Free The Aetherfae by Christopher Shields Page B

him a giant mythological bird snatched you off the road, transformed your Jeep into a Jaguar, but wouldn’t let you phone home.”
    He laughed, “Yeah, I know.” The smile disappeared from his face and he stared at me. “How long has Gavin been back?”
    Candace and Ronnie walked by, quickly, and headed into the little store. I watched until the door closed behind them. “Two days. He was there right after it happened.”
    Doug smiled. His crystal blue eyes locked onto mine, and tiny lines formed along his forehead. “I’m happy for you.” He ran his fingers though his blond hair and walked to the store letting his hands drop to his sides.
    My heart felt like it was filled full of lead. It told me to go after him, to say something to make him feel better, but I worried anything I might say would only make him feel worse. So I said nothing and let him walk away. Crap. I totally suck.

    * * *

    We drove through Gloversville, Saratoga Springs, Schuylerville, and Greenwich, then southeast to Cambridge, New York, and through the wooded mountains and narrow green valleys on Batten Kill Road. When we passed a covered bridge on the right, Ronnie chuckled. “If we have to hide, at least it’s pretty here.”
    An hour later, past Manchester and Dorset, we turned down the narrow paved lane and towards our new hiding place. When the car stopped, Mom walked out on the porch and stared. Her jaw was cocked to the side, and her arms were crossed. Yep, she was furious. She wouldn’t talk to me last night, so I didn’t bother to tell her I was leaving. We made eye contact just long enough for me to get the point. She spun on her heel and walked through the front door, not bothering to shut it.
    “Your Mom looks so angry,” Candace whispered.
    “She is. And she’s sad, and she feels alone, and she’s confused. She’s a little bit of everything right now.”
    “And you won’t let the Ohanzee compel her?”
    “No,” I said. “The feelings are hers. I can’t stand the thought any of them in her head, even if it would make it easier on me.”
    Candace bumped her shoulder into mine as we carried her bags to the house. “Sounds an awful lot like you want to be blamed.”
    “I do not,” I protested.
    “Not convinced, girl. I bet, deep down, you’re thinking having someone to blame will make it easier for them to deal with.” She bumped me again.
    She was absolutely correct, and we both knew it. “So, you’ll be sleeping in my room. Hope you don’t mind,” I said.
    Candace snorted. “Surrender so soon? Remember who you’re talking to. We might as well be sisters. I know you like we grew up together.”
    I bumped her back.
    Doug seemed to brighten up when Mitch and Justice bolted out the front door, the former ready to talk his ear off. Gavin had kept his distance from Mitch and Mom. I had a feeling that I wasn’t the only one playing the blame game. Gavin displayed his emotions right out in the open. He keyed in on everyone else’s, too.
    With my friends settled into the rooms, I went looking for the Ohanzee. Mom stopped me in the hall. She didn’t look at me. She turned her gaze to everyone else in the room. “I talked to…them. Your father’s funeral will be tomorrow. I expect you to be here.”
    I felt like she’d punched me in the stomach. Of course I’d be there.
    “Afterwards, they are going to cremate his body…” Her lower lip began to twitch and her voice cracked. “…Just like Aunt May—it’s what he wanted.”
    “Mom?”
    She ignored me and walked out of the room. My heart ached.
    “Mom?” I yelled.
    Grandma came around the corner. She looked tired. “Honey, what do you need?”
    “I need her,” I said.
    “You’ve got her, baby. She’s always here for you. You know that, right? She was frantic when she woke up and you were gone. Billy—he’s such a nice young man—he told us you’d be back by dinner.” Nice young man? He’d love to hear that.
    “It’s not fair to you, but she