{"id":1252,"date":"2012-06-04T00:00:55","date_gmt":"2012-06-04T04:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1252"},"modified":"2012-06-05T19:15:10","modified_gmt":"2012-06-05T23:15:10","slug":"autumn-chapter-thirteen-01","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1252","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter 13 – 01"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIs that straight?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt asked from where he balanced precariously on a ladder that was a shade too short for what he was trying to do.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The fact that the banner kept moving and trying to wrap itself around him while he was up there didn\u2019t help.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom titled his head to one side, studying the length of green material for a long moment before he finally nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah, I think that\u2019s as straight as we\u2019re going to get it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Make sure those knots are tight.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBelieve me, they are.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019ll probably have to cut the thing down.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt clambered down from the stepladder and stepped back to join Thom.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt looks good,\u201d Matt said quietly, shoving his hands into his pockets, half-numbed by the wind.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd it\u2019s certainly going to surprise Mar, but do you have any idea why Phelan said to put this up?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>After a brief hesitation, Thom sighed and shook his head slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI have ideas, but most of them are probably wrong.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He eased forward, fingering the corner of the banner.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It was his standard from the festival, his flag for when he was smacking someone else around with a stick in the lists.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMaybe I tapped into something subconscious when I sketched this out four years ago and had someone put it together.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt asked, watching the older man.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom didn\u2019t look like he was about to get married in a couple hours, dressed in jeans and a university hoodie.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It was going to happen, though, and Matt was going to be giving his sister away to this man, would be making Thom his brother.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It was an almost frightening idea, one that he\u2019d have balked at a few months before.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Somewhere along the line, he\u2019d either grown up or Thom had changed into the kind of person that Marin deserved.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt was willing to bet it was a little of both.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m not sure.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Ever since Phelan told me about\u2026my lineage\u2026I\u2019ve wondered about things.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You didn\u2019t see the look on his face when I took out the banner, Matt.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It was like he\u2019d seen a ghost.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe\u2019s had that look a lot lately.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I assumed it was shell-shock from probably killing Vammatar.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt might be some of that,\u201d Thom admitted quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDid Marin tell you that we\u2019re ninety-nine percent sure that he did?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNah, it was J.T. while we were making breakfast the other day.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He told me the story.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom nodded slowly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s a hell of a story.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah, it was.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt crossed his arms and stared at the banner for another moment.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>A Celtic knot twisted around a sword and a rose, all on a green field.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There had been a lot of piecing and stitching involved in making the thing.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWho made that for you, anyway?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt asked.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Not Marin.\u00a0 <\/span>She doesn\u2019t have that kind of patience.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCarolyn,\u201d Thom said, stepping back from it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt was a challenge and she enjoyed doing it, but she also said she\u2019d never do it again\u2014ever.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ve tried to be careful with it as a result.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s practically a work of art.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNot practically,\u201d Matt said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt <\/span>is<\/span><\/em>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He grinned and nudged Thom.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cRemind me that when it\u2019s time to make a flag for the village, we should get her to do it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom laughed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe might kill us.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Anyway, I just kind of assumed we\u2019d use one of the old university flags.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A part of me thinks that would be a fitting tribute to the place, but another part of me thinks that maybe that doesn\u2019t do <\/em><\/span>us<\/span> justice\u2014not now and not in the future, depending on what we become.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>His brows knit for a moment, then he finally shrugged.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019ll have to cross that bridge when we get there, right?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019ll probably end up putting it to vote in committee anyway.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom sighed shaking his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhen did we get to be a committee?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAround the time one person didn\u2019t take charge of things.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt put his arm around Thom\u2019s shoulders.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCome on.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s your wedding day and you\u2019re not even dressed yet.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ve still got a couple hours,\u201d Thom said, half in protest as Matt started to steer him toward the bridge.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYup, and in that time you have to make sure you\u2019ve memorized the vows I <\/span>know<\/span><\/em> you wrote and make sure J.T. hasn\u2019t lost those rings.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom\u2019s face flamed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Two days before, he\u2019d recruited Matt and Rory to help him <\/span>acquire<\/span><\/em> some wedding bands.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They looked like twists of white gold with a braided pattern to them, and they were all but certain they\u2019d fit.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. was hanging onto them for safekeeping.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd you have to make sure your sister shows up at the altar, such as it is.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 There\u2019s that.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd before I can do that, <\/span>I<\/span><\/em> have to get dressed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>So no matter how you look at it, a couple hours just isn\u2019t a lot of time.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re right.
\n<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI know I\u2019m right.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ve been right before, I\u2019ll be right again, and don\u2019t you forget it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom laughed and Matt grinned, reflecting that maybe having Thom for a brother wouldn\u2019t be so bad after all.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIs that straight?\u201d\u00a0 Matt asked from where he balanced precariously on a ladder that was a shade too short for what he was trying to do.\u00a0 The fact that the banner kept moving and trying to wrap itself around … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,35,51,14,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-chapter-13","category-story","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-kc","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1252"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1252\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1256,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1252\/revisions\/1256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}