Independence (14 page)

"It's never been done," Gran said. "Especially since Fiona is part of another clan."

"I know," I said and took a deep breath
as I spoke softly
, "but all these rules and regulations and traditions…I me
an, no offense, but that'
s what got your kind in so
much trouble in the first place, right?
"

She sighed. "
It's just hard to change things when you've done them
a certain way
for so long. And I'm
human like you, and it's hard for me, so I can only imagine how hard this will be for Peter and the council."

"The council isn't present at a wedding though, are they?"
"No, but it has
to
be recorded through them." She pinched her chin and smiled. "Oh, well. The old coots can deal with it, I guess. Especially since it's coming from you."

I bit my lip. "I'm not trying to cause problems," I assured her. "I just think we should
make our own traditions now." I looked at the infinity symbol on my wrist. "This has to mean something. Us going to London and breaking the hold of the council has to mean something. Caleb finding me, me being human, and everything that has happened since that didn't make any sense…it all has to mean something."

"It does, honey," Rachel insisted and gave me a half hug. "It means that you're right where you're supposed to be.
I think it's a wonderful idea. A great way to show the council and the whole race that when you say you're going to change things that you mean business."

"I hope so," I said softly. "So, Jen is wearing the dress. It's only right."

I held it out to her and she smiled as she touched it. "Oh, gosh. You showed me this dress when I was a kid, Gran. I dreamed about wearing this dress." Her lip trembled.

I never thought I'd get the chance to wear it.

Rachel pu
t her other arm around Jen
. "No more dreaming now, baby."

Jen put her arm around her mom's waist like a child would and tried to keep her tears in check. The room held a vibe that had a bittersweet happiness to it. It soaked the air with it making me want to cry with them. Jen was finally getting what was always promised her as a little girl. What she knew was going to be hers was taken and withheld. And then Maria happened and she took that little blessing with stride knowing she'd never have the chance to have a child otherwise. And now here she was, on the cusp of everything she ever wanted
,
and it was hitting her all at o
nce…
with this dress.

She smiled and didn't try to wipe the tear as it fell. Her fi
ngers reverently fingered a nonexistent
pattern on the fabric and
she wondered what Bish's face would look like as he watched her come to him
while wearing it
. She hoped it made her look beautiful enough to make up for all the drama and trouble she was bringing
into
his life with this family and her kind.

"Bish is happier than I've ever seen him," I told
her. "Jen, he's head over feet
in love with you and everything that's attached to you.
He has been ever since he first saw you.
Don't worry about him. Bish isn't in the habit of letting
inconsequential
things bother him."

"I guess," she said noncommittally and sniffed. "I just know how hard it's been for
you
to come into this life."

"Well, I'm here to help him. And my situation was a little different," I said wryly and remembered the fuss everyone made over me for being the first human in a very long time
,
along with the first imprint.

She laughed at my scowl. "Yeah…I guess
it wa
s a little different."

"Just a little," I played along. I put the dress all the way into her arms because she had still not taken it from me. "It's your right to wear it. And I want to share my day with you, if you want to."

"Of course I do," she said, like I was crazy for thinking otherwise. "I know you still don't really underst
and what exactly the dedication
wedding is for. But I do, and for you to ask me to share that with you and my brother is…
I'm honored."

"
I'm
honored." I
let her hug
me
to her
. "
Don't worry about anything," I told her and when I felt her breath catch a little, I realized I
had
inadvertently brought up the unavoidable future. The vision I saw of Bish and Jen played in both of our minds and I leaned back. I mouthed, 'I'm sorry.'

She shook her head and mouthed, 'I trust you.'

'I won't let anything happen to you. Or Bish. I haven't forgotten, I promise.'

'I know.'

I saw Gran watching us curiously. Jen wrapped her arm around me and said, "
Sister stuff."

I felt my heart ski
d a beat or two at that. She squeezed me. "So Fiona and Lynne and you and me. What a pretty bunch of ladies we're going to be," she joked and flipped her hair.
"They should rename Saturday
Diva Day
'cause that's totally what it's going to be."
I laughed along with Rachel and Gran, even though I knew she was trying to take her mind off the vision. I took a steadying breath. I refused to let the vision come to fruition. I refused to let something so beautiful and needed for our
family and our race end
so pointless
ly
by a jackass with a God complex. That bastard had ruined enough already and I refused to let him take one more thing from me or this family.

"Did someone tell a knock-knock joke?"

I turned to find Maria.

And Bish.

And my goodness was the man glowing
from the inside out
.

I smiled at him and he smiled back. I went to him, expecting him to be different now somehow. Like the way Beck had called me a freak and ran, he would be different since he'd seen me in all my Visionary glory in London and had finally found his way into Jen's life the way he wanted…and now things wouldn't be the same. But I was proven wrong when he lifted me i
nto a bear hug. I sank into it and felt not just relief, but a sense of rightness wash over me.

I peeked back to see his face, to see if he was feeling the same thing as I was. His face
said he was and then I heard him.

