Authors: Sarah Brocious
“Very lovely to meet you both,” Melinda said graciously. She took a seat and offered another smile.
“Melinda has become my salvation at work! If I get too overwhelmed, I meet with the sixth grade creative writing teacher,” Raina laughed. “I don’t know how we didn’t meet her sooner in our little town,” she admitted.
Emily regarded Melinda carefully. “You do look familiar! Your father was…”
“Grant Fletcher,” Melinda offered. “Many years passed.”
Emily ducked her head. “I remember him! He was one of the electricians who helped Bradley when he was first building. A very charming man.”
Melinda smiled. “He was, thank you.” She lifted her eyes to the kitchen and smiled. She gave a slight wave.
Raina peeked over her shoulder. "Is Rachel working today?" She turned toward her two other friends. "Melinda's best friend owns this place. Who knew? You talk about a small world."
Melinda gave a nod. "There's not a day that goes by that she's not here in this place. It's her obsession and she's quite good at it."
Emily smiled. "Yes she certainly is. We love this place."
“If she has a moment, invite her over," Raina insisted. "We'd like to give her our compliments."
"She'd love that."
Raina turned back to her other friends. "Melinda is also married, Emily, and quite in love with her husband. Not that you would know anything about that! You know? Loving your husband?"
Emily smiled. "I might know a thing or two about that." Her brown eyes hesitantly lifted to the newcomer. Yes, she was feeling a little bite of jealousy. For Raina’s sake she was going to give her a chance. "Does your husband work in the area?"
Melinda nodded. "He's a teacher at the school."
Emily tilted her head curiously. "Is that how you met then?"
Melinda shook her head. "We met when he moved in next door."
Raina's eyes danced a little. "Yes she was telling me about her little romantic story of meeting Michael. It was getting quite intriguing until we were interrupted by the recess bell." She waggled her eyebrows at Melinda. "Maybe you could tell me a little bit more. I believe you had just finished making a fool of yourself upon your first meeting."
Melinda blushed. "Yes, a little bit of a fool and believe it or not it only got worse after that."
Raina laughed, "How could it have gotten any worse?"
"Oh it did believe me."
"So do you mind making a fool of yourself in the interest of entertaining coffee conversation?"
Melinda looked up to the ceiling just trying to figure out where to start.
"Well, my next encounter with Michael was rather upsetting. He had not been living there but two weeks and I began to realize he didn't want anything to do with me. For the life of me I couldn't figure out why. He was sweet as pie to everyone. I loved watching him interact with people. And I was jealous of it! I tried being polite I tried being sweet but none of that worked.” She gave a shrug. "Any time he looked at me his eyes would go dead and all the life I had seen in them before… it was gone. I just figured it was me and what should I care? I didn't deserve someone that gorgeous anyway." Melinda accepted her coffee and took a sip. “Plus, he had proved to me on more than one occasion that I wasn’t worth a kindness.
"I held it in until I couldn’t any longer! One day I got home and I was furious! I'm sure that Rachel saw steam coming out of my ears.
Not being one holdback I let it out how big of an ass Michael was. Well Rachel couldn’t believe this because he was too gorgeous to do anything wrong according to her. Plus, Michael treated her like gold. Another reason to be jealous of her." Melinda sighed out a laugh. "My flip out had to do with an incident at the school that day.
I was running late for class and I was never late for class. So I came running around the corner so nervous to be late for my students and I ran right into him. Papers books pens all went flying. I would've fallen if he hadn’t grabbed onto me. He was all apologies until he looked down and saw that it was me."
Raina covered her mouth in shock.
Melinda just nodded. "Oh yeah, complete shutdown. I was shocked." She glanced over at the other two to see if she had their attention. She felt a little off telling them such a story but they seemed interested. "So here I am in the middle the hallway papers books everywhere and being held by a most beautiful man. And my cheeks were so red I felt so embarrassed. It was the most embarrassing… and one of most rewarding moments of my life. When you meet Michael you will know why.” You could see the pride in her eyes.
“What did he do?” Raina leaned closer.
“Well, he promptly gave me a shake and admonished me for running in the hall. I remember exactly what he said.
"I would expect this from a student, Miss Fletcher, but not from you."
I was mortified. What do you say to that?”
The other girls smiled behind their hands, not quite knowing how to react to the story, They did not yet know Melinda well enough.
