Forgiven (Book 3, The Watchers Trilogy; Young Adult Paranormal Romance) (7 page)

“I hope
your grandma
likes me,” Malik said,
nervously
tapping his steering wheel with his thumb.

“She’s gonna love you,”
Tara
told him.

“How do you know?” Malik asked.

“Cause you make me happy.”

I watched
Tara
smile at Malik and couldn’t help but smile myself.  I knew then
Tara
’s heart had finally been
conquered
by a man.

When we reached the trailer park Utha Mae and my mom lived in, I immediately noticed the brand new black Mercedes Benz parked
in front of
my mom’s place.

Malik knocked on Utha Mae’s door while holding a pot of his homemade chicken and dumplings.  I knew his desperation to make a good first impression ha
d
lead him
in
to dangerous territory.  I almost wished he had contacted me first before making the dish.  I knew Utha Mae set a high standard with her own recipe for dumplings and hoped she didn’t squash Malik’s pride into dust if she didn’t like his version.  Even though I had tasted his before, I wasn’t sure if Utha Mae would appreciate someone else butting into here culinary
niche
.

Utha Mae opened the door, a smile of joy on her face at seeing us all.

“Come in, come in,” she said, “Don’t stand out there like strangers.”

After we all walked in,
Tara
said, “Grandma, I’d like you to meet Malik.  Malik this is my
g
randma Utha Mae.”

Malik set his pot of dumplings on her kitchen island and held out his hand for Utha Mae to shake.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Jenkins. 
Tara
and Lilly have told me a lot about you.”

“Nice to meet you too, hon.  Now just call me Utha Mae like everybody else.  I don’t stand for too much formality in my
own
ho
m
e.”

“Yes, ma’am.

Utha Mae eyed Malik’s pot with
curios
ity
.  “And just what did you bring in that pot, hon?”

“Chicken and dumplings, ma’am.  I hope you like them.”

“Well,” Utha Mae’s eyebrows sho
t
up
in surprise
, “I’ll let you know after I taste them.”

There was a knock at the door.  Will was the closest
one
standing to it so he
turned to
open it.  I saw Will’s shoulders tense all of a sudden like he had just received a
blow
to the gut.  Brand seemed to notice the same thing as I and we watched the door to see what had caused the change in Will’s stance.

“We’re not late are we?” I heard my mother say before she stepped
inside
.

I almost fell out when I saw what my mother was wearing: a well tailored white shirt, blue blazer
,
slacks
and penny loafers
.  Here hair was completely straight and styled in a layered bob which made her look age appropriate.  The ensemble was a far cry from the usual go-go dancer mini
-dresses
she
normally
wore.  I assumed that was what made Will tense but soon felt Brand’s body stiffen when my mother’s new boyfriend walked
into the trailer behind her
.

“If we are
,
I take all the blame,” Lucas Hunter said to us all.  “I wanted to show Cora pictures of the new house I just bought and completely lost track of time.”

Brand discreetly took my hand
,
tightly
holding onto it. 
W
ill back
ed
away from the door and c
a
me
to
stand on the other side of me.  I wanted to ask what was wrong
since they both took up a protective stance around me but knew such a question would
draw the
unwanted
attention of my mom and Utha Mae.

Both Brand and Will kept their eyes locked on Lucas’ every movement.

Lucas’ eyes found me easily and he smiled at me like we were old friends.

“Haven’t we met before?” He asked me.

“Yes,” I answered, feeling Brand squeeze my hand even tighter
as if warning me not to say too much
.  “We met at Clive Jewelers in
Lakewood
right before Halloween.”

Lucas held his index finger
in the air
.  “That’s right.  I remember now.”  His eyes shifted to Brand.  “Is this the lucky man you
’
r
e
supposed to marry?”

Brand held out his hand to Lucas.  “Brand Cole.”

“Lucas Hunter.  Glad to finally meet you, Brand.  Cora’s told me a lot about you.”

“All good of course,” my mother said, wrapping a possessive arm around one of Lucas’. 

“I heard you were a doctor,” Brand said, his voice not betraying the strain
I knew
he actually felt.

“Pediatric oncolog
ist
,” Lucas answered.  “Though I’ve been taking a break from my practice the last couple of weeks.”  Lucas looked down at my mom
like he only had eyes for her
.  “Cora and I have been spending the time get
ting
to know one another
better
.”

And then something happened I never thought
I
would
see
in my lifetime.  My mother blushed.

“Well,
since everybody knows everybody now
,” Utha Mae said.  “Let’s sit down and eat.  Malik honey you can use my stove if you need to heat your dumplin
g
s
up
.”

Brand turned into me and whispered, “Make up an excuse for us to leave for a minute.”

I quickly racked my brain to think of something.

“Mom, would you mind if I grabbed my baby book from your place.  Brand wanted to see some
p
ictures of me
when I was younger
.”

“Sure, sweetie.  The albums are still in the book case in your room.”

