The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven (125 page)

             
“Look, you’re not going to talk your way out of this. So just sit down and shut up.”

             
“You’re so demanding,” he smirked, leaning closer for a kiss.

             
I pushed him back. “We don’t have time for that.” I hopped off the counter and walked out to get a chair. I placed the chair in the middle of the bathroom and made him sit. Then I draped a towel over his shoulders. I wasn’t going to lie. I had no idea what I was doing and quite frankly as meticulous as Tristan was with his hair I was surprised he even let me do this. I think it was because he knew he needed a haircut and I was the only option.

             
When I was finished I let him stand up and take a look in the mirror. I didn’t do too badly and he seemed pleased and if he wasn’t I would know. “What do you think?”

             
“As long as you’re happy.” I gave him one of my many annoyed looks causing him to smile. “Oh how I missed that look.” I put my hands on my hips. “I like it,” he said.

             
“Good. It does look much better,” I said, putting the scissors and comb down on the counter. “Now get dressed.”

             
“What’s the rush?” he asked, pulling me into him.

             
“You’re the one who wanted to go and you of all people should know she goes to bed early.”

             
“Alright, let’s go,” he sighed, letting me go.

We had to take a taxi because Josie and the rest took the rental car. I wasn’t looking forward to the visit, but I figured with Tristan by my side it wouldn’t be as bad. I was also hoping our little moment after my father left would maybe change her attitude toward me, but with Deidre who knew.

             
I could feel Tristan was getting a little nervous before we arrived. To help him relax I told him I might let him act out some of those naughty little thoughts he was always having. Although he relaxed somewhat, his heart and pulse were now racing, and for the rest of the ride he was sending me all kinds of ideas telepathically. I said no to almost every one of them.

             
We arrived sometime around five and I had to practically drag Tristan out of the car. “Why are you being such a baby?” I yanked on his arm so hard I almost fell.

             
“You met her you know what she’s like.”

             
I let go knowing it was useless. Despite my power and kickass moves, he was still stronger than me. “I thought you said you were her favorite?” I teased.

             
“I lied,” he said, closing the door and locking it. At risk of being exposed, I took my chances and unlocked the door. I ripped it open before he had the chance to lock it again. He narrowed his eyes at me.

             
“Get out of the car you big sissy!” I gave one final tug. He finally got out and joined me by the gate. It took some more coaxing, but I got him to the door and knocked. It only took a few minutes before I heard the dreaded footsteps of Deirdre’s feet pounding the floor. When she opened the door her eyes widened in surprise and then quickly went back to her normal unpleased look.

             
She stood there silently for a moment, and then motioned with her finger for Tristan to come closer. He leaned down and she smacked him across the face.

             
That, I did not expect.

             
Deirdre grunted something in Gaelic under her breath and then walked away. I looked at Tristan, not knowing what to do. “Come on,” he said, pulling me in the house.

             
“Um,” I said, afraid of what might happen next.

             
We walked into the living room where his grandfather was sitting and watching TV. Our presence startled him. He dropped his tea cup when he saw Tristan and froze. I didn’t know what to say so I thought I would let Tristan do the talking. Neither of them made a move to do anything. I bent down to help clean up the spilled tea when Caleb finally came out of his frozen stare. He padded my hand. “It’s fine,” he said and got up. He walked over to Tristan and stood their staring at him again. “Is it you? Is it really you my boy?”

             
“Yeah Pop, it’s me.”

             
Caleb lifted up his hands and placed them on Tristan’s face. I saw tears forming in Caleb’s eyes as he smiled. He embraced Tristan in a hug, gripping him so tight I thought he would crush him. The sight of their reunion even had me tear up a bit. “I can’t believe it’s you,” he took a step back. “Look at you,” he said, hugging him again. “Come sit,” he gestured toward the couch. “Just let me get something to clean this up.”

             
“I can do that,” I offered.

             
He shooed me away and insisted we sit. “I think I should go talk to Nan first. She didn’t look too happy to see me,” Tristan said.

             
“Just give her some time. She’ll come around. Now sit, sit.”

             
Caleb went into the kitchen to grab some paper towels while we had a seat. I put my hand on Tristan’s knee. “How you doing?”

             
He took my hand and held it in his. “Better with you here,” he smiled. I kissed his hand and rested my head on his shoulder. “You know this place looks a little different.”

             
“How so?”

             
He looked around the small room. “They’re pictures missing and some of Nan’s favorite knickknacks.” He looked over my shoulder and caught a glimpse of a frame on the floor. He got up to go look at it. He lifted up the glassless frame from behind the couch. Caleb returned from the kitchen with some towels and a tray full of drinks. “Pop, what happened?” he asked, holding up the frame.

             
Caleb set the tray down on the table and looked up at me. I shrugged not knowing what to say. I kind of forgot to tell Tristan about the little power battle me and his Grandmother had when we first met. “Accident,” Caleb said, winking at me. “Just didn’t get a chance to replace it.”

             
Tristan took a seat next to me again as Caleb sat back down in his seat across from us. I knew Tristan was still upset about his grandmother and wanted to go talk to her, but we all knew giving her some time to cool off would be best. After a few minutes of awkward silence, Caleb began the conversation. He asked Tristan all kinds of questions. Where was he? What happened? How did I find him? And so on. I wanted to give them some time alone together so I went out to take a walk in the garden. I also didn’t want to hear how downhill Tristan went after he left. It was hard enough to see him like that when I found him. I didn’t need the details.

