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Ari winced, looking like she might vomit. After a moment, she moved to the other side of Meagan and took one of her hands. I took the other and we sat there in silence for a moment while Meagan collected herself enough to speak.
“What about their kids?” Ari asked, her voice shaking.
“They were asleep. The killers left them alone, thank the gods.”
“Do they have any idea of who did this?Wheredid it happen?” I’d never heard Meagan mention Laverne before.
“Laverne and Jackson lived in Seattle. They didn’t live in the best part of the city, but it was all they could afford. The cops are on the job. Meanwhile, I never told you before because I never thought it would come up,” Meagan said, turning to Ari. “The cops are bringing Emily and LaKirk up here. Four years ago when Emily was born, Laverne and Jackson appointed me the legal guardian of their children, should anything happen.” She sounded almost afraid.
Ari stared at her for a moment. “You mean that we’re going to be…the children are our wards?”
Meagan paused, then said, “Yeah. I promised to adopt them and raise them. When you and I met, I never thought to say anything because…logistically it seemed such a long shot. And then we got married and busy with life and…” She hesitated. “What do you think?”
“How old are they?” I interjected.
“Emily is four, LaKirk is two. They have no clue why their mommy and daddy aren’t with them.” Meagan shrugged. “How could somebody mow down two innocent people for a thousand bucks? That’s all they got, along with a few pieces of Laverne’s jewelry.”
“Do they have other relatives?” Ari asked. “Are we going to have to fight this in court?”
Meagan shook her head. “That’s why Laverne and Jackson asked me to step in as their guardian in case of emergency. They came over from France ten years ago. All their relatives are there, and none of them have shown any interest in Laverne and Jackson over the years because they chose to walk away from her father’s business. He wanted Jackson to go into wine making with him, but Jackson refused. When Laverne insisted on marrying him anyway, her father unceremoniously cast them out on their asses. They decided to emigrate.”
“So the children truly have no one,” Ari said. “Except for us. Of course we’ll take them. Thank gods I’m getting the new salon set up.”
Meagan paused, then added, “I think we’d better put our own baby making on pause for the time being, don’t you? While we adapt to being parents to these two?”
I stood, feeling altogether in the way. This should be something discussed between the two of them, without me there to anything awkward.
Meagan saw me inching toward the door and pounced on me. “No, don’t go. You’re Ari’s best friend, and you and I are friends. I’d like your insight.”
I froze. “How?Emotionally?My opinion about what you should do with the children? Or about whether you should try forbaby-makes-three?”
Ari snorted. “I know you. You’ll give us your opinion whether we want it or not, and that’s fine. I appreciate that.” She turned back to Meagan. “That’s a good question, though. Should we put our own lives on hold while we—”
“It’s not just ourownlives. They’re bringing the children up next week. From that moment on, we’re legally tied to these kids, and we’ll have an obligation to them. We’re going to have to figure out how to tell them their parents aren’t coming back. We’re going to have to explain what the word ‘murder’ means to them.” Meagan sounded as freaked out as she looked.
“Why did you agree to this in the first place?” I asked.
She swung on me, looking ready to argue, but then she deflated like a limp balloon. “I never thought this would happen. I never expected the children to lose their parents. So I thought, I’ve got this. I’ll buy them gifts every Yule and on their birthdays, I’ll visit during the summer and take them on a trip. I’ll be the best auntie they’ve ever had.”
“And now, that’s all changed,” I said.
“Right. And now, I have to do this every day. I knowIwas the one pushing for a baby, but that would have given us time to adapt to the thought and prepare.” She let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry. I’m numb over their deaths. With what this means for the children—and forourlives—I’m so overwhelmed that I’m floundering.”
“You know that Killian and I will do what we can to help,” I said. “You’ll manage this. I know both of you, and you’ll be able to figure out all of the ups and downs.” It seemed the best thing to say under the circumstances. “I think I’ll go for now. I need to rest for a bit.”
The truth was, a headache was setting in. I was pretty sure I could keep it from becoming a migraine, but given the emotions flying from both Meagan and Ari, I needed to retreat to a neutral corner and rest.
I hugged both of them, then set off for home, grateful that Killian and I weren’t facing that problem. It wasn’t one I wanted to have.
CHAPTERTHREE
Ihad no sooner gotten home when my phone rang. It was Rowan, my grandmother. “Hey, how are you?” I dropped onto the sofa, next to Xi, who gave me a sleepy yawn, then curled up and went back to sleep. The tortie, who was my familiar, was altogether too cute and fluffy, and I adored her and her tuxie brother Klaus.
“I wondered if you might like to come over tomorrow night? Tarvish wouldn’t mind playing a couple rounds of pool with Killian, and I’d like to talk to you about something.”
That could mean anything. But it had been a few weeks since we had gotten together, and it occurred to me that, if I was up for it, she could give me another magic lesson. “I’ll ask Killian, but I know that I’m free. Say, how would you feel about teaching me to ward off other people’s emotions?” I told her what had happened today with Mandy.
“Of course, that’s not difficult at all. But first, I do need to discuss something with you. It’s coven business, but I don’t feel comfortable bringing it up with anybody else yet.”
