The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven (132 page)

             
“I know,” he said softly and I almost swore I could see some moisture in his eyes. I have never in my life seen my dad cry. He was the strongest man I knew.

             
“You think by now you’d know I’m not one to back down and I stand my ground.”

             
“Yes, you are very stubborn,” he said, cracking a small smile. “Ella, you have to understand that with Xander and Dean it was easier.” He reached across the table and placed his hand on mine. “You are my baby girl. My only daughter who I would give my life for. You have to understand that I don’t always know what I’m doing”

             
“You got that right.” His hand tightened on mine and I could tell he didn’t appreciate my comment.

             
Instead of losing it, he closed his eyes and took a breath, loosening his grip on my hand. “Ella, I just don’t want to see anything happen to you. So when you fly across the country and don’t tell anyone…I just…I think the unimaginable could happen and if it did I couldn’t live with myself.”

             
“I get that, I do. And while yes it was rash and not the best decision, it was a decision I had to make on my own. When you finally stop treating me like a child than maybe we can have a normal relationship. I know you see me as your little girl, but dad, I’m not little anymore. I’ve grownup. And the sooner you start realizing that the sooner we can get past this.”

             
“I know honey, but it’s hard. One day when you have kids you’ll understand.”

             
I stifled an eye roll. “Well that is a long way from now.”
That is if I live long enough to have
kids
. With all the threats on my life I was lucky to be alive.

             
“Hopefully yes,” he laughed. “But in the meantime how about a compromise?”

             
“One of your compromises isn’t really very compromising.”

             
I saw in his eyes he was fighting the urge to argue. Instead he inhaled deeply  and closed his eyes. “I promise to start treating you as an adult and respecting your decisions if you promise to stop keeping things from me. I’m not saying I want to know everything. I just mean the important things like taking a random trip to Ireland in the middle of the school year.”

             
“You want me to believe that if I told you I was doing that you would have just let me go?”

             
“Well, not at first, but I would have made sure you were protected.”

             
“That’s just it dad. You can’t protect me all the time. I need room to breathe.”

             
“You’re right,” he stuttered. I knew it was hard for him to admit that. “It’s just natural instinct for me to do it.”

             
“Wait, I’m sorry. Could you say that again?” I was still shocked at him saying I was right.

             
“Ella, don’t get smart. I’m trying to be good here and it’s not going to happen overnight.”

             
I tried to hide my smile. “I guess if you can try not to be so dad like I guess I can try to stop being so reckless.”

             
“And a smartass,” he added.

             
“Hey, let’s not push it.” He chuckled softly and patted my hand before he released it. He stood up from the table and I took that as a sign we were done. I stood up and pushed in my chair. I faced my dad who was still standing there looking a little uncomfortable. Before I knew it his arms were around me, embracing me in a hug. After the initial shock wore off, I hugged him back, laying my head on his chest.

             
“I love you Ella. I will always love you no matter what. There’s nothing you could do to ever make me want to get rid of you.”

             
“I’m sorry for the way I’ve been acting. So much has happened that sometimes I just don’t know what the right thing to do is any more. So sometimes being reckless is just my way of handling things.” I wiped a few tears that strayed from my eyes.

             
“It’s okay. You get that reckless spirit from your mother.” I pulled back to see a smile and slight twinkle in his eye from mentioning my mom.

             
“Oh no, you were just as bad as I was when you were young,” my mom said, walking back into the kitchen. “She has my free spirit and your rebelliousness.”

             
My dad let out a genuine laugh. One I haven’t heard from him in a while. “Agreed,” he said. He looked down at me, smiled, and squeezed me one more time before letting go and giving me a kiss on the forehead. He walked over to my mom, wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her hair.

             
“Have you come to your senses or do I have to tie you both to a chair until you reconcile?” my mom asked, with a slight worried expression.

             
My dad looked to me to answer. “It’s all good.”

             
She clapped her hands excitedly. My dad leaned down close to her ear and whispered, “You can still tie me to a chair later if you like?”

             
“Ew, ugh, gross. I can you hear you!” Apparently he wasn’t as quiet as he thought. He winked at my mom making me want to vomit. My mom blushed and smacked his chest. Then she walked over to me, threw her arms around me and embraced me in a bear hug.

             
“I’ve been dying to do this since the moment I saw you.”

             
She squeezed me so hard I could barely breathe. “Uh dad, a little help here?”

             
“Sorry, you’re an adult now. You don’t need my help,” he laughed and walked away, leaving me to fend for myself.

             
“That’s cold old man, just cold,” I said, shaking my head and trying to peel my mom off of me.

Chapter Fourteen

“Oh, I can’t believe I almost forgot,” my mom said, releasing her vice grip. She walked back out to the garage and came back in with a large package and a few shopping bags. “You can only open one now and then the rest later.”

              I looked at her funny. “You bought me stuff?”

             
“Of course, you didn’t think I’d forget my own daughter’s birthday.”

