Chapter LXI

Okasa took care of seating everyone, spacing everyone out so they were mixed together well.  Only Adam was seated next to his mother; the rest of the children were interspaced among the adults they weren’t related to parentally.

She had put Saphira on her right and Esmeralda with Patrick, which of course put them at opposite ends of the table.  It also unintentionally gave them the best, unobstructed views they could hope for short of being seated on the end.

Brianna and Kay were seated across from one another in the middle of the table, and Kent was across from Saphira on Okasa’s left hand.  Adam held that place of importance on the other end, putting him between Patrick and Charisma, sitting in a regular chair with several thick tomes beneath him as he felt he was too grown up to use the high chair any longer.

Francesca - Forrest’s youngest child though she was still several years older than Adam - was seated next to Esmeralda.  Esmeralda felt her stare all through grace, and as soon as the family repeated the ‘Amen’, she turned to the little girl even as she reached for the dish in front of her.

“Is something wrong, Francesca?”

The little girl tilted her head and frowned.  “Mommy said Aunt Theresa said you was an angel.  You do kinda look like the picture of the angel that’s in my Catechism class,” narrowing her eyes and peering at Esmeralda closely.  She studied her face, then craned her neck to look behind her, then returned her gaze to Esmeralda’s face once more.  Esmeralda never lost her calm demeanor; she simply arched a questioning eyebrow in Francesca’s direction.  Francesca giggled.  “You look like Aunt Chari,” pointing to the woman across the table.  Charisma looked up with a cocked eyebrow and smirked.  It was all Esmeralda could do to keep a straight face.  Francesca looked behind Esmeralda once more and frowned again.  “Where’s your wings?” she asked loudly during a lull in the conversations going on around the table.

Cindy blushed and sighed.  “Francesca!”

The little girl looked at her with an innocent expression.  “Yes, Mommy?”

“Honey, are you bothering Esmeralda?”

“Oh no, Mommy.  I just wanted to see her wings.”

Every eye turned to Esmeralda who was trying not to squirm under the attention.  Cindy just squeaked and covered her eyes with her hand.  “Sweetie, why do you think Esmeralda has wings?”

“Because you said Aunt Theresa said she was an angel.  And all angels have wings.”

“Oh. My. God.” Cindy groaned.  “Honey, Aunt Theresa didn’t mean literally.  Angels live in Heaven not here on Earth so Esmeralda can’t be a real angel.  What your Aunt Theresa meant was that Esmeralda is like an angel because of what she does.”

Francesca looked back at Esmeralda thoughtfully.  “You watch over people?” remembering her catechism lesson on the subject.

Esmeralda chuckled.  “No, I clean up after them; I make everything neat and tidy.”

“OH!” Francesca exclaimed, turning her head to meet Theresa’s eyes.  “You’re silly, Aunt Theresa!  That doesn’t make her an angel – that makes her Mary Poppins!!!”

The entire table burst into laughter and Francesca looked mightily pleased with herself at the response she garnered.  Then everyone turned back to the many smaller conversations they’d been having and Francesca’s attention was taken by Lee Williams to give Esmeralda a moment to catch her breath.

She smiled her thanks and took a swallow of water, then looked over at Paddy who was chuckling softly.  “That one’s a pistol,” he commented with a grin, getting a smile from Esmeralda and a vigorous nod from Charisma.  He turned to Charisma and smirked.  “Don’t even try it,” he instructed.  “She’s a lot like another little girl I remember growing up around this house.”

Charisma’s eyes widened.  “I can’t imagine what you mean, Daddy,” but she couldn’t hide the twinkle in her eyes either.

“I’ll bet you can’t,” he said with a grin.  Then he turned to Esmeralda to learn a little more about the newest addition to his family.

************

“So tell us a little about yourself, Saphira,” Hunter invited as he passed the mashed potatoes to her.  “What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a waitress,” she offered without hesitation, scooping out a spoonful of potatoes and passing the bowl on to Okasa.  Hunter frowned.

“Are you sure?”  Eyes as blue as his own met his with a frown and a pointed stare, and he wondered if he and Saphira could possibly be related in some way.  He didn’t encounter many with eyes the same intense blue that he saw in the mirror every morning.   Okasa gave him an incredulous snort and caused him to turn her sight and his attention to Mama.

“Hunter, just because you’re a detective doesn’t mean you know better than Saphira what she does when she goes into work every day.  If she says she’s a waitress, you can be pretty sure she’s a waitress.”  He opened his mouth to speak, and she held up a hand.  “I get that people lie to you in your line of work, but Saphira has no reason to lie here.  Besides, if she was going to lie, do you think she’d pick something like waitressing??  Most people who like to make an impression would choose something a little cushier... like an office manager or a broker or a model.”

Hunter had the sense to look abashed and turned back to Saphira.  “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean for that to sound the way it came out.”

“Then what did you mean, exactly?  I assure you I really am a waitress.  Charisma, Brianna and Esmeralda can all vouch for me.”

“I have really mucked this up,” Hunter muttered though not softly enough that Saphira couldn’t hear him.  She smirked and he gave her a wry smile and shook his head.  “Let me restart this – a waitress, huh?  Where do you work?”

“Angel’s Diner.  It’s how we met Brianna, in fact.  She stumbled in the doors just as we were closing one night.  She was completely lost so Es and I help her get to where she needed to be.”

“Don’t let her modesty fool you, Hunter.  She and Es saved my life.”

Hunter grinned broadly at Brianna’s words and looked back at Saphira.  “You fed her didn’t you?”

Saphira cocked an eyebrow.  “How’d you know?”

He nodded towards Okasa.  “Mama did the same thing.  Brianna’s been part of the family ever since.”

Saphira chuckled and Brianna stuck out her tongue though she couldn’t hide the sparkle in her eyes at the good-natured teasing.  She had missed this since her last visit, which at the moment felt like it was a lifetime ago.  And maybe it had been, she considered silently.  There was a different atmosphere present than she had seen here in a long time, and the only difference was Charisma and her family.  So maybe it had been a lifetime ago since the family had been complete.

Then Brianna felt a nudge on her ankle, and looked around to find Kay staring at her meaningfully.   “Would you like to share?” she asked quietly, not allowing her voice to spill over into the other conversations going on around them.

“I was just thinking how full the table seems this year.”

Kay frowned.  “You mean like crowded?”

Brianna smiled and shook her head.  “No.  I mean like complete.”

Kay didn’t respond verbally.  She just returned Brianna’s smile and winked, then resumed eating her meal.  Charisma couldn’t hear what was being said between them, but she recognized the looks as intimacy, and it made her frown.  She continued to eat, but while she paid enough attention to give cursory answers to those around her, her mind and her attention were split to keep track of Brianna’s and Kay’s interactions as well.

And on the other end of the table, Kent watched Charisma.

************

“So can I ask a question?” Saphira queried, turning the tables on Hunter.  He shrugged and nodded.

“Sure – given the fubar this conversation could have easily become I think I own you that much.  Shoot... what’s up?”

“Well, I was just wondering why you were so convinced I couldn’t be a waitress.”

“Your vibe is wrong.”

“I beg your pardon??”

“Your vibe is wrong.”  He sighed.  “Despite Mama’s inference to the contrary, I’m a good detective.  And I’m good at what I do because I have a gut instinct that I rely on; it rarely fails me.”

“And what does your gut tell you about me?” Saphira asked, smiling when Hunter’s brows flew into his hairline.  “Just because I serve food all day long doesn’t mean I’m stupid, Hunter.  I have a mind, and sometimes I even know how to use it,” she said with a chuckle, showing him that he hadn’t really offended her.

“That’s not what I meant at all,” realizing he was getting in deeper and deeper, but unsure how to talk his way out of the crater he currently found himself burying himself in.  He scrubbed a hand over his face and sighed deeply.  “Your reaction just further cemented my gut feeling.”

“How so?” she asked, cocking her head in a listening manner.  He noticed their whole end of the table had focused their attention on the conversation and silently cursed himself for starting the discussion in the first place.

“You have an... aura for lack of a better word.  Your whole presence is one of power and....”  He let his voice peter out, at a loss on how to explain himself.  “I want you to look around the table – aside from Charisma and Brianna and Esmeralda of course, do you know what any of them do for a living?”

“I know that Patrick and Okasa are both retired and that Kay reads people, which in my book makes her some sort of psych doctor.”

Hunter nodded thoughtfully.  “Close enough,” he murmured.  “All right, for everyone else here, having only spoken with them briefly, can you simply look at them, put that with what little you learned about them in talking to them and tell what they do?”

Saphira looked at him like he was crazy, then shrugged.  “I can try.”  She wiped her mouth with her napkin and set it beside her plate, then turned her head to gaze down the long table, letting her eyes rest on every adult sitting around it for a long moment.  She turned her attention back to Hunter.  “Can I get them involved just a little?”

“How so?”

“I’d like each of them to stand and to smile.”

Hunter blinked, not having expected that request.  He nodded his head and stood up, tapping his glass to get the attention of everyone at the table.  Rocky looked up from his meal and glared at his brother.

“Hunter, we don’t do toasts until dessert and I’m not done with dinner, man.”

Hunter chuckled.  “You can keep eating, Rock.  I only need your attention for a minute.  I’ve asked Saphira if she can figure out what each of you do based solely on your appearance and the small bit of conversation she’s had with you.  She’s asked if you would each....”  He held up his hand and turned towards Saphira, listening to her request and nodding his compliance.  “Saphira has asked if each of you would stand up for a moment – one at a time – and smile.”

Forrest snorted.  “What did you say to her, Brother?”

Hunter held up his hand.  “Do this and I’ll explain when she’s done.”  The family looked at each other, and heads nodded their agreement.  Then by tacit agreement, Cindy – who was to Hunter’s right – stood first, looked at Saphira and smiled.  After a moment she seated herself and Kay stood, and so it went on around the table until it was Kent’s turn.

When he sat down the room was silent, waiting for Saphira to tell what she’d discovered about them.  She gazed at Esmeralda for a long minute, getting the slightest nod of approval before she blew out a breath and stood up.

“Well obviously I’m acquainted with Charisma and Brianna, which leaves them out.  And since Esmeralda is my mate, I’m pretty sure that lets her out as well,” smiling at the grins she got for that.  “I already knew that Patrick and Okasa were retired... if I was going to guess, I’d say Patrick was some sort of blue collar man and Okasa was an office manager of some type.”

“Patrick built roads for forty years and I was a charge nurse.  I still work at the hospital as an admin nurse because I’m only semi-retired,” Okasa commented with amazement clearly heard in her voice.  “That’s amazing.  How did you...?”

“Mama,” Hunter cut in.  “Let her finish first, please?”

Okasa wrinkled her nose at him, but motioned for Saphira to continue.

“Okay, um... I’m pretty sure Kay is some sort of psych doc and that Margaret has some sort of interest in fashion or modeling.  I would guess she’s probably pretty high up the corporate ladder in one of those industries.  Lee and Danielle are both teachers, while Cindy is another sort of professional – nurse or realtor or something that keeps her busy and on her feet a lot.”

Saphira looked around the table again, smiling when her eyes landed on Esmeralda and seeing the pride that sparkled in her eyes.  She lifted her glass to her lips and took a sip of water and then another before setting it down and turning her attention back to the table and the people staring at her in amazement.

