coming? Please .”
“We’ll see.”
Beth made her lips pooch out the way that always made Alora give in to her demands.
“ Maybe .”
Beth added an I’m-about-to-cry-look to her pout.
“Okay, probably . But that’s the best you’re going to get tonight.” Alora laughed as Beth clapped her hands, bouncing on her toes.
“I knew you’d come. It’s going to be so much fun.”
“I didn’t say for sure.”
“Yes, but I know you won’t disappoint me.”
Alora knew Beth was probably right, but she couldn’t imagine she’d feel like dancing by Friday. “We’ll see. Thanks for your help, Beth. And you too, Wesley. I owe you—both of you.”
As the two dashed out the back door, Uncle Charles still looked like he’d eaten a lemon. “All right. We don’t need to sort everything out tonight. I think a good night’s sleep will help all of us.” He stood up and stretched. “Kaevin, you can sleep in the guest room. I’ll show you. It’s next door to my room.”
“Uhmm, Uncle Charles? I... uhmm, I don’t think that’s going to work.” She held up her hand, clasped in Kaevin’s.
“Oh, I forgot about that. How long do you have to hold hands?”
“I’m uncertain.” Kaevin scratched his head.
“Do you think the bond started on Sunday?” she asked.
“What’s Sunday?”
“That day when you shocked me in the snow.”
“Right. I’m fairly certain that was the beginning. And then the symptoms began when we didn’t touch the following day.”
She ticked off the days with her fingers. “So from Monday afternoon until Thursday afternoon. That’s three days without touching. Four days if we count from Sunday. How long do you think we have to hold hands to make up for that?”
“I don’t know how long it takes to recover from such a long lapse. We’re probably fortunate to be alive.”
“This is insane!” Charles protested. “Are you sure you’re not just imagining these symptoms?”
“Uncle Charles, Kaevin almost died, and I guess I did too. Believe me, the symptoms are real.”
“Well, I don’t like it.” He scowled. “It’s ridiculous!”
“It will be much simpler when we’re married,” said Kaevin.
Alora cringed as her uncle’s face turned beet-red.
“ Married? Did you say married ?”
“Uncle Charles—”
“She’s not—” He stopped to take a deep breath and turned to Alora, speaking between clenched teeth. “ You . Are. Not. Getting. Married .”
“Of course not, Uncle Charles. He means some day in the far, far future. Years from now.” She squeezed Kaevin’s hand hard to keep him from contradicting her.
Charles squinted at them, his furrowed brows almost covering his eyes. “I’ll make a pallet for you here on the floor. Wait here, and I’ll get blankets and pillows.” He took two steps and whipped his head back around. “And I’m sleeping in here with you. Right there on the couch. And I’m a light sleeper!”
*****
Charles tossed and turned on the sofa, until he surrendered to his insomnia, sitting up to rub his eyes. He would get no sleep tonight without something to calm his nerves. Perhaps he needed to make a cup of chamomile tea.
On the floor, Alora and Kaevin slept soundly, their fingers still entwined. Alora’s face was the picture of innocence. Even the boy looked harmless as he slept, but Charles couldn’t know what his intentions were. I don’t know anything about this boy. Realizing his fingers had balled the blanket inside his tight fists, he forced his hands to relax.
He stood up, padding across the room to the fireplace. Reaching up on the mantle, he removed a small, framed picture, holding it with trembling fingers.
“Lena,” he whispered. “I don’t know what to do. I’m no good at this parenting thing. You were the one who always made the decisions.”
He stared down at his wife’s face, willing her to answer him. “How am I supposed to raise a fifteen-year-old girl without you? Why did you have to