Chapter 11

 

RENEE WAITED UNTIL Aeron’s footsteps receded before opening her eyes. She knew Nan was there, somewhere. She could feel Nan’s bubbly personality waiting for her. Surreal. No matter how often it happened or that Aeron had been bickering with her, it still felt . . . crazy.

“You planning on sleeping in?”

Renee heard Nan’s voice and sighed, sitting up. Nan was in the rocking chair. Unlike Aeron, Renee could see her. She could see the white hair bobbing as Nan rocked. She could see the twinkling eyes that belonged to both Lilia and Aeron and she could see . . . a cat.

“I’m assuming this is the one and only Tiddles?”

The cat opened its eyes, yawned, and went back to sleep. Nan stroked the back of his head and smiled up at Renee. “Sure is.”

“Why do I have the feeling that you’re going to tell me off?” She pulled the covers around her with the dawn chill.

“Guilty conscience?” Nan’s eyes twinkled. Laughter lines showed how much joy she exuded. Renee smiled just looking at her.

“I have a long list of guilt if we’re going there.”

Nan tutted and knitting appeared in her hands. Renee blinked, knowing that somewhere in her mind, this wasn’t sane. “Try again, Blondie.”

At least she wasn’t called Icy like Ursula. “Okay, I didn’t tell her about Abby.”

Nan clicked away, her eyes gentle.

“I didn’t want to hurt her.” The knitting needles felt like they were taunting her. Renee sighed. “I just wanted to forget.”

“An’ you are tryin’ not to let that little heart of yours notice Shorty is acting strange.”

Renee didn’t know why she was bothering hiding. Nan seemed to see through her more than Renee could . . . well . . . see through Nan.

Literally.

And it still sounded insane.

“I’m worried about her.”

Nan nodded. “I told you back when you were drinkin’ that she got growin’ to do.”

“Ah, so this is the attitude thing?” Renee felt a light ding on in her brain.

“One an’ the same.” Nan smiled. “Look with your heart not your fears.”

Renee glanced at the door. She knew from overhearing Aeron’s conversation with Nan that she was talking to her father. She checked her watch, mentally calculating how long it would take to get to Riverside. In normal circumstances, the first hours after someone went missing were vital but this was anything but normal.

“How can I help her through this?” She whispered.

“Lower the barriers. Truth. She needs truth.”

Renee snapped her head around to stare at her.

Nan nodded. “Which means you gotta grow yourself.”

The strange conversation in the bar on her birthday finally made sense. She’d been recovering for a long time. Aeron had been steadfast through it all but she needed someone to guide her. Someone who had been through the separation that came with being a part of CIG. “Open up.”

Nan clicked her knitting needles. “Helps if you show her when she gets all fretful. Like you did back in that hole.”

Renee smiled. It had been wonderful helping Aeron learn how to overcome the terror of leaving Serenity Hills. “I can do that.”

“I’m keeping my eye on Icy too. Quicker would be better.”

Renee caught the fading glimpses of Nan’s . . . essence. “Can’t you just tell me where she is?”

Nan clicked her tongue or her knitting needles, Renee wasn’t sure which. “Ain’t allowed. Wish I could, I like Icy.”

Nan’s presence faded and Renee felt a shudder at her absence. “I like her too.”

With a quick check of her watch, she changed and grabbed the bags. Nan’s word’s, “quicker would be better,” sounded in her mind.

She crept out onto the landing and smack into Lilia. Why was she loitering? “Are you going to yell at me too?”

Lilia smiled. “My mother is the best at it but she does make sense.”

Renee heard a “’course” from somewhere distant and shook her head. “I have no idea how you cope with this every day.”

Lilia turned and walked into another room. Renee had always assumed it was a guest room of some sort. Aeron never went in there and neither did anyone else.

“Long story, very boring,” Lilia said as if she could read her thoughts. “Aeron gave you that necklace and it’s important that you keep it on at all times.” She sat on the edge of a bunk bed. “When you’ve left Riverside, Aeron will need to concentrate to find . . .” Lilia sighed. “Bess.”

“You mean Aunt Bess?” Renee tried not to smile at Lilia’s shocked stare. “Nan told me about her. I thought she didn’t know where she was?”

“Nan knows exactly where she is. She just means up here.” Lilia tapped her head. “My sister is . . . interesting.”

“As in she feels like you?”

Lilia shook her head. “No, she doesn’t feel a thing but you’ll soon see where Aeron gets her streak for . . . trouble.”

Renee sighed. “She’s a criminal?”

“No.”

“Then how is she trouble?” That made no sense.

Lilia fiddled with her wedding ring. “Mount Vernon, Illinois is her current home but I’m sure she may have lived in every state. She has a heart that is as restless.”

Renee chuckled. “Oh, that kind of trouble.” She frowned. “Wait, Aeron isn’t like that. She’s loyal and loving. Aeron doesn’t leave on a whim.”

Lilia nodded. “She has a tendency to wander off and follow her heart not her head.”

Aeron had a big heart but she wasn’t that spontaneous. “Why would I think they are the same?”

“Wait ’til you meet her.” Lilia got up and walked towards the door. “Keep her safe. Keep yourself safe.”

Renee saluted and left Lilia in the small room. Two odd conversations and it was still early morning. She headed down two flights of stairs but stopped as she saw Aeron and her father still in conversation.

She turned to give them space.

“Your mother and I, we feel the same. Both are welcome here.” Eli looked at Aeron, his eyes gentle and open. “As in here too.” He tapped his chest.

Renee smiled. She didn’t want to intrude. She’d give them a while longer.

Soda. I ain’t shaking nothin’, nope. Nothin’.

Renee “heard” Aeron’s thought and turned. Nan had been talking about soda. What was with that?

“You getting your wires twisted up?” Aeron slid something into her pocket. “Frei, Renee . . . they order me around all day is all.”

Renee cocked her head. There was something very defensive about the way Aeron was standing. Her cheeks were rosy and not for the first time.

She was sweet when she was ruffled. 

“We’re alike just as you said.” Eli leaned on the kitchen table. “I know when you’re bluffing.”

Eli folded his arms as Aeron stood there looking flustered.

Ah man, this is like being a kid again. What if Renee sees me? She’s gonna think I’ve lost what marbles I had left.

Renee put her hands on her hips at that. She could see flecks of pink fluttering about in Aeron’s aura.

Pink. Pink and a light show.

Aeron often talked about seeing her light show. She also knew what she was feeling at the time. Renee smiled to herself. Typical of the dimwit to feel embarrassed about caring for people. She was something else.

Aeron cleared her throat and Renee leaned against the banister half-wanting to hug her. “Next you’ll be telling me Nan is naggin’ you too.”

Eli got up and wrapped Aeron in a hug. Renee enjoyed watching Aeron struggle with the close proximity and then relax into it, looking very much twelve years old. A very tall twelve year old but a sweet one.

Eli turned and walked up the stairs toward her and Renee sunk back. He stopped adjacent and pulled her into a hug.

“You’re always welcome here. I’m glad she’s got you.” He pulled back. He had a twinkle in his eyes. She saw the laughter warring with worry inside him. “I know you’ll keep her safe.”

“That’s my job.”

Eli nodded. “And you’re good at it as I recall.” He offered a cheeky wink and strolled off into the bedroom.

Renee narrowed her eyes as she stared after him. That’s where Aeron got her cheeky side from.