"I stood there thoroughly chastised. I blubbered and blinked back tears. Here I was with his full attention just as I'd wanted always and he was treating me like a child. I could help crying. And then the strangest thing happened.
He stood there, with that gorgeous face grimacing, and softness wash over his face. For the first time those eyes looked at me. I’ve never seen so much emotion so much turmoil in a glance… ever. He just stared at me. It was as though he had that little flair of temper and suddenly he couldn't bear to look away for me. His arms were still holding me up. It was maybe thirty seconds but it was enough to feel awkward and wonderfully tingly all at once," she giggled. "And then he came to his senses and that veil came back over his eyes. The moment was gone. He marched on without another word. Of course I admired the view of his departure but I had to pick up my own papers and books myself."
Raina was stirring her coffee with a spoon. She bit her lip. "He liked you and he didn't want to admit it. Am I right?" She lifted her brows.
Melinda smiled sweetly. A soft flush covered her cheeks. "Yes, but I didn't learn until much later."
"Why do you think he was fighting?" Raina asked her blue eyes curious.
Melinda bit her lip. "He had a past. He didn't want to open up to anyone and reveal it. He could make friends. He could interact with fellow employees. But he told me later the feelings he had for me were too complicated for him to just remain friends. So he chose to be mean and push me away. Something I never let him forget," she teased.
"Men are so fickle like that. I know I've gone through a lot with Nolan with his past and him running from it and in hiding from who he really is." Raina quickly closed her mouth before she said something she shouldn't.
Melinda gave her half a smile. "Men like to protect, even when they're being overbearing. They underestimate us." Her dark eyes regarded Raina. "But we can carry more on our shoulders than they give us credit for. They want to be the superheroes until it's us doing the saving." She winked.
Donna and Emily gave a grunt of agreement. Raina agreed too. Yes, she had to play the rescuer with Nolan. Something about the way Melinda looked at her, she guessed that she had to do the same.
"Well it obviously turned out for you," Emily laughed. "You've been married long?"
Melinda shook her head no. "Only six months now; a wonderful six months. He's away now teaching. He was requested as a tutor. I respect that he is so honored to be asked to do this but I miss him very much."
Donna's eyes widened. "I know exactly how you feel. My husband is in the military and he's overseas… it's been four months already for me."
"I'd never last." Emily groaned.
Raina and Donna shared a laugh.
"I was just saying that," Raina giggled. "You wouldn't last three days without Bradley," she said affectionately.
Emily ducked her head. "You're right my friend."
"And what about you Raina? How are you handling your separation?"
"Sometimes I do good. Other times I fall apart. I can't expect anyone to understand what I'm going through because with Nolan everything about what we went through was strange and unique. I try to talk about how I feel but it's hard because no one else can understand what I went through."
"Are you so sure Raina?" Melinda’s face held compassion. "What Michael and I went through was not exactly cookie-cutter either."
Raina wanted to laugh at this. She wasn't talking about lovers quarrels or misunderstanding. But she couldn’t open her mouth and say, "Hey my boyfriend is immortal! And I'm mortal and us together doesn't work." She’d be laughed out of the coffee shop.
All three friends were staring at her now waiting for her response. She shook her head. "I'm quite sure."
Emily noticed her friends growing sadness. She reached over and touched her hand. "Hey, enough of the heavy. Let's talk about something else."
Raina forced her smile. Almost! She almost made it through one event without delving into depression. She felt shame color her face. But she wouldn't ruin this time with friends. She’d come to have a good time she'd come to integrate new friend with old friends and she was to be successful tonight. She had time when she went home to crawl into bed and cry over Nolan. Right now she was going to enjoy her coffee. She would enjoy the giggles and the banter that was always associated with Emily. And now, she hoped. with Melinda as well.
She peeked over at Melinda now and saw the compassion in her face. She also saw hints to something else. It was as if you are looking at someone who was holding back keeping a secret. Raina was sure that she'd find out. She always found out.
She lifted her coffee cup. "Here's to new friends. Here's to heartbreaks. Here's to great loves. And here's to good coffee!"
All three friends lifted their glasses as well and clicked their coffee cups together.
Melinda swallowed her coffee and shook her head. "We shouldn’t be cheering with coffee we should be cheering with wine or Margarita's," she laughed. "I know this great place about an hour away from here. We shall go. Some of us stag some of us can bring our significant others," she teased glancing at Emily. "There's dancing, great drinks, and good music. It might be just what you need Ms. Raina."
