Tab Bennett and the Inbetween (28 page)

Alex knelt beside me. “Aurora?” His voice was soft and full of awe.

“Did you feel that?” My voice sounded a little weak.

“No, but watching you experience it was amazing. Once I realized what was happening to you….” He looked like he’d just witnessed a miracle. “That was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”

“You know I have no idea what just happened to me, right?”

He smiled at me, laughing as he pulled me into his arms. “That was your power emerging. You are now in possession of your Elvish Gifts.”

 “Seriously?  That was my magic?”

“What did it feel like?” He helped me to my feet. “We all experience the advent of our Gifts differently. Sometimes they come as fire, sometimes as rain. Sometimes they come wrapped in sex and love, sometimes tangled in violence and hate. Some of us are born with our powers already manifest and for some they do not come until the very edge of death.”

“Mine was fire. Definitely fire.” I looked at my palms, expecting blisters at least, but they were unscarred. “How did your gifts come?”

“My Gifts came in a kiss.”

“Of course they did. I almost burn to death and you get a kiss.”

He wrapped his arms around me, pressing himself close. “Do you feel all right?”

“I think so.”

“But you’re not sure?”

“Not really, no.” I laughed because my head was swimming, full of memories and magic. Full of power I had no idea how to use and hatred I had no way to exercise. “Is that normal?”

“Maybe you should sit for a minute.”

A tapping sound drew my eye to the window. Three starlings sat on the ledge, looking at me with curious eyes.

********

I stayed in the shower too long; by the time I got out I was running late. Instead of blow-drying my hair I curled the damp strands around my fingers, encouraging curls. While I was brushing my teeth, I noticed that I looked a little blotchy from crying so I put a little powder on my face to even things out, and then put on some mascara and eyeliner. I finished up with a rosy pink lip-gloss. The effect was pretty and natural.

I looked at all the clothes I brought up with me from the cottage before deciding on a pair of dark jeans and a creamy white cashmere cardigan with a pretty ruby red tank underneath. When I was dressed, I checked myself out in the full-length mirror and I have to say, I looked really good. The jeans hugged all the right places, highlighting my narrow waist and my long legs. The demure cardigan looked sexy with the tank underneath. I was feeling pretty pleased with myself until I realized I would have to wear my running shoes. I was tying my left sneaker when I decided to check Rivers’ room for something better.

I flipped the light on in her room, reminded myself that I was not thinking about her lest I accidentally burn the house down and bent to look under her bed. There were several pairs of cute sneakers; all a marked improvement from my clunky running shoes. I opened the door of my old closet, just on the off chance that I’d forgotten some pretty shoes behind when I moved out. Sitting together, just inside the door I found the red heels I’d worn to Court and abandoned in the dining room. They were the perfect finishing touch to my outfit.

I felt light, bouncy. I felt pretty. I didn’t even realize that I might have overdone it a little until I walked down stairs and heard George’s appreciative whistle.

“I had completely forgotten how hot you are,” he said. “What’s the occasion?”

I felt my cheeks flush. “Alex is taking me out to celebrate. My Gifts came today.”

George’s eyes got wide. He threw his arms around, picking me up and spinning me around. “Where was I? I can’t believe I missed that.” He set me down. “How did it happen?”

I hesitated. I didn’t want to get into it. I didn’t want to have to explain about the postcards and Nicholas and the fire that burned in my bones. His eyebrows were raised about as high as they could go and his smile was very wide. I could tell that he was trying very hard not to make a joke. I remembered that Alex said sometimes the Gifts came during sex, obviously that’s what George was thinking. I decided not to correct his assumption.

“You should take the night off too,” I offered, trying to change the topic. “I’m sure Alex will make sure no one kills me while you go out and have some fun.”

He really tried, I’ll give him credit, but in the end, his true nature won out and he said, “Want the house to yourself for some reason, Princess?” and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

I punched his arm as hard as I could.

“Whatever,” he said, rubbing the spot as though I’d actually hurt him. “Bennett is expecting me in the Inbetween tonight anyway.” He started up the stairs and then turned and added, “Hang a tie on the door or something if you don’t want me to come in later.”

“Shut up, George.” I eyed the knickknacks on the hall table, trying to decide which to throw at him.

He continued up the stairs, his laughter trailing behind him. When he got to the top he turned to look at me. “Congratulations, my princess,” he said, sincerely. “Tomorrow we’ll figure out what your Gifts are and how to use them but go enjoy yourself tonight. You deserve a night out.”

“Thanks, I will.”

Then at the same we both said, “Don’t tell Francis.”

I heard George laugh and say something to Alex when they passed in the upstairs hall but I was too far away to know what. That made me nervous. You never knew with George what he might say.

Alex’s golden hair was still wet when he got to the bottom of the stairs. “Sorry to keep you waiting,” he said, giving me a shy smile. He was dressed simply in a gray button up shirt and a pair of jeans but he looked perfect in them. It didn’t take much for him to look incredible, to take my breath away. He couldn’t help himself.

“I guess we know which one of us is high maintenance, huh?” I joked. Then I added, “You’re worth the wait,” without thinking.

