“All of it, and they all showed the same thing—that I’m fine now.” Ana beamed at her mother, whose color had drained from her face in shock.
“Dr. Tilgan personally did an ultrasound to double check the results before she let me leave.”
“How?” Was all Melissa could squeeze out.
“Unexplainable, really. I guess you could call it a miracle.”
Melissa stumbled to the couch where Eva sat, wide eyed with a book opened in her lap. Eva watched Melissa like a frightened rabbit.
A strangled sob broke from Melissa’s chest and her head collapsed into her lap.
“Mom!” Ana ran to her mother’s side and squatted down in front of her shaking body. She laid her warm fingertips on Melissa’s shoulder. “It’s okay. It’s really happening.”
Melissa’s muffled voice found its way to Ana’s ears. “How can this be? I don’t understand.”
Melissa lifted her face. Her mascara smeared down her cheeks over a spectacular smile. She grabbed Ana in her arms and laughed as the tears continued to flow.
Eva sat still, appearing unsure how to react to the burst of emotion. The torrent of happiness that poured from their mother affected them both at once and they joined in Melissa’s teary laughter.
After they calmed down from Ana’s amazing announcement, they went out to dinner to celebrate. Aunt Tera and Uncle Jace joined them, unaware of the news.
“Are you serious? Who ever would have thought!” Aunt Tera exclaimed, jumped up from the table, and knocked over her water glass in the process. Eva jumped from her chair and avoided the stream of icy water just in time.
Tera darted to Ana’s side and pulled her into a tight embrace. The stranglehold around Ana’s neck closed off her air supply and she had to gasp for breath. “Yeah! Great, isn’t it?”
Uncle Jace just sat at the table and shook his head, bewildered. “Man, didn’t see that coming. . .”
Melissa was the one who spilled the news. Ana knew her mother’s excitement was too great. It would have been selfish not to let her make the announcement. After all, it was Melissa who had carried the burden for eighteen years. She was the one who worked to the brink of exhaustion just to earn insurance to cover all of Ana’s medical bills. She was the one who watched Ana go through so much. It was the least Ana could do for her mom. She could just imagine the next day at the bank; her mother would tell anyone who drew near enough for conversation. The thought brought a smile to Ana’s lips.
“So, where’s Chance? Why isn’t he out celebrating with us?” Aunt Tera asked while she dabbed at the large wet spot on the table.
“He dropped me off at home and left. He said he didn’t want to intrude on our moment. I tried to convince him, but. . .” Ana shrugged her shoulders, a little disappointed. She had wanted him to stay, although she thought she knew the reason why he left so abruptly. He wanted the three of them to have some time together, just family. He did it for Melissa. Ana suspected he knew how much the moment would mean to her. And the only reason Ana let him leave was because he promised to come back later so they could celebrate, in private.
True to form, Chance kept his promise. Ana was on her gazing stone admiring the North Star when something immense blocked the silvery moon. She blinked in surprise as she sat in darkness. Feathers rustled through the air as the beast swept in for a landing. Awe inspiring wings generated a burst of wind that caressed her flushed cheeks and swept loose needles and dirt back toward the trees.
The amazing specimen before her was enormous and fantastic. Something from another time, or place. Its fearsome talons made her think of the gift Chance received from his grandfather. Massive weapons so large it would be hard to contain one in the palm of her hand.
Ana whistled softly, thoroughly impressed with the display. “Amazing,” she said.
Yellow eyes flashed and met hers. Soft coos came from its open beak as it folded its huge wings against its dark feathered body. Ana advanced slowly and kept an eye on the mythic raptor in caution. The bird watched her as she inched forward and stood still. Soft feathers brushed against her chest and she sank into its body.
“For always. . .”
THE END
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Prodigy and Emergent, the second and third book in the series are available for purchase now.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Natasha was born in Nevada City, California. An only child, she used her imagination while exploring the forest surrounding her home. Her natural interest in fantasy ignited when her parents read The Hobbit to her as a youth and from then on anything seemed possible. Once awarded with a Hershey's bar “the size of a Buick” in her high school English class for creative writing, her passion and interest in writing has never dimmed. She now lives in Littleton, Colorado with her husband and two children.
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