Marker of Hope (19 page)

“I wrote it off as coincidence the girl he
was about to marry was named Claire, but my curiosity nagged me
when he told me about the unknown father of Claire’s child. So I
asked for his fiancé’s full name. ‘Claire Ann Potter,’ he told me
proudly. ‘But tomorrow, she’ll be Mrs. Hector Martin.’”

“Hmm… Hector never mentioned any of that,”
Claire said. “But I do remember having a fit because he didn’t call
me the night before our wedding, even though I knew he was out with
his friends.”

“It must’ve been close to four in the morning
when he finally sobered up enough to tell me where he lived. And
after what he’d told me—about loving you and taking Isis as his
own—well, I just couldn’t… I couldn’t bring myself to see you. He
was a good man, Claire. His love for you was sincere, and I could
see it.”

“So you left,” Claire said.

Samuel nodded. “I took it as a sign. I knew
you’d be fine with Hector, well taken care of. And so, I stepped
aside and let you live your lives. But I had to see her at least
once.” Samuel glanced at me. “I had to make sure she wasn’t a… I
needed to know she was healthy.”

“Yeah, yeah. Now tell her how you were going
to kill me,” I mumbled. Galilea elbowed me.

“What’s that, honey?” Claire asked me.

“I was just wondering if anyone wanted
breakfast,” I said. “Pancakes?”

“Awe yeah.” Galilea made her way to the
table. “Can you make us some of your fabulous blueberry
compote?”

“Oh no, Isis, honey. Come sit down. Talk to
your father.” I hated how casual Claire was, calling him my father.
“And while you two talk, I’ll whip up the pancakes,” she said. “I
know you have to get back to David.”

“David is your husband?” Samuel asked me.

I didn’t answer. Not because I didn’t want
to, but because I couldn’t say what I was thinking in front of
Claire.
In your culture, yes—in my culture and as far as my
mother is concerned, no.

“David is her fiancé,” Claire answered for me
as she cleared the coffee cups from the kitchen table. “He’s not
well. I’ll let Isis tell you.” She walked to the sink where she
deposited the coffee cups and started on our morning meal.

“What’s wrong with David?” Samuel asked.

“He’s in a coma,” I said. “He was attacked…
um, mugged.” I looked over at Claire to see if she was listening.
“Do you mind if we move the conversation to the living room? This
chair is too hard, and my back is killing me.”

“Isis, you make sure you put your feet up,”
Claire said. I knew she was listening. “Always helped me when I was
pregnant with you.”

I walked into the living room, Samuel and
Galilea behind me. Galilea turned the TV on.

“Could you lower the volume?” Samuel asked
Galilea.

“Nope,” she said. “It’s high on purpose.
Mutes our voices.”

“I have a lot to tell you,” I said. “First,
I’m being hunted by demons. It’s how David ended up in a coma. He’s
your kind. A deity. He gave me his Star Crest, and now, his
transformation into Creatura made him lose some of his powers.
Second, Galilea’s ability to make things and people invisible and
her physical strength are weakening. She’s been keeping us under
the radar for weeks. However, she’s reached her limits. She can
only hold the block over me. But not for long. Although David’s
family will protect me, I know how strong Turpis are. I’ve gotten
away with my life three times, but each time, the attacks are
worse. With David down and Galilea out of the game for now, I’m
afraid we don’t have enough manpower to survive the next
attack.”

“Are you asking for my help?” Samuel
asked.

“I’m not done,” I said. “Last, I hate the way
you look at my mom, so stop it.” I rubbed my curved belly. “And
yes, I’m asking for your help.”

Claire stuck her head out from the kitchen.
“Who’s deaf in there? Turn that thing down.”

“Okay, Mom,” I said over my shoulder. “So?” I
glanced back at Samuel. “Are you up for it?”

“Of course.” He blinked. “It’s a lot of
information to absorb. I’m going to need details. Why are Turpis
involved?”

“It’s a long story,” Galilea said. “We don’t
have time right now. We can meet later.”

“Or he can come to the estate,” I said. “It’s
safer to speak there. Plus, I have to get back to David.”

“What do you say, Samuel? You ready to visit
the in-laws?” Galilea asked.

“I suppose. Who are David’s parents?” Samuel
asked.

“You might know of them,” Galilea said.
“Alezzander and Nyx Chios?”

