“Kyle, that’s enough of that, son,” the lowest baritone voice I’d ever heard spoke from behind Kyle. We all looked up to see a man who I could only assume was Caleb’s father. He was tall and broad with brown hair. I could see Caleb in him. “Give them some slack, why don’t ya, Kyle? Sorry, Caleb. I got held up.” He walked around Kyle to sit in front of us. “Hello, Maggie. I’m Peter, Caleb’s father.” He smiled. “How are you doing this morning?”
“I’m all right for the most part. How are you?”
He laughed, deep and wonderful. “Splendid. Thank you for asking, my dear.”
“Dad is the champion of our clan,” Caleb explained, “like I was telling you last night. He’s the main man around here.”
“All right, now.” His dad laughed. “Don’t go filling her head or bloating up my ego. I’m basically a glorified superintendent. So,” he slapped his hands on his knees, “you’re my son’s significant. I never thought I’d see this day. I can’t tell you how happy I am to meet you, young lady.”
“All right, Peter.” Grandma came back in and resumed her seat from before. “Why don’t we give the girl a break? She’s had a big day already. It’s almost lunch time anyway. Maggie, I was wondering if you might want to stay. You can help me whip up something for dessert if you like.”
“Sure. That’d be great.”
She extended her hand to help me up and I took it. Once standing she took my arm in her other hand and laid her fingers precisely lining up to lay over the black handprint on my arm. She looked into my eyes and I saw her gray eyes swirl a bright green. I gasped a little and she smiled at me.
I began to see the scene in my head of when Marcus had grabbed me, but it was all backwards. It played like a movie in reverse. It was freaky. Then the vision stopped just that quickly. When she removed her hand, the handprint was gone. My jaw dropped.
“How did you do that?”
“It’s my ability, dear. I can heal things of the supernatural. But broken arms and cuts from slicing tomatoes, now those have to be healed by your significant.”
I jerked to look at Caleb. “You can heal me?”
“We can heal each other, after we ascend. It’s one of the things all significants can do for each other.”
I blinked. “Are there a lot of things that we can do like that?”
“Yes. Lots,” Grandma answered. “You complete each other, two halves to one circle. You are no better matched physically, mentally, temperamentally, spiritually and by abilities than with your significant.” She pulled up Caleb, too, by his arm and spoke to us both quietly as she held our hands. “Now, listen. I know what you’re feeling right now. And I know how quickly things can get out of hand if you aren’t careful. You’re human. It’s gonna make your feelings and reactions to him much more potent and stronger than it would for someone else.” She looked at Caleb. “And you’re gonna have a hard time too because you’re gonna feel what she feels. You’ll have to keep yourselves controlled. Aces get pregnant the human way, ya know.”
I wondered if Caleb was blushing as furiously as I was. I looked over and saw that he was. This was by far the strangest and most uncomfortable conversation I’d ever had with a grandma. But at least he said something.
“Gran, I’m only gonna ask this once. Please don’t have sex talks with me, ok? Especially with Maggie in the room. Do you think we could do that?”
“Oh, now, don’t be embarrassed. It’s natural-”
“Dad! Little help here,” he called out.
“All right, Gran,” Peter laughed. “Why don’t you take Maggie to the kitchen and I’ll talk to Caleb. But first.” He came and stood in front of me. He smiled and reached around me to hug me to him. “Thank you so much for saving my son, Maggie. Even if you weren’t his significant, I would still owe you everything.” He pulled back and released me.
“It was nothing, really,” I insisted.
“Nothing, smothing. Come on, pretty girl. I need help with the banana pudding,” Grandma chimed.
“Aces eat banana pudding?” I asked as she looped her arm through mine, but I felt stupid for my question.
“Yep. Aces love banana pudding. Well, my Aces do anyway.”
She towed me with her. I glanced behind me at Caleb and he mouthed a ‘sorry’. I smiled and shrugged and made my way to help a bunch of Aces make dinner.
Chapter Six
Gladly, Gran did not continue her plight for safe sex with me. In fact, she didn’t speak of anything about our imprinting at all. She just asked me questions about things; school, my dad, my brother, growing up.