             
Caleb came and found me when they were done and informed me Tristan had gone and talked to his Grandmother. “You hungry?”

             
“Oh no, thank you,” I politely declined.

             
“Oh come now. I’ll make you something.”

             
“You don’t have to go to any trouble.”

             
“It’s no trouble. I was about to make dinner anyway and now it’s a celebration. A thank you for finding my grandson,” he smiled. He waved his arm out in front of him, gesturing for me to follow him into the kitchen. Not able to deny him, I followed him, and had a seat at the table while he fussed around in the cabinets.

             
“Can I ask you something?” He looked at me from over his shoulder, but I didn’t wait for his response. “I’m somewhat confused.”

             
“Confused about what?” he asked, going back to making dinner.

             
“Well I kind of thought Deirdre would be happy to find out her grandson is alive, but when she saw him, she slapped him.”

             
Caleb chuckled lightly to himself. “My wife…is a…complicated woman.”

             
“Tell me something I don’t know,” I replied, getting a laugh from Caleb. I heard the shuffle of feet and looked over my shoulder to spot Josef making his way into the kitchen.

             
“Ella,” he stopped.

             
“Josef,” Caleb spoke. “Great news, Ella found Tristan. We’re having a mini celebration. Come here and help me get things ready.” Josef looked at me before he walked back out of the kitchen and stormed his way through the living room. “Josef,” Caleb called, but he ignored him.

             
“I’ll go see what’s wrong,” I said. I followed him down the hall and grabbed his arm to stop him. “Josef wait.” He flinched and pulled his arm out of my grasp. “Did I do something wrong? I thought you would be happy that your cousin is alive?”

             
“I’m not,” he said under his breath.

             
I looked at him wondering if I heard him right. I opened my mouth to say something, but I didn’t know what to say. Clearly he was still harboring some bitter feelings toward Tristan. Before I could make a clear thought, Tristan stepped out of one of the bedrooms with Deidre on his arm, and she was smiling. “Hey cous’, how’s it –” Josef was storming off before Tristan could even finish his sentence.

             
“Josef!” Deirdre hissed, making him cringe, and freeze in his tracks. I had a feeling he only stopped because Deirdre was making him.

             
“Let him go Nan,” Tristan said.

             
Josef turned on Tristan. “Don’t do me any favors,” he spat and walked away.

             
I could see Deirdre was ready to chase after him but Tristan stopped her. “Don’t worry Nan. I’ll talk to him later. Now how about some of your delicious apple pie?” he asked, giving her his million dollar smile.

             
“You’ll spoil your dinner.”

             
“Please,” he begged, giving her the pouty lip. She let out a sigh and led him into the kitchen. Tristan looked over his shoulder at me and winked as I stood there totally dumbfounded. Okay, what the hell just happened? Did he slip her something? Because I had never seen her smile that much or give in so easily…to anyone.

             
After I collected myself, I joined them in the kitchen. Deirdre had served Tristan a huge slice of apple pie loaded with whip cream. She pinched his cheeks before sitting down in the chair next to him. Tristan looked over at me standing in the door way. He titled his head to the side and thought,
“Are you okay?”
  so only I could hear him.

             
I nodded my head and joined him at the table. “Ella, you have to try this,” he said, shoveling a big piece on the fork for me. He practically shoved it in my mouth before I could protest. Despite my dislike for his grandmother, I have to admit it was pretty good, considering I don’t even like pie. “Good right?”

             
I nodded in agreement not wanting to talk with my mouth full. Deirdre just narrowed her eyes at me. I hadn’t even spoken a word and already she was giving me nasty looks. Tristan caught sight of his grandmother’s nasty stare in my direction and rolled his eyes.
“She thinks you’re selfish for
not bringing me to her right away,”
he thought.

             
“What!” I said out loud. Both his grandparent’s turned and looked at me like I was crazy. Tristan just shook his head.

             
Deirdre looked back and forth between Tristan and me. I just scowled at her having enough of her scrutiny. “You, what did you do?” she said to me.

             
“What are talking about? I didn’t do anything.”

             
“You two…are connected.” Tristan and I just looked at each. “How?”

             
“Nan, what are talking about?” Tristan asked, shoveling more pie in his mouth.

             
“Why would you automatically think I did something?” I asked, not happy about her blaming me. She didn’t even bother to give me a response. Instead she just looked down her nose at me.

             
That was it. That was the last straw. “What is your problem?” I asked Deirdre, fuming.

             
Caleb stopped what he was doing and Tristan froze mid bite.
“Didn’t you ever hear the
expression don’t poke the bear,”
he thought.

             
I didn’t care anymore. I was tired of this old bat constantly looking down at me. “Caleb, Tristan, leave us,” Deirdre said. A small surge of panic shot through me.

             
I looked to Tristan for help. “Nice knowing ya,” he whispered, before kissing me on the cheek, and leaving, pie in hand. I wanted to yell at him for leaving me alone with her and tell him if he really loved me as much as he claimed he wouldn’t have just sacrificed me to his grandmother.