“I think Theresa is probably a stay-at-home mom.  Rocky is a fireman; Forrest is a police officer and Kent is a restaurateur.”  She turned her head and met Hunter’s eyes.  “How’d I do?”

“Before I answer that,” Hunter said, holding up a hand to keep anyone from replying, “I have to ask – have you always been a waitress?”

Saphira met his eyes.  “In this lifetime, yes,” she said honestly.

“You’re completely miscast.  I just want you to know that.”  She arched an eyebrow at him and smirked.  Hunter laughed and shook his head.  “Take a seat, and I’ll tell you how you did.  Then you can tell us how you did it.”  Applause broke out around the table and Saphira curtsied neatly, then dropped into her chair with a laugh.

************

“You know,” Charisma commented to Brianna after dinner was done, “if Saphira and Esmeralda ever decided to use their powers for evil, we’d be sunk.”

Brianna nodded and wrapped her arms across her chest a little tighter.  She’d come out to the garden area of the yard as soon as dessert was over, hoping a few minutes of peace would settle the weird sensations she could feel in the pit of her belly.  She wanted to blame it on the food, but she knew in the depths of her soul that those strange nigglings could only be contributed to Charisma.  She took a deep breath and turned to face Charisma.  “Yes, we would,” she agreed.  “But imagine the book and movie deals they could get out of it,” she added with a smirk.

Charisma nodded thoughtfully.  “I’d have to go see it at least.”

“Oh, so would I.  I’d want to see whoever was playing me on the big screen.”  She paused thoughtfully.  “Maybe we could play ourselves.”

“Maybe you could ghostwrite the book with them.”

“Still trying to get me to go back to writing, Charisma?” Brianna asked with a hint of a smile on her lips though it never reached her eyes.  She turned and rubbed her hands up and down her arms.  She hadn’t intended to be out here this long.

Although Brianna couldn’t see it, she heard the shrug in Charisma’s voice.  “It’s something you were good at, Bri - and something you enjoyed doing once you got past the idea of someone else reading it.”  Charisma hesitated when Brianna didn’t acknowledge her words at all.  “Why didn’t you tell me?”  She didn’t move from her spot about an arm’s length from Brianna so she saw the stiffening in Brianna’s spine as soon as the words left her lips.

It took a moment, but Brianna relaxed, then she turned to face Charisma.  “Tell you what, Charisma?  You’ve got to give me a little more than that.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about you and Kay?  I would have understood, Bri.  You were my best friend, and I’m not a homophobe – I never was.”

Brianna met Charisma’s eyes without flinching and Charisma had to bite her lip to keep from gasping at the pain she saw in those green depths.  “Kay and I were a couple after you and I....  I met Kay at Harvard; she was in her last year of residency when I entered law school.”

“I see,” Charisma said slowly and Brianna wondered if she was putting the pieces together or trying desperately to keep them from reaching their inevitable conclusion.  “And I guess you didn’t know she would be here today?” the non-sequitor a little hard for Brianna to follow.  Her mind had been on another train entirely.

“I wasn’t sure,” she replied honestly.  “She and the family have always been here when I was, but today was a little different than normal.  I really didn’t know what Okasa was going to do.”

She held Charisma’s eyes, and blue eyes were the first to turn away.  Charisma looked out across the yard that had been prepared for the coming winter and shivered a little at the deadness of it.  She wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the chill she felt.  Without turning her head to see Brianna, she asked softly, “Did she make you happy, Brianna?  Did you cry for days when you broke up?”

“She did make me happy, Charisma; it just wasn’t enough for either of us.  And no, I didn’t cry for days, but I did cry.  Kay was very special to me – she still is.  And I’m lucky... we stayed friends and I count her husband as a very dear friend as well.”

“They sound... impossible,” Charisma said on a choked breath.

“They’re lovely people, Charisma... if you give them a chance.”

Now Charisma turned and faced Brianna squarely.  “Would that make you happy, Bri – for me to give them a chance?”  Brianna nodded but didn’t say a word.  “All right – I’ll give them a chance for you.”  Charisma covered one hand briefly and squeezed, then turned and headed inside.  Just before she reached the door, she looked back.  “You need to come in soon – it’s too cold to be out here without a jacket.”  Then she crossed the threshold and closed the door behind her.


Chapter LXII

It was coming on dark when families started gathering at the door preparing to leave.  The children were reluctantly snugged into their outerwear by parents who knew that the chilly day had given way to a frigid evening.  Most submitted to it with a long-suffering sigh, and parents exchanged eye rolls as each child was bundled up for the weather.

Esmeralda and Saphira had said their goodbyes earlier when Esmeralda had started showing signs of exhaustion again.  The girls had watched them go with concerned frowns, but Saphira and Esmeralda never noticed.  Esmeralda had taken a good nap, and now she and Saphira snuck down to the staircase landing at her behest to watch the proceedings with interest.

The kids saw Okasa and Patrick emerge from the kitchen with containers of leftovers, and they cheered; the older ones stepped forward to relieve them of their burdens and receive a hug and kiss.  As they bid their grandparents goodbye, they headed outside to escape the congestion and free up some space in the now overcrowded foyer.

Brianna walked out with them, not wanting them to be outside alone in the near darkness.  Harley just rolled his eyes knowing he was old enough and responsible enough to be left out here alone, but secretly glad Brianna cared enough to help him keep an eye on his siblings and cousins.  For all his grumbling some days, he certainly didn’t want anything to happen to any of them.

“I hope your friends are all right, Aunt Bri,” he offered as he and Michelle came up to stand beside her next to the Williams van.  Brianna turned and looked at him with a question in her eyes.  He cocked an eyebrow and smirked.  “No... no one said anything, but I’ve got eyes that can see.  I saw how upset you and the rest were when they excused themselves and went upstairs early.  I figure one of them must be pretty sick... maybe even terminal or something.”  He shrugged.  “I just hope they’re okay.  They seem like really nice people, and it was funny to see Saphira blow Dad’s sock off at dinner.”

Brianna chuckled.  “Yeah, she did kind of floor him, didn’t she?”

“I’ll say,” Michelle agreed, waving her brother and sister over as her parents stepped from the house.  “That was so much fun – and the look on his face....”  She reached up and gave Brianna a hug that she gladly returned in equal measure.  “I’m glad you were here, Aunt Bri.  I’ve missed you since you went to Washington.”

Brianna smirked.  “You can still call me there, you know.  The phone still works that far away.” Michelle stuck out her tongue, causing the three of them to laugh and Kay to question as she walked up beside them.

“Should I even ask?” looking at the three of them. “Probably not,” she added with a laugh when they gave her their cheesiest grins.  Lee bumped by them with a smile as he started loading the two younger children into the vehicle.  Harley held out his hand to Michelle and they made their way to stand at the back of the van to say a semi-private goodbye.  Kay turned to Brianna and opened her arms; Brianna stepped right into them and wrapped Kay in a firm grip.

“I’m so glad you were here,” Brianna offered somewhat muffled.

Kay returned the hug fervently.  “Even with everything...?”

“Even with.”

Kay smiled and pulled slightly out of the embrace, enough so she could look into Brianna’s face half hidden in shadows.  “I don’t know what you said to her but thanks.  If Charisma didn’t exactly warm up to me, at least she stopped resenting every breath I took.”

Brianna chuckled.  “That’s progress – I’ll take it.”

Before Kay could reply there was a commotion at the front door and Adam ran out.  Without thought Brianna released Kay and ran towards him, snatching him up and lifting him into her arms.  He struggled for a moment.

“Hey, Little Man... where’s the fire?”

Adam stopped trying to escape the moment he heard her voice.  Instead he snuggled down into her hold and buried his nose in her neck.  “Br’anna good,” he murmured.

“ADAM ROCKWELL!!” came Charisma’s shouted voice from the doorway as she exited on a run....

... only to discover him in the arms of her erstwhile best friend.  She inhaled deeply, struggling to get her temper under control.  Adam had scared the living daylights out of her when he’d jerked way from her and run pell-mell outside, and after everything else that had been thrown at her all day long she had reached her breaking point.  Brianna, having recognized the sheer terror in Charisma’s eyes, headed her way immediately with Adam still nestled in her arms.

Kent, realizing that Charisma was torn between panic and fury, slid out the door and intercepted Brianna before she reached Charisma.  Brianna understood that he wanted to remove Adam from what could quickly become a field of battle, and she moved to release Adam into Kent’s arms.  Unfortunately for Brianna, that just made Adam cling to her tighter.

She leaned back, tilting his head up until blue eyes met serious green.  “Adam, you need to let go – you’re hurting me, Little Man.”

“Love Br’anna.”

“I love you too, but you need to go with Daddy now.  You scared him and Mama when you ran off like that.  Do you remember the talk we had with Saphira after you ran in front of my car?”  He poked out his lip in a pout but nodded slowly.  “This is the same thing.”

“No go!” he commanded and frowned.

“Adam, I’m not going anywhere tonight, and you’ll get to see your cousins again before you go home, all right?”  He held her eyes for a long moment, then nodded, nuzzling back into her neck.  “Okay, but for right now you need to go with Daddy.”

“C’mon, Son. I think Gramma was getting out some leftovers for you to have a snack.  Are you hungry?” smiling when Adam nodded and released his stranglehold on Brianna’s neck.  Kent lifted Adam into his arms and leaned forward to brush a kiss over Brianna’s cheek.  “Thank you,” he whispered.  “If anything had happened to him....”

“I’m glad I was there, Kent.”

Kent nodded.  “Seems like you’ve been there a lot for him.  Maybe you’re like his Guardian Angel.”

“God, I hope not,” Brianna said with a laugh.  “I couldn’t possibly keep up,” breaking the tension of those around them.  The motion that had frozen at Charisma’s bellow resumed and Kent just chuckled in sympathy with her.  Then he shook his head and walked back inside, pausing by Charisma a moment before returning indoors.

Brianna looked at Charisma, but when she moved to go to her Charisma shook her head and turned to walk around the side of the house.  Brianna watched her disappear into the darkness, not surprised to feel Kay’s hand drop onto her shoulder.

“Talk to her, Bri.  It’s been a hard day for her, and this was her last straw, I think.”

Brianna nodded and patted the hand on her shoulder, then turned to embrace Kay once more.  “Thanks, Kay.  It means so much to me that you guys came today.”

Kay let go and Brianna found herself engulfed in Lee’s arms.  “We were happy to be here, Bri,” he assured her.  “But don’t you get yourself caught up in that whole political scene down in DC, all right?  We’re all counting the days until you come home.”

Brianna chuckled.  “Me too,” she admitted.  “But we’ll be here for a couple more days so let’s make sure to put the time to good use.  We’ll get together again, right?”  The rest of the family – brothers and their wives – cheered at that suggestion as they gathered around for their goodbyes, and then they were all leaving one full vehicle at a time.

Brianna moved to stand on the front steps, not seeing Okasa and Patrick come up behind her as she waved goodbye.  Only when she turned did she realize they were there, and she was glad for their steadying hands when she nearly took a backwards header off the steps.

“You all right, Little Bri?” Paddy asked when she was steady again.  Brianna nodded.