Emily clapped her hands. "I love dancing!" She jiggled in her seat happily reaching for Raina's hand. "Let's do it!"
Raina nodded "Yes, lets! I'll even invite Thanatos."
Emily frowned at this and then shrugged. "I guess he's okay. Besides it'll give you someone to dance with other than us," she giggled.
Donna also looked very excited. "It's been a long time since I've been out there."
Melinda looked pleased. "Then let's make plans. I have other responsibilities this weekend. How about the weekend after? We’ll carpool. Michael and I have a van big enough to fit us all."
Raina gave a small smile. She thought about a year ago. If anyone had made this suggestion at that time she would've freaked out. Now, she could embrace that. She had a silver eyed gorgeous sweetheart of a man to thank for that.
Quickly she wiped away that thought. If she started dwelling on Nolan she would never be able to enjoy herself. And she would want to run as far away from the plans these girls were making as possible.
Melinda looked extremely happy at the outcome of the vote. "Rachel will come too and George. The more the merrier, right? It's a nice club we’ll really dress-up. Dress to the nines if you feel like it! I need some distractions too." She gave Raina a wink. "I'm missing my boy quite a bit to."
Emily was beside herself. Any excuse to dress up she would be there.
Raina could almost hear her going through her closet in her brain wondering which dress, what shoes! She knew her friend well. This would be a good thing. This would be a fun thing.
Thanatos would be proud that she had agreed. One thing that also gave her a little bit of joy is knowing that if Nolan were here he might have a thing or two to say about her hitting such a scene. She felt a little naughty. That was definitely liberating. She hoped Thanatos would pass the word along. It might entice him to come home. Then again, it might entice him to have Thanatos get stricter ruling.
She frowned at this.
"What?" Melinda laughed.
Raina smiled. "It's just that… I think Nolan will not like this so much. Actually, I think he'll hate the idea."
Emily looked concerned now as though she were afraid she was about to miss out.
A devilish smile parted Raina's lips. "So yeah I'm all for this." She was feeling like Ms. Independent. She liked the feeling.
Chapter 5 Training
Nolan made his way slowly down the stairs. He was weary. His brain actually hurt today. He’d met several interesting people these last few weeks. He'd been intricately involved with others that he never thought he'd ever meet his lifetime. Our Sovereignty now stayed in Joseph’s home. This was also where they held the training. The vast estate allowed for this. They watched daily as tests were run, studies were given, talks were had.
He really wasn't sure if he could deal with all this pressure. But he had no choice in the matter. He'd be obedient. He'd always been the obedient type. Besides, the wearying distraction was good for him. He only thought of her when he went to bed at night. When others weren't there to talk in his ear he thought of her. He dreamt of her. It seemed like a cruel trick.
Dreams!
They’d been what had allowed him into her life in the first place. Now they tortured him. He welcomed the torture. Being tortured meant in some weird twisted dreamlike way that he got to be with her. And then he would awaken and he was in this unhappy state.
As he neared the bottom of the stair, he thought of the first day he had arrived. He doubted he would forget many details from the first day. It had been rather traumatizing.
He wasn't sure what to expect, who to expect, or what would be expected of him. The first thing he noticed was the pinched look in Joseph's face. He'd never seen him worried. He'd never seen him truly concerned.
Before training could even begin, Nolan was pulled aside by Joseph.
"Nolan, I need you to follow me. It's very important to listen. It's very important that you answer when spoken to." Joseph had then turned and led him back to his study. And there they were… Our Sovereignty.
He had met them only once…the day he went to court. No one had ever told him what they looked like. No one had ever said what they would sound like. He had no idea what to expect when he finally was before them. He was shocked and surprised, and a little taken back. But their appearance actually relaxed him.
They weren't imposing or even overly strong. Actually, they looked a little soft, as though they were not concerned about maintaining their bodies. It had been easier to speak to them because of the normalcy of their appearance. And now, he was being set before them once again.
He looked up at them. The same faces that had stoically regarded him as he made his statement about Richard watched him now with curiosity. Faces that hadn't change for hundreds and hundreds of years. He knew their names now. He knew their personalities a little.
