Days of Darkness

Chapter 60

"I haven't felt her like that since she was a baby," Natalie said. She dropped her work on the table and looked up at me. "You don't think she bonded with that boy?"

"I don't think so?" I replied, "Someone else maybe. It was so strong, like she hit the afterburners or something." Natalie chuckled and gave me that look that said I was going to be warm tonight.

"You don't like me working weekends," Natalie said. I had told her as much before, in a nice offhanded way. It was greedy of me to demand so much time. "I saw what you want," she added as she got up from the chair and moved toward the couch.

"Bad girl," I said with a smile, "you haven't cheated in years." Natalie took the paper from my hands and tossed it haphazardly onto the coffee table.

"It's been so long since I've seen inside you," Natalie continued. "You still see me n***d in your mind." I took her hand and pulled her onto the couch and into my arms.

"You shouldn't be messing in a man's mind," I chastised, putting my hand behind her neck and caressing behind her ear with my thumb. She leaned into my hand and curled her body closer to mine. "Besides, you already know I love you." I pulled her lips to mine and felt that special impassioned tingle that came when our desires were moving at the same speed. Her lips parted, and the kiss left lovely and entered into a luxurious passion.

"Minor in the room!" Zane shouted as he came down the stairs. Natalie laughed as she broke the kiss. A thought flashed through my mind, something about being childless. It disappeared as quickly as it came. "Is it okay if I spend the night at Rick's? He picked up a bunch of horror films, and he's having people over."

"Text us when you get there," I said, mentally scooting him out the door. Natalie smacked my shoulder and stood up. Her sweet smile softened the blow.

"You have to drive him," Natalie said, "it's already dark out." I sighed and thought again of being childless. This time, the thought lingered for a tenth of a second. I stood, and she wrapped her hands around my neck and kissed my cheek.

"I'll be here waiting," Natalie whispered in my ear. The breath tickled my ear, as she let go slowly. I loved the way her eyes looked at me. They were her young eyes, the ones that only I was allowed to see.

"You packed?" I asked Zane quickly. The drive was only ten minutes, but I could do it in five if I broke a few laws.

"Yep," Zane said, holding up his backpack. I smiled.

"And what if we had said no?"

"You're predictable," Zane replied, shrugging his shoulders. "You only say no when I've been a pain in the ass."

"Now I want to say no just to be spontaneous," Natalie joked.

"Mom!"

"Go, go," Natalie said sweetly. "I want you home in time for dinner tomorrow. You have that history test to study for tomorrow night." I grabbed my keys and practically shoved my son out the door.

*****

"What did Teegan do?" Zane asked once we were on the road. There was a lot of curiosity in his voice.

"You felt that?"

"I think the world felt that," Zane replied. "I didn't know it worked that way. I mean, I feel you guys and know when you're pissed and stuff, but it was different this time." I could feel my face heating up as I wondered how much he felt. Natalie saw things only she should see, and we certainly didn't want to share those things with our children.

"What did you feel?" I asked carefully.

"I felt more of me," Zane answered. "It was like I was able to rethink things without any worries, I guess." I smiled, relieved that he didn't inadvertently walk into my x-rated thoughts of his mother.

"She hasn't done that since you were a baby," I answered honestly. "We all thought it had faded away. Obviously, it hasn't. She was able to turn it off quickly enough."

"Is it wrong to like it?" Zane asked.

"No," I said after thinking a moment, "though I wouldn't depend on feeling it again. It's been over 15 years since I felt it the last time."

"Dad, who is she?"

"Your sister," I replied. I looked over expecting to see fear in his eyes. There wasn't any, just curiosity.

"I know that," Zane said, "I mean, I want to know the things you're not telling me." Though we hadn't told Teegan everything, she was aware of the fake birth certificate and some of how she came into the world. Zane, we had left more in the dark. It was the first time he expressed a desire to know.

"I think I've waited too long to tell you," I said. "Now, it's Teegan's right to tell you, not mine or your mother's." It was a type of cop-out, but I felt it had some correctness to it. Teegan was a young woman now, and it was her history.

"She's told me some," Zane admitted. That surprised me. "I know she's adopted, and like her power, no one else can know."

"Then you know a lot," I said. "She is our family and always will be," I added in case he thought she was less for not being tied by blood.

"Dad," Zane sighed. I could hear the eye roll in his voice. "I'm not trying to get rid of her. I'm just trying to figure things out. She'll always be my sister and knowing stuff won't change that." He was getting older before my eyes. It wasn't the first time he could sense my subtlety and answer my unasked questions.

"You're right," I said, "I just didn't want you thinking we loved her less because she's adopted."

"Like I don't feel it every day," Zane said with the same eye roll tone. I had to laugh, more at myself than him. Of course, he knew how much we loved each other. No one in the family could escape that. I really had to stop thinking that everything needed to be explained to him. He was coming into his own mind and didn't always need my conclusions.

"Sorry," I said, "you've grown up while I wasn't looking."

"Remember that when I'm 16," Zane said. "I was thinking a Corvette for my birthday." The seriousness of the conversation faded from there. I explained to him that it would be a cold day in hell when he had a 'Vette before me. He reminded me that air conditioning had come a long way. I liked the bit of bonding the drive provided us. When he entered high school, hanging out with his friends suddenly became more important than spending time with his dad. It was rare to have a conversation that spanned more than a few words. I realized I missed it.

"Thanks," Zane said as he exited the car. I reminded him about being home by dinner, which he half-heard as he hustled to Rick's door. Our time was over, and friends once again reigned supreme.

I was at a stoplight when I felt Teegan's love explode into me again. More powerful than I had ever felt her before. Whatever triggered it, I welcomed it with open arms. I sent back all I had to her, a father's love untainted by reservations. The night was magnificent. Life's problems sorted themselves into neat solvable chunks. In the middle of it, I found Natalie and our loved mixed in a dance of our making. The link broke, my smile didn't.

When I returned home, I was surprised to find most of the lights out. The one at the top of the stairs was on, so I followed it like a beacon. A lamp in the master bedroom led me there. I called out for Natalie.