“Yes, Paddy.  You and Mama just surprised me.  I thought I was by myself.”

“Would you prefer to be?” Okasa asked, searching green eyes carefully.

“No, Mama.  I love knowing you and Paddy have my back.  I just expected you two to be inside with Kent and Adam.”

“Oh no,” Okasa stated emphatically.  “Aside from wanting to make sure everyone got away safely, Kent was going to give Adam a good talking to.  Paddy and I would just be a distraction.”  She looked around the now dark and empty yard.  “Speaking of distractions, where is my daughter?  I know Adam nearly gave her heart failure when he ran out.  I expected her to be the one to bring him in reading the riot act or something similar.”

Brianna smiled sadly.  “I think it all got to be too much.  But I have a good idea where she went.  Do you think I could get a thermos of hot chocolate?”

Okasa smiled and nodded.  “Sure. C’mon inside and we’ll make it up. It won’t take but a minute.”

Together they entered the kitchen to find Esmeralda at the stove stirring what smelled like homemade hot chocolate.  Saphira was busy shaving chocolate into the pot on the stove while Kent was cleaning up a nearly sleeping Adam.  As Brianna, Okasa and Patrick entered the kitchen, he hefted Adam from the chair and into his arms.

“I’m just going to go give him a quick bath and put him to bed.  I think all the excitement tuckered him out.”

Patrick chuckled.  “All the excitement tired me out too.”

“We’ll be up to say good night in a few minutes,” Okasa volunteered.  Kent nodded and left the room.  The five remaining adults in the room looked at each other for a long, silent moment before Esmeralda shrugged sheepishly.

“I hope you don’t mind.  It sounded like a good idea with everyone standing around outside in the cold... especially after Kent told us what happened with Adam.”

Okasa marched over to the stove and took a spoon from the drawer beside it.  She stirred it around in the hot liquid for a moment, then scooped up a portion, blowing on it lightly before letting it flow across her tongue and down her throat.  She closed her eyes to savor the flavor, then opened them and stared at Esmeralda sternly.  “If you think you’re leaving here without giving me that recipe, young lady, you’ve certainly got another think coming,” her face breaking into a smile.  “That’s amazing.”  She leaned over the pot and breathed in deeply.  “You fixed enough for everyone, right?”

“Oh yes, ma’am.  Always make enough to share with everyone – rule number one.”

Okasa rolled her eyes at being called ma’am again; Patrick just laughed roundly.  Brianna grabbed the thermos from the place it always was... always had been... and passed it to Mama to fill. Okasa did so without comment, then closed the lid and handed it back to Brianna with a small nod.  Brianna smiled her thanks and left the kitchen without a word.  The rest watched her go, and it wasn’t until they heard the back door close solidly behind her that Saphira spoke.

“Is everything okay?”

“I hope so.” Okasa replied slowly.  “I truly hope so.”

************

Brianna walked through the backyard by rote glad Patrick and Okasa were such stable, reliable individuals.  Not much had changed back here in years other than the bushes getting fuller and the trees growing taller.  The gardens – even when the flowers changed with the seasons – were still laid out in the same place and fashion as they had always been.  So she moved into the darkness with utter confidence in her steps even though she couldn’t actually see much beyond her feet.  The bare sliver of the moon offered very little light to her path.

Brianna slowed her approach as she reached the largest tree on the property – one that was guesstimated to be more than one hundred years old.  It was in this tree that Patrick had built a tree house for his children.  At first it had been Hunter’s fortress, then as his brothers grew old enough to climb, it became a place for all of them to hide and play and get away from their parents for just a little while.

When Charisma was born, she was forbidden to join them for the longest time... being a girl and all – until Patrick put a stop to that nonsense by informing his male children that either their sister was allowed to play with them or their tree fort would become a tree castle that only Princesses were allowed to utilize. 

So they begrudgingly invited Charisma to join them, and for years they shared the playhouse and it served any number of purposes – an army fort; a pirate ship; an airplane; a hideout and yes... even a castle once or twice.

But as the boys grew into adulthood, they visited the tree house less and less until only Charisma was left.  And she continued to use it throughout high school and into college when she needed somewhere to go to think.

She had introduced Brianna to this place on their first college break when she’d brought Brianna to meet the family.  Brianna still remembered that trip with great affection, and she recalled how glad she was that there was a place she could go to get away from everyone when she felt overwhelmed – which in those days had been much more often than not.  Finding a family like Charisma’s – especially after her own solitary and broken household – was a lot to handle.

Now as Brianna neared the place she knew instinctively where Charisma had escaped to, she stopped and took a deep breath, trying to center herself for whatever was yet to come.

Before she could try to tuck the thermos into her inside coat pocket, Charisma’s tired voice sounded loud in the still darkness.  “Brianna, why are you here?”

Brianna gasped at the pain both words and inflection cut through her.  Still she smiled up gamely in the direction she knew Charisma to be and held up the thermos.  “I come bearing gifts, Fair Queen,” she answered, much in the same manner as she had all those years ago.  She felt Charisma’s gasp as sharply as she heard it.

“Please don’t call me that,” Charisma whispered softly.  “Just leave me alone.”

Brianna’s brow furrowed.  What on earth had happened between the time Charisma had shown such concern for Brianna’s wellbeing and now?  Surely Charisma didn’t think Brianna had coerced Adam from the house earlier.  Brianna came to a decision and straightened, gripping the thermos handle firmly between her teeth before she started climbing the ladder.

Charisma pushed open one of the shutters and stuck her head out, growling when she saw Brianna making her way upwards.  “What part of ‘leave me alone’ wasn’t clear to you, Brianna?  I’ve used up all my tolerance for today.  So GO AWAY.”

Brianna just glared in Charisma’s direction, unable to speak until she reached the top.  When she did she set the thermos to one side of the carpeted floor until she could pull herself up the rest of the way and pulled the ladder up behind her.  “I’m sure glad Paddy keeps this place in shape,” she muttered to herself before turning to face Charisma with a glare in her eyes.  “First of all, Charisma Tagherty, if you’d really wanted to be alone, you’d have pulled the ladder up behind you so I couldn’t follow you.  And you KNEW that I would – don’t even bother to try and deny it.  And secondly, I think I have a right to know what I did to set you off because I can’t think of anything I’ve done to warrant that sort of reception from you for any reason.”

“Brianna,” Charisma’s voice so low, Brianna could scarcely hear her sitting mere feet away.  “It’s not you.  It’s not Kay.  It’s not Adam.  It’s not any one thing.  It’s everything, and I’m trying really hard to get a handle on things.  I don’t need you here for that.”

Brianna tilted her head and reached for the thermos, opening it and letting the scent of hot chocolate waft through the small, enclosed room.  She poured a serving into the cup and passed it to Charisma who accepted it haltingly.  Brianna smiled wryly.

“I’m not trying to kill you, Charisma.  Es made it from scratch.  It got Mama’s approval.”

This got Charisma’s attention and she raised her eyes to meet Brianna’s.  Then she took a small sip, closing her eyes when the taste hit her tongue.  “Oh wow – we are so keeping her.”  She opened her eyes again.  “Have you tasted?” offering Brianna the cup when she shook her head no.  Brianna accepted the cup and blew briefly before sucking in a small swallow.

“Oh man... that is awesome!”  She refilled the cup and passed it back to Charisma.  “Now talk to me, Charisma,” huffing a little when Charisma dropped her eyes to the cup in her hand.  Brianna lifted Charisma’s chin with her fingertips and waited for blue eyes to tack to hers.  “Charisma, we’re supposed to be on a path of friendship – learning one another again.  How can we do that if you won’t talk to me?  That was always the most important part of our friendship to me.”

Charisma’s anger was clear in the fire that it in her eyes.  “Really?  Then why won’t you tell me why you left me?  Why won’t you tell me why my family... why KAY....” said with a sneer, “has been part of your life for twenty years that we will never have together??  Why were they so much more important than I was??”

“Charisma, no one has ever been as important as you in my life even when we were apart.  I thought of you every single day and prayed for you every single night.”

“Even when you were with Kay?”

“Can I ask you a question?” Brianna’s sudden interruption disrupting Charisma’s line of thought and she nodded almost automatically before she considered it.  “If you take my relationship with Kay out of the equation, what did you think of her?  And be honest – I know you talked to Michelle about working for you one summer.  Try to be that fair to her mother in your response.”

Charisma sighed.  “I suppose she’s a decent sort; the boys seem to love her and so does Mama.  That says a lot about her, I guess.”

“Charisma....”

“What do you want me to say, Brianna?  She’s nice enough, but I hate her for the time she got to have with you that I didn’t.  We were best friends!!  It’s like having to make nice with my replacement.”

“Charisma, Kay never, ever replaced you – not in my life and not in your family.” Brianna paused thoughtfully, reaching for the cup of hot chocolate and wincing when the lukewarm beverage hit her mouth.  She purposely took a large swallow then added some that was still hot to it, frowning when Charisma reclaimed it.  “How did you find out about us anyway?  No one who knows would have shared that information with you unless you had asked directly.  And I know you didn’t.  So spill.”

Charisma took a deep breath.  They were so focused on their conversation that neither woman heard Kent arrive at the base of the tree.


Chapter LXIII

“So let me get this straight,” Brianna said without even a blip of a smile crossing her face.  “You overheard Esmeralda and I talking this morning?  That’s what started all this?”

“Pretty much, yes.”  Charisma sighed.  “I got up last night to get a drink of water and I heard noise in the hall.  When I looked out the door, I saw you headed downstairs so I thought I‘d join you – have a late-night snack and gab session like we used to, you know?” waiting for Brianna to nod.  “But when I got to the kitchen, you and Es were already talking so I decided to wait for a good time to break in.”

“Only you didn’t.”

Charisma shook her head.  “I couldn’t.  I didn’t know what to say to you.  So I went back upstairs and crawled in bed.”  She snorted softly.  “I never did actually go back to sleep.”

“I did,” Brianna confessed.  “As soon as Mama threatened me with warm milk, I was out like a light.”  Charisma chuckled and Brianna smiled briefly before her expression fell.  “So what part of our conversation kept you awake, Charisma?  Surely my orientation wasn’t a surprise to you?  It’s not like I’ve ever attempted to keep it a secret.”

“Not exactly though having it confirmed so blatantly was something of a shock.  It was a lot of things – finding out that you had a gay ex-lover that was so important to you she was considered part of the family; learning you preferred the casualness of a fuck buddy to a settled, stable relationship; understanding that you didn’t really feel at home with my family despite the fact that they’ve never treated you as less than family to them.”

Brianna bit her lip.  Given what Charisma had overheard, it was easy to see where she could have drawn such conclusions, but it didn’t keep the misconceptions from hurting.  “You’re wrong, you know.  Oh… not about all of it,” she added when Charisma opened her mouth to debate.  “Kay is an ex-lover that I cared enough about to introduce to your family.  I’ll be forever grateful to the Tagherty clan for welcoming her and her family with the same open arms they showed me so many years ago.”

“But....”

“I’m not done yet.” Brianna said a bit impatiently.  “What I meant about the family is that it was odd... different for me to be here in this house again – especially sharing the same roof with you when everything is so different between us.   That doesn’t make it bad; it just makes it unusual. Never assume that I don’t love your family or that they don’t hold a very special place in my heart and life like they always have.  This just isn’t what has been normal for any of us for a very long time and I was trying to explain to Es the difference it made being here now with you like this.”