His face turned hard. “You didn’t tell me
this when I last saw you.”

“I didn’t trust you.” Galilea shrugged. “Why
would I?”

“But now that you need me, you trust me?”
Samuel cocked an eyebrow.

“Eh…” Galilea tilted her head from side to
side. “You’re getting there.”

“It was a rhetorical question,” he said. “I
don’t really care.” He tapped the arm of the sofa. “It’s been
sometime since I last to spoke to Alezzander of Chios and Nyx of
Delphi. Does Alezzander still serve on the Council?”

“I’m not sure if he’s considered part of the
Council anymore.” Galilea’s forehead creased. “He’s on a forced
leave of absence. After their trial in Caelum—you know, where I
found you hiding way in the back under that very obvious cloak,
Samuel? Well, when Starr commanded the Council to release
Alezzander and his sons, his position was relegated. However,
Samuel refused to step down, and after holding an audience, the
Council conceded.
But
… they made him take leave until they
saw fit. The Council is suspicion of his family, regardless of
Starr’s appearance at the trial.”

“I didn’t know,” I said. “David told me about
rumors concerning his family, but I didn’t know the extent of
it.”

“Well, I myself didn’t know. I didn’t find
out about it until last week. Eryx told me. I would’ve told you,
but you were busy ignoring me.” She turned to Samuel. “It’s not in
Alezzander’s interest to turn you over to the Council, if you’re
worried about it. His family is at stake. And now that Isis and
David are married, it makes you family, too.”

“It’s ready!” Claire yelled from the kitchen.
“And before you come in here, turn the television off. It’s giving
me a headache.”

“Okay!” I hollered back.

“You should’ve told me what was happening
when we met in Greece.” Samuel stared at me, shaking his head. “You
shouldn’t have left the way you did.”

“I had another agenda then,” I said.

“Oh, and we haven’t even gotten to the good
stuff.” Galilea stood up. “You just wait.”

“You should come to the estate with us,” I
told him. “After breakfast.”

“Wait for us at the gas station—the new,
large one on Ocean Boulevard,” Galilea instructed him. “You can
follow us from there.”

Samuel nodded his agreement.

“Is anyone listening to me?” Claire called
again.

Samuel’s stare shifted to the kitchen. “We
shouldn’t keep her waiting. It’s rude.”

***

The kitchen table was set with porcelain
plates, once belonging to my grandmother, Lucille, Claire’s mom.
Normally, we used paper plates on lazy Sundays, but today, Claire
was pulling out all the showpieces, including a breakfast buffet. A
tower of pancakes, eggs, a bowl of diced melon, and syrup sat in
the middle of the table.

Samuel pulled out a chair for Claire, and
then one for me. He drew a third chair out and turned to Galilea,
who was idling by the stove.

“Are you joining us?” he asked Galilea.

“Um…” Galilea tapped her chin. “You know,
it’s such a nice day out. I’m going to have breakfast on the
porch.”

“In the blazing heat?” I asked her.

“It’s not so bad. Plus, Claire has that
no-smoking-in-the-house rule.” She grabbed a plate and helped
herself to the food. “Enjoy.” She smiled at us, picked up a glass
of orange juice, and left.

“It all looks very appetizing. Thank you,”
Samuel said. “Pancakes are my favorite.” He glanced at me. “Good
choice.”

“How about that?” Claire grinned. “They’re
Isis’s favorite, too.”

“Just one of the things we have in common. I
see she’s got my eyes, as well,” Samuel said.

“I have my own eyes,” I mumbled.

“And your smile,” Claire added.

“But her personality is definitely yours.”
Samuel poured honey on his pancakes. “She has a spunk about
her.”

I ignored their comments like they were
ignoring my presence and stuffed a piece of melon in my mouth.

“I can’t argue with that,” Claire said.
“She’s her momma’s daughter, after all.”

“That’s my favorite part about her,” Samuel
said. He cleared his throat, his face reddening. “You did a good
job with her, Claire. I’m sorry I wasn’t present to see her grow
up.”

“Oh, Samuel…” Claire waved him off. “Do you
think I blame you? I might’ve been eighteen, but I wasn’t naïve. I
knew what I was doing. I’ve never held any resentment toward you.
We were young, crazy kids.” She pierced a piece of melon with her
fork. “We got horny.”

Samuel choked on his juice. I stood up,
bumping my stomach on the edge of the table as I did. I wasn’t used
to the new dimensions of my body.

