“I’m sure you have, Jordan,” Bear’s mother remarked dryly, but she was smiling at him. “Or, rather, you’ve missed my cooking.”
“You’re a package deal,” he said cheekily, before Bear finally elbowed him out of the way.
“Hi, Mum,” Bear said, wrapping his arms around his mother. She was tall, but he still dwarfed her in his embrace. “It’s good to see you.”
“We’ve missed you,” she said softly.
Alex felt like she was intruding on what should have been a private moment, but no one seemed to mind her presence. Evie was happily swinging their joined hands as if they’d known each other for years.
Looking at the close-knit family, Alex’s heart gave a melancholic pang as she wondered about her parents and what they were doing for their Christmas holiday. Even though her life at the academy kept her busy enough not to feel too homesick, she still missed them. But she knew that even if she was back in Freya, they would still be half a world away from her. At least this way she was with her friends. She only hoped that wherever her parents were, they were enjoying themselves.
When Mrs. Ronnigan finally let her son go, she turned to Alex with a warm smile and said, “Bear has told us so much about you, Alex. We’re so pleased you could come and stay with us.”
She shocked Alex by hugging her tightly, as if she too was a part of the family.
“Thank you for having me, Mrs. Ronnigan,” Alex said. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’ve opened your home to a complete stranger.”
“Nonsense,” the other woman said, waving away her gratitude. “The more the merrier, as we Ronnigans like to say. And feel free to call me Dorothy. But not Dotti.” She said the last while directing a frown towards Jordan, to which he just smiled innocently in response.
“Bear, why don’t you take your friends upstairs and get them settled,” Dorothy suggested. “Knowing you boys, you’re probably hungry, so come back down when you’re done and Gammy and I will have something ready for you.”
“Apple pie?” Jordan asked hopefully.
“We’ll see,” Dorothy said, and she took Evie’s hand and walked back through the door she’d entered from.
“Let’s go,” Jordan said, eager to speed things along.
As they walked up the hallway towards the staircase, Bear played the courteous host. “There are three levels to our house,” he said. “Here on the bottom floor we have the kitchen, dining room, lounge room, and Dad’s office. He tries not to bring work home with him but sometimes that can’t be helped.”
Alex had absolutely no idea what Bear’s dad did for work, but before she could ask, he continued with the tour.
“Gammy also has a room on this floor, but it’s more like a self-contained flat that joins onto the kitchen.” They reached the staircase and started up it while Bear continued, “You’ll be staying in Blake’s room on the second floor, Alex. Mum has already set it up for you.”
“Who’s Blake?” Alex asked.
“My brother,” Bear said. “He’s going to bunk in with Johnny, my other brother, when they arrive.”
“I’m fine just sleeping on a couch somewhere,” Alex told him. “I don’t want anyone to be put out because of me.”
“They don’t mind,” he said. “And besides, they’re not due here until Kaldoras Eve because of work, and they’ll only be able to stay for a few days. You’ll be much more comfortable this way.”
Bear went on to explain that other than Blake’s room, the second floor had the main bathroom, his parents’ room, and Evie’s room. After pointing out each of their bedrooms, he led her straight to where she would be staying.
Blake’s room was nice. Really nice, actually. There was a big, comfortable-looking bed along with a large desk and a built-in wardrobe. Best of all were the huge double windows that looked straight out the side of the house and into the forest that surrounded Bear’s home.
“Nice view,” Alex said as she put down her backpack and sat on the bed. “Where are you both sleeping?”
“In the attic,” Bear answered.
“The attic?”
“It’s awesome,” Jordan said. “They’ve added a wall down the middle so that Bear’s room is on one side and Johnny’s is on the other. Both rooms are massive, with more than enough space for me to stay up there too.”
“Huh,” Alex said, trying to reconcile the image she had of spider-infested attics with what she presumed was her friend’s bedroom. She shook her head and moved on. “I can’t believe I never asked you about your family before, Bear. I had no idea you had brothers and a sister. Is it just the four of you?”
“Yep,” he said. “Just us.”
“What about you, Jordan?” she asked. “Do you have any siblings?”
Jordan’s body became rigid with tension, but he cleared his throat and answered, “No, it’s just me.”
She knew he was sensitive when it came to his family so she turned her attention back to Bear, which prompted Jordan to visibly relax once again.
“Tell me about your brothers, Bear. What do they do?”
He shared a secret grin with Jordan before saying, “I think it’ll be more interesting if you hear it from them.”
Alex was even more curious now, but all she said was, “Okay. If you say so.”
The boys left her to unpack and took off up into the attic, but they returned barely five minutes later with Jordan claiming starvation. Alex had to practically run after them as they led the way back downstairs into the dining room where they found an elderly lady sitting at the table. She could only be the infamous Gammy.
“Do you have a hug for an old woman, Barnold?”
She was exactly as Alex had imagined. Grey-haired, short and plump. Her wrinkly face was lit up with a smile and her entire presence exuded warmth and love.
“If you can find me an old woman, Gammy, I’ll be happy to give her a hug,” Bear said. “Until then, you’ll have to take her place.”
