“No, I still have that. I put it on the other wrist, see?” I showed him my right hand where the little silver bracelet shone on my wrist. “I’ve been having a weird sense of misery lately, and I just realized that when I woke up this morning, it was gone. I feel at peace, it’s wonderful.”
We smiled at each other. I was happy to finally feel peace again, and Keith thought I was finally getting over my issues. I let him think whatever he wanted as long as he was happy. He still had my hand in his and was caressing it with his thumb. Between that soft caress, his quiet, happy aura, and the fact that I wasn’t radiating pain at the moment, I was able to sleep the whole flight home. When I woke, I was still feeling off, but it was different. It wasn’t Raif I was feeling, but my own unease.
Katie and Ashlyn were waiting for me at baggage claim. Ash was holding a bear as big as her with a big sign that said, “Welcome Home, Aunt Tash!” It was written with every color crayon in her crayon box except orange. Ash hated orange. I smiled as I saw them. If I had to be without my mate, life couldn’t be sweeter than to be with them. I ran up to Ashlyn, scooping her and the bear into a giant hug and tickled her side. She smelled of innocence and home and I couldn’t help but smile at her.
“Aunt Tash, stop!” she squealed. I settled her against my hip.
“Hey, booger, I missed you,” I said as I squeezed her again. “I think you grew another three feet while I was gone.”
“Nope, but I made you a poster and Bear wanted to hold it. He missed your lame stories. I told him we’d have a good one tonight, just like you promised. He wanted to make sure you were really coming home. Who’s that?” She pointed over my shoulder to Keith. I’d hoped he’d give me some time with my family, but apparently not. I had no idea how to introduce her to him, as he wasn’t what he wanted to be with me and never would be.
“This is my friend, Keith. Your mom and I were friends with him before you were born and I ran into him on the ship. Hey, Katie, you remember Keith, right?” I glanced over to Katie who was pale and visibly trembling. I could tell she was trying to get herself under control, but couldn’t figure out the cause to her extreme reaction. I turned to her and gathered her into my free arm. Together, Ash and I hugged Katie. We were all smiling, even if Katie’s was a bit forced. I was happy our little family was complete again.
Keith said hello to them and made an excuse to leave, promising to see me sometime later. He surprised me by giving me a kiss on my cheek just before he walked off. Ash thought this was fantastic. She teased me about cooties and kissing in trees for the entire ride home. Katie was uncharacteristically silent.
“I picked up a shift and have to work tonight. Are you okay with watching Ash?” she asked abruptly as we walked through the door.
“Sure, I just thought we’d do something together tonight, I haven’t seen either of you in a week. Are you okay?” I asked.
“Just tired. I’m glad you’re home, though. We’ll talk tomorrow, okay?” With that she turned and walked to her room. I was very leery as I watched her leave.
“Okay, Ash, it’s just you and me tonight. What do you want for dinner?”
“Ice cream. The good stuff that they make on those stone things. Mom’s been making me eat healthy all week. It’s gross. Where’s my stuff?” She demanded, arms on hips.
“My goodness, I’m home a whole two minutes and you are already demanding things.” I comically placed the back of my hand on my forehead and rolled it as I bowed to her. “Your highness, please forgive me.”
She laughed, running from me, as she knew the routine. I chased her around the living room before tackling her. I had her pinned with her shirt pulled to expose her belly and she screeched in anticipation.
“Shh. Your mom is trying to sleep.” I said in a loud whisper with a big grin on my face. I lowered my head to her belly and blew raspberries until her shrieking giggles became too loud.
She helped me unpack while her mom slept. I gave her the cotton dresses I’d found, the sarong pants I knew she’d find just crazy enough to love, and the seashell jewelry. She spent a few hours quietly looking at all the stuff I’d collected for her and her mom while I relaxed. It was peaceful; although I couldn’t remember a time I’d been more exhausted. I found myself dozing on and off while Ash played with her treasures. Neither one of us realized that Katie had left for work until she’d been gone for an hour. I was really concerned, as she’d never left the house without saying goodbye to us.
“Did something happen with your mom this week, Ash?”
“Nope. We went to the zoo, and up to Tahoe to go swimming. She’s fine. Are you gonna take me for ice cream? I’m starving.” She bounced out of the room with more energy than one person should ever have, leaving me with no choice but to follow.
“AUNT TASH, will you tell me a story? I can’t sleep.”
“Of course you can’t, you ate about five pounds of ice cream. Do you want one of your books?” I grinned at her as I got up from the couch to follow her to her room.
“No, one of your stories,” she said as she wiggled under the covers with