Brianna took a deep breath and tried to tone down her anger and Charisma waited, recognizing the expression though she hadn’t seen it in a number of years.  “As for the other,” Brianna said slowly, trying not to speak through clenched teeth, “I resent your assumption.  Did you ever think that perhaps I hadn’t found the person I was meant to be with?  Or that I had fallen in love with someone who wasn’t available to me?  I’m not a home wrecker, Charisma.  I would love to be part of a settled, stable relationship, and I’m pissed that you would believe otherwise.”

“Now wait just a minute.  Before you get all sanctimonious with me exactly how the hell was I supposed to know that??” holding up a hand when Brianna’s lips parted.  “No,” Charisma said emphatically, point her finger at Brianna.  “My turn now.  It’s not like you were particularly forthcoming, were you?  All I know of you is what I knew in college, and you certainly didn’t want to be tied down then.  I didn’t even know you were interested in women – I mean you dated your share of men when we double dated.  The only other things I’ve learned I overheard you telling someone else.”

“So you just assumed,” Brianna accused flatly.

“What else am I supposed to do if you don’t talk to me?!?  You said talking together was the most important part of our friendship to you,” waiting for Brianna to nod her agreement.  “It is for me as well, but it’s only going to work if we both do it.”

“You’re right.”

“Naturally,” Charisma snarked with a grin and the tension flowed out of the tree house.  “So we talk from now on??”

“Yes – no assumptions means no misunderstandings.”

“And we be honest with one another no matter what.”

“I can be if you can,” Brianna replied seriously, catching Charisma off-guard.  Charisma nodded slowly.

“My life is pretty much an open book, but I’ll try to fill in any holes that are there.”  She shivered.  “Not here though.  It’s freezing even with the blanket,” gesturing with the one she had wrapped around her.  “And we’ve got to be almost out of cocoa.”

Brianna peeked into the thermos, but before she could confirm Charisma’s words, they heard Kent calling out to both of them.  They exchanged glances and Charisma responded even as she unwrapped the blanket from around her body and neatly put it back into the chest it came from.

“I’ll be all over for the next few weeks,” Charisma said as they prepared to leave the tree house.  “I have to check in with all the local campaign offices around the state, but I’d like to continue this conversation soon.”

“You still owe me a look at your album,” Brianna reminded her.

“You’re right; I do.  Let’s find a time we can do that soon.”

“I’ll check my calendar as soon as we get in.  I’m sure we can figure something out.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Charisma said with a smile as she lowered the ladder.  “Now let’s get back to the house before Kent sends out a search party.  He sounded worried.”

“Does he not know where you come to escape everything when you’re here?”

Charisma shook her head.  “No.  You’re the only person I’ve ever shared this spot with.”

Brianna didn’t quite know what to say to that so she quickly slid down the ladder and waited for Charisma to drop the thermos into her outstretched hands.  Then she stood aside so Charisma could climb down.  When they were both on the ground Charisma linked their elbows and headed for the back door.

“Mama O must have told him where you were or something,” Brianna offered as they reached the garden area.  “I don’t see him out here anywhere.”

“I’m sure,” Charisma concurred.  “C’mon... let’s go see if Es has any of that hot chocolate left.”

************

Kent had put Adam to bed and his son had dropped off to sleep before he even realized Charisma was missing from their nightly ritual.  When Okasa and Patrick came upstairs to kiss their grandson goodnight, Kent was already outside, wondering where his wife had disappeared to in the freezing cold temperatures.  His first thought had been to check the garage, but their SUV sat in the same place they had parked it several days before.  And the other vehicles were accounted for as well.  That only left the backyard, and with determined steps he headed around towards the back of the house.

His eyes caught movement ahead of him and he immediately recognized the wisps of blonde hair sticking out around the hat the covered the rest of her head.  It sent a pang through him to realize this woman who had be missing from Charisma’s life for twenty years knew better how to find his wife than he did.  So he followed her at a distance; not wanting to be caught but curious to know what the hell was going on.

He watched Brianna have a conversation with the air, though he couldn’t hear the words exchanged, then he saw Brianna get angry and pull herself up the ladder.  When the ladder disappeared up the hole in the bottom of the tree house, he slowly made his way towards it, hoping he could hear what was being said.  However, his steps were slow and very measured, not wanting the two women to detect his presence.  So he missed a bit of the conversation before he ended up close enough to hear them.

He listened carefully, hearing everything that was being said and a lot more that wasn’t.  Satisfied that he at least understood what Brianna refused to tell Charisma, he backed away from the tree much more swiftly than he’d approached it, getting back to the patio before he called out for Charisma, and after a second thought Brianna as well. 

Almost immediately the back door to the kitchen opened and Okasa beckoned him inside.  Esmeralda and Saphira were seated at the table and he had the passing thought to speculate where his mother and Patrick had gotten off to that they weren’t in the kitchen as well. “Mama O?” he asked, wondering what she would say without betraying her daughter.

“They’re all right,” Okasa assured him, ladling him up a cup of hot chocolate and offering him a few marshmallows as well.  Kent shook his head.  “Sometimes they just need to do the ‘girl talk’ thing alone together.”

“In this weather?” he cried in disbelief.

“I never said it was a good idea,” Okasa countered.  That killed the conversation for a minute or two until Charisma and Brianna came shivering into the room arm in arm.  Okasa simply looked at the two of them and shook her head, giving a sigh and rising to pull two more cups from the cabinet before filling them with Esmeralda’s hot chocolate.

Brianna unraveled her arm from Charisma’s and moved over to rinse the thermos she then put in the sink.  Charisma placed her hands on Kent’s shoulders, giving them a brief squeeze before moving to take the mug Okasa offered her.  She wrapped her hands around it, sighing at the warmth and breathing in the scented steam with a smile.

“This is good stuff, Es,” Charisma complimented.  “Mama did tell you we’re keeping you forever, right?” she asked, bumping her elbow against Esmeralda’s shoulder.  “How’re you feeling?  You look better.”

“I’m good – the nap helped.  I’m just not used to quite so much excitement anymore I guess.”

“Do you come from a large family, Esmeralda?” Kent asked.  Esmeralda nodded.

“Not immediate, but there’s a whole host of extended family; you know, aunts and uncles, cousins, in-laws, outlaws,” getting a laugh from around the table.  She turned back to answer Charisma’s question.  “As for keeping us forever, we just figured since Mama practically adopted us today, we could share the family recipe.  There are a couple really nice adaptations as well.”

“Like peppermint schnapps?” Brianna asked hopefully.

“And what’s with this ‘practically’ nonsense?” Okasa grumbled.  “I did adopt you – you ARE family.”

“Yes ma’am!” they both snapped out as they straightened in their chairs as though they were in the military. 

“Good, now that we’ve got that settled,” Okasa said with a brief glare trained at both of them before her face was wreathed in smiles.  “Let’s hear about those enhancements.”

“If you ladies will excuse me,” Kent said as he rose from his chair, “I think I’m going to go check on my son and then see if I can find my mother.  Esmeralda, that was exceptional hot chocolate, and anytime you want to share it with me I’ll be happy to drink it.”

“Thank you, Kent,” she responded, and with a slight bow in their general direction Kent left the kitchen.  Okasa stood as well.

“I’m gonna go find Paddy.  When he’s been quiet for this long it usually doesn’t bode well.”  She went around the table and kissed each younger woman on the forehead.  She saved Esmeralda for last, knowing Charisma wouldn’t talk to her with an audience and still seriously concerned about Esmeralda’s general health issues.  “I put some of my sleeping draught in a container in the pantry with your name on it.  It’s right by what little is left of those cakes you brought, okay?  If you need it, you take it.  I don’t want to find you in my kitchen at oh-dark-thirty in the morning suffering from insomnia again – not when there is something I can do to help you get a little rest in my house, all right?  It’s there if you need it so use it.”

“I will Mama; thank you.”

“Good girl.”  She looked around the table.  “And the rest of you don’t stay up too late either.  It’s been a busy day and even without shopping tomorrow, I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be almost as busy...especially since I distinctly heard plans being made to get everyone together again.”

“Yes, Mama,” they replied in unison and Okasa smiled.

“That’s what I like to hear!”  And with a flourish she left the four younger women alone in the kitchen. They waited until they figured she was out of earshot, then exchanged grins which quickly escalated into laughter.  Then they froze when they heard Okasa shout from the hallway, “I heard that!”  Of course, that simply caused them to laugh louder and harder and Okasa smiled.  It had been a long time since the house had been filled with laughter like it had today.  It felt good.

************

Kent had done as he said – he looked in on his son, smiling at how peaceful Adam was in repose.  He pulled the blankets up over him just a little, then closed the door softly behind him before he wandered down the hallway to his mother’s room.  He stood in front of her door a moment, then lifted his hand to knock when he saw the light on.

He had to wait a long moment, then he heard her crossing the room just before she swung the door open.  Her eyes widened.  “Kent?  Is everything all right, Son?”

“That was my question.  You kind of disappeared.”

“I just needed a little peace and quiet.  You know I love visiting here, but it can get a little overwhelming after a while... especially for a woman who lives alone.  Besides, I thought you and Charisma might need some time to fix whatever it is that seems to be bothering her.”  It was a statement, but Kent could see the question in her expression.

He leaned on the doorjamb and Margaret sighed and rolled her eyes at him.  She tugged him into the room by his elbow and motioned him to the one chair while she sat in the edge of the bed.  “Now talk to me, Kent!  What’s bothering Charisma?”

Now Kent was smart enough to know that Margaret wouldn’t let him get by with claiming nothing – Charisma had been far enough off the grid today that she wouldn’t buy that blatant of a lie.  However, there was no way he was going to share with her what he suspected the real truth to be.  So he decided to try and keep things simple.

“I think she’s a little bit like you, Mother.  I mean, I think she just needed a little peace and quiet.  That’s the second time in less than two weeks that Adam has run away from her and into a situation that could have been harmful to him.  Imagine what could have happened to him if Brianna hadn’t managed to catch him.”

“Oh my.”

“Yeah, and like I said – it’s the second time he’s done that to Charisma recently.  I’m pretty sure that was her breaking point.”

“So where is she now?”

“In the kitchen drinking some of Es’ homemade hot chocolate.”  He met her eyes.  “Did you have some?”

“After that chocolate cake at dinner?” Margaret asked through her chuckles.  “No – I’d like to sleep sometime tonight.  I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be another busy day.”

“Maybe,” Kent agreed with a shrug, “but let me tell you, you’re missing out.  This stuff was fantastic.  If she makes it again, you need to try it – I don’t care what time of day it is.”

Margaret’s eyebrows went into her hairline.  “That good, huh?”

“She could put Starbucks out of business.”

“That’s quite a testimony coming from you, Son.  I may have to give it a try.  Maybe I can ask for some tomorrow since I missed out on it tonight.”

“Just make sure I’m around to get my share,” Kent said with a smile as he stood.  “I’m going to go get comfortable,” motioning to his trousers and dress shoes.  “I’ve been proper long enough for one day.  I’m glad you’re all right, Mother.  I was a little concerned.”

