I gently closed the silver chest and placed it under Gram's mahogany bed.
Wiping the tears from my eyes, I decided to return to my family.
As I left the room, I caught my reflection in the mirror as I turned to close
the door. The reflection told me, “You're strong enough and soon, you will know
how strong you can be.”
Chapter
Five
Cole smiled at me as I entered the kitchen. “Gram just took Meg to
bed. I just finished cleaning up the bookcase we knocked over.” He
smiled and patted the seat next to him. “Sit, you look like you have
seen a ghost.”
I started to tell him, but something inside me silenced my words. How could
I explain to him that my grandmother knew where my mother was all along?
That I had taken an oath to protect magic? I didn’t know where to start.
I filled the tea kettle with water, contemplating my words. “Let's go into the
living room and sit by the fire. I'm just cold.”
Cole opened his mouth as if to ask a question but promptly changed his
mind. Relief filled me. He would give me space and let me tell him on my own
terms.
“Why don’t I start the fire?” Cole suggested.
“Good idea. Did you want any tea? Gram traded Mrs. Everstone some jam
for her blueberry orange spice tea leaves.”
“Sure, and a snack,” he called back as he left the room.
Shaking my head, I smiled to myself. He seemed to always be hungry.
Fixing two mugs of warm tea with a splash of fresh milk and a bit of honey, I
pulled down a crystal cookie jar that was full of tea biscuits. These hard cookies
were flavored with blackberries soaked in orange zest. Not only had Gram
turned the berries we picked into delicious jams, but she took the time to make
my favorite treats.
I popped one in my mouth and picked up the tray I had prepared. The sweet, buttery taste of the biscuit was followed by the bitter citrus. Finally, the complimentary blackberry sweetness filled my senses. I hummed softly in
delight.
I joined Cole in the living room. He had turned all the lights low and was adding more wood to the fire. He stopped his task and took the tray from me.
When I settled next to him, he covered me with one of the soft throw blankets.
We sat in silence, sipping our tea, and nibbling the cookies.
My mind played over, and over, how I would tell him everything I learned.
The flames of the fire, dancing in front of us, quieted my thoughts. Another night to reveal your secrets, I decided.
After the small plate of cookies was gone, Cole took the teacup from me and
set it on the coffee table in front of us. He turned back to me with a serious look
in his eyes.
“When I told you, today, that I would be there for you – always – I meant it,