It was so cheesy, but Alex still smiled at her friend’s response, watching as he wrapped his grandmother in his arms. She was practically the size of a child next to his bulkiness.
“Don’t think you’re getting away without some loving, sonny,” Gammy said to Jordan after releasing her grandson. She wagged a wooden spoon at him threateningly until he engulfed her in a hug too.
“Looking good, Gammy,” Jordan said when he pulled away. “You must be knocking back the blokes with that spoon of yours.”
“Cheeky as always,” she huffed at him, her eyes crinkling with amusement. “Now sit down and let old Gammy feed you.”
Alex moved to take a seat as well, but Gammy stopped her by gently grasping her hand.
“Not you, dear,” the older woman said. “You can follow me. I want to learn all about the young woman who’s keeping my boys in line.”
“Pity we left her back at the academy,” Jordan quipped.
“Hush,” Gammy silenced him. “Or there’ll be no pie for you.”
It was like she’d said the magic words, since he immediately closed his mouth and sat down.
Gammy led Alex by the hand into the kitchen and pulled out a stool for her to sit on.
“Can I help with anything?” Alex asked, watching the older woman flit around while stirring this, adding that, and pouring here and there.
“Thank you, dear, but I’m almost done.” As she spoke, Gammy turned off the stove, rinsed her hands and put on some padded mittens. She opened the oven and pulled out the most delicious-looking dessert Alex had ever seen in her life. It was the legendary apple pie, and even though she had yet to taste it, Alex suddenly understood what Jordan had been raving about. It truly was a work of art. Beautifully golden and perfectly shaped, it looked like something from the cover of a cooking magazine. Alex’s mouth watered as the aroma engulfed her senses.
“Now, we’ll just let this cool for a moment before I add my special sauce,” Gammy said, setting the pie down on a cooling rack.
> She pulled out the stool beside Alex and reached out to clasp their hands together. The familiarity was strangely comforting.
“Tell me about yourself, dear,” Gammy said.
Alex wasn’t sure where to start. “What would you like to know?”
“Whatever you want to tell me.”
Strangely enough, Alex had the strongest urge to tell the older woman everything about her crazy new life, to get it all off her chest and ask for advice from someone much older and wiser. But instead of answering, Alex surprised even herself by asking a question. “Are you gifted?”
Gammy laughed. It was a deep belly laugh that scrunched up her wrinkles and brightened her eyes. “Oh, you are a treat, aren’t you?”
Alex didn’t understand Gammy’s reaction, nor did she know how to respond.
“And you’re remarkably observant,” Gammy added, patting her hand comfortingly. “That’s good. You should always follow your instincts. Intuition can be the most advantageous gift one can possess.”
Alex still had no idea what she was talking about.
“You’re correct in your assumption,” Gammy said. “I was once a student at the academy, a long time ago now. Barnold and I are the only Ronnigans who can claim to have a gift worthy of Akarnae’s recruitment. As the years have progressed, many have forgotten my true gift, instead believing it to be my cooking. Food is my passion, and time and practice have led to some delicious results. But my true gifting is something you might be able to figure out on your own.”
Alex responded to the unspoken question by saying, “I’m not exactly sure what it is, but all I know is that you make me feel really comfortable and relaxed. It’s almost like nothing can go wrong so long as you’re here.”
“That’s the effect of my gift, dear,” Gammy said. “The gift of peace.”
“I like it,” Alex said wistfully. “It’s very relaxing.”
Gammy chuckled again. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“Does it work like an empath?” Alex asked, thinking about how she’d read in her Core Skills textbooks that some people have the ability to manipulate the emotions of others. “Is it something I could block if I tried? If I wanted to?”
“Peace in itself is a gift,” Gammy said. “It’s not something that can be manipulated or distorted. An empath can force calmness and serenity upon a person, but peace by its own nature must be accepted by the receiver. I’m not influencing you so much as projecting what I have and offering it to you. My gift exudes from within me, and you can choose to accept it or reject it.”
“Do you project all the time?” Alex asked.
“Only when I think someone is in need of a little comforting.” Gammy winked at her. “As you should know, most giftings are like light switches—they can be turned on and off at will. You seemed pretty unsure of yourself just before and I wanted to help you feel at ease.”
Alex squeezed the older woman’s hands. “Thanks, Gammy. I can see why everyone loves you so much.”
“Pish posh. They just love my cooking.”
“That too,” Alex agreed.
“Now that you’ve heard a little about me, will you tell me about yourself?” Gammy asked again.
Alex shifted on her seat. “There’s really not that much to say.” Or that she was allowed to say. “I started at the academy almost two months ago and it’s been pretty crazy getting used to everything. The classes are hard—some of them more so than others. But Bear and Jordan have really helped me settle in. I can’t imagine having better friends.”
Thankfully Dorothy chose that moment to walk into the kitchen, saving Alex from having to say more.
“Bear mentioned that you had originally planned to stay at Akarnae over the holidays,” Dorothy said, sitting in Gammy’s vacated seat when the older woman stood up to drizzle her sugary sauce over the pie. “May I ask what your family is doing for Kaldoras?”
“My parents are away at the moment,” Alex said evasively. “They’re on an extended work trip and there was no way for me to meet up with them.”
