{"id":940,"date":"2011-12-19T00:00:42","date_gmt":"2011-12-19T05:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=940"},"modified":"2011-12-13T07:14:13","modified_gmt":"2011-12-13T12:14:13","slug":"day-21-chapter-12-marin-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=940","title":{"rendered":"Day 21 – Chapter 12 – Marin – 18"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThom may not react well to you being here, you know,\u201d I said as we walked back across the plaza toward Little Mac and the ravine.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMm-hmm,\u201d Phelan said, nodding slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou already told me that.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It is what it is, will be what it will be.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He shrugged slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cEven if he disapproves of my presence here, I\u2019m not leaving until I\u2019m good and ready to go.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He grinned, mayhem and mischief mingling in his bright eyes.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd I\u2019ll tell him that to his face if I have to.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He patted the arm that was wrapped around his.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t you worry for one moment that I\u2019ll take his crap.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I won\u2019t forget what you asked of me, either.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I nodded slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThank you,\u201d I said softly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan\u2019s tone gentled.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re not wrong about his needing to accept what <\/span>is<\/span><\/em>, Marin.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI know,\u201d I said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I was saying it a lot, I realized, and it was beginning to sound like I was on the defensive when it came to just about everything.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I tried not to sigh.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat doesn\u2019t make anything easier.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan smiled wryly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf this was meant to be <\/span>easy<\/span><\/em>, Marin, everyone would have survived rather than a select few.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I looked at him sidelong, brows knitting for a moment. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I still caught glimmers of the Phelan-that-must-have-been, the one from some distant past.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s it like?\u201d I asked softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLiving then and then living now?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He shook his head slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThere\u2019s not really a comparison to be made.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Too different.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Why do you ask?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDo you still have the tattoo?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He startled, looking at me strangely.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYes,\u201d he said slowly, his hand drifting to the back of his neck.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow did you\u2014\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He cut himself off, staring at me for a few long moments.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat <\/span>have<\/span><\/em> you seen?\u201d he breathed, eyes large.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I shook my head slightly, thinking that my heartbeat should\u2019ve quickened, though it hadn\u2019t.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I was as calm as ever.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust you.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>As you might have been once, I think.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Like in the days from J.T.\u2019s dreams of you, maybe earlier.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan\u2019s breath caught for a moment and he shook his head slowly, his hand falling away from his neck.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGods and monsters,\u201d he said softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou remind me of her.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWho?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Who could I remind him of?\u00a0 <\/span>Someone he knew in that long-ago yesterday, probably.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He smiled a sad little smile and shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThe woman who helped me with the tattoo,\u201d he said quietly, touching the back of his neck for a moment.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAn old friend, lost for centuries.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You remind me of her, and her brother Caidre.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOh,\u201d I said softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>My curiosity tried to amp up, but I tamped it down.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I had to trust him to tell me more in his own time.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Eventually, the words would come.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I had to believe they would.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>We crossed Little Mac and came up around the curve along the edge of Mackinac\u2019s ruins.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I slowly withdrew my arm, just in time to hear Angie\u2019s laughter and the yipping of Birtha\u2019s litter of puppies.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There were a half dozen of them, shaggy little sheepdog pups that were big eyes and all paws and fur, and they were tumbling all over each other and Angie as we approached.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I waved to her as we came into view and she started to wave back to me until she got an eyeful of Phelan.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She stopped dead in her tracks and gave a little gasp, just staring, both hands clamped over her mouth, eyes big as saucers.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It took a moment before she glanced at me, then back at him.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAngie?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What\u2019s the matter?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I moved away from Phelan and walked over to her.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I touched her shoulder, crouching down next to her, puppies tumbling around us both.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She looked at me, her eyes still huge.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWho is he, Miss Marin?\u201d she whispered, a tremor of fear\u2014or awe?\u2014in her voice.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her small fingers tangled in my sleeve.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWho is he?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHis name is Phelan, Angie,\u201d I said softly, putting my arm around her and giving her a quick squeeze.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe\u2019s a friend.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He came to help us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe\u2019s older than Mr. Rory is,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOlder than what\u2019s inside of Mr. Rory and Miss Kellin.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>But Miss Kellin\u2019s almost as old.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan stared at the two of us, looking puzzled for a moment.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Then he smiled an easy smile and shook his head slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cRory has an old soul, little one,\u201d he said gently, moving to us and crouching down so he was on Angie\u2019s level, so she could look him in the eye.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut so do you.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You know that, right?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Angie nodded firmly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYes, sir, I do.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It scares Paul.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan grinned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIs he your big brother?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Her lips made a little O and she nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSometimes, big brothers get scared because they can\u2019t protect their little brothers and sisters.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He tapped her nose with a fingertip.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t scare your brother.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>But it\u2019s okay if you do.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cReally?\u201d she asked, her voice a hushed, wondering whisper.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cReally.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan tousled her hair and stood up.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHave the puppies told you their names yet?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo,\u201d she said quietly as she watched him stand up.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou should ask them,\u201d he said, his smile gentle, almost paternal.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cListen to them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019ll whisper their names to you, if you listen hard enough?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cReally?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah,\u201d he said, still smiling.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cReally.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWow,\u201d Angie said softly, then looked at me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re right, Miss Marin.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019s a nice man.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I almost laughed, nodding.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m glad you think so, Angie.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I straightened up.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t get too close to the edge of the ravine or the ruins, okay?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOkay, Miss Marin.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She hesitated a moment, then said, \u201cMr. Matt was looking for you.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He didn\u2019t know where you\u2019d gone.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOh.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 Didn\u2019t someone tell him?<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>That probably wouldn\u2019t have stopped Matt from wondering after me, even if someone <\/span>had<\/span><\/em> told him what I was doing.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell, I guess I should find him, right?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Because big sisters shouldn\u2019t make their little brothers worry, right?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Angie grinned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cRight!\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan arched a brow at me as we stared to walk again, leaving Angie with the puppies at play.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYour brother first, then Thom?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah,\u201d I said, waving to Tala, who\u2019d clearly traded tending the fire to keeping a loose eye on Angie and the dogs while doing some other chores.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She waved back, then went back to tending the smokers.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo sense in making him worry.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan nodded in agreement.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIndeed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I look forward to meeting him.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I smiled wryly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>This ought to be interesting.\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe not <\/span><\/em>good<\/span>, but interesting to say the least.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThom may not react well to you being here, you know,\u201d I said as we walked back across the plaza toward Little Mac and the ravine. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMm-hmm,\u201d Phelan said, nodding slightly.\u00a0 \u201cYou already told me that.\u00a0 It is … 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":[31,32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-940","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-12","category-day-21"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-fa","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/940","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=940"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/940\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":943,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/940\/revisions\/943"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=940"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=940"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=940"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}