“Caleb is here,” I reasoned, “what else could I do?”
“Caleb is what you need now. You need to be dependent on him even though it is hard at times.”
I nodded and continued to pet Bella before she took off to chase a seagull.
“My dad really needs me, though he’d never admit it, and I still need him. It’s strange that you guys just split from your family.”
“I just want you to know that no matter what happens, no matter what anybody says, no matter what drama that’s going to plague us once the leaders learn of your being the Visionary; you are not without family. I know you have your father but...sometimes a girl just needs her mother. Although I’d never try to take her place, I’m here, if you ever need to talk or vent or whatever.”
“Thanks,” I wiped my cheeks with sandy fingers. “I appreciate that.”
“So, has Caleb talked to you about the ceremony yet?”
“What ceremony?” I groaned. “Don’t tell me there’s some kind of Visionary ritual I have to go through,” I said horrified.
“No, no. I’m talking about the dedication ceremony.”
“What’s that?”
“Caleb didn’t tell you?”
What is he thinking? Why would he not say anything about it? Maybe he just let it go because of everything that’s going on.
“Well,” she started and stretched her legs out, crossing them and then looked at me. “A dedication is our kind’s wedding ceremony.”
“What?”
I felt my heart speed up and took a deep breath.
“We don’t have traditional weddings. It’s similar in a lot of ways but it’s only for our families. Humans are generally not involved with it. It just lets everyone know that there’s no doubt about you being each other significant and that you are dedicating yourself to each other and to the clan. It’s really beautiful, actually. Some people get hung up on the whole imprint thing, about how our bodies need each other. Well this is to show that it’s not just our bodies, it’s our willing hearts too.”
I saw stills of Peter and her at their dedication ceremony in her mind. Rachel was so young, so very pretty and lively. Peter was dashing. They weren’t wearing tuxes and poufy dresses and there were no bridesmaids. Rachel was wearing a simple red silk slip dress that had a slight train and her feet were bare, a Malva flower tucked behind one ear. Peter was barefoot as well wearing a red button up shirt and black pants.
Everyone else wore red too as they made a circle around the two of them. Grandpa Ray was officiating. It was intriguing.
“What’s all the red for?” I asked and Rachel laughed.
“Oh,” she laughed again. “I forget about your ability. Red is for blood. I know,” she said when I made a ‘what the’ face. “It sounds terrible. We don’t use the traditional white for purity because we are binding ourselves together, body, soul, mind, and heart. Significants blood calls to one another, protects each other and completes one another. It’s the basis for a body and it’s the basis for an imprint, a bond. Remember back to your imprinting? The very first thing you feel is your blood freezing?”
I nodded remembering and realizing it made sense.
“So you just exchange rings in front of everyone and that’s it?”
“Oh, no, no, your rings are a very private thing. It used to be that your rings were for public display purposes, to show humans you were married, but over the years it’s grown into a very romantic and sweet thing. You won’t pick your own ring, you see. You’ll choose Caleb’s ring for him and he’ll pick yours for you.”
“Really? I like that. That is sweet.”
“It is. I was so nervous searching for Peter’s. Picking out a man’s piece of jewelry is nerve racking.”
“But, don’t most people have matching rings?”
“Most people aren’t us. Do you want matching rings?”
“No,” I answered truthfully. “I think the idea of picking the other person’s ring is a great leap of faith. Picking something like that for someone shows that you know them.”
“Exactly,” she smiled.
She’s so perfect for this life. I just wish she’d see what we see. Thank you, God, for bringing her to Caleb.
“You have to conduct the ceremony or the clan doesn’t recognize you as a couple?”
“No, you don’t have to, but I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to. You love him and want to spend your life with him and you accept his love, his family and protection for you.”
“I just...never thought I’d be married at seventeen,” I said in a small voice, almost ashamed of saying it.