“I’m good, Kent.  Now go get some rest – you look tired.”  They exchanged a brief kiss, and Kent returned to his room.  Margaret thoughtfully watched him go before she closed her own door, then she returned to her bed and her book.

************

“Everything all right, Love?” Patrick asked when Okasa poked her head into his study.  She nodded and entered, then shut the door softly behind her.

“Yeah... just a lot of emotion flying around out there today.  I needed a break and figured I’d find you here.”

“Yeah – I needed the break as well.  How’s Charisma?”

“I think Brianna helped bring her back from whatever upset her.”

“You know what upset her, Okasa.”

“I don’t think it was Kay... or at least not just Kay. But I’m not sure what else it could have been... although I’m sure Adam running off didn’t help matters.”

“She needs to put a leash on that boy,” Patrick offered with a snort.

“I’m not gonna disagree right now – I’m too tired.”  She extended a hand to him.  “C’mon, old man.  There’s a bed upstairs calling my name, and I want you there snuggled up beside me.  The girls can figure things out tonight, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll see about fixing things tomorrow.”

“Sounds like a plan, Mama.  Lead the way.”


Chapter LXIV

“Well this has to have been one of the more interesting weekends I’ve spent on the mortal plane since we were cast out together,” Saphira said with a wry smile in her voice as she looked at Esmeralda who was currently curled around her pillow while Saphira packed up their bag in preparation for their departure the following day.  Esmeralda smiled tiredly and tilted her head slightly.

“Why do you say that, Love?” wondering what had brought about the change of heart that allowed Saphira to joke about their exile, however lightly, instead of grumble about it.

Saphira’s eyes widened and her eyebrows jumped to her hairline.  “You’re kidding me, right?” she asked dryly. 

“Not at all,” Esmeralda assured her with a smile, then held up a hand before Saphira could protest.  “On a surface level I understand – this has been the first real time off we’ve had together in a very long time.  That in and of itself would make it a good weekend for either of us.  But I get the distinct feeling that it has as much to do with being here with these people in these circumstances as it does with our time together.”

“You’re a pretty smart cookie,” Saphira commented with a laugh, causing Esmeralda to stick out her tongue.  “You sure you’re all right?” her tone turning to one of concern.  Esmeralda clasped the hand that had covered her forehead and tugged Saphira closer until she was sitting on the bed.  As a matter of course Esmeralda shifted her body from the pillow to Saphira’s lap and Saphira naturally obliged her by running long fingers through blonde hair to scratch lightly at the nape of Esmeralda’s neck.  Esmeralda purred like a pussycat and Saphira chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” Esmeralda asked, twisting her body so she could comfortably look up Saphira’s torso to meet her eyes.

“You are,” Saphira said succinctly, then rolled her eyes when an arched brow and a poke in the belly prompted her to continue.  “You’re purring like a kitten.”  She smiled sadly.  “You haven’t done that in a long time.  I’ve missed it.”

“I feel good,” Esmeralda offered with a smile.  “I mean, I’m really tired after the last few days.  Even having Ruby and the girls living with us is nothing like this whole family activity thing the Tagherty’s have had going on since we’ve been here.  But it’s a good kind of tired – the kind of tired that I earned from being busy and doing things instead of just feeling run down.”

“That’s about the best thing I’ve heard from you in a long time, Es.  I can’t tell you....”  Saphira’s words stopped when Esmeralda covered her lips with a finger.

“Sweetheart, you don’t have to.  I know, remember?  Just like you do.”  She frowned a moment.  “You said about the best thing – should I ask what the best thing is?”

Saphira’s grin was broad.  “That you love me – that will ALWAYS be the best thing I can hear from you.  And I never get tired of hearing it either.”

“Lucky for you then that I never get tired of saying it.  I do love you, Saphira.”

“I know Es... I love you too.”

“So tell me why you think this has been one of our more interesting weekends aside from the obvious, I mean.  I’d like to hear your impressions.”

Saphira tapped Esmeralda’s shoulder causing her to lift her upper body enough that Saphira could shift into a more comfortable position against the headboard.  When she was sure Saphira was settled Esmeralda resumed her place on Saphira’s lap, and Saphira continued to gently comb her fingers through Esmeralda’s hair.  Then she cleared her throat and let her eyes focus beyond the bedroom they were sitting in as she tried to put her observations into words.

“I think maybe Brianna and Charisma have finally reached a place where they are truly comfortable together again... a place where they can really jumpstart their friendship and actually move forward.   I’m not really sure why it took a confrontation about Brianna’s past to make that happen, but it was obviously something Charisma needed to know.  I’d like to think that Charisma might finally be able to accept what is really between them, but quite frankly I don’t trust her to know what that is... much less acknowledge it,” she said starkly, looking down to meet Esmeralda’s eyes where she found nothing but calm acceptance of her words.  Saphira nodded and moved her concentration back to the far wall as she thought.

“The boys and their wives are trying their very best not to be involved in the whole situation beyond supporting both Charisma and Brianna.  I know Charisma was thrilled to get some time alone with her brothers while the rest of us went shopping yesterday.”

“I wonder if she knows that was Brianna’s doing?”

“Excuse me?”  Saphira tugged gently on Esmeralda’s hair, forcing Esmeralda to open her eyes and look at Saphira.  She butted Saphira’s belly with her head and closed her eyes, scowling and peeking at Saphira until the gentle scalp massage resumed.  She gave Saphira a satisfied smile and closed her eyes with a sigh.  Before Saphira could prompt her again Esmeralda spoke.

“Charisma Tagherty may not know Brianna Walker as she is now, but Brianna Walker has a pretty good handle on Charisma Tagherty.  In fairness, one reason is because Brianna never lost contact with the Tagherty family; she knows what makes them... and Charisma by extension... happy.”  She paused to clear her throat and Saphira offered her a sip of water that Esmeralda accepted gratefully before she lay back down and continued.  “Aside from the tension that Kay’s presence caused for several reasons, Charisma was just discombobulated by the whole altered dynamic that this holiday was.  Even though she wanted Brianna here – invited her even – actually having her here threw off the whole relationship she’s used to having with her brothers.”

“Not following,” Saphira offered tersely.  Esmeralda sighed.

“When Charisma first brought Brianna home with her from college, she instructed the boys to treat her like family.  Brianna was one of them, and as such she was part of the sibling gathering at every get together.  Brianna and Charisma splitting up didn’t change anything as far as the boys were concerned; Brianna was still one of the family and they treated her as such.  Even welcoming Kay when Brianna brought her home once Kay had been properly vetted, of course.  But they always had time when it was just the siblings – no parents, no children and no significant others.  And although they certainly considered Brianna to be Charisma’s significant other, they understood that wasn’t what Charisma had meant when she’d called Brianna family.  So every holiday there has always been a little while when it’s just been the Tagherty’s grown kids – the five of them during Charisma’s college years, then just the boys and Charisma or the boys and Brianna once the girls were no longer together.  It was quite a shock when Charisma realized that Brianna really was still as much a part of the Tagherty family as she was, and Brianna recognized that.  She spoke to Hunter about it before he left on Thursday night.”

“You overheard?”

Esmeralda smirked.  “Naturally.”

************

“Brianna?”

“Trust me, Hunter.  As much as I want to be included, Charisma *needs* it to be just the four of you.”

“It’s not right!” he stated adamantly, and she smiled at him sadly and shook her head in agreement.  “You’re still part of the family – that’s never changed.”

“I know... and you don’t know what that means to me... what it’s always meant.  And no, it really isn’t very fair, but life rarely is,” she said softly.  “Be that as it may, Charisma needs the surety of her brothers right now.  I’m pretty sure meeting Kay rocked her world and not in a good way.  She wasn’t ready for that.”  A beat.  “It’s little enough for me to do for her.  And I’ll come back around to see you guys again... promise.”

“You still love her,” he whispered, his smile growing as wistful as Brianna’s.

“I never stopped, Hunter.  You know that.”

He nodded.  “I did... I do.  We all do.  I just wish....”

“So do I,” Brianna admitted.  “But we both know it will never happen.  She won’t let it.  Besides, Kent seems like a great guy... very stable and levelheaded.  He makes her happy and I would never do anything to jeopardize that for either of them... or Adam.”

“No... no I don’t think he does.”  Hunter held up his hands to keep Brianna from interrupting.  “Don’t get me wrong, Bri.  Even though we were shocked when Charisma brought him home as her fiancé, we all liked Kent once we got to know him.  He is a good man and a great dad.  But he doesn’t make Charisma happy – he makes her content.  There’s a huge difference.” 

Brianna shrugged, knowing Hunter was right.  “Maybe, but it’s her call to make.”

“What about you, Bri?  When do you get to be happy?”

Brianna smiled wryly and patted his arm.  “I’m happy enough.  At least we’re together as a whole family again for the first time in twenty years.  And there are new friends to boot.”

“I like them, Bri,” Hunter commented, recognizing the change of topics for the ploy that it was and letting Brianna get away with it anyway.  “I really do.  Though why Saphira is a waitress instead of a law enforcement officer of some kind....”

************

“No he didn’t,” Saphira said flatly in disbelief.

“Saphira, why would I make it up?  Of course he did.  He can’t figure out why his instincts... instincts that he trusts on a daily basis to solve crimes and save his life if necessary... were so far off base.  It’s going to drive him crazy for a long, long time.”

“That’s a little bit funny,” Saphira snickered.

“Yeah, but it’s also a little mean.  I mean it’s not like you can go around announcing that you were an Angel of Vengeance in another life.  Well, I guess you could, but I’m pretty sure it would wind up with you making a one-way trip to the Looney bin.”

“I could be the head toon!”

“You already are,” came the snappy retort, causing Saphira to start tickling Esmeralda, and Esmeralda to start squealing.  They didn’t actually realize how their voices carried until Adam came rushing into the room, Charisma hot on his heels.

“ADAM ROCKWELL!!”

“MAMA!” he yelled right back, running towards the bed where Saphira and Esmeralda were now frozen in place, watching as the pajama clad little boy made a beeline towards them.  Saphira reached down an arm and scooped him up onto the bed to sit beside her just as Charisma appeared in the door with Kent and Brianna following right behind her.

“Everything okay in here?” Brianna asked, peering around Charisma to one side so Kent could stand behind his wife if he wanted.  Instead Charisma took that as her cue and moved into the room with Brianna beside her.  Kent waited in the doorway; a little uncomfortable but not wanting to leave in case there really was a problem and he was needed.

Before Esmeralda or Saphira could answer, Adam reached over and gently patted Esmeralda’s flushed face.  “Es ‘kay?” he questioned seriously, a deep frown cutting lines between his eyes.  Esmeralda caught his hand and squeezed it lightly.

“I’m fine, Sweetie.  Why would you think otherwise?”

Adam tilted his head thoughtfully as he worked out in his mind what Esmeralda meant.  Then he looked between her and Saphira.  “Screamin’,” he said perfunctorily.

Saphira chuckled and Esmeralda blushed though she couldn’t stop the smile that crossed her face.  “Oh, honey... we’re fine.  Saphira was just tickling me.  I forgot to be quiet.  I’m sorry.”

“Okay?”

Esmeralda nodded.  “Okay.”