Isaac, he was the leader. In mortal years he didn't look more than sixteen years old. He was fair skinned with freckles. Nolan had to stop himself from openly laughing out of surprise when he had first met him. Isaac was the oldest of the immortals but he look like just a child. He looked like just a child until you looked into his eyes. Clear blue eyes, unyielding, looked straight through Nolan’s soul. They held ages and ages memories and stacks of pure wisdom.
To his right sat a man also youngish in his appearance maybe his early twenties. He had dark black hair and dark eyes. He looked Nolan up and down judging him Nolan felt. He offered a smile but the smile was hard and never reached his eyes. His name was Emmanuel.
And to Isaac's left stood another man. This man was in his fifties. Opposite of Emmanuel, this man had a kindness in his face that nearly put a lump in Nolan's throat. His name was Titus. Compassion was in the deep blue eyes. Nolan felt that he might have an ally here. Not that he'd even begun to think he deserved the friendship of one of the Sovereignty. But he knew if needed he could probably come to this man and he would find understanding.
"We are so happy to meet you, young Nolan," Isaac said softly. "Well, truly meet you in the right setting. When you come to us in court it's never a simple time. Here we are hoping that you can speak freely to us. There will be no judgments in this meeting. We only wish to know the truth."
Nolan nodded. "I hope to remain honest and I do hope that this will help in some way."
His silver eyes moved from one to the other to the other and he swallowed. "I'm not sure what you want of me. I'm not sure if I can help. But it is my duty and my honor to serve you."
Isaac seemed to like this answer.
He smiled down on Nolan. "So you are a healer? That is a rare gift, Nolan. How long have you had this? How long have you known?"
Nolan wet his bottom lip which had suddenly gone dry almost as dry as his mouth was. "I knew fairly early. I tried not to bring attention to myself ever. To me, Immortality was a curse. I didn't want to acknowledge anything in me other than my own mortality. A few times it came about that I had to use my gifts but that was a rarity. I wanted it to remain that way lest I be exploited."
Isaac brows lifted. "You felt immortality was a curse?"
Nolan ducked his head and he lifted his shoulders as if to say I don't know. "My whole life was my family. My whole existence...my identity was in the work I did as a doctor. I felt like I was cheating everything. The gift I had as a mortal, as a doctor I worked for that. I slaved to learn how to heal. As an immortal I no more had to think of healing…it was easier than saying my own name. It felt fake and it felt like vanity versus a gift. I used it when someone came upon me who was beyond what modern medicine could do… I did what I could. I just didn't go looking for people to heal."
"Joseph tells me you've had a different view on life as of lately. A girl? She's very special to you isn't she? She's actually caused this gift to increase in you. The only people who knew of your gifts were seeing this. And when push came to shove you inadvertently revealed this gift also to your enemies."
Nolan's eyes slowly close. How had he known that Raina would somehow be involved in this conversation?
“Tell us a bit about her.”
Nolan groaned on the inside, and he knew Joseph would certainly hear him.
"She's very special to me. I don't want her in any way involved in this. As agreed to, I will show you how far my gift can go, but Raina is to be left out." He pulled in a deep breath. "Please," he whispered.
"She is very important to this aspect of your gift. Haven’t you notice? She seems to be a catalyst of sorts to your power."
Nolan stubbornly shook his head. "No. You have me. You do not need her. I am strong."
Isaac tilted his head there was almost a sadness in his eyes as he regarded Nolan. "We will watch you as you are. But there may be a time that we call on the mortal to see her effect on you. She knows of us so it will not be crossing the line."
Nolan growled deep in his chest. "It will be crossing the line. She needs to live her life without me in it." His words were clipped with pain, with anger, and frustration. "I owe her that."
"Joseph says that she'll do anything for you. She is a friend to Joseph, is she not? She is a friend of Jonathan, is she not?" Isaac's voice softened and he came to Nolan resting a hand on his shoulder. "It may not even take her being in your presence to cause your gift to grow. She may just need to be in the same house. But we will see," he promised. "We will monitor you first. If needed, we will ask her to come here and give assistance. We will not demand anything of her. She is an innocent in this and we understand your care for her. Thank you for your cooperation Nolan. You don't know how much this means to our kind." Isaac returned to his seat.
Nolan gave a short nod. He had to fight back the words of argument that wanted to well up. He hoped it would never come to that. He knew if asked she would come. Her softhearted concern would bring her here and she would do anything to help him. Isaac was right she was a friend of Joseph and the Jonathan's. They could use them to get her to come running. His sweet loving Raina would always put others first.