This chapter is a bit sad near the end and you might need a tissue.
At the Wilmington house, the doorbell rang and Buck ran to the door expectantly, hoping it was his dad arriving home at last. It was almost time for the movie to start, and the boy didn't want to watch it without his dad.
"I'm sorry I'm late, Buck," said Charles, as he stood outside the open front door after Buck had answered it. "I had some work to finish before I could leave."
"That's okay, Dad," said the little boy, as he was scooped up into his father's arms and hugged by the man.
"Hi," greeted Olivia, as she joined the two in the hallway. She'd just finished surveying the living room and was concerned by how easily a demon or warlock could magically transport into the room without anyone detecting them on arrival.
"You got a new girl, Son?" asked Charles teasingly.
"Da-ad," complained Buck, embarrassed by his father's words in front of his new friend. "This is my new friend, 'Livia."
Olivia curtseyed politely and offered the man her hand to shake. She received a deep laugh from Buck's dad.
"You're very sweet, Olivia, but there's no need to be so polite here. We're just normal people - not royalty."
'If only you knew,' thought the girl. For safety reasons, the Wilmingtons weren't allowed to know that their son was one of the prophesied witches.
"Dad, Olivia loves cowboy movies as well," informed Buck, "so she's come to watch tonight's one with us."
A grin lit up the man's face - the girl was perfect for his son; he could already hear wedding bells.
CH7P - CH7P - CH7P - CH7P - CH7P - CH7P - CH7P
Two years later, Buck waited excitedly by the school gates before school for Olivia - today he was going to ask her if she'd go to the junior disco with him. Of course, she'd accept, and that would be their first proper date. Buck's dad had told him it was never too soon to start dating girls.
A man Buck recognized as Olivia's dad walked toward him, but Olivia wasn't there. "Buck, I need to talk to you in private."
"Sure, Mr. Greer," agreed Buck, and walked to a quiet part of the playground with the man.
"It's about Livvy. She has to leave this school because of some...troubles. Please will you give this note to her teacher for me?"
The boy reluctantly accepted the note; feeling upset that his friend wasn't going to be at his school anymore. "Sure. Will I ever see her again?" Buck already felt he knew the answer.
"I'm afraid not," answered Olivia's dad. "I'm really sorry."
"Okay," muttered Buck, disappointed that he wouldn't ever see the little girl again - they had been getting along so well the last few years that they'd been friends. He walked slowly away from the man. Buck was also upset that he hadn't gotten to say good-bye to the girl.
Once Buck turned away, the Whitelighter posing as Mr. Greer quickly orbed away. The truth was that Olivia had been re-assigned, as the Elders had received a vision of her marrying the Buck when she was older (despite that she was really a young adult disguised as a child). The Elders didn't want a Whitelighter to marry one of the prophesied witches - it would interfere with the boy's destiny. So then they'd gotten the male Whitelighter, who was posing as Olivia's father, to gently explain the non-magical reason for the girl's leaving to Buck and pass on a note to the school where the 'girl' was enrolled.
To be continued...