“
Oh. My. Gawd
. Seriously, Mother?” I
felt bile rising in my throat.

“What?” she asked.

“I can’t believe you just said what you did.
I’m… I’m disgusted. I can’t eat here.” I picked up my plate. “The
mental images…” I flinched. “I’m scarred for life. Thanks a lot.
I’m eating outside with Galilea.” I set the plate down. “On second
thought… No. I’ve lost my appetite.”

“For heaven’s sake, Isis, come back here,”
Claire called after me. “She’s so hormonal with this
pregnancy.”

“I heard that!” I said as the front the door
snapped shut behind me.

I was fuming, like the scrolls of smoke
flowing out from the corner of Galilea’s mouth. One of her legs was
dangling off the side of the porch, the other curled up against her
chest. She wet the tips of her thumb and forefinger and put out the
cigarette as soon as she saw me. She’d made it a point not to smoke
around me since she found out I was pregnant—a considerate gesture,
I thought. I plopped my belly and the rest of me down on a rocking
chair.

“What’s going on in there?” she asked.

“Ugh. It’s nauseating. I don’t care to repeat
any of it.”

“Okay.” She twisted her face. “Can I ask you
a question—without you getting your panties in a bunch?”

“That’s impossible. I’m not wearing any.”

“Pardon?” Galilea blinked.

“Nothing fits,” I said. “Not even my
underwear.”

Galilea snorted.

“It’s not funny.”

“No, it’s not.” Galilea’s eyes watered with
humor. “You’re right. It’s not funny at all.”

“Then why are you laughing?”

“I’m not.” She tried to subdue her mirth.
“This is the way I cry,” she snorted, “when I feel really sorry for
people whose underwear don’t fit.”

“Oh, shut up.” I smiled.

CHAPTER 22

The screen door opened. Claire peeked her
head out.

“Come back in here, Isis. You didn’t eat a
bite,” she scolded me. “That’s not good for—”

“The baby.” I nodded. “Yes, I know. You’ve
only told me about four million times.”

Claire stepped out to the porch. “Why are you
so angry with me?”

“I’m not angry.”

“Isis, I’m your mother. I know you better
than anyone. Do you think I can’t notice it on your face?”

I rocked the chair back and forth without
answering.

“Is it because of what I said in the
kitchen?” she asked.

I shook my head.

“So what is it?”

“Why do you look at Samuel like that?” I
asked.

Claire’s forehead creased, confusion on her
face. “You didn’t have a problem when I started dating
Christopher.”

“I don’t care about Judge Daniels, Mom. I
care that you never looked at Dad that way. And then Samuel comes
waltzing in, and you’re melting over him in half a second. Feeding
him breakfast?” My jaw tensed. “He knew you were pregnant, and he
left. He admitted it. How can it not bother you? How can you…not
care he didn’t give a damn about what we had to go through?”

“Oh.” Claire pursed her lips. “So you’re
angry with Samuel, as well.”

“Not as angry as I am with you for not loving
Dad like I did.”

Claire’s eyes reddened. I lowered my head and
looked away from her. I knew hearing my words hurt her as much as
saying them hurt me. Galilea rose to her feet and walked into the
house, leaving Claire and me alone on the porch.

“There are different kinds of love you
experience in life,” Claire told me. “Loving someone differently
doesn’t mean loving a person less than you love someone else. Love
is love.” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “When you’re ready to
come inside, I’ll heat up your food.”

Claire walked away. I sat in silence,
replaying her words in my head. To a degree, I understood what she
was saying. I’d only truly ever been in love once—with David. She
had years of life experience over me. Maybe in the eighteen years
of raising me, she’d come to terms that this was her life. Maybe
she’d had enough time to get over the darker moments she’d lived
through. And maybe it was what I had to do, too. Just get over it
and tread on with the same courage I’d seen in her all these years.
Maybe it was time for me to grow up. Once and for all.

***

Samuel sat at the table, hunched over a
notepad when I entered the room. I wondered what Claire and he had
talked about for the past half hour. I watched curiously as he set
the pen down and slid the pad across the kitchen table to
Claire.

“My email and phone number,” Samuel said.
“It’s an international number, but I’ll contract a local one as
soon as I can.”

Claire nodded as she tore the paper off the
notepad.

“Where’s Galilea?” I asked.