It was the truth, but Alex still felt bad because it wasn’t the entire story.
“Well, their loss is our gain,” Dorothy said kindly. “Now, let’s help Gammy get this pie out to those boys before they start eating the furnishings.”
“Too late!” Jordan and Bear called out from the next room.
Gammy dished out hearty servings and Alex helped carry them into the dining room where the boys were eagerly waiting.
“Gammy, you’re a miracle in flesh,” Jordan said, tucking into his slice before it was even settled on the table.
“Close your mouth while you’re eating, sonny,” she scolded him. “You’ll enjoy it more.”
“Not possible,” he said, but at least he swallowed first. “So not possible.”
Twenty-Four
The Ronnigans’ house was located just outside a sleepy little village called Woodhaven, and Alex spent the rest of the day playing tourist with Jordan and Bear.
“Have you lived here all your life?” she asked as they walked down the cobbled streets past more enchanting cottages.
“I actually grew up in the city,” Bear answered, walking comfortably with his hands in his pockets. “It was only when Dad was promoted that he and Mum decided they didn’t want to raise us amongst all that craziness, so we moved here and he now commutes to work.”
He kicked a stone and watched it bounce along the road before he continued, “I was ten at the time. At first it was hard—we were all used to the busy city life and it was so quiet here. But we learned to love it. Besides, the backyard forest is a pretty awesome playground.”
Seeing the picturesque woodland that surrounded—and in some places, interrupted—the village, Alex figured he had a good point.
They continued walking through the quiet streets of Woodhaven, taking everything in. As they passed some of the houses, people called out greetings to Bear, and often to Jordan as well. It was all so… neighbourly.
There weren’t many shops in the village, which wasn’t all that surprising considering its small size, and none of them were anything like what Alex had expected. There were no grocery shops, post offices, medical centres or department stores. Instead, there were places with names like Dubble Bubble, which appeared to stock all sorts of Chemistry-related supplies—including Bubblers, if their advertising was to be believed. There was also a little candy shop called The Sweet Tooth, which had hundreds of colourfully wrapped lollies on display. Further along was a small boutique clothing store and its name caused Alex to do a double-take.
“Dorothy’s Designs?” she read out loud, turning to Bear. “As in, your mum?’
“Yeah,” Bear answered. “Mum designs the clothes but she mostly works from home so she can look after Evie. Her sister—Aunt Tessa—looks after the shop.”
“I had no idea,” Alex said. “I guess I just figured she was, well—”
“A stay-at-home mother and housewife extraordinaire?” Bear finished for her with a gentle smile. “She is. And that’s what’s most important to her at the end of the day. Anything else she gets to do is just a bonus, in her eyes.”
Alex made an understanding noise and they kept walking. The next shop along was a puzzle store called Mind Over Matter which was bursting at the seams with all sorts of different games and activities.
“I love that shop,” Jordan said. “There’s just so much in there. It’s wacky to the extreme.”
They crossed over to the other side of the street and Alex saw that the next establishment was a bookshop. But there was something decidedly strange about Ye Olde Bookshoppe; it had an almost otherworldly feel about it. As they walked past the entryway, Alex snuck a glance inside, but it was too dark to see anything.
They continued on until they came to the end of the road and all that was left was a private path leading further up a hill towards another cottage in the distance.
“What do you say to a drink before we head back?” Be
ar asked.
Jordan’s face lit up. “On the house?”
“Of course,” Bear said, much to Alex’s surprise. She had expected him to tell Jordan to pay for himself. “There’s nowhere better!”
That was a weird thing for Bear to say. Alex wondered if she was missing something. And then she was sure of it, when the boys started leading her up the path towards the cottage.
As they moved closer, Alex had to squint her eyes because there was something moving on the roof of the house. The closer they walked, the more clearly she could see, and her eyes grew wider in shock and amusement. When they reached the front garden, there was a short fence with a wooden sign:
ON THE HOUSE
The finest brewing establishment in 763.8 miles
It wasn’t the sign that clued Alex in to what Jordan and Bear had been talking about—it was the establishment itself. Everything was on the roof of the house. There were tables and chairs, many of which were populated with cheerful patrons, if the laughter and chatter reaching her was any indication. They were literally on the house.
Alex couldn’t do anything but laugh at the absurd sight, and her friends smiled at her reaction.
“It’s something, hey?” Bear said.
“It sure is,” she agreed.
“Just wait until we’re up there,” said Jordan. “No one makes better drinks than Benny and Sal.”
He led the way around to the back of the house where there was a narrow staircase leading up to the roof. Alex was amused by the ‘Please watch your step!’ sign, and she wondered at the practicality of a staircase leading to a rooftop pub. That was just asking for trouble.
At the top of the stairs, Alex paused to take in the view. There were more customers than she would have expected considering the time of day. But it was almost Kaldoras, and On The House looked like the kind of place where friends and family would meet to spend time together.
“What happens when it rains? Or snows? And what about at night? How do people see? And don’t they freeze?” Alex fired out question after question.
Someone chuckled from behind her. “We’ve a newcomer, it seems.”