             
“Oh yeah,” I said sighing. “How’d you even know I’d come back?”

             
“A mother knows,” she said, caressing my cheek. She frowned. My guess was she sensed my mixed emotions. “What’s the matter?”

             
“I’m not really in the mood to celebrate. If you don’t mind can we just skip my birthday this year?”

             
My mom drew back and I knew she wanted to protest, but once she got a real feel for my emotions she didn’t push it. “Okay honey, if that’s what you want.” She turned around and picked up the bags.

             
I grabbed her wrist. “Um…just because I don’t want to celebrate doesn’t mean I won’t accept presents,” I said sheepishly.

             
She laughed and put the bags down, pushing one toward me. “This you can have for tonight and the rest you can have later.” She sat down in a chair and waited impatiently for me to open the bag. I looked inside and the first thing I spotted was pink fabric. I pulled out the contents to discover it was a strapless dress. It was tea length with an empire waist. The fabric was soft and flowy and very feminine.

             
“Mom it’s beautiful, I love it.” I leaned over to give her a hug, forgetting just how much I sometimes really missed her.

             
“Why am I sensing you’re not telling me the whole truth? Do you really like the dress or you just trying not to hurt my feelings?”

             
“No I do. I just wish I could hide my blue streaks so they wouldn’t clash with the dress.”

             
“Ella, when are you going to learn that they are a wonderful gift?”

             
I rolled my eyes.
Gift my ass.
“Hey, how come I didn’t know about the engagement party? And why did they pick today of all days,” I said a little disappointed.

             
“Because I didn’t know where to send the invitation,” Xander said, coming back into the room.

             
“Oh,” was all I could manage.

             
“And Jasa picked the date. She said June would be a good time to have it and this was the first weekend she was available. She’s been very busy with work.”

             
I picked at the tablecloth wondering if Xander really knew what today was. Even though I didn’t want to celebrate, it was still nice to be acknowledged. I thought about peeking inside his head, but then I reminded myself it wasn’t right and took my dress upstairs to my room.

             
It was so nice to be back in my
own
room, in my
own
bed. Ginger greeted me as soon as I walked in. “I see someone was keeping my bed warm for me while I was gone,” I said, scratching her ears. “So this is where you have been hiding? I don’t blame you.” I sighed, falling on the bed face first on my pillow only to have a small box slide down and hit me in the head. I grumbled and sat up. There was no card. I shrugged and opened it.

             
Inside was a gorgeous, white gold, charm bracelet. “It was my mom’s,” my dad said from my doorway.

             
“It’s beautiful.” I held it up to the light and when I did I swear I saw a flash of blue.

             
I flinched, almost dropping it.

             
My dad laughed and made his way over to the bed to sit next to me. Ginger groaned in protest and he shooed her away. “It’s a protection charm,” he said, turning his attention to me. “The blue light shows how much power it holds. This here,” he pointed to a shamrock. “This was your great, great grandmother’s. It was passed down through every generation. And this here,” he said, pointing to the Griffin. “Your grandmother added this when I was born. It stands for strength. The water dragon was added for Xander and Dean which stands for courage and the unicorn I added after you were born,” he smiled. “Which also stands for –”

             
“Strength,” I finished for him. I held the bracelet up, examining it again. There wasn’t much room left for many more charms. There was the traditional claddagh symbol, the eternity Celtic knot, which symbolizes never ending circle of life, the Celtic knot shield for protection, and the Druidic threefold sister goddess – maiden/mother/crone – three spirals that connect in the middle from a small triangle. I knew this because of what Ms. Kraft had taught us. It was a Wiccan symbol. The bracelet itself was linked together by double spirals. Double spirals represent the equinoxes when day and night are of equal length.

             
“It’s also a sign of balance,” my dad said.

             
“I thought you said other mind readers couldn’t read each other’s mind?” I eyed him.

             
“Mine is different. I can only get through by touch. Maybe it makes an exception.”

             
Just great.

             
He laughed. “Don’t worry Ella I won’t invade your privacy. I am impressed with all the knowledge you have of these symbols. I guess you were paying attention after all,” he winked.

             
“Can you help me put it on?” I asked him. The second he clasped it on my wrist I felt the power and it made me shiver.

             
“With each new charm it was blessed again and again. So there is a whole generation of McCallister magic on there,” he said. “You must be very careful that this does not fall into the wrong hands,” he warned.

             
“I wouldn’t,” I shook my head.

             
He cupped my hand, kissed me lightly on the forehead and said, “Happy birthday Ella.”

             
“Thanks Dad,” I said, feeling a warm tingling inside me.

             
After he left, I closed the door without even getting out of bed. That power was one I was really starting to enjoy. I pulled the covers up, cuddled up next to ginger, and took a much needed nap.

             
Cameron had woken me up about two hours later. “Oh my god, Cameron I am so sorry. I totally forgot –”

             
She held up a hand to stop me. “No worries. I actually just got back. I helped Danni set up everything for the party.”

