Thom\u2019s arms closed around my waist as I hung back, near the edge of the fire\u2019s glow, listening to the words that flowed like liquid from Neve\u2019s tongue.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t sure I\u2019d ever be able to sound like that\u2014to make the words of the song sound longing and joyful all at once.\u00a0 They were a celebration of life and at the same time a song of mourning, of sadness and saying good-bye.<\/p>\n
I leaned into Thom\u2019s arms, my lips moving silent mimicry of Neve\u2019s song.\u00a0 His breath warmed my ear, tickled my neck, and I smiled faintly as he hugged me close.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe asked you to learn how to sing the dead home, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n
I snorted softly. \u201cHere I was thinking you were going to ask me some kind of romantic question.\u00a0 Instead you ask that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot really that bad, is it?\u201d\u00a0 He pressed a kiss to the spot where my neck met my shoulder, holding me a little tighter.\u00a0 \u201cI figured I\u2019d save more romantic things for later<\/i> on the longest night of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t help but smile, letting my hands cover his where they were wrapped around me. \u201cI\u2019ll have to look forward to that,\u201d I said softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad.\u201d\u00a0 He rested his chin on my shoulder, watching the rest of our little community where they sat, clustered by the fire.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ve survived,\u201d he said softly.\u00a0 \u201cWould you have believed that was possible a few months ago?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA few months ago, I thought you\u2019d never accept your gifts,\u201d I said.\u00a0 I thought that your denial would kill you, that I\u2019d lose you forever.<\/i><\/p>\n
I\u2019m glad I was wrong.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cMm.\u00a0 Phelan had a lot to do with that.\u201d\u00a0 One hand wrapped around mine.\u00a0 \u201cThen again, a few months ago, I never dreamed that you\u2019d say yes to marrying me.\u201d<\/p>\n
I choked on a laugh and shook my head.\u00a0 \u201cThere was never a doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh no.\u00a0 I was terrified you\u2019d say no.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled at me. \u201cBut you said yes, so I guess I didn\u2019t have anything to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing at all,\u201d I murmured.\u00a0 \u201cNothing except losing me.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stiffened slightly, his hand spasming.\u00a0 \u201cWell,\u201d he said quietly, \u201cthere was that.\u00a0 Still is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not going to lose me,\u201d I said.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re not.\u00a0 Not unless I lose you.\u201d\u00a0 I twisted slightly to meet his gaze and offered him a faint, weak smile.\u00a0 \u201cI jump, you jump.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thom made a face, but he smiled.\u00a0 \u201cNo one\u2019s jumping, Mar.\u00a0 Not today and not any other day.\u201d\u00a0 He reached up to brush his thumb across my cheek.\u00a0 \u201cSomething\u2019s bothering you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething\u2019s always bothering me,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore than usual.\u201d\u00a0 His brows knit.\u00a0 \u201cWhat did you see?\u201d<\/p>\n
I shook my head, turning my attention back to Neve\u2019s song and our friends by the fire.\u00a0 \u201cNothing that bears repeating.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
J.T. lay stretched out on a mattress, his breathing shallow and his face pale, Jacqueline looking at me bleakly even as Carolyn buried her face against my shoulder.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know how much more I can do,\u201d Jacqueline said quietly.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t lose him, Marin,\u201d Carolyn whispered into my sweatshirt. \u201cI can\u2019t.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cMom?\u00a0 Why is Dad so angry all the time lately?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
I sighed quietly, looking up from the holly bushes beneath my hands, toward the dark-haired boy that looked like his father that it was almost painful sometimes.\u00a0 He\u2019d grown taller this summer, already taller than me. He\u2019d have his father\u2019s height for sure.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a complicated question, Lin,\u201d I said softly.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s mostly stress.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u201cStress,\u201d my son echoed.\u00a0 He was nearly thirteen, quiet and thoughtful\u2014and frighteningly talented already.\u00a0 \u201cMust be some crazy high levels of it, then.\u00a0 He even yelled at Angie, and he never yells at her.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
I shook my head, exhaling quietly.\u00a0 I knew why Thom was acting the way he had been.\u00a0 I just didn\u2019t want to think about it, didn\u2019t want to talk about it.<\/i><\/p>\n
I turned back to the holly bushes even as my vision began to dim around the edges.\u00a0 I must have swayed, or worse, because my son\u2019s hand was suddenly on my arm.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cMom?\u00a0 Are you okay?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine, sweetheart,\u201d I lied softly. \u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure?\u201d\u00a0 Thom asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d I said, stomach twisting at the lie.\u00a0 \u201cEverything\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thom sighed and kissed my neck gently.\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t have to lie,\u201d he told me quietly.\u00a0 \u201cIf you don\u2019t want to tell me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThom, I would tell you everything if I could,\u201d I said.\u00a0 \u201cIf I understood what it meant, I\u2019d tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe promised each other no more secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n
I gave him a deadpan look.\u00a0 \u201cWe both know that\u2019s virtually impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n
He met my gaze with a serious look of his own.\u00a0 His fa\u00e7ade cracked before mine did.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right.\u00a0 It\u2019s impossible.\u00a0 But it\u2019s still worth striving for.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sighed softly and closed my eyes, resting my head against his.\u00a0 He kissed my forehead as the last notes of Neve\u2019s song faded into the night. Something in the world felt lighter that moment, on that darkest night of the year.\u00a0 I leaned into Thom\u2019s arms and let him hold me close against his chest.<\/p>\n
It was a broken world\u2014I knew that\u2014but somehow, for that brief, shining moment, I let myself believe that everything would turn out for the best in the end.<\/p>\n
Only time could tell me if I was right or wrong.<\/p>\n
And that brings us to the end of Books 2 and 3. Beginning of Book 4 on Friday (I hope)!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Thom\u2019s arms closed around my waist as I hung back, near the edge of the fire\u2019s glow, listening to the words that flowed like liquid from Neve\u2019s tongue.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t sure I\u2019d ever be able to sound like that\u2014to make … Continue reading