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We entered the house with an ominous silence. Dad being Dad, remained oblivious to whatever I planned to say and continued fussing over Athena. “Look, Mommy and Grandma just arrived. They had a blast at the spa and had a good meal.”
If, by a blast, he meant blasting out of the spa and blasting through all the food I could get at the buffet, then he wouldn’t be wrong.
“Dad, I need to tell you something.” My tone changed his demeanor from excitement to worry.
“What’s wrong,dovlecel?” Dad asked.
“Can you lay Athena down in her crib so we can talk?” I asked.
“Sure thing.”
Mom went into the kitchen, poured water into the kettle, and placed it on the stove. “Chamomile tea is always good during conversations,” Mom yelled from the kitchen. “I’ll be right back.”
After everyone settled on their preferred spot on the couch with a mug in their hands, Mom and Dad already had their ears perked up.
“Mom, Dad. There’s something you need to know. And even if it seems outlandish, trust my words as the truth.”
Mom and Dad stayed mum, curious to find out whatever I planned on saying.
“Gabriel is not an ordinary human.”
“Yes, he’s a billionaire,” Mom said.
“No, I mean…” I realized it wouldn’t be as easy to explain the truth to my parents. “Fine. I’ll start with the beginning. When I traveled to Romania, I discovered a stone in the ruins. By accident, I found myself in Wallachia during Vlad the Impaler’s rule. I’ve lived there for two and a half years. During those times, I met Gabriel. He was a knight in Vlad the Impaler’s retinue.”
“Are you high right now?” Dad asked and then turned to Mom. “Maybe that Chinese buffet mixed up the mushrooms.”
“I’m serious. I truly did time travel. This is a similar pendant to the one I had back then.” I showed them Vedoma’s pendant.
“It looks like a trinket you’d find at a flea market,” Mom said.
That’s on me for trying to educate my parents. “Okay. Let’s start with a demonstration. The pendant transports you directly to a time, but your granddaughter here can stay in the time continuum.”
“Do you understand what she’s talking about?” Dad whispered to Mom.
“I think her aura got so muddled she started hallucinating. She needs a cleanse.” Mom began searching for something on her phone.
“You know I can hear you, right?” I asked.
My parents straightened up and began smiling. “Maybe you’re too tired. Sleep can be a remedy for anything,” Mom said in her kindergarten teacher's voice.
“Not in my situation,” I said, remembering the nightmare I had at the spa. I began searching for the gong.
“What are you doing?” Mom asked.
“I’m searching for the gong,” I said.
“Is she planning a group meditation?” Mom wondered. “It’s in the garage, honey. I hid it there last time Athena was here.”
I sprinted to the garage, still fuming that my parents didn’t believe my words. I found the gong, which became a home for a spider. I cleaned it up and handed it to my parents. I took Athena in my arms. She smiled when she saw me and began gurgling the song of her people.
“Mom and Dad, come hug me,” I ordered.
“Is this some kind of therapeutic exercise?” Dad looked at Mom.
“Now.” I insisted.
They hastened to wrap their hands around me.
