\u201cDon\u2019t let them bother you, get you tied up in knots,\u201d Phelan said after a moment of silence punctuated only by the sound of their boots in the snow.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re just a part of your existence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I accepted that piece,\u201d Thom said quietly.\u00a0 He shook his head slowly and exhaled a sigh.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019d still be here if I hadn\u2019t.\u00a0 Marin and I…\u201d\u00a0 His voice trailed away as his throat tightened, tears suddenly threatening again.\u00a0 He forced them back, sucking in a breath.\u00a0 \u201cWell, it doesn\u2019t matter.\u00a0 I\u2019ve accepted it.\u00a0 It\u2019s part of my life\u2014of our lives.\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s going to be a part of our son\u2019s life, too, I imagine.\u00a0 How could it not be?<\/em><\/p>\n God, what hell are we visiting on the child she\u2019s carrying?<\/em><\/p>\n Phelan must have sensed his sudden discomfort because he reached out and squeezed Thom\u2019s shoulder again.\u00a0 Thom just shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI love her,\u201d he said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s all that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n They walked past the snow-covered Shakespeare garden, still in shambles since the camazotzi<\/em> attacked months before.\u00a0 The garden\u2019s former inhabitants\u2014fae creatures that only Carolyn seemed to be able to see\u2014had scattered, most of them taking up residence with their surviving human neighbors on the other side of the ravine bridge.\u00a0 Those little friends had warned them more than once of impending danger, but since the weather had turned cold, they\u2019d stuck closer and closer to home.\u00a0 Thom couldn\u2019t blame them.\u00a0 This winter had been harder than any he could remember.<\/p>\n As they crested the hill, the barrow came into sight, snow-covered and silent.\u00a0 Marin and J.T. stood near its edge, shoulder to shoulder, their heads tilted toward each other\u2019s as if they were deep in conversation.\u00a0 The hairs on Thom\u2019s arms and the back of his neck stirred.\u00a0 There were ghosts around.<\/p>\n There were always ghosts around, these days.<\/p>\n Phelan followed his gaze.\u00a0 \u201cI almost hate to interrupt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe too,\u201d Thom murmured.\u00a0 \u201cBut we have to.\u00a0 Come on.\u201d<\/p>\n He jogged down the hill toward his wife and his best friend, bracing himself for the news he had to give them both.<\/p>\n This won\u2019t be pleasant.\u00a0 Then again, these things never are.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cDon\u2019t let them bother you, get you tied up in knots,\u201d Phelan said after a moment of silence punctuated only by the sound of their boots in the snow.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re just a part of your existence.\u201d \u201cYeah, I accepted that … Continue reading