My Soul Laid Bare: Book 4 (The Soul Keeper Series) (29 page)

“
You look just like your mother at this age
,
” she says full of pride. I take a seat on the arm of the chair and lightly run my hand across her shoulders. I know she's reliving the days she had to give me up, much like Elijah has to do in a little while.

“
Elijah, I want you to know that I will love them as if they are my own. I hope you can be a part of their life in some way, and you're always welcome in our house
.
”

Elijah doesn't question the sudden turn around, but Sam's words seem to ease him a little.

“
Thank you Sam. I'd like to introduce you to William. He's got a fiery spirit like his mother, but you seem to have a handle on that with her. Teach him to walk in the light like your father taught you
.
” Elijah places William in Sam's arms. Every ounce of confidence drains from Sam's face, and he quickly takes a seat as if he's holding a glass wire.

“
And this petite angel is Elara. She has a heart full of grace like no other on Earth. She'll be the light in a world of darkness and lead the world to seek
Him
. It will be up to you and Brennen to protect her precious heart from knowing evil exists in the world until her thirteenth birthday. They'll both receive their gifts earlier than you Brennen because they are more angel than human. Although, when this will take place is hard to say
.
”

“
Remember Brennen, our kind is made to love and to feel emotions more powerfully than a human. Yo
u’
ll have your hands full when they're in their toddler stage
.
”

“
And their teenage years at that
,
” Elijah adds laughing quietly.

“
You just work on getting your Elite status back, so you can be a part of their lives
.
”

He nods, and he and my mother share a glance, some unspoken communication that leaves me worried that Elijah will never be back in our lives, not on Earth anyway. We spend the rest of the day as one big family. A few of our friends stop by to see the babies. Jesson and Elena, Will and Inara. They promise to visit us frequently and be honorary aunts and uncles. After they've leave, another knock at the door surprises me.

My father walks through the door, and as I wrap my arms around his neck, I see he is hiding Emily and Grandma behind him
.“
Oh my goodness, are you kidding me
?
” I bowl Emily over with a hug so tight I crush the air out of her. I repeat the mauling on my grandmother.

“
Well, what do we have here
?
” Grandma burst out with her boisterous southern accent filling the small home
.“
Let me see my great grandbabies
.
” She strides right past me in search of the twins like she never missed a beat.

“
Bren, let me just say that your dad is a riot. I have to sit next to him at dinner just so he can tell me all of your stories
.
” Emily laughs, and it like music to my ears.

“
It's so good to see you again
.
” I hug her once more
.“
I wish you were back home with us. I miss you so much E
m’s
”

“
Hey now, it's alright. I miss you too, but I am perfectly happy where
I’
m at. Heaven is... Well, one day you'll see. It's so amazing. There aren't words to justify its beauty. Please stop blaming yourself. You couldn't have known
.
” She beams a smile my way, and I must admit that she looks pretty darn happy for someone who died when she was barely nineteen years old
.“
I'd better get my baby fix before your grandmother runs away with them
.
”

She strides off across the room plucking William from the bassinet.

“
Dad, I would like you to meet my husband, Sam
.
” I try not to cringe when I realize the misstep in words I just let fall out of my mouth, not to mention my baby daddy issues.

“
It's an honor sir
.
” They exchange a sturdy hand shake.

“
We've met before, only I think you were unconscious. You look much better on your feet
.
”

I shake my head at my dad's strange sense of humor. He hasn't changed a bit. It finally begins to trickle down, the feeling of being so blessed by who I am. I used to think my life was cursed, that I would never know what normal was. But as I take in my family, all of my loved ones smiling and laughing in this room, in a place so breath taking words cannot measure its glory, I know that my life could not have been any more spectacular.

Elijah's tiny cottage is filled to capacity. It's bittersweet knowing that in a little while this place will be empty, and we will all be right back in our normal daily routines. Sam and I will have to carve a path, and it won't be easy. But I think we will find a way to be happy with this life that's been plopped in our laps like a giant beach ball. We can chose to have the time of our lives or destroy it with the grief and pain it took to get us here.

I lean over my dad's shoulder and admire Emily nestled in his arms. I take the scent of the man that plucked me from the bassinet that morning and never let go. He smells just like I remember, sandalwood and Irish Springs. I plant a kiss on his cheek and thank God that he got to meet his grandchildren that they all got to meet the babies.

The stage has been set for my first press conference. The proper evidence has been planted and Elena will emerge the hero of the year as the world learns of how she found me and saved me from the would-be assassin. She has her speech memorized with a truthful answer for every question that may come up – impossible as that may be.

Our Escalade pulls up to the front of the house. The lawn is so filled with reporters and photographers we can hardly get through. We continue around back to get behind the gate and into the garage before my security team will let us get out. They do another full sweep while we wait inside the car. Sam runs his hands over his knees anxiously. The babies are sound asleep in their car seats looking as if the world could implode around us and not wake them.

