Jim waited in the trees until Claire disappeared into the shelter. It was barely 10 AM. Doux wouldn't be done with the charm until noon. Until then, he had to make sure that Newberry woman didn't learn anything she shouldn't, which meant Aja, Steve, and their brood of half Akiridion kids had to stay away from here until she left.
One of the kids playing soccer nearby fell and sat in the dirt crying.
Barbara Lake came from under a tree on the other side of the small clearing.
Jim hid behind a thick oak. Forgot she's off rotation today.
"It's okay, sweetie." Jim's mom helped the little boy up before kneeling to examine his skinned knee. "It'll be all better soon. Go on inside, and your mom will get that cleaned up for you." She handed him a wide band-aid fished from her pocket.
She always did carry those.
"Time to get back inside, anyway." She herded the kids toward the shelter. "You might not be able to go to school, but you're still going to learn."
Another woman met the group as they reached the tree line. Jim's mom didn't go back to the building with them.
As soon as the kids were out of sight, Barbara sat under the nearest tree—uncomfortably close to Jim's hiding place.
Jim kept the oak trunk between them. He was about to sneak away when his mother spoke.
"Walt, he has to know he couldn't have done anything to save you." She leaned against the tree, looking up into the rustling boughs. "You made me happy again, and I suppose that will have to be enough. I've seen some insane things since I met you." The gemstones on her engagement ring caught the light. "I'd like to think we were meant to find each other." She gave a broken chuckle. "If James could see me now, he'd blow an artery. You were nothing like him. I know I never told you about him, but I suppose you didn't make me feel I needed to. He was my past. You were part of my future." She turned the ring so its diamond and twin emeralds looked up from inside her finger. "You called on angels and minsters of grace to defend us." She clasped both hands together and whispered into them, "If any of them can hear me, I hope they find a way to honor that."
Jim wanted more than anything to come out of hiding and tell his mother what the Chronosphere had shown him, but caution glued him in place. Telling her about those images—those… heart gripping visions of things that could never be but were so wonderful Jim couldn't forget them—would crush her. It was far kinder to let her remain ignorant.
Excalibur hummed in Jim's hand, and Merlin's voice delivered a stinging thought. She wouldn't want that.
Merlin was dead. This had to be a memory of something he'd said in the past.
Jim shoved back the old wizard's words. It was Jim's job to protect his mother now. This time, that meant keeping something from her.
Another hum from the sword. You remember how that worked out last time. You should tell her. Merlin's voice again. But Merlin had never said that to Jim—not that he could remember. She's not an idiot. She'll find out sooner or later.
"Is someone there?" Barbara took a ready stance. "You should know, I have an orange belt in Krav Maga."
Someone else stepped into the clearing. It was Bianca Newberry.
How did she get here so fast? Jim kept hold of Excalibur.
"Sorry to disturb you," Bianca said. "I just got into town. The only people I've come across were two kids out by the bridge, and they seemed eager to be on their way, so, when I heard someone out here, I thought I'd say hello."
Jim's mom relaxed but didn't drop her guard. She'd seen all kinds when she worked at the hospital, and Jim had heard stories about uncooperative patients who'd tried everything imaginable to keep from doing as they were told. Thus, the Krav Maga lessons. "This is a good way from the bridge." She said it with a smile, but Jim recognized wariness in her voice. She knew as well as he did the dangers of having outsiders in Arcadia right now.
"Four-wheel drive," Bianca said.
Not in that car.
"Kids said you had an earthquake." A small brown purse hung from Bianca's shoulder. She swung it in front of her, angled toward Jim's mom. "I've never seen one do this kind of damage before. Can you tell me any more about it? I write a blog about geological anomalies, and this might be just the content my subscribers are looking for."
Don't tell her! He wanted to run between them, grab Newberry and have Claire portal her and her front-wheel drive Camry out of Arcadia Oaks.
"Just a regular earthquake." His mom kept her posture neutral, tone even. She tossed in some exasperation. "Talk about inconvenient. Whole town's been out of power for a few days, but we've got crews working on it. We'll have everything back together soon."
Bianca seemed skeptical. "Not from what I saw on my way into town. These roads alone are going to take a few months to repair, not to mention the structural damage. Girl can't even get a motel."
"There's one up the highway about twenty miles." His mom arched a thumb over her shoulder. "Just take the bridge back over the canal. You can't miss the on-ramp."
"Those kids told me I should take the highway too," Bianca said with a laugh.
"Solid advice. Staying here is a little pointless right now."
Go, Mom!
"I think I'll have a look around before I go." Bianca started toward the shelter.
"Why don't I give you a guided tour?" Jim's mom walked in step with the reporter, steering her toward an aid station outside the main shelter. "It'll keep you from wasting time on the boring stuff."
Jim waited until his mother and Bianca disappeared before he called Aja on the communicator Claire had given him.
Aja picked up quickly. "Claire? Oh, hello, Jim."
Behind Aja, Steve wrestled two blue-skinned youngsters, one boy, one girl. Both kids sported unruly mops of brown hair and Aja's glowing blue complexion.
"Baja, Eli Jr., it's naptime." Steve lost his grip on one of them and had to chase the little one around the room. "Come on! Daddy's got to sleep sometime." Dark circles under Steve's eyes said he'd been pulling long days—and nights.
"Is there something I can help with, Jim?" said Aja.
"All of you need to stay out of sight right now. There's a New York reporter here. If she sees you, she'll—"
Steve yelped in the background. "Don't pull Daddy's hair."
"I can't guarantee we can remain hidden long. I must hold another meeting soon to discuss progress on supply lines and rebuilding efforts. You will be there this time, of course."
It wasn't a question.
"I'll be there. But you have to promise me you won't let this woman see you."
"Do not worry. I am sure Steve won't mind more time with the little ones. It has been lively. Coach Lawrence and Steve's mother have been very accommodating."
"I thought you were staying at Camelot."
"We were, but… Douxie needed some time alone. Krel is here too, and has already built a generator for us. Now he's designing a new leg for Coach Lawrence. They are like little children with new toys."
Steve ran behind Aja again, this time chasing three of their seven kids.
"I must help Steve. Do not worry, Trollhunter. We will be all right." Aja hung up.
I wish I shared your confidence. Jim pocketed the communicator and headed for the shelter to tell Claire about Bianca.