She wrapped her small firm arm around me and pulled me to her side. I could feel her taking deep long breaths beside me. Her mind was filled with sympathy and kind thoughts but she also worried, like she always did. Caleb was her son and she didn’t want to see him hurt and though she didn’t think I’d ever intentionally hurt him, she didn’t want to see her son in pain the kind of pain that losing a significant would cause.
She also worried that we were too young but it seemed that God had chosen us and she was powerless to stop it.
“I would never hurt him,” I said with conviction and turned slightly to her, her arm still around me. “I love him.” I felt a tear slide down my cheek and saw her swipe a tear of her own. Bella ran over and licked my hand, like she sensed I needed a kiss. “I love him and I’m not gonna reject him or your family or your ways. I’ve seen it. Caleb and I are going to be together and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I just don’t understand why everything with us has to be so complicated. Why can’t we be just like everyone else and be normal teenagers that love each other? Why do I have to lie to everyone about it? Why do I have to be the Visionary?” I felt the sob rising in my throat as I started to cry harder. “I just feel like I have no one to talk to. Sometimes I just...I just-”
“You just need your mom,” she finished for me.
“I need the way my mom used to be. I just need someone who would understand.”
“I’m afraid there won’t be anyone in this world who understands. You and Caleb, no matter how irritating it may be, are one of a kind. I’m sorry, honey. I’m sorry that you feel so torn over this.”
“I know it’s me, that I’m the Visionary. I can feel it in my blood. I just don’t know if I’m strong enough for the fight that’s ahead.”
“You are or you wouldn’t be the Visionary.”
“That’s what Caleb said,” I said laughing through my tears and she laughed too.
“He’s pretty smart, my son.”
“He’s pretty everything. I don’t know what I’d do without him,” I said more to myself than her.
“I’m so glad to hear you say that.”
“I don’t deserve him,” I muttered. “He’s always so sweet and thinking about other people. I’m selfish and naïve.”
She chuckled.
“I wish you could hear the things that Caleb has told me. When he calls he talks non-stop about you. I wish you could have seen him tell us that he’d imprinted with you.” She got a bright look in her eyes and tilted her head. “I can show you.”
She immediately began to replay me a fuzzy off kilter playback of Caleb running into Kyle’s house, not even shutting the door and yelling for his parents. Everyone was gathered around in the living room as he ran in. He sank to his knees on the carpet so he wouldn’t fall. As he told them he’d imprinted, they gasped, excited. Everyone scrambled to get out the door to see me. He told them I’d left with Kyle, to give him space to tell them.
“You should see her. She is everything I would have thought up for myself. She’s sweet and adorable and took everything so well. I was pulled to her even before the imprint, like she already belonged to me.”
“What does she look like?” someone asked.
“She’s just…gorgeous; she’s short with brown curls and freckles.”
“Now, come on, Caleb, you can do better than that,” Gran complained
.
“You’ll all see her tomorrow. I’m gonna go get her in the morning and bring her here to meet you. Please take it easy on her. I know this is just a...miracle and all but I don’t want to scare her.”
“Now, Caleb,” Gran drawled. “If she’s your girl, she’ll be just fine.”
“She’s mine,” Caleb confirmed loudly and then cracked a little embarrassed smile. “I can feel her heartbeat, right now.”
There was an explosion of ahh’s and ooooh’s at that and Rachel grabbed him in a hug with big fat tears dripping from her chin as everyone hooped and hollered behind them. Peter clapped him on the back and looked towards the ceiling with his eyes closed.
Rachel let the memory fade and I wiped my tears away once more and felt her do the same.
“All will be as it should be, Maggie. We can’t out run destiny. I know you love Caleb.”
“I do.”
“And he loves you.”
“I feel silly for leaving like that in the Jeep,” I said and felt a burn of shame on my neck and cheeks.
“He should have been more focused and supportive. We all make mistakes, even Aces, but at the end of the day, you always have each other.”
“Have you and Peter ever had a fight?”
She giggled and pressed me harder to her.
