

Aurora smiled. “She makes the tablet and the television talk.”

Ted grinned. “Poltergeist?”

Lucia smiled. “I think Cici just wants to make sure that the quiet nights aren’t scary when Aurora wakes up.”

Ted looked at her. “No way.”

Lucia shrugged. “I didn’t sleep, and she used to have dreams of falling on stairs.”

Nora’s eyes went wide. “How do you know that?”

“She told me.”

Nora stared. “You know I am going to need to see proof.”

Lucia grinned. “Get me a tablet.”

The sound of approaching cars became a roar. Nora murmured, “Maybe later.”

Ted looked at Lucia and held her hand. “Showtime.”

Lucia held her cousin’s hand and watched the wave of family arrive. Showtime.

Lucia stood to one side as Anya held Ted’s face and cried and kissed her cheeks over and over. Every crush of people who recognized Ted pushed her further back.