Another History
Nick resumed working on his bike after Madison left. "Are you sure you don't want to stay?" Udonna asked.
He turned and looked up at her. "This magic stuff—it's not for me," he replied automatically.
She nodded. Then a man peered at Nick like he was crazy and Nick snapped, "What are you looking at?"
Her heart raced. Nick has my Leanbow's temper, she thought, feeling confused. But why?
Then he turned back to Udonna, who hid her emotions from the teen and coolly told him, "Only you can see me."
He groaned.
Then she waved her wand and fixed Nick's bike. "All set," she told him gently.
He sighed and mumbled, "Thanks."
She nodded. Then her eyes fell on a small red blanket with gold stitching around the edges just barely poking out of Nick's backpack. "May I see that?" she motioned slowly to the blanket, almost afraid that if she moved too quickly it would disappear. She recognized that blanket. Her mind began racing. It couldn't be? Could it? Could her son—her baby Bowen—her little boy—be right in front of her and without either mother or son realizing it? Shouldn't she know her son? Come to think of it, Nick did resemble her beloved Leanbow quite a bit. Nick had Leanbow's facial features and skin color and Leanbow's temper.
Nick nodded and pulled it out. "Just be careful," he said slowly, not wanting to cry in front of her. "It's really special to me. It's my baby blanket and the only bit of my birth parents I still have."
"You don't live with them?" she questioned, as she carefully fingered the familiar blanket. Nick is my son! Nick is Bowen! Nick is my baby! Nick is my little boy! Her mind began screaming at her. But he thought I was making the war up—the war tore apart our family—the war that took him from me! A second part screamed back at her.
Nick nodded and said, "I was adopted."
She nodded and murmured, "If you did stay in Briarwood, I might be able to help you find your birth parents."
Nick's eyes widened and said, "I'm not sure I want to know them."
She nodded and handed back the blanket. Did her son want her? She wondered. Apparently not. Or maybe he's not sure. But why?
He put it away. Then he said, "I mean I'm curious, but what if they don't want me back? I'm assuming my mother loved me 'cause she made me that blanket, but what if they're gone or moved? What if they're dead? I mean, we haven't seen each other in nineteen years and a lot can change in that time. They might be separated. What if they can't take me in?"
Udonna touched his shoulder and said, "I'm sure they miss you and do want you back, Nick." I do want you back, Bowen! She silently screamed. I wanted to keep you and raise you! But the darkness forced our separation to occur—it tore our family apart—it cost me you, your father, my Leanbow, and your aunt, my older sister, Niella. I've wanted you back for the past nineteen years and I still want you back, Bowen! Nothing is going to keep me from wanting to take you back! I'll find a way for take you back in, somehow. I promise.
"I hope you're right," he sighed and then rode off.
As he disappeared, Udonna watched him leave and, tears sliding down her face, whispered, "Good luck, Bowen."
She disappeared and returned to Rootcore, but said nothing to Clare about Nick's real identity.