Adam leaned forward and gave her a sloppy kiss, then threw his arms around Saphira’s neck before Kent finally entered the room and scooped him out of the bed and swung him into the air, making Adam squeal this time.

“C’mon, Boy – it’s past your bedtime.  What say you and me go find a good story to read and leave Mama and Brianna in here to visit with Esmeralda and Saphira for a little while before bed?” smiling when he saw Adam’s face scrunch up to argue.  “It’s a girl thing – men like us don’t get invited to girls sleepovers ‘cause they do all kinds of girly things... like brush their hair and paint their nails and....”  Kent’s voice trailed off as he and Adam made their way down the hallway and into the bedroom.  The four women left in the other room just looked at one another for a long moment, then burst into laughter.

“Oh he’s good,” Saphira commented.  “I expected a fight.”  She turned to Esmeralda.  “We should hire him – there are a few people I know who could use a handler like him.”

“A handler?” Charisma asked distractedly.

“Someone who can manage people who are of an age to be considered legal adults,” Saphira replied dryly.  “But of a mindset to think that they are still children.”

Brianna chuckled.  “Hey!  That sounds like a lot of people I know... most of them in the capital,” she added with a smirk.  Charisma laughed.

“I think I know some of them as well.”  She turned to Esmeralda and tilted her head.  “How are you doing, Es?  We’ve kept you pretty busy this weekend... especially for someone who’s supposed to be resting and recovering.”

“I’m good, Charisma... really good.  Okasa has made sure I haven’t overdone and....”

“Yeah – I probably should have warned you about that,” smiling when two sets of eyebrows shot into dark and light hairlines even as Brianna nodded her agreement to Charisma’s unfinished statement.  “Mama has a tendency to mother everyone.  Age doesn’t matter in this house – you visit the Tagherty household, Mama keeps an eye on you.  You become family.  Well, now you have another Mama.  And she will always treat you like you’re her kid.”

“Yeah... I figured that out when she threatened me with warm milk,” chuckling at Brianna’s automatic wince of disgust.  “But it’s... nice.  It’s nice to belong to a family who looks out for one another.”

Saphira nodded.  “This is a good family to belong to, and we’re both glad you invited us to join you this weekend.”

“We’re glad you came,” Charisma assured them both.  “But ask Brianna – you’re in now so that means you’re stuck with the lot of us for a very long time.  Like the rest of your lives long.”

“She’s right,” Brianna agreed with a firm nod of her head.  “Holidays, birthdays, oddball get-togethers in the summer – you’ll be expected to be here for every single one of them,” watching their eyes widen in dismay and wracking her brain for what she could have said to achieved that particular response.  Then she nearly slapped herself stupid as realization dawns.  “Or as many as you can manage to get here for.  We’ve all missed a few things because of work obligations – Mama understands.  She doesn’t like it, but she does understand.”  She sighed as she watched them visibly relax.

“We’ll try,” Esmeralda said softly.  Saphira nodded but didn’t say anything, knowing Esmeralda wasn’t finished.  “I can’t tell you what this weekend has meant to both of us.  And I really do feel so much better.  Not sure what it is that made the difference or if it has just been the whole experience, but it’s amazing to feel good again.”

“So that means when I get back into town, we can have our girls’ day, right?” Charisma asked, looking between Brianna, Esmeralda and Saphira.  They exchanged glances and shrugged.

“Sure,” Brianna said casually.  “Why not?  Do you know when you want to shoot for?”

“Let me check my calendar tonight and we can set it up in the morning before you three head back.”  She glanced at the clock.  “And speaking of... does anyone want to come down to the kitchen with me for one of the last slices of chocolate cake before bed?”

Saphira nudged Esmeralda into a sitting position, then Charisma took one proffered arm while Brianna took the other.  Soon the four of them were comfortably ensconced around the kitchen table with plates of cake and glasses of milk, laughing like nobody’s business.

Okasa peeked in on them from the doorway, then headed upstairs with a smile on her face.  Maybe everything will finally work out, she thought.  She had no way of knowing what was headed their way.


Chapter LXV

Ruby and the others were waiting at the house for them when they returned home so the next couple of weeks saw something of their normal routine return to Esmeralda’s and Saphira’s household.  Saphira and Ruby went back to their scheduled shifts at the diner and everyone else except Esmeralda took one of the round-the-clock ethereal guardian shifts on Brianna and Charisma.  To keep either mortal woman from ‘feeling’ the presence of someone known to them on the corporeal plane, Brianna’s office staff kept tabs on Charisma, and Charisma’s staff did the same for Brianna.  All except for Ame who had reported back to her job after the holiday was over and Kent returned to the City; and Mal who like the rest had been called Home but had yet to return to her assignment.

Esmeralda wondered what was up with that.  She didn’t have the staff necessary to keep up with Kent without Mal.  She was hoping they would hear something from Mal sooner rather than later.  She was getting more than a little antsy, despite what were becoming weekly calls from Brianna, Charisma and Okasa keeping her abreast of a lot of what was going on.

So she was thrilled when as the third week approached, she opened the front door one afternoon to find Mal on the other side.  She smiled when she noticed Mal had remembered her gloves, and when Mal followed her gaze she chuckled lightly and shrugged.  Then she allowed Esmeralda to pull her inside the house and close the door firmly behind her.

Mal stripped off her gloves and hung up her coat, then shadowed Esmeralda to the kitchen, gratefully accepting a mug of hot chocolate.  She sniffed deeply before sipping, then met Esmeralda’s eyes with a grin.  “I have missed your hot chocolate, Es.  You must be feeling better.  But, um... where is everyone?”

“Saphira’s already left for work; Ruby’s not home yet; Jade went to pick up some groceries; Coral and Amber are both upstairs asleep; Ame’s with Adam; Turq and Jas are out driving; and Indi and Opal are guarding Charisma and Brianna respectively.  So it’s just you and me here at the moment.”

“Good... that’s good.”

“So what’s up?” Esmeralda asked Mal directly, forcing green eyes to meet her own.  Mal bit her lip and Esmeralda extended a hand, waiting until Mal accepted it before she pulled them towards the living room.  Once they were seated, Esmeralda patted the hand she held.  “Tell me.”

“I have a question first,” Mal stated and waited for Esmeralda to signal her continuance.  When Esmeralda nodded, Mal nodded back and took a deep breath.  “Have I missed anything... something important?  Like something big happening between Charisma and Brianna?”

Esmeralda blinked.  “You mean like them...?”

“I mean like them screwing around together or declaring their undying love for one another or something equally momentous.”

Esmeralda cleared her throat.  “No – not unless it’s been within the last few hours.  Amber and Coral didn’t mention anything, and neither did either Charisma or Brianna when they called.”

“Were they together?”

“Excuse me?” Esmeralda frowned.

“Charisma and Brianna – were they together when they called?”

“I’d have to go with no,” Esmeralda replied slowly.  “For one thing they didn’t call at the same time, and for another, Charisma is still out of town as far as I know and Brianna’s here.”  She angled her head slightly and cocked an eyebrow.  “What’s this about, Mal?  What happened?   And where is Kent?”

“Jade is keeping an eye on him for me – I caught her on her way to the store,” she said in answer to Esmeralda’s surprised look.  “She’s still gonna pick up the groceries; she’s just gonna be a little later doing it than she planned.”

“Okay – so why are you here, Mal?  Something must have happened.”

“It did.  Give me a minute to explain – it will help you understand.”  Mal set her cup on the table and rose to pace, running a nervous hand through her hair before turning back to meet Esmeralda’s eyes.  “When Kent got back from his holiday, he seemed very thoughtful... almost pensive.  He still went to work – his performances haven’t suffered.  He seems to be able to separate his character from his real life.  Anyway,” waving her hands, “he’s going to work everyday and to the restaurant sporadically, but he’s been spending a lot of time pacing his apartment and looking out the windows.  He hasn’t gone home to Washington or the Tagherty’s since he returned to the City – no weekends away to spy or stalk or whatever it was he was doing to Charisma before they went to the Tagherty’s for the holidays.  With me so far?”

“Right beside you,” Esmeralda confirmed.

“All right then; so imagine my surprise when today out of the blue, Kent Rockwell met with his family’s lawyer.”

“He’s getting his will in order because something’s wrong?”

“Not exactly.  He had separation papers drawn up.”

“Excuse me?” Esmeralda blurted, then held up a hand to keep Mal from repeating herself.  “I heard you.  I’m just processing what you said.”

“Trust me,” Mal said wryly, “I’m still processing what I said.  That’s why I asked if anything big had happened between Charisma and Brianna.”

“No,” Esmeralda replied distractedly, pinching her lip between her fingers while she let her mind play over the things she did know and other things she suspected.  “Nothing big has happened, but a lot of little things have.”  She turned and met Mal’s eyes.  “Did he sign them?”

Mal shook her head.  “No.  He only asked for them to be drawn up... by the lawyer personally – no secretaries, no paralegals – by the senior partner himself.  The lawyer is supposed draw them up and to keep them until such time as Kent requests them.”

“So it may be a pre-emptive strike,” Esmeralda mused, mostly to herself.  Mal recognized the tone and remained quiet while Esmeralda worked things out in her mind.  “Then again....”  She sighed.  “Thanks, Mal.  I’m not sure what this means yet, but I definitely needed to know.”

Mal smiled.  “It was worth it for the hot chocolate.  But I better get back so Jade can finish with her shopping.”

Esmeralda nodded and rose to walk her to the door.  “Mal, if he decides to take another trip this way, make sure I know before he gets here, all right?” 

“I’ll do my best, Es.  Promise.”

“Thanks, Mal.  That’s all I can ask for.”  Mal donned her outerwear and headed back to the City so Jade could come home and finish the shopping.  Esmeralda returned to the living room to think.

************

“Brianna?  This is Charisma,” the words causing Brianna to roll her eyes and chuckle.  She was pretty certain she’d always recognize Charisma’s voice, but she didn’t see the need to enlighten Charisma to that fact.

Instead she replied, “Hey Charisma!  What’s up?”  In the days following their long talk at Okasa’s, the two had spent a few minutes on the phone everyday even if it was only to exchange a ‘hi... how are you’ before heading off again.  For Charisma it was to the next round of meetings and political gatherings; for Brianna, to reconnect with the friends she had missed during her time in Washington.

“Not much,” Charisma replied.  “I’ve got a few more sessions here, then I’m headed back to DC for the next few days.  I’ve got some informal meetings with several different committee members, and then there’s that party at Gypsum’s.”

“You’re going to that?” Brianna asked in amazement.

“Yes and so are you,” Charisma asserted.  “This is one of those political ‘can’t miss’ things.”  Charisma heard Brianna’s frustrated sigh and softened her tone.  “You really don’t want to miss this, Bri.  Even though you don’t plan to be here beyond the next election for that seat, there’s no reason to snub the people you have to at least pretend to get along with for the next couple years.”

“Dammit,” Brianna groaned.  “I had plans that night.”

“Bring your plans with you; I’m sure she wouldn’t mind,” Charisma said lightly, glad Brianna couldn’t see the grimace that crossed her face as the words left her mouth.