If the look on his face as his eyes drifted over my body was any indication, he was appreciating the view from his side just as much. I heard him think
Go slow
.

He held my coat for me while I slipped my arms into it. Maybe he was being a gentleman but I suspected it was an excuse to stand close to me so he could whisper in my ear. “You look beautiful.” His warm breath sent a shiver up my spine.

That’s when it occurred to him that this whole outing was probably a very bad idea. “How did you convince me to do this?” he asked.

The truth is I had no idea. I just really wanted to go and I suggested it and he agreed. “Magic?”

“That must have been it.”

“Shall we go?” I asked, afraid he was about to change his mind. He nodded and opened the front door.

*********

Getting me to the car required security measures that would have made the secret service feel unprepared, but once we were on the road we both relaxed. Alex drove pretty well, for an Elf, which means that at no time during the long drive across town did I see my life flash in front of my eyes.

He asked questions, lots of questions, about me. I told him stories about my childhood in Bennett Falls, pointing out the places were significant events had taken place. The air around us had the tingling enchanted feeling it always did when we were alone but it wasn’t uncomfortable; it was more like expectant. It felt like the enchantment was as curious about how our outing would end up as I was.

“Where are we going?” I asked as he drove through the center of Bennett Falls, passing all the restaurants.

 “I made a reservation for us at Brookside Farm.”

The restaurant was in a beautiful old converted barn and the food was very good, but it was one of those places where all the diners sit together at a few long tables and the food is served in big bowls that are passed around, family style. There’s no menu; when you call to make a reservation they tell you what’s for dinner that night, take it or leave it.  I’d been there a few times but always with a bunch of people so almost everyone at the table was part of the group. Since it was just the two of us, Alex and I would end up sitting wherever there was room.

He glanced over at me before continuing. “I thought it would be fun; like a big family dinner. And you won’t be able to talk about Rivers or the Inbetween if there’s a crowd around. We’ll have to talk about regular things. I thought you’d like it.”

I was surprised by his choice but he was right about a table full of strangers being the best way to keep conversation light. I didn’t want to admit it but I was expecting something with candlelight and soft music for our first date.

It’s not a date, I told myself, shaking the thought away.

“If you’d rather go somewhere else….”

“No. Brookside is fine,” I said quickly, trying to convince us both that I meant it. “It’s great. It’ll be great.”

He smiled and patted my knee in a friendly way. “It will be,” he said. “You’ll see.”

And then, much to my surprise, it really was.

We sat at a table with the Olsen family, which included twin brothers Jim and John Olsen, their wives Patty and Maggie, and Grandma Olsen. They were out celebrating the senior Mrs. Olsen’s seventy-fifth birthday. She was wearing a corsage of stargazer lilies that marked her as the guest of honor.

The Olsen brothers stood up when we approached the table, greeting us like we were expected members of the party instead of party crashing strangers. I saw Patty look at Alex and then lean over to whisper something to her sister-in-law before they both giggled. I couldn’t hear them but it wasn’t hard to guess what they were saying; Alex had that effect on women.

 “They’re already in love with you,” I whispered. He winked.

We ended up sitting on opposite sides of the table, with me next Patty and Maggie and Alex on Mrs. Olsen’s right. I don’t know how it happened. One minute we were standing together and the next John was moving down a seat so Alex could sit next to his mother. Alex took it all in stride, shaking hands and complimenting his way around the table. By the time the salad came, we all felt like old friends. Jim and John told sweet, funny stories about their mother. Alex told lightly edited stories about his life, taking out the parts that would have given away his real identity. I laughed with Maggie and Patty. Alex seemed completely content to give Mrs. Olsen his undivided attention. Like her daughters in law, she was completely taken with him.

When the dinner plates were cleared away John Olsen turned to Alex and said, “So son, what is that you do for a living?”

Alex smoothly answered the question without missing a beat or saying the E word. “I’m in the army, sir.” Technically, this was true. “I’m on leave right now so I get to spend a little time with my girl.” He smiled at me and Maggie and Patty sighed together on cue. “I actually came home to ask her to marry me…”

There was a squeal of delight from around the table.

“Show us the ring!” Maggie and Patty both grabbed for my hand. I held it up to show my naked ring finger.

“I’m still waiting for my answer.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Maggie asked, looking at Alex with obvious admiration.

“I’m not worried about it, Maggie,” Alex said, smiling at her. “I know she’ll come around. We belong together. In her heart, I think she knows that too.”

“Don’t let him get away,” Patty said, hitting me on the shoulder in an affectionate way. “Say yes before it’s too late, you foolish girl.”

“He hasn’t really asked me yet,” I said, playing along.

Alex said, “She’s heartless, isn’t she Mrs. O?”

“Completely,” Mrs. Olsen agreed. “But I suspect you give her reason to be.” She smiled at me and everyone laughed.

“Thank you ma’am,” I said. “Since he hasn’t asked, I haven’t answered.”

Alex raised his eyebrows, looking bemused. “What would you say if I did?”

“Ask me if you want to find out,” I said with a shrug. I think I looked braver than I felt.