Her Guardians Lost(37)

“I’m glad you did, too.”

“It must be difficult, though,” Sharice interjected. “You must see things you wish you hadn’t.”

I briefly thought about Lisa-Marie’s train crash, and the visions of that poor girl being strangled. “It would be a lie if I told you no.”

“What things have you seen?” Blake asked, leaning toward me.

Rachael swatted him one again, and Caroline sighed. “Blake, Cassie doesn’t want to talk about all this with us now. She must be exhausted. This wasn’t quite the dinner party for which you were hoping. I’m sorry, child.”

Leaning over, I kissed her on the cheek. “It was amazing. Thank you. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. You have a wonderful family, Mama Caroline. You must be very proud.”

Caroline inhaled deeply as the tears formed. “That I am, Cassie. That I am. I hope it won’t be too long before I see you again.”

Rising out of my seat, I shook my head. “I don’t think Simon will hear the end of it if he doesn’t bring me to visit you one day this week.” Looking at Simon, I saw his bright smile.

“Well, if you hassling him won’t work, I’m sure me hassling him will,” she playfully answered.

Simon shuddered. “One lesson I have learned in my lifetime so far, Cassie, is never say no to Mama Caroline.”

Everyone laughed, and we said our goodbyes. Once we were outside, Simeon was the perfect gentleman and opened the door for me. I smiled sweetly and accepted his gracefulness.

We drove for five minutes before he broke the silence. “You’re an amazing woman, Cassie.”

I laughed. “You sound just like your brother.”

Simeon shook his head. “Which one?” As I felt the stab to my heart, Simeon sighed. “Oh, Cassie. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Simeon. It’s not your fault. You don’t need to keep apologizing. I bet it feels like you’re forever doing that. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable around me.”

Eyes staring straight ahead, Simeon gripped the steering wheel. “You could never make me feel uncomfortable, Cassie. In fact, you seem to have this uncanny knack of making people feel at peace around you.”

I studied Simeon after that remark. Surely I didn’t possess the same calm-like qualities these angels seemed to emanate.

“Do we all possess this pull?”

Briefly taking his eye off the road, Simeon frowned. “Pull for what?”

“To be with each other. I’ve only ever had that with Michael, Stephen, and yourself. It’s hard to explain.”

“I know exactly what you mean, Cassie. We seek each other out. How can you explain that lions only roam with other lions, or that elephants herd with other elephants? We seek each other out because we are one in the same.”

I sighed. “I suppose when you put it like that…”

Simeon shrugged. “It just makes sense. I didn’t feel any relief until I was with you and Michael in that hospital. It was almost like I could function properly again.”

As soon as he said that, I felt the guilt. Here I was, going on like a whiney child when someone like Simeon was apart from his kind for months—maybe even years.

“A lion without his pride… It must have been hard.” I caught his smile and matched it. “What?”

“Did you just call me a lion?”

Realising I did, I shook my head. “No, it’s just—”

“You just called me a lion.” Simeon nodded and stuck his tongue out.

Knowing I wasn’t going to get anywhere with this argument, I playfully pushed his shoulder. “Just shut up, Mr. Big-head.”

“I don’t think the lion in me likes being called names.”

“Well, then, I think the lion will just have to find a quiet corner somewhere and lick his wounds.”

Glancing over at me, Simeon shook his head. “You are quite the woman, Cassie.”

Smiling, I look at the bright lights of London. I thought about Simon and his family, and it made me smile. They were all warm and welcoming—well, Blake was a little creepy, but I knew he did it in all innocence. I could tell there was no malevolence there. They were just one big happy, loving family. It was great to see.

It wasn’t long before my thoughts drifted to Stephen. He had never left me. Sometimes, he just sat in a quiet corner. I knew he would never leave my heart. Some days were more unbearable than others, but I was learning to cope. Especially when I filled my days with other people’s hectic lives.

“What are you thinking about?”

Snapping out of my daydream, I looked over at Simeon as he pulled into a parking space. “I was just thinking about how lovely Simon’s family is.” I know it was a half-truth, but it was all I was offering him right now.