“Um... no.  Not that kind of plans.”  Brianna sighed.  She had really been looking forward to a night out with the girls.  It was unfortunate that two of them were only available the night of Gypsum’s party, but she figured she didn’t need to go to the Senate soiree as she wasn’t in Washington to make friends or influence people.  Charisma’s words, however, gave her pause.  “Guess I need to make a few phone calls,” she added dejectedly.

Charisma grimaced.  She was dying to know, but refused to let her curiosity run away with her, hoping Brianna would choose to share of her own volition.  Instead she offered.  “Well, maybe I can help make it better.”

“Oh?”

“We could go to Gypsum’s together, then you could come back to the house... stay the night, maybe?” hating that she sounded so tentative.  “We could have a slumber party.  Bring your album and we could look through our pictures... maybe share our memories.  Then try to catch up on each other’s lives a little bit?  We do have nearly twenty years to fill one another in on.”

Brianna’s smile could be heard through her voice.  “That sounds great, Ri,” slipping back into their comfortable familiarity with the thought of spending the night at the forefront of her mind.  It would be the most intimate situation they had been in since they’d traveled Europe after college.  She felt the nervous fluttering in her stomach, but remembered Esmeralda’s words of encouragement.  If she wanted this... wanted Charisma’s presence in her life... then she was going to step up and be a part of making it happen.

“Good... good,” Charisma agreed hastily, battling her own nervousness.  After all, it had been forever since she’d allow someone – allowed Brianna – close and she’d been devastated when Brianna had simply walked away.  Charisma was taking a risk letting Brianna in again, but she felt good in her decision.  “Come over Saturday and pack a bag for the weekend.  I’m sure we can find something to do.”

Brianna covered her eyes to keep the images caused by Charisma’s words from running rampant through her mind.  Only partially successful, she chuckled to clear her throat of its sudden huskiness.  “I’m sure if we can’t manage, Adam will keep us more than a little busy.”

“If he was going to be there maybe,” Charisma said with a laugh.  “Mama is going to keep him.  I think she just wants to give Ame a chance to rest a little.”

“He running you crazy up there?”

“Well let’s just say that if I could bottle and sell his energy, this country’s dependency on foreign oil would disappear.”

“Wow – you should probably look into that.  It would probably go a long way towards your bid for the Presidency.”

“Right?” Charisma agreed with another chuckle as she glanced at her watch.  “So we’re on for Saturday?”

“Yes.  Just let me know when....”

“Whenever you can get there will be fine.  I’ll be back in town by Wednesday afternoon, so....”

“All right.  I’ll bring the donuts.”

“I’ll make sure the milk is cold,” Charisma assured, knowing her part in the breakfast scenario.  She looked at her watch again and sighed.  “I’ve got to go.  Turq is waiting to take me over to the state capital – meeting with the Governor this morning.”

“Tell Michael I said hello and that I’m still waiting for him and Jenny to visit.”

“Will do.  Talk to you later.”

“Bye, Ri.”

“Bye, Brianna Brianna.”

************

“Hey, Old Man,” Doug greeted Kent hours later when he was done at the theatre for the evening.  Together they walked over to Kent’s table and took a seat.  “How’s it going?  How was your holiday?  We haven’t seen you here much in the last couple weeks,” his tone both lightly chiding and curiously concerned.

Kent smiled, more at peace than he had been in a long time.  “It’s going really well, actually.  The show is standing room only and getting good reviews.  The holiday was....”  He paused.  “It was good,” he added after a moment.  He didn’t mention how enlightening it was.  There were some things a man just didn’t share with anyone else... even his best friend.  And overhearing Brianna’s conversation with Hunter had settled a number of things in his mind.  “Met some new people.”

“Anyone interesting?”

“No one famous, if that’s what you’re asking... aside from that new Senator, Brianna Walker.  Charisma invited a lesbian couple from DC,” watching Doug’s eyebrow arch in interest.  “Nice women – they seem to have had a rough time of things though.  It was funny watching Saphira give Hunter the run around though.  She’s a waitress – he was convinced she was some sort of cop.”

“How did he miss that so badly?” knowing from previous conversations with Kent that Hunter was a good detective.

“I dunno... maybe because she’s got better observational skills than he does.  At dinner he challenged her to name everyone’s occupation.  She didn’t miss many and those that she did miss, she wasn’t off by much.  It was funny to watch Hunter’s eyes pop out of his head.”

“I would have loved to have seen that,” Doug said honestly.

“I’m pretty sure one of the boys got it recorded.  I know I saw a couple cameras come out,” leaning back as the server set a full plate in front of him.  Kent nodded his thanks and put his napkin on his lap before picking up his fork.  “I’ll see if I can get a copy for you to see,” he added as he put his first bite into his mouth.  “Man, that’s good.  Ron in the kitchen?”

“Yeah.”

Kent nodded.  “I can tell.  That is really good.”

Doug chuckled.  “I know.  I had the same earlier.”  He paused then pressed on.  “So where ya been?”

“Honestly?  I’ve been going home most nights.  I had a couple workshops that were early morning deals, and they made for some very long days.”

“So everything’s okay then?”

“Everything’s fine. Just had to take care of some things that cut my time here short.  Sorry I didn’t mention it beforehand – they came up kinda unexpectedly.”

“Not a problem, Kent.  Carolyn and I were just a little worried when we didn’t see you.  Speaking of... we were wondering if maybe you could come by this weekend.”

Kent chewed thoughtfully as he considered.  “I could probably come by for a while on Saturday morning.  I’ve got some things to take care of on Sunday,” having already decided to slip down to the DC house and pick up a few of his things that he wanted to have with him in Manhattan.

Doug nodded.  “Saturday morning would be fine.” He motioned to Kent’s empty plate.  “You want some more?”

“Oh God no – I think I’ll explode if I eat another bite.  It was excellent though.  I’m gonna go thank Ron, then I’m gonna go get some sleep.”

“Me too,” Doug agreed as he rose and patted Kent on the back before heading towards his office.  Kent stretched and stood as well, making his way to the kitchen before heading out the door.  He saluted the maître d’, knowing she would lock the doors behind him as soon as they closed.

He walked down the sidewalks, still busy even at the darkest part of the morning.  He wondered if he was doing the right thing, and realized he hadn’t really done much of anything yet.  At least things were in place now though, if it came down to it.  And that gave him a measure of peace.

Kent nodded to the doorman who greeted him by name as he held the portal open and he passed through the lobby area of the apartment building, entering the elevator and pushing the button for his floor without pausing.  It was time to get some sleep.  Everything else would have to wait until tomorrow.

************

“He really filed for separation?” Saphira asked when she and Esmeralda were climbing into bed that evening.

“No – he didn’t file for separation.  He’s just had the papers drawn; he can’t file them until he signs them.  And once he does that, they’ll be served to Charisma.”

Saphira nodded slowly.  “I wonder what made him decide to have them drawn up.”

“I think the weekend at the Tagherty’s was enlightening.  He had to have seen Charisma’s jealousy of Kay; it was obvious to everyone though Kay is the only one that actually called her on it.  And I know he overheard what Brianna said to Hunter.  I saw him.  Other than that....”  Esmeralda shrugged.  “I don’t know, but honestly, that was enough.”

“So what now?”

“Now we go to sleep.  Things are in motion on every front – there’s not a lot we can do except wait and watch and pray.”

“Goodnight, Es.  Love you.”

“Love you, Phira.”


Chapter LXVI

Esmeralda looked around the table late Saturday morning and realized the only angels missing were Mal who was still in Manhattan with Kent; Turq who was currently driving Charisma and Brianna all over the city; and Jade.  She looked at Opal and Indi.  “I’m gonna just jump right in here and guess that Brianna and Charisma are already together this morning and that Jade is watching them both?”

Opal nodded.  “Brianna actually got to Charisma’s before Coral and Amber left.  We let them know about this morning’s meeting and Jade volunteered to keep an eye on both of them so we could all be here.  Said she’d call if they split up, but the last word we had was that they were going shopping.  That’s why Turq is missing as well.  Charisma refused to take the Metro if they were shopping.”

“Well, with a little luck, this won’t take long.  I wanted to get each of your impressions on them.  However, I would like your uncensored, unbiased opinions.  So if you don’t want to be unduly influenced by one another, I will speak with each of you privately.  Otherwise we’ll do this as a group.”  Esmeralda waited a full sixty heartbeats, taking time to meet each pair of eyes in the room. Saphira was the last and when she nodded, Esmeralda nodded back.

“Very well.  All I ask is that you don’t interrupt one another.  You can comment once each of you is done, but allow one another to finish before you break in, all right?”

Heads nodded their agreement around the table and Esmeralda took a deep breath, then looked at Coral.  “Tell me how Brianna has been.”  She figured to start with her night crew for two reasons.  One was they were much more familiar with their charges as they had not needed to change watch duties because of the holidays.  The other and more obvious one was that they needed to get upstairs to sleep sooner rather than later.  Coral sucked in a lungful of air and proceeded to speak.

“She’s been... well, she’s been much like she’s always been, I think.  Not much in her routine has changed.  She’s been talking to her friends back home a little more, but I think that is due in part to her recent visit, and also because she had to cancel their dinner together.  She was really looking forward to that.  Otherwise it’s been like it has since she got here mostly.  She spends time looking over legislation – I think she’s trying to do the best job she can while she’s here and that means a lot of her ‘free time’ is spent trying to catch up and keep up.” Esmeralda nodded, but didn’t reply and Coral resumed her discourse.

“Most nights when she’s done with her work, she’ll take a few minutes to look at her album.  She doesn’t say anything, doesn’t study one picture more than the others – she simply goes through each page slowly front to back until she reaches the end.  Then she puts it away for the night and grabs her book to read for a few minutes before nodding off,” Coral finished with a light shrug of her shoulders.

Esmeralda held her eyes a moment longer, then nodded in satisfaction and turned to Coral’s counterpart.  “Amber?”

Amber sighed loudly.  “I need alcohol,” she joked, looking into her coffee cup.  “Charisma is driving me to drink.”

“How so?”

“This thing with Brianna is making her nuts, and she’s trying to share the love with me, I guess.  I dunno!”  Amber held up her hands, then raked them through her hair and sighed again.  “When she was at her mother’s house, it was a little different – she had appearances to maintain even with Okasa.  Here though... especially since she’s been alone in the house for the last few days....  It’s hard to describe, but she’s seriously driving me up a tree.”

Golden eyes met green, and Esmeralda encouraged Amber, “Let’s hear the details.”

“She’s... restless, for lack of a better way to describe it.  She goes out and does her political thing during the day and you’d never know it.  But at night when she’s home by herself....”  Amber shrugged.  “She’s restless.  She walks around a lot.  Usually, she sits at her desk in her office and does her work.  Even when that album has made an appearance, she’s been sitting at the desk just studying a single picture for however long it takes her to be satisfied.”

“This week’s been different?”

“This week has been very different.  Even when she’s working on her political stuff, she’s been pacing and prowling around the room.  If she’s reading, she keeps it in her hands while she walks; if she’s thinking, she leaves the work on the desk and just paces.  When she wants to make notes, she goes back to the desk to do so, then resumes patrolling the room.”

“And does she pull the album out?”

Amber chuckled wryly.  “Oh yes... but not in the office.  The album has been moved to her bedside table, and every night she goes through it, studying each picture intently.  She even squints at most of them as though that will help bring into focus whatever it is that she needs to ask Brianna about.”