She
look
s
so…happy and…
free.
I
feel kinda
terrible about everything I did.

"
You're my brother," I justified. "It would have been
weird
if you hadn't been worried about me."

"Yeah, but…all the things I said to Caleb.
If you had just given me a couple mi
nutes alone with the guy
, I would've
laid him out."

I chuckled. "I have no doubt. But it's over now."

He touched my cheek. "You have no idea how beautiful you look when you're this happy. I know it's because of him."

I blushed and pressed my lips in a line. "It is."

He sighed and moved back. "How was the viewing?"
"Oh, uh…fine."

"I'm sorry."

"It's OK," I hurriedly said and looked back at Gran. "Are you going to go shopping with me? I'm gonna need a new dress."

"Heck no!" She sized me up. "I'm gonna make you one, pretty girl. And Fiona's and Lynne's, too."

"There's no way you can make them all in-"

"Are you doubting me?" She cocked
her little eyebrow and waited.

"N-no, ma'am," I stuttered.

"Good." She looked past m
e to Bish. "Out, beefy. The wome
n folk have work to do."

Bish laugh
ed and pointed to himself. "
I'm
beefy
, I suppose."

"Well, no one else in this room has his arms stuffe
d into his sleeves like sausage casings
, now do they?"

He laughed. "No, ma'am." He turned to Jen and I thought he
'd
do a simple wave and tell her goodbye since he definitely didn't seem like the type for PDA, but he shocked us all when he walked up to her and held her chin as he placed his lips on hers. She smiled softly up at him as he said, "I'll see you in a bit."

She nodded. He took Maria's hand and turned back to me. "We'll go hang out with Dad. You're coming for supper tonight, right?"

"Yeah," I answered. "As soon as Caleb's meeting is done. We'll meet you there."

He nodded once and smiled at us as a whole. "Later, ladies."

"Bye," Jen said softly and watched him go.

We
all stood around for a few more seconds before moving. When I finally looked over at Jen
,
she was fighting tears. Rachel too
k her and hugged her hard. "
Mom," Jen whispered. "I don't have to wonder what it feels like to be like you and Daddy anymore. I
know
."

"Jenna, I've
always hoped you would, baby." She sniffed very ladylike. "I always tried to believe it for you. Bish is…"

"I know," Jen said and laughed. "He's amazing."

I felt my nose wrinkle. "OK, let's all try to remember that he's my brother."

They laughed and then
Radioactive
by the Imagine Dragons rang out through the room. Rachel took her phone from her pocket and answered it. I gaped at her. "Hey, baby…No, I'm OK. Jenna and I were just talking
about…finally being a significant." She smiled at Jen. "Yes, I promise. I'm sorry I scared you." I heard Peter in Rachel's mind as he said something about her '
pretty tush
getting it later.'
I couldn't stop my gasp.
Rachel
giggled and then said, "Peter
, Maggie's in the room with me." He laughed in a slightly embarrassed way and said
to tell
Caleb
and I
to come over tomorrow and that he'd see her later. "Okay. I love you, honey."
He said he loved her
,
to
o,
'something fierce'. I smiled at her, but looked away. She cleared her throat. "I guess you got that, huh?"

"Come over
tomorrow? Yeah."

"
He was just calling to check on me
, s
aid my heart
beat was going crazy.
"

"I can imagine," I said dryly.

Gran interrupted. "All right, enough, you two. I know my son is as McDreamy as they come." Gran smacked me on the butt. I stared at her, open mouthed. "We've got work to do. Strip."

"Strip for what?"

"I'm going to measure you for your dress.
Strip!
"
Rachel saved me…sort of. "You can do her measurements with her clothes on, Mamma," she chastised.

"Oh, I know I can." She pointed at me. "But look at her face! Ha! I just wanted to see her face pucker up like that." She continued to cackle at my expense and I let her because Gran was…Gran.

We spent the next two hours getting measured and looking at dresses online that we liked so Gran could
get some semblance of our tastes
. She said she'd do Fiona
's
later. As soon as Caleb came back, we left for Dad's.

"Come in!" Fiona chimed and swung the door open
wide
with gusto. I led the way with Caleb's hand on the small of my back.
I was pleasantly surp
r
ised by the place. Fiona had apparently been putting her own touch on things.
"Oh, gosh, Maggie. I swear you get prettier every time I see you."
"Thanks," I said and tried not to be awkward, so I went right in for a hug. And that's how Dad found us.

"Baby girl," he sighed. My feet propelled me until I was
practically strangling the man. He chuckled a little into my hair. "I'm so glad you're as happy to see me as I am to see you." He leaned back and kissed my forehead.
"Bish and Jen are in the d
en. Hey,
that rhymed.
"

I laughed. "I'm glad you're still you, Dad."

"
I'm stuck this way now." He
smiled and
open
ed
one arm to Fiona who went willingly into his side.
Maria ran in
from the kitchen
and took his other arm.
He seemed so
natural and comfortable with them both
.
I felt my chest ache with happiness for him.
"
Thank God."