I stroke the back of Elara's hand and she closes her impossibly tiny fingers around my thumb.  The driver touches his ear piece and I
assume we are getting the all clear. Elena hops out of the front seat and opens the door for us. We get ushered inside the house while Sam and Elena each grab a carrier containing a snoozing baby. It will be some time before I get my strength back. The murmur of the crowd outside carries through the house like a low roar. Elena goes to the front porch to begin and Sam and I get the twins unbuckled and in their crib. We've already learned they don't like to be separated, so for now, they can share one bed.

They only weigh in at five and a half pounds, being a couple of weeks early, and as I set them down in the crib
, it looks as if it could swallow them whole. I hate to leave them even if it’s only for a moment. But the public is growing restless.

“
Do you want me to come out with you?” Sam asks in a low voice so he doesn’t wake the babies. I use my gift and delve into his mind even though I know I should keep out right now. He’s still hurting. Being in his head feels like I’m walking through a room with broken shards of glass protruding from the floor, ceilings and walls. There is nowhere to go that isn’t pain free.

I bite my lip knowing there is not
much I can do. “I’m sorry but I think I need you to be there, even if it is just for the cameras. I know you’re hurting.”

“
Right, because you can read my mind,” he says it more like a fact than a question. His tone his laden with resentment.

Why does she have to look at me with
those damn needy eyes? She knows I can’t deny her anything she’d ever ask of me.

“
Yes, I can read your mind, but I can and do give you privacy. The only time I have ever used my gift of influence on you was after Emily was murdered by that evi
l
…” I sigh out frustrated and lead Sam out of the room so the babies can find a bit of peace. Sam follows me out and I shut the door. I flip the baby monitor on and watch the small screen as they sleep
.“
Anyway, I only use my gifts when I absolutely do
n’
t have a choice.
I’
m not even sure if they really work on you at all. You do
n’
t seem to need the extra push for me to influence you. But believe me, I wish I did
n’
t have them at all
.
”

I ease down onto a cushioned bench in the hall feeling utterly alone in the world right now.
My husband is looking at me like
I’
m an alien capable of mind control, oh wait, I sort of am. Geeze! I shake my head and walk down to the press conference.

As soon as I step outside
,the cameras start flashing away. I go to shut the door behind me and Sa
m’
s hand catches the door. He eases it back open and proudly takes my hand. The gesture is small but it means a lot to me.

The crowd breaks into applause as we make our way to the edge of the porch. They are all happy t
o see me looking fairly well although they thought
I’
dbe more banged up. Elena hands the microphone over to me and I smile over at her.
I’
m glad sh
e’
s someone who I can always count on.

“
Thank you. As you may have heard, three days ago, some men forced their way onto my property and killed two of my guards. They were able to kidnap me and hold me hostage in deplorable conditions. I was afraid, but I knew that I had the best security team in this hemisphere working to find me. Not only did Elena Kennedy save me, but she saved my babies.

I had gone into labor from the stress and just as my worst fears were coming true, Elena and the rest of my team stormed inside and saved the day. William and Elara were born not long after in a nearby hospital. My husband Sam was on his way home already when he heard the frightening news. He was able to reunite with us at the hospital. He was
n’
t in time for the twi
n’
s birth, but hepromises h
e’
ll never miss a ballet rehearsal or a football practice
.
”

Sam blushes on cue and tilts his head to one side to agree with my statement. The crowd laughs.

“
Once again I thank you for your concern, and now I better take the advice my friends have all given me, and sleep when they sleep.
I’
ll be back to my duties as Governor in a couple of weeks. Until then, my Lieutenant Governor, Rick Edelman will be assuming the office
.
” I wave and Sam takes my hand once again, squeezing once before we get to the door. It feels good to have him on my side. I know i
t’
s not an easy place to be.

Once everyone disperses and i
t’
s just me and Sam,I sink down into his chest
.“
Thank you for coming out with me
.
”

He leads me into the empty kitchen and puts the kettle on
.“
Yo
u’
re welcome. I know yo
u’
ve had years to let all of this sink in but I am still in shock. I
t’
s going to take some time for me to get used to the idea of you being half of some kind of supernatural being. I mean did we really just teleport from another planet? We got to see Emily again and that was pretty cool I guess. But man, i
t’
s a lot to take in Bren
.
”

“
I know. Believe me, I know.  Now that your memories are back, do you remember her kissing you on New Yea
r’
s Eve on my birthday
?
”

“
Yes, it was so random, and it caused Chris her boyfriend to go all postal on me that night
.
”

“
Well she kissed you because in my toast I told everyone to open their hearts and follow their dreams. I tried to choose my words carefully that night, but apparently to Emily it made her realize she had a crush on you.
I’
d only had the gift a few hours and I did
n’
t knowhow to use it properly yet
.
”

Sam chuckles as he pours me a cup of tea.