“Of course, honey. When you’ve been married as long as I have, you’ll have quite a few fights under your belt. You learn to fight. We’re not human, we have a lot of the same mundane issues but for the most part, we’re different in just about everything we do. We fight in a construction way. Heated talking can be very useful.”
“I agree,” I said and nodded, remembering the conversation Caleb and I had after I got back.
“Caleb is very protective of you; even more so than Peter was with me. It’s very endearing to watch. If he’s hard sometimes, Maggie, it’s just because he loves you. Maybe the reason his protectiveness is so fierce is because you are the Visionary and it is ingrained in him to protect that. It is instinct for him. Rely on it.”
“I will,” I promised and scratched Bella’s head.
That dog was very serene for a puppy.
“Alright, I guess we can head back unless you want to stay out here longer?”
“No. I’m ready. Thank you.”
We walked back up the beach in easy comfortable silence as Bella waddled between us. One we reached the back yard of the beach house I stopped Rachel with a hand on her arm and hugged her tight as Bella took off toward the house.
“Thank you, really. You helped me more than you know.”
“I’ll always be here for you. I know it’s strange to you but we love you. And someday, you’ll learn to love us too, Maggie,” she said sweetly.
“I already do,” I whispered.
“Ah,” she gasped. “Maggie. You don’t know what that means to me.”
I felt Caleb watching us and peeked up to see him standing in the bay windows with a proud little smile quirking his lips. He was happy to see his mother and me getting along, getting to know each other, let alone embracing.
“Alright, let’s eat, dear,” Rachel said bringing me back around.
“Ok, yeah. I’m starving.
~ Nine ~
Everyone was already seated either at the table or bar by the time we washed up and came to the kitchen. I avoided Bish’s gaze, not out of spite, but out of exhaustion. I didn’t know if I could handle anymore of his disappointment tonight. I did see, however, that he and Jen were seated across from each other.
Caleb tried to ask me about what had happened with Bish, seeing me thinking about it, but I assured him I was fine now, thanks to his mother.
As I sat in the chair that was left empty next to Caleb I saw Bish and Jen both doing that little gaze dance. When she looked up, he looked up, then they both looked away and vice versa. I was concerned and knew Caleb was even more than I was. He didn’t want his sister hurt and I didn’t want my brother hurt so we were on the same page. Though I thought it would be nice if Bish found someone and Jen, the sweetest sister I’d ever met, would be perfect for him.
I felt Caleb mentally balk beside me. I glanced at him quickly.
I said ‘would be’, not I’m gonna hook them up. I know it’s impossible, I just hate to see them unhappy and it’s pretty clear they’re attracted to each other.
Yeah, pretty clear. But it’s impossible and better to not even entertain the idea of it. It’d just hurt them worse in the end.
I know. You know any single girls in their twenties that would go for Bish?
Sure, I know plenty. But would Bish go for it? He doesn’t seem to be attracted to anything that walks, talks, eats or breathes except my sister.
I laughed and then covered my mouth with my hand to cover it and faked choking on a piece of steak. Caleb was trying not to laugh beside me. I guess it was obvious to the Aces what was going on because I saw Peter shaking his head in amusement.
After dinner, Peter and Rachel were ready for bed. Everyone was jetlagged and Caleb was supposed to be heading to practice. Only two days left until his show with Metal Petals. So, that left Bish and Kyle and I to our own devices. Bish and Kyle’s devices were Xbox. So I decided to take Caleb up on his offer to watch him practice.
We left after a short explanation about where we were going.
“I miss your bike,” I said in the Jeep. “The Jeep’s nice, but there’s something about that bike.”
“I hear ya. I miss her too.”
“Her?” I laughed. “Don’t tell me your bike has a name?”
“What?” he said incredulously. “As a matter of fact, I do have a name for her. I’m glad Lolita’s not here to hear you make fun of her.”
I laughed harder as we pulled into a massive three story beach house, right on the beach.
“If they’re so loaded, why does Zeke’s brother work at the pizza place?” I asked.
