Broken Souls (Broken Realms, #2)

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2Mara dashed across the yard and up the three steps to the porch. Sam had solidified but looked bug-eyed as he took inventory of his body by patting himself. Diana held him by the shoulders, did her own assessment and said, “Are you all right? Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. I think I’m all here,” he said. “I don’t think anything dissolved, at least not permanently. No thanks to Mara.”

Mara looked relieved but said, “It was your bright idea. I told you that I didn’t want to use the Chronicle.”

Diana looked at the depression in the grass and said, “All in all I think it worked out for the best. You two get ready for dinner.”

As they turned to go inside, they heard the front doorbell chime.

* * *

Mara crossed the wood floor, passing behind the couch that faced the fireplace, as the doorbell rang again. She flipped the dead bolt above the doorknob. “I’m coming. I’m coming,” she said as she opened the door.

A bespeckled young blonde stood on the front porch with a smirk and an attitude. “Dude, you’re home. I was sure you would still be at that godforsaken gadget shop,” Mara’s best friend, Abby, said. She walked in without a formal invitation and flopped onto one of the armchairs next to the fireplace. “So what’s new? I haven’t talked to you in weeks.”

Mara closed the door and followed her into the living room, sitting down on the couch. “I came home a little early from work because Mom was having a minor pest control issue.”

Abby wrinkled her nose, opened her mouth to say something, when Sam walked into the room holding a banana. She turned to him and said, “And who would you be?”

“I’m Sam.” He smiled and turned to Mara. “Mom says dinner will be ready in about forty minutes and wants to know if Abby is staying. You’re Abby, right?”

“Yeah, I’m Abby,” she said. “Your mom is cooking dinner and wants to know if I’m staying?”

“Right. She wants to know how much to cook.” Sam didn’t look at Abby; he was examining the banana, turning it back and forth in his hand.

Abby turned to Mara, who sat up stiffly, mute and wide-eyed.

“What’s bugging you?” Abby said, then threw a thumb in Sam’s direction. “Who’s the kid with the banana, and why is his mom cooking us dinner?”

“He’s, um, he’s my . . .” Mara’s face turned red, and she looked up at the ceiling trying to find the words.

“Brother. I’m her brother,” Sam said. “How do you eat one of these?” He pointed the banana at Abby.

Abby stared back at him and said slowly, as if she were talking to an i***t, “You just eat it, you know? Like. A. Banana.”

Sam raised it to his nose and inhaled. “What do they taste like?”

Mara rolled her eyes and said, “Sam, just eat it!”

“You don’t have to get snippy,” he said. He stuck the end of the banana in his mouth and bit down on it. The peel split open on the side, and the inner fruit spattered his face. He shook his head back and forth until a piece broke off. He chewed and swallowed, then wiped his mouth with his free hand. “Mmm. I like the inside, but the skin is kind of tough.”

Abby stared at him with her mouth hanging open.

“Sam, why don’t you go get a towel in the kitchen,” Mara said.

He laughed and pointed the half-eaten banana at Abby. “She never answered the question.”

“What question?” Abby said.

Sam mimicked her, talking slowly. “Are. You. Staying. For. Dinner?”

Mara stood up and pushed Sam toward the kitchen. “No, she’s can’t stay . . .”

Abby waved after them. “Oh, yes I am.” She raised her voice toward the kitchen. “Yes, Mrs. Lantern, I’m staying for dinner. Thanks.”

* * *

Diana stood at the kitchen counter, cutting vegetables for a salad, when Mara dragged Sam into the kitchen. He shook the decapitated banana at her and laughed. “Here have a bite. It’s good.”

They tussled back and forth until Sam backed into a chair at the dinette set and knocked it onto its side with a clatter. Diana turned to see Sam on the far side of the table trying to evade his sister, who slapped a wet dishcloth at him.

“What are you two doing?” Diana said.

