Page 8 of Out of Sight

Ted muttered, “You believe that if it gives you comfort.”

Arwell paused and then hugged her. “Oh, Therese. Ohmygod. I didn’t realize you were missing.”

“I know. It’s okay, Arwell. Wait. You remember my name?” Ted felt the thick tears starting.

Arwell was crying. “I remember you.”

They hugged and stayed that way forever. Ted held one of her closest friends when she was growing up while her therapist stared and blinked away tears. A ping came from her phone and then another and another, and it started vibrating, and it sounded like it was going to explode.

With a thick voice, Ted said, “They remember me.”

Arwell laughed and sobbed. “We remember you.”

They held each other and cried for a very long time. When little hands started to pat her jeans, Ted looked down. Aurora smiled and said, “Ted!”

Ted laughed. “Yes, Aurora. Ted.”

A moment later, she was engulfed in two arms and the scent of chocolate. “Hey, Nora.”

“Ohmygod, Ted. You have been babysitting Aurora since she was four months old.”

Ted smiled. “Yes, Mrs. Skarov.”

Nora laughed. “And Lexa’s twins, and Alita’s boy, and... you have been there for us.”

“Of course. Sabin’s my second cousin on my father’s side.”

Nora stared at her dark skin, head full of fine long braids, and dark eyes. “Oh, wow. You have the same nose.”

Ted smiled. “So the glitter is fading?”

“It’s fading.”

Sabin was staring. “Therese?”

“Yup. Hey, cousin.”

She was caught up in another hug a second later.

She heard him mutter, “Therese Elinor Dahnov. Ted. Clever.”

“I have always been clever, cousin.”

He laughed, and there was a thickness to his tone. “I have missed you.”

“Ask Aurora. I have always been around.” She looked down at the little one who still had a grip on her leg.

Aurora grinned. “Ted. Tedtedted.”

Sabin wiped his eyes. “I never... you just...”

“Ceased to be. Even Dad didn’t remember me when I was gone. I visited, and nothing could crack the curse, so I have been sending money to Mom and Dad until she died and he went into the home.”

Nora put a hand over her mouth. “Oh, god.”

“Yeah. I visit the grave and imagine that she could remember me now. That is the thing that I can’t forgive and the reason I am going to rip that asshole from stem to stern. Then I will settle in and continue my normal work.”

Sabin asked, “Would you like help?”