Tides Of Fate

Chapter Thirteen

He stood up and pulled me up then took a few steps back to look at me. “You’re right, you look thinner.” I was glad I hadn’t put on weight, but I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or not. “But no on the slim figure. You are padding up around your waist.”

“Hey!” I put my hands over the bump to hide it.

He laughed. “Come on, I’ll cook for you.” He took my hand and led me downstairs.

We found the others seated in the living room. They stared at us as we descended the flight of stairs. “Let me guess, they were listening in?”

Ash chuckled. “They could hear and I guess they told the girls too.”

“Privacy in this house is like Snopholofagus.”

“What?” He asked me amused.

“The elephant? Big bird’s imaginary friend in Sesame Street? I loved that show when I was a kid.”

“They were just making sure you were safe. And you are still a kid.”

I got worried when he called me a kid again. He still thought of me as a child? “Is that why you won’t…you know…”

“Snopholofagus.” He pointed to his ear then to our family. They were standing staring up at us.

I stopped at the top, scared to take another step. What if they were scared of me, I was potentially one of the animals who could eat them.

“Ash…”

He turned and looked at me. I was hoping he would understand that as an open invitation into my mind. He stared at me, then turned and stared at the girls, taking a few seconds on each and then he stared back at me.

They are fine with it. You are still their baby sister, just weirder than usual.

His voice in my head caught me off guard. I was going to have to get used to this.

If they find out you were in their heads, they are going to skin you for your fur!

We kept walking down the steps laughing. The others looked confused.

“What’s so funny?” Ann met me at the bottom of the steps and pulled me away from Ash. Maria came and stood next to us. I was glad they didn’t see me differently.

“Nothing. Are we good?” I believed what Ash told me but I needed to hear it from them.

Maria took my hand and led me to the kitchen. “You are still our baby sister. I know you’re hungry so let’s go to the kitchen. We also need to talk about your first day in college. Four weeks aren’t enough to get you up to speed.”

I groaned. “I was hoping the holiday would be longer. Your university is the only one opening this early.”

“Our university; you aren’t in high school anymore. And it’s only one month early.”

“And anyway the first two weeks are just orientation and other nonsense. Now could you please eat more cooked food today? The raw meat can come after we’ve all eaten.” Ann had a disgusted look on her face. I laughed; she was going to stay the same Ann, just more closely watched by her bodyguard Billy.

I noticed the guys weren’t following us. I turned to see them standing in a small circle in the middle of the living room their faces were gravely serious. They must be doing the telepathic thing. I stopped at the door and watched the girls busy themselves at the stove. I wanted to eavesdrop on the guys’ conversation but not be too obvious about.

Billy you need to ease up on Merilee, she has enough weighing her down without you adding on to it.

That was my dad. I felt excited now that I knew exactly what I was doing, and this time I was doing it intentionally.

I’m just being careful, what if she loses it and ends up hurting one of the girls?

Billy sounded defensive.

She won’t.

I think we should get her an ultra sound…

Joe sounded worried. The conversation had moved from my being a threat to my sisters, to my health.

Joe, would you stop for a second? Lee, it’s rude to eavesdrop.

I jumped. Ash laughed out loud. I felt embarrassed having been caught. I turned; they were all looking at me. Ash was the only one laughing. The others looked confused; they hadn’t realized I was listening in.

I gave them a discomfited smile, mumbling, “Sorry.” Then I turned and rushed into the kitchen.