“Their parents think if they work part time their senior year of high school it’ll teach them restraint and responsibility. But they kinda botch the plan when he’s wearing his new Jordan’s and driving his brand new Lexus while he’s delivering pizzas.”
I smiled and nodded in understanding.
We parked on the street and walked into the garage. I could already hear them practicing. Caleb pulled my arm.
“Wait. Now, you remember Zeke. He’s zealous. He might even act all stupid around you and I’ll stop him but just don’t listen to half the things they say, ok?”
Really, they are a bunch of spoiled college drop-outs who think they can just do whatever they want. He’s been my friend for years and we’re helping each other out.
“I understand. I won’t jump the gun on the judgment. And I’ll be quiet.”
“You don’t have to be quiet just...ok, yeah. It’s probably better for you that way.”
I laughed and shook the sand from my shoes before we went inside.
“I’m fine. I’ll still love you after this, I promise.”
He grinned.
“That’s my girl. And you better shut everyone out before we go in. I’d just spend the whole time busting heads if I knew what they were really thinking about you,” he said in a low voice.
I just smirked and shook my head, then focused on Caleb.
When we entered the garage and I couldn’t say anything even if I wanted to. They had Marshall Speaker stacks lined up along the back wall. There were two Zilgdan drum kits, drummers involved. The floor was carpeted as were the walls with a plush sea blue. The band was there, five of them, and Zeke in all his tacky rock star glory was there in the middle, no shirt and no shoes. I wondered if he ever wore any.
“Caleb, it’s about freaking time, mate!”
“Sorry, the family flew in unexpectedly.”
“Really? Well, tell Jen I said hello why don’t you. That little kitten still single?”
Caleb groaned.
“Dude, shut up.” He pulled me to him and pointed me to a leather cou
ch in the corner. “You remember Maggie?”
“Of course,” Zeke looked at me and winked. “You just don’t forget someone with a sweet wholesome name like Maggie.”
“Here are the rest of the guys,” Caleb went down the line but I knew I wouldn’t remember their names, “and this is Maggie.”
“Hello, Maggie. You coming to sing back-up? You can sit on my lap?” one of the drummers said and smiled cockily as everyone else laughed.
Well, almost everyone.
“Enough. And on with practice,” Caleb barked and rubbed his hands together, flexing his fingers.
He picked up a green bass and strummed it a few times before Zeke began making all these weird noises as he warmed up his voice. He just sounded demented. He shook himself out and blew his lips. Then he stood very still and spoke.
“I’m ready.”
And Caleb opened with a bass line.
I watched his fingers with fascination. He was fast and good; focused. Zeke grabbed the microphone and draped a purple scarf around his neck as he belted out their rocked out rendition of ‘25 or 6 to 4’ by Chicago and then ‘Seven Nation Army’ by White Stripes. They played many originals as well. I was in awe at the lack of understanding I had as to what any of the songs were about.
During one such song, Caleb glanced over at me and smiled. He kept playing flawlessly as he locked his blue eyes to mine and did one of those slow spreading, heart fluttering, and dimple inducing smiles. Then he winked. I could only stand there in awe. He was wearing some rugged jeans with flip flops and a plain white t-shirt. His hair was a mussed mess of curls and he’d gotten even more tanned since we’d been there. It made me bite my lip when I remembered that that beautiful creature belonged to me.
If possible, his smile got wider and he sent me a mental picture of him kissing me senseless on the porch swing buried in white cushions. It was no longer a vision, it was a memory. My mouth opened slightly in surprise and I scolded him with my eyes for doing that now. Right then. He laughed silently and winked once more before turning back to Zeke who was coming to shimmy with the bass.
After about two hours, they had played through and fussed with each other about the other’s messing up enough. I tried to hide my smile. What a bunch of girls! Zeke was constantly dabbing his face with a lime green hand towel and getting chilled water from the mini-fridge all the while yelling at the others for dragging or not ‘feeling the music’.