Eye of the Storm (The Charmed) by Dianne Nutting Page B

in?” Harley said wearily.
    Kayla stepped aside. “Hey Jaden, look what the cat dragged in.”
    Jaden came around the corner from the kitchen with a spoon in one hand, a pot in the other and an apron on that said “It’s mine, not yours.”
    Brendan sat down in the living room, everyone else followed.
    “What happened? You guys all look like hell. Hello, Mr. McGillicuddy.” He shook the elder’s hand.
    “You hear the sirens?” Brendan said.
    “Yes.” Jaden said slowly.
    “Harley’s house went up. It’s gone. All of it, to the ground.”
    “How?!” Jaden stood and paced to the fireplace against the wall.
    “We don’t know.” Harley said but her father spoke up at the same time. “What dad? What did you say?”
    “I said, I started it.”
    Harley and Brendan both stood. Harley paced toward her father. “What do you mean? My childhood was in that house! Pictures of mom were in there! What do you mean you lit the fire?! Are you mad?”
    “No. Tired.”
    “Tired? What the hell does that mean? How could you be tired? You sleep most days! You’re drunk the rest!”
    Brendan spoke up. “Harley, let’s hear what he has to say.”
    “Hear him? He’s had eighteen years to tell me, to do anything but be a drunk! If you think he deserves anything but a thrashing then you’re sorely mistaken! I’ve had it! You are no longer my father! I hate you!” The whole of the room winced. The pent up frustration of Harley McGillicuddy was coming out in droves.
    Mr. McGillicuddy sat back down and put his head in his hands and spoke quietly. “I don’t expect you to understand but I have a story to tell if you’ll listen.” His hands shook, making him look a hundred years old.
    Jaden walked to the center of the room. “Harley, I understand what you’re going through, I do. We’ve all seen it over the years, how the stress of this has worn you down. But as one of the Charmed, he has a right to tell his story. I’m not saying he was right in how he lived his life, but maybe there’s something in there we can grasp onto? Things have gotten very strange very fast around here and maybe, just maybe, your dad knows a small piece of the puzzle. Now I suggest you all go shower up. Harley, you can borrow some of Kayla’s cloths, Brendan, I think I have some old things of my uncle’s in the back room. Mr. McGillicuddy, dad’s closet is in the back, we’ll talk over dinner.”
    Jaden walked out of the room motioning for Kayla to follow. The other three went off in separate bedrooms to shower and change. Thirty minutes later they were all sitting around a table eating lasagna, bread and salad. Jaden looked at Mr. McGillicuddy, “Would you care for some wine? I think dad has some in the fridge.”
    Mr. McGillicuddy looked up. “No. Not ever again.” He looked at Harley who pretended to be busy with her roll. They ate in silence for a while. When they all finished, the table was cleared and Jaden brought out some mugs and some coffee. He had a feeling this might be a long night.
    “Mr. McGillicuddy, the table is yours.”
    He looked up, eyes red rimmed, hands shaking. “I was best friends with your dad. Sam and I shared a love for the Occlumency tale. We thought it was an urban legend but the more we looked into it, the more we realized it was real. We suddenly had others who arrived in town wanting to be a part of the study. Chase’s parents, Sam and I were inseparable. When Sam and I realized the magnitude of it, the danger we put ourselves in, Sam and I were adamant we wanted nothing to do with it anymore. It seemed as if more strangers were in town, tourists if you will.” He stopped to wipe his forehead with a napkin. His light brown hair was un-brushed and his bangs were in his eyes, giving him the appearance of a shaggy dog. He raised a glass of ice water to his lips and drank carefully. He took a deep breath and continued.
    “Harley, Jaden and Chase had already been born. I never paid much attention to Mark