“How long does this go on?”

“Until she falls asleep.  Usually she’ll nod off, then jerk herself awake.  Only then does she set the album aside and settle down to sleep properly... at least until she starts dreaming.”  Esmeralda’s brows went into her hairline, and Amber chuckled again.  “It wouldn’t be so bad if I could understand her, but she talks and mumbles all night, and I’m not getting one word in ten.  I’m pretty sure I’m missing the really good stuff,” blowing a raspberry in frustration.  Everyone laughed and Esmeralda shook her head at Amber’s incorrigibleness. 

After a moment they settled down again and it was quiet while Esmeralda processed Amber’s words.  When she was done Esmeralda turned to Indi. 

“Talk to me, Indi.”

“Well, Es... it’s like Amber described.  Charisma is perfectly normal in her everyday routine.  When she’s out in public, she’s very conscious of her image and the fact that people could be watching her.  She is very put together; if I didn’t know she was anxious about something, I’d never guess it from her daytime demeanor.”

“What do you see?” Esmeralda asked, tilting her head in question, then smiling when Indi frowned at her.  “You said if you didn’t know she was anxious, you’d never guess.  Since you do know, what do you see?”

Indi sighed and let her gaze go inward thoughtfully before she spoke.  “It’s an uneasiness, like she’s not comfortable in her skin.  But I’m not sure if it’s because she wants an answer from Brianna or because she doesn’t.”

“So you think she’s finally figured out the right question?”

Indi shrugged.  “I’m only guessing, but yeah... I think so.   Maybe knowing the question is what’s making her so antsy.”

Esmeralda looked at Saphira, who nodded.  “Either would make sense,” Saphira offered, knowing Esmeralda was wordlessly asking for her opinion despite her previous request for silence.  “But I’d go with the idea that she’s figured out the question she needs to ask.  I’d go so far as to say she’s probably figured out the answer and that’s actually what’s driving her crazy.  Remember, Brianna’s answer is going to change everything for Charisma – everything she knows and has believed for years... especially about herself.”

“Do you think she’ll ask this weekend?” Esmeralda asked Saphira, forgetting the rest of the room for the moment.  The other angels simply watched and listened – rarely did they see the two interact officially as angels, and they were fascinated by the peek they were getting.

Saphira considered her reply, knowing Esmeralda was asking her to respond from a tactical stance.  “Given Charisma’s capacity for denial, I’d say no.  Most of her wants to know because she feels like she’s the only one not in on the secret and that’s driving her crazy.  But part of her isn’t ready for the answer she’s pretty sure she’s gonna get, and deep down she knows that.”  Saphira sighed.  “Considering how much time we’ve already spent waiting for them to get to this point, I’d be real surprised if we get a resolution today.  They’ve turned procrastination into an art form and given the word a whole new meaning,” giving Esmeralda a frustrated glare.  Esmeralda chuckled.

“And that meaning is...?”

“Procrastination – how to piss off everyone around you while denying the obvious; making even the most tolerant angel want to pull their hair out, and the rest of us just go postal,” Saphira replied with a smirk, garnering her a laugh from the others around the table.

Esmeralda smiled and shook her head.  She’d be the first to admit that these two had been among the more challenging of her cases, but she wasn’t sure if it was due to them exclusively or if it had more to do with the fact that they were working under so many restrictions.  She briefly wondered what would happen if they weren’t successful.  Would Charisma and Brianna be punished?

Esmeralda looked up when she realized that it had grown quiet again and every eye was focused on her.  She cleared her throat.  “Sorry,” she said softly.  “I was thinking.”  She turned to Opal.  “So tell me about Brianna.”

“Well, whatever happened at Okasa’s seems to have helped her.  She appears more stable.  No, not stable because I don’t think she was ever unstable.  But she does seem more confident or maybe a little resigned – like she knows what’s coming and is ready for it.”

Before Esmeralda could say anything, the phone rang and everyone froze except Saphira who stepped out of the room to take the call.  In just a minute she was returning.  “That was Mal,” she said without prelude.  “Kent is coming down tomorrow.”  Esmeralda’s eyes widened and she waited for Saphira to continue.  Saphira just shrugged.  “That’s all she said.”

“Seriously?” ignoring the look Saphira gave her.  “That’s really all she said?”

Saphira bit her lip on the retort she wanted to make, knowing if Esmeralda was pressing for more, there was a reason for it.  She closed her eyes in thought to give Esmeralda the message word for word.  “Saphira, this is Mal.  Es asked me to let her know if Kent was headed your way. He just bought a round trip ticket for tomorrow so whatever he’s got planned shouldn’t take him long.  I’ll let you know if I figure out what he’s doing before we get there but don’t count on it.”  Saphira opened her eyes and looked at Esmeralda who nodded her thanks.

“Does he know that Charisma is home this weekend?” Ruby asked.  Esmeralda turned to her.

“I don’t think so,” looking around the table again.  “Ladies?”

Indi and Amber exchanged glances and shook their heads in tandem.  “She’s only spoken to him twice on my watch since he went back to the city,” Indi offered.  “She didn’t mention coming back to Washington either time.”

“She hasn’t talked to him at all on my shift,” Amber added.  “So I’d have to say he expects to find the house empty to do whatever it is he’s doing.”

Esmeralda blew the bangs off her forehead.  “This just gets better and better.  All right, you two,” motioning to Amber and Coral, “upstairs.  You know how these political parties can get....”

“... and usually do once company manners wear off and the alcohol starts flowing,” Coral snarked and turned to Jas.  “Are you driving tonight since Turq is working today?”

“I’m not supposed to, but I’ll be around to lend her a hand if she needs it.”

“I don’t think it’ll be necessary,” Esmeralda offered, “but I’m glad you’ll be on standby.”

“Right beside her,” Jas assured.

“Good. You two,” gesturing to Opal and Indi, “get back to Brianna and Charisma.  I don’t expect a lot to happen before tomorrow, but you never know.  You know how to reach us if something does.  I’ll be here the rest of the day, okay?” waiting for heads to nod.  “The rest of you... well, I’m sure you can find something to do to keep busy, right?” she added with a tired grin.

Saphira took the hint and rose, knowing everyone else would start moving if she did.  “I need to get ready for work.”  Then she turned to Ruby as if just realizing she was there.  “What are you doing here anyway?  Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

“Normally, yes.  But Matilda is training a new girl today and asked if I’d mind giving up my hours so she could learn the ropes.”

“That’s kind of like throwing her in the deep end without a life preserver, isn’t it?” Amber asked as she stood and yawned, stretching the kinks out of her back.

“Yeah,” Saphira confirmed, “but it’s also the best and quickest way to learn.  Sink or swim.”

Amber made a face of distaste.  “Yuck.  Seems a little bit cruel.  Glad it’s not me.”  She yawned again.  “I’m going to bed.  Night, everyone.”  She headed upstairs with Coral right behind her.  The rest followed her example and in a few minutes had scattered to whatever tasks were theirs to take care of.  It wasn’t long after Opal and Indi were gone that Jade came in the door, glad to shed her outerwear and pour herself a cup of coffee before taking a seat at the table beside Esmeralda.

“So how were they?”

Jade snorted.  “They were a little bit like – you know what it’s like when the putti want to attract the attention of the cherubim without seeming like they’re trying to do so?” smiling when Esmeralda did the same as she nodded her understanding.  “Right – it was a little bit like that.  There was a weird little vibe going on though.”

“Tell me.”

************

“I haven’t had this much fun shopping in ages,” Brianna confessed as they seated themselves at a table inside a small café off the beaten path.  The woman who had seated them returned immediately with a full coffee pot and waited for them both to nod before she poured.  Then she left them alone to look at their menus.  Charisma and Brianna both absently prepared their coffee as they settled their various bags around them.

“Oh, I agree.  It’s gotten to where I use a professional shopper most of the time.”

Brianna’s brows went into her hairline.  “Really?  I’ve never tried one of those.”

Charisma shrugged.  “I don’t like shopping alone.  And so often I don’t have the time to spend just looking.  So this has been a real treat.”

“So we can plan to do this again?” Brianna asked, picking up her coffee cup and taking a satisfied sip.  “Oh wow... that’s good.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” the waitress replied as she returned.  “What can I get for you ladies?”

They quickly turned their attention back to their menus, finally choosing the daily special.  The waitress nodded her head and checked their cups, then scooted off towards the kitchen.  They watched her go before turning their attention back to their conversation.

“I’d love to do this again,” Charisma confessed.  “I feel like....”  She broke off, unwilling to finish that thought.  Instead she said, “It reminds me of some of those weekends in college when we really didn’t have money to spend, but we had all kinds of time to look.”

“Oh yes – remember how that one store manager used to flinch when we walked into her store?”

Charisma laughed.  “Yes because we were always trying on but never buying.  Then the designer asked if we’d be interested in modeling for charity?  Did you know Hunter ran a background on the designer to make sure she was legit?”

Brianna’s eyes widened.  “Are you kidding me?”

“Not at all.  Remember how excited I was – I called Mama,” seeing Brianna nod.  “Mama told Hunter and he had her checked out.  I’m not sure what would have happened if he’d found out she was a fraud.”

“I’m pretty sure I can imagine,” Brianna replied.  “C’mon, Ri... your brothers doted on you.  Do you really think they’d let anything happen to you if they could prevent it?”

“You too,” Charisma returned softly.  At Brianna’s puzzled expression, she elaborated.  “They loved you too – still do obviously.  They looked out for you.”

“They did,” Brianna agreed.  “They still do sometimes to my dismay, but I wouldn’t change it or them.  Thank you for sharing them with me, Ri.  You’ll never know the difference having them in my life made for me though I never did try to take any of them shopping,” she added, hoping to lighten things up before they got too serious.  Though she knew that eventually they would have to talk, Brianna really didn’t want anything that personal and private to take place in such a public venue.  Charisma clearly agreed with her as she’d given a slightly strained laugh.

“Good choice there.  According to each of my sisters-in-law, shopping with any of the boys is a chore beyond imagining.  I much prefer to have an experience like we had today.”  They both sat back as the waitress approached with their food, and they waited for her to set it down and refill their cups before Brianna resumed the conversation.

“I’m just glad I found something to wear to this thing tonight.  With any luck we can get in and out without anyone noticing.”  She took a bite and closed her eyes.  “This is good.”

“You didn’t look in the mirror when you tried that dress on, did you?  You looked fabulous, Bri. You’re going to knock their socks off,” Charisma said honestly.   “Oh... no kidding – this is good.”

“I hope not,” returning to their discussion as she continued to enjoy her repast.

“Why not?” curious now.

“Because that would just complicate my life.  And I don’t need any more complications than I already have.  Besides alcohol makes people stupid, and you know how well I tolerate stupid.”

Charisma smirked.  “Did that ever get you into trouble in the DA’s office?”

“Surprisingly, no,” Brianna said with a laugh.  “I had a reputation.  It served me well.  And the cops felt like I did.  The running joke was we needed a law against stupid to save ourselves a lot of time and paperwork.”

“At least we can limit our exposure to it tonight.  I figure an hour or two and we can make a break for it.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Part 12