The other ladies in the kitchen listened intently when I answered. The little girl I’d seen in the window had apparently been held back from the meeting we had earlier and was now bouncing around me as I sliced bananas. She was about seven years old I’d guess and was very cute in her green dress and ponytail.Everyone decided to eat outside so I helped set the tables and bring out dishes of hot concoctions. I texted Bish really quick while I had a few seconds.
Hey. Thanks for the congrats. I miss you. I can’t wait to see you. The sooner the better. Dad’s pretty bad but we’re making it. How’s things in NY?
As expected, the fastest typer in NY, who always had his phone attached to his hip, answered within thirty seconds.
Man, I miss you, too, kid. I’m sorry about Dad. I’ll try to send a little bit more money in a couple weeks but things are crazy expensive here. Other than that, things are...ok. I’ll start looking at when I can get a few days off soon. Love ya.
I typed back.
Don’t worry about us. We’re fine. Love you, too.
When I made my final trip into the kitchen to help I saw the men had moved outside and were already parked in their chairs. Most of the women were seated as well. I saw the empty seat next to Caleb, put my dish down and started to make my way over to him.
I felt like everyone was watching me. I’d felt like that all day and was glad I hadn’t just grabbed a hoodie and jeans like I would have any other Saturday.
The little girl who was following me around grabbed my hand before I could reach him. She smiled up at me angelically and swung our arms as we walked.
“I’m Maria.”
“Hi, Maria. I’m Maggie.”
“I know that, silly. Everyone knows who you are.”
“Oh. Well.” I was sure I grimaced so I thought of something to say. “Where are you sitting?”
“Well, I usually sit next to Uncle Caleb, but since you’re here, momma said I have to give up my seat.”
“Oh. You can sit by him. Really, I don’t want to take your seat.”
“It’s ok. Hi, Uncle Caleb!” She ran to him as he got up and hugged him tightly. “I brought Maggie to you.”
“I can see that,” he patted her back and smiled at me, “thank you.”
“So,” she said more loudly and I was wary of the mischievous grin on her chubby cheeks. “Do you love my Uncle Caleb, Maggie? He’s really nice and he plays sports,” she said as if trying to convince me.
Everyone looked and I swore my heart stopped. I laughed nervously and tucked my hair behind my ear, but Caleb rescued me again.
“Maria, don’t you want Maggie to come back?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s try not to embarrass her, ok?”
“But she’s gonna marry you isn’t she?” she spouted with sudden alarm. “I heard Momma say that you were! You can’t get married unless you love each other. Cause then all the babies will be born with no love in them-”
“Maria,” her mother whispered loudly. She covered a laugh in her fist. “Come sit down. I think you’ve scared Maggie enough for one day.”
I felt my cheeks blazing and bit my bottom lip. I wondered if I’d be permanently colored from all the blushing in one day. I looked up at Caleb and he was sighing and shaking his head as everyone chuckled around us.
“I’m so sorry. They’re all crazy. Don’t judge me by them, please,” he joked as he pulled my chair out for me.
The birds were jabbering as we sat under the shade of a huge oak in the backyard. I looked around at his family as they all passed the dishes around, laughing, talking, bickering. It all looked so perfect. I missed it, though I’d never had this before, I missed it something fierce.
“Are you kidding? Your family is so great. I’d give anything to have a big family like this. I mean, you all drove over here to see Kyle graduate, right?” I asked and he nodded.
I smiled remembering Kyle’s cheering and clapping section and his obvious enjoyment of it as his name was called. I’d never know what that felt like.
Caleb leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Yes, you will. They are your family now, too.”
I looked over and his face was so close our noses almost bumped. My heart galloped and I turned back to focus on my garlic bread. I decided I needed to talk to him. Understand him. Know him. I knew he went to Tennessee and was studying to be an architect, other than that, I had no clue. “So, you live with your family?”
“Yeah. When I’m not at school I stay with my parents about thirty five miles from here. When I’m at school, I have a little apartment there.”