             
“Really?” I asked surprised. I would have expected her to be sitting by the pool sipping margaritas.

             
“Don’t act so surprised,” she said, nudging me. “And boy, Danni does not like your brother’s fiancé. What’s the deal there? Is she like a haggard bitch or something?”

             
“Long story,” I said, sitting up.

             
“Oh, nice bracelet,” Cameron said, reaching out and grabbing my wrist. “Ouch,” she pulled back. “It shocked me.”

             
“Huh, that’s weird.” I looked at her and then the bracelet. Danni distracted me when she came into the room and fell on my bed. “Danni, what’s wrong?”

             
“You really have to ask?” she mumbled into my comforter. I let it go, understanding. She lifted her head to look at me. “Hey that’s pretty. Where did you get that?” she asked, brushing the charms with her fingertips. I looked at her confused. I half expected her to flinch like Cameron did, but nope, nothing.

             
“Wait, you can touch it?”

             
“Well duh, I’m touching it right now,” she said like I was crazy.

             
“But when Cameron touched it, it shocked her.” We both looked at Cameron suspiciously.

             
“What?” she said, pulling back. I got up off the bed. “What’s going on?”

             
“I was wondering the same thing,” I said accusingly.

             
“Is everything okay in here?” my mom asked, looking at our worried faces. That was one time I was happy about her power invading my space. 

             
“The charm bracelet dad gave me shocked Cameron when she touched it, but not Danni?”

             
My mom smiled as she walked into the room. “That’s because it’s a family heirloom. When Cameron touched it, it didn’t recognize her so it’s power kicked in and Danni, well, Danni’s been family for a long time,” she said, grazing her cheek.

             
“So anyone who’s not family it will shock them?”

             
“Yes and no. The purer the heart and intentions someone has will save them from the shock.” I looked at Cameron.

             
“What?” she shrugged. “I never said I was an angel.”

             
I rolled my eyes and let my mom continue. “Only when someone is truly evil touches it, it will show their true nature.”

             
“How so?” I asked.

             
She grabbed Cameron’s hands and turned them over. “See Cameron has no mark from the shock.  An evil being it will shock and leave a burn scar.”

             
“That’s good to know,” I said, running my fingers over the dangling charms.

             
“And good to know I’m not evil,” Cameron winked.

             
“I knew you weren’t evil.” Cameron eyed me. “Okay, maybe a little bit,” I confessed. She threw me a half smile and I giggled.

             
“Okay girls, we only have until six before we have to leave for the party so that gives you an hour to get ready,” my mom said. “Chop, chop,” she clapped her hands leaving the room.

             
“If you want you can raid my closet for something to wear while I take a shower,” I told Cameron. I already knew my mom had bought Danni a dress for tonight.

             
“Sweet,” Cameron said, jumping off the bed.

             
I stepped into the bathroom and went to empty out my pockets before I got undressed when I found Josie’s heart charm. I had forgotten I put it in there when I tore off Tristan’s watch. Before we left Ireland I had taken it off and mailed it back to his grandparents. I didn’t want anything that reminded me of him. I still had the star necklace he gave me, but that’s only because I couldn’t bear to take it off. I could feel my heart start to break all over again and the tears in my eyes. I gripped the sink and pounded my fist down, hard. I would not let him get to me. I will not let him take me down again. I managed to get a grip and got undressed. 

             
After my shower, I got dressed, and dried my hair. Cameron had chosen the purple dress I wore to the initiation at the sorority house. I thought I had gotten rid of it along with a lot of things from that nightmare time, but I guess that one must of have slipped through the cracks. I told her she could keep it. It looked better on her anyways and brought back too many bad memories.

             
I put on the finishing touches and told everyone I would meet them down stairs. I went to put the charm bracelet back on, but before I did I decided to add my own little addition. The second I hooked on Josie’s charm there was a bright, blue flash and a blast that threw into my closet, knocking the wind out of me. My eyes fluttered as I tried to stay conscious.

             
I heard what sounded like a herd of elephants rushing up the stairs.  Everyone came barreling into my room to see what just happened. “Ella, Ella,” I heard my dad say.

             
“Is she breathing?” my mom asked.

             
“Back up, everyone back up and give her some room.” I blinked and saw my dad bending over me. He lifted me up and carried me over to my bed. “Ella honey, Ella,” my dad said gently.

             
I looked around at everyone hovering around me. “Geez um, I’m not dead people. Could you back up so I can breathe a little?” My dad chuckled and everyone gave me some space. I sat up and grabbed my head. “OOohh, my head.” I pressed my palms to my temples while everyone stood there and watched me expectantly. “I’m okay. You can stop staring now.”

             
“What happened?” my dad asked concerned.

             
“I’m not sure. I was putting the heart charm from Josie on the bracelet and the next thing I knew I was blasted back into the closet.” I looked over at the bracelet on the floor. I got up to get it.