Brand and I stepped out of Utha Mae’s trailer and headed to my mom’s trailer right next door.  Once we were inside Brand sat down
heavily
on the couch in the living room putting his head in his hands
like he had a headache
.

“Who is he?” I asked.  “Why d
id you and Will act like he might eat me alive in there
?”

Brand looked up at me.  I could see the shock on his face and worry in his eyes.

“That’s Lucifer.”

All I could hear
after that
was my own
ragged
breathing.  Brand came to me just as I lost feeling in my legs.  He sat me down on the couch beside him and held me tight.

“
He won’t do anything to you tonight. 
We still have over a month,” Brand said.  “We’ll find a way to stop him, Lilly.”

I couldn’t make a reply.  I was having a hard enough time just trying to remember to
bring oxygen into my lungs
.  I’m not sure why I was so surprised.  I knew this day would come.  I knew I would have to face him eventually, but to have him take on the guise of my mother’s new boyfriend was something I hadn’t prepared myself for.

“What are we going to do?” I asked, not seeing how I could possibly
stay in the same room as
him
now
knowing who he actually was.

“We stay strong and face him together.  Maybe this is what we’ve needed to happen.  He may slip up and
reveal
something
to us
unintentionally.”

“He wouldn’t be that stupid would he?”

“Lucifer’s vanity has always gotten in his way.  He may want to brag about something in front of us that will give us the hint we need to figure out what he wants with you.”

I focused on Brand’s plan because if I let myself think about Lucifer too much, I knew I might faint away
from
shock
.  I couldn’t let him see me weak.  I wouldn’t let
Lucifer
think I was going to let him win without a fight.  I had too much to live for
,
and I wasn’t about to let him take it all away from me.

I did go to my room and fetch one of my baby albums just to make our excuse to leave truthful.  When we returned to Utha Mae’s trailer, everyone was already sitting around her table ladling their plates with food.

Lucas/Lucifer stood
from his chair at the table when I entered and smiled at me
.  I knew I should feel terror at such an expression
on his face
but there was a
n inner
light in him I just didn’t understand.  I knew he was evil incarnate but he didn’t seem it to me for some reason.  It was just like when he touched me when we were in the jewelry store.  I felt comfort
in
his presence like he was an old friend.  I chalked it up to being part of his power.  He
was
the great deceiver after all.

All through the meal I noticed how happy my mother was.  She looked at Lucifer in a way I had never seen her look at a man before.  How was I going to get her away fr
o
m Lucifer without telling her the complete truth?  Would she believe me even if I told her?  I highly doubted it.  She was completely under his spell
,
and I couldn’t think of a thing to say to bring her back to reality.

“Lilly sweetie,” my mom said.  “Did you happen to bring those silk purses back with you?”

“Yes, they’re in Malik’s vehicle.
  We filled them all.
”

“Oh yes,” Lucifer said
knowingly
.  “You two are supposed to get married next Saturday
,
right?”

“Yes,” I answered, “we are.”

“Your mother invited me but I’m not going to be able to make it.  I have a doctor’s symposium that weekend.
  I’m sorry I will miss it.  I’m sure you will make a beautiful bride.
”

“I’ll miss you,” my mother said, putting her hand on Lucifer’s arm.  “I wish you didn’t have to go.”

“I won’t be gone long,” he reassured
, patting her hand
.  “I’ll be back before you have a chance to miss me too much.”

“So have you decided who will give you away, baby?” Utha Mae asked me.

I glanced at Will but answered, “I’ll probably just give myself away.”

“Well
,
why not have Will stand i
n
for your father?” Utha Mae suggested.  “He’s about the closest thing you have to a brother.”

I didn’t know what to say.  I didn’t want Utha Mae to think badly of Will just because he couldn’t bring himself to walk me down the isle to someone he didn’t think I should be marrying.

“Don’t you think that’s a good idea, Will baby?” Utha Mae said.

All eyes focused on Will as he
rolled a
dumpling on his plate
over and over
, avoiding direct eye contact with Utha Mae.  He knew as well a
s I if he looked at her
directly
he would end up doing whatever she told him to.  It was like in
Star Wars
when the Jedi used their mind tricks to make you do what they wanted with just a few coercive words.
Utha Mae didn’t have to use
tricks
,
just guilt.

“I can’t do that, Utha Mae,” he finally said.

“Why not
,
baby?”

“Because,” Will si
ghed
,
“I
’m
still
in
love
with
Lilly.  Why would I willingly give her away to someone else?”

The rattle of dinnerware on dishes ceased and an uneasy silence permeated the room.

My mother cleared her throat.  “Well, if Lilly’s father hadn’t abandoned us you wouldn’t have been placed in such an awkward position, Will.  You can’t help the way you feel. 
I think we all understand.
”

“Malik,” Utha Mae turned her attention to my fairy godfather.  “I swear I’ve never tasted chicken and dumplings as good as yours.  You’ll have to give me your recipe.”

“Oh,” Malik smiled shyly knowing Utha Mae had just given him
the
high
est of
praise
s
.  “I’ll definitely do that.  I’ll bring you a copy the next time I see you.”