Mara threw the damp rag, hitting Sam in the forehead, and turned to her mother. “He bit into that banana in front of Abby and then told her that he was my brother.”

“I told him that he could have it to hold him over while I was cooking. What’s the big deal?”

“He didn’t peel it first!” Mara pointed at Sam, who held up the mauled banana and shrugged.

Diana dried her hands on her apron and walked over to her son. “Sweetie, you need to take the skin off before you eat it. Look.” She took the banana and stripped away the peel and handed the remains to Sam.

“It’s like living with a feral cat,” Mara said. “I’m surprised he’s housebroken.”

Diana bent over, picked up the fallen chair and scooted it under the table. Locking eyes with her daughter, she said, “He’s your little brother. Deal with it. It’s not like you have an alternative.”

“What am I supposed to tell Abby? How are we supposed to explain that I have a brother and that you have a son who suddenly appeared out of nowhere?” Mara said, sitting down with a thud.

Sam interjected, “I already told her that I’m your brother.”

“It wouldn’t take much to convince her that you’re delusional,” Mara said, tapping her temple.

“No, we are not doing that. No lies. Sam’s a part of our family, and we’re not going to tell people otherwise. This doesn’t have to be complicated if we don’t make it so.”

Mara glared at her mother in silence, trying to think of a response. Her mother knew it and didn’t try to goad it out of her.

Sam flopped down at the table and shoved the rest of the banana into his mouth. For a few minutes the only sound in the room was his chewing.

Then Mara raised a finger and pointed at her mother. “Okay, then show me how,” Mara said.

“Show you how to what?” Diana said.

“Show me how to explain to Abby that Sam is my brother.” Mara lifted her jaw slightly as if challenging her mother.

“Okay, you’re on,” Diana said. She then lifted her own jaw and called out to the front of the house. “Abby, can you join us here in the kitchen for a minute?”

“Coming!” They felt the vibrations through the wood floor as Abby ran to the kitchen.

Diana pointed to two chairs on either side of Sam at the round dinette table. “Have a seat, and let’s talk for a minute.” Abby took one seat and Diana took another.

“Sure, Mrs. L,” Abby said, throwing a smirking glance at Mara.

“I’d like to introduce you to my son, Sam. Sam, this is Abby. She and Mara have been friends since they were little girls,” Diana said.

“Hi.” Sam grinned.

Diana continued, “I know it’s a bit of a surprise that Mara has a brother, but . . .”

“You don’t have to explain, Mrs. L. I understand,” Abby said.

“You do?” Mara said.

“Yeah, I get it,” Abby said.

“What do you get?” Mara leaned forward.

“Your mom got pregnant after she split from your dad and put the bambino up for adoption,” Abby said. “Now he’s back. You’re Mara’s half brother from a different father.”

Mara and Diana looked at each other. “Well, that’s not quite . . .” Diana said. “They have the same father.”

“Oh, I see. You got pregnant with Dr. Lantern and then split, and Sam went to live with his father in San Francisco,” Abby said.

“No, that’s not quite right either . . .” Diana said.

Sam perked up in his seat and waved a hand in front of his mother’s face. “Mom?”

Relieved for the distraction, Diana turned away from Abby’s gaze and said, “Yes, Sam?”

“I have a father?” He looked expectant, hopeful.

Mara dropped her head into her hands and said, “I’m glad you said this doesn’t have to get complicated.”

“So when do I get to meet my dad?” Sam said. “I’ve never had a father before.”

Diana went pale and looked blankly at her son. After a beat, she shook her head and said, “Sweetheart, let’s talk about that later, okay?” She turned to Abby. “Anyway, Sam’s a part of our family. The details are somewhat—”

“Complicated,” Abby said. “I understand.”

“I was going to say personal. I hope you won’t mind if I don’t go into all the details.” Diana stood up and turned to the counter to continue preparing dinner. “Why don’t you girls go hang out in the living room? Sam can stay here, and help me chop vegetables and set the table.”