"What?" Karen asked, checking to believe that she heard correctly.
"Karen, you want me gone, I'm gone! College can't come soon enough!"
A small voice from the doorway interrupted the heated glare of wills between the two women.
"You're leaving for college now?"
Toby stood in the doorway of the bedroom. "Noooo", he ran to Sarah and clasped handfuls of her pajamas in his fists and looked up. "We haven't gone swimming yet! What about you teaching me to catch fireflies and going roller skating?" The little boy's watery eyes looked up at his sister. Sarah felt her heart melt, how could she forget about Toby and leave him here?
Both Karen and Sarah's heated contention dissolved. The two women both looked at each other in the eyes. An unsaid battle of wills crackled between them. Their conflict had not been resolved.
Karen knelt down to Toby's level. "Oh Baby, Sarah's going to be here all summer-"
"Promise?", he hick-upped.
"Uh yeah, Squirt. I'll be here. We'll do all those things and more. I promise I won't go anywhere just yet." Sarah tried to reassure the distressed child.
"Do you still want me to make pancakes?" Toby nodded.
"Okay, then go ahead downstairs and I'll be down in a few after I get dressed. Then after breakfast we can walk Merlin to the park."
Karen began to escort Toby from the room and turned and glared at Sarah. "You and I are not done yet young lady." Closing the bedroom door behind her.
Sarah gave a deep sigh and covered her face with her hands. Geeze, how did it come to this? She asked herself.
She felt warm hands tenderly caress her shoulders. She looked up into the Fae man's face. His brow was furrowed and a frown at the corners of his mouth. A mixed range of emotions churned in her belly. "Sarah Darling, I...", he started but Sarah hushed his mouth gently with her hand. Again the skin to skin contact caused a pleasurable sensation travel up her arm into her core. His hands immediately grasped hers. She then gently guided his hands to rest at his sides. "I think...", she began, "I think I need a little space. Please. I need to clear my head and think." Sadness and maybe even a little regret crossed Jareth's features. "As you wish. I believe I understand. Should you need me, just say the right words." In a moment he faded away as if he were never there. Sarah heaved a big sigh and whispered to herself, "Damn!"