Chapter 13 [Hours Later—Dubois Farm, Outskirts of Wabash]
After the group returned to the farm, Kate walked about the old farm's back forty. Despite its ordinary façade, she could almost feel the history and energy crackling about the place. For some reason her skin dimpled from the experience…the reason for said reaction she didn't understand….
She slumped down beside the stone wall running along the road and stared at the sky. She had never really been a religious person…truth be told, since God didn't have time for her, why should she make time for Him? She'd occupied herself in the mundane matters and getting through the teenage hell experience….
…since meeting her parents and their friends however, her world began expanding. Her senses seemed sharper and clearer….
Still the reasons evaded her as to why.
"I'm just a normal girl so why am I feeling this way?" she griped while running her hands through her hair in consternation. "Why can't this just stop?"
"Because of who you are, perhaps?"
She looked up to see her mother standing over her with a glass of lemonade in her right hand. She collected herself after stifling the urge of jump. "Mom? What's going on?"
"You're developing the talents that are your birthright, Katherine. Don't run from them. Accept them and who you are," Katrina advised pleasantly. "Remember you're part of a bigger world. I thought you might be thirsty." She offered the glass.
Kate conceded a grateful smile while accepting the glass. Her throat was indeed parched from her frustrated solitude in the mid-day conditions. She felt better from the sour-sweet liquid cooling her insides. Her mother's caring added to this warmth. She relaxed. "I've always had to figure this stuff out alone though. People come and go. Wish I could accept that." She handed the empty glass back to Katrina before standing again.
"Your father and I are both here for you now. Whatever blocking spells or banishments were involved in our separation are now behind us. We are a family, Katherine. Now we need to secure those ties and learn more about each other," Katrina assured her. "Just be patient with us as well."
"As long as you're patient with me. I wish things had been clearer sooner," Kate lamented. "I wish Dad could've come to me or something."
"Until Jennifer brought you here, we had no idea that you were here. Our memories were blocked by sorcery. Once everyone came together, however, the spells faded. We can now get to know each other, Katherine. I can help you. So can the priestesses of Althanor," Katrina explained.
"Like we can trust them any more than your old coven? No offense, Mom, but I'm not big into trusting any of them right now. And to see the look on that weird guy's face at the church didn't help either. They did something to him and that demon of his. I can feel it," Kate insisted.
Katrina didn't reply but offered a tacit nod. She knew her daughter had a point even if they didn't know the specifics. "I promise you, Katherine, that we will proceed carefully. You are not just some prize for me to use. I love you. If anything, Professor Dubois' experiences should serve as a note of caution for everyone."
"Yeah I can see why too. Wow. My Professor Dubois talked about the guy's ancestor. Two people in the same family bearing the same curse? Imagine the odds of that?" Kate presumed.
"Quite the story there," Katrina concurred half-truthfully. Even if we are talking about the same person! "We have more time to discern those truths. Come. Dinner is almost ready and I will not have you going hungry. Please join us."
Kate sighed and nodded. "Okay, Mom. Rome wasn't built in a day, I guess. I am starving. Lead on."
"Now that is more like it," Katrina concurred while leading her daughter toward the farmhouse.
Meanwhile a fine 'welcome-dinner' was in full swing inside of the farmhouse. The additional oak leaf had been placed into the table's center expanding it outward for the extra guests. A fine white tablecloth stretched over it. Beans bubbled in their cauldron over the fire. A sense of positive anticipation settled over the place.
As it should have been when welcoming a new family member to the fold….
Ichabod stood just beyond the back porch and watched the back forty intensely. He'd hoped to talk with Kate before dinner and further soothe her feelings. He waited to see if Katrina would work things out with their daughter.
Despite his best Stiff Upper Lip, his nerves buzzed about quite frenetically to say the least….
Hopefully she won't always retreat from us! I know we were not there but that was hardly our fault! He sighed heavily.
"Wow, Crane. That sounded heavy," Abbie interjected from behind.
He turned and offered her a small smile. "I trust all is well inside, Leftenant?"
"Yeah. They've got dinner all but wrapped up in there. Just wondering how you're doing out here," she replied frankly. She held up two glasses of lemonade. "Figured you'd want something to drink too."
"Ah yes. That refreshment would indeed be welcome. My throat is quite parched. Thank you," he accepted while taking one of the glasses from her. He toasted her. "To friends and new family. May we all be so welcome."
"Back at ya," she agreed while touching glasses and taking a draught in time with one of his own. "So seriously, Crane, you and Katrina never knew?"
"Never knew…about Katherine, you mean? Abbie, as you know, I was already asleep when Katrina discerned her own pregnancy. Jeremy was enough of a shock. This is disconcerting. I cannot believe that one can be made to forget about his or her own child." He shook his head. "Most disconcerting indeed!"
"Yeah I can definitely get that. You know that Katherine's going to need you. Those hags did that, not her. We really don't want a repeat of what happened with Henry," she pointed out.
"Indeed." He considered her words over another sweet and sour draught. "Have no fear, Leftenant. Katherine will be loved. Katrina and I will not allow history to repeat itself. At some point, we will seek to save Henry as well. But that is a matter for another day." He saw his ladies walking back toward them. He finished the glass. "Truly a marvelous sight indeed!" He set it down. "Thank you for the refreshment of mind and palate. As always it was very insightful." He headed out to meet his family.
Abbie hung back to allow the Cranes their moment. After watching Ichabod struggle in this time, it gladdened her to watch him embrace the two women and speak earnestly yet pleasantly with them. She mused over how her relationship with Jenny had broadened and deepened over the previous months as well. Yet she still worried about how Parrish could endanger such an arrangement if he ever escaped Purgatory. Take care with this happy moment, Crane. I know you want the whole enchilada but don't let it destroy what you already have!
"Hey, Lieutenant Mills. You okay?" Kate queried.
"Hmmm? Oh yeah. That's my question for you, Kate. How are you hanging in there?" Abbie responded.
The teen shrugged. "I'm okay. Got a lot of questions but at least we can work on answers. Right? Glad that the parents are here." She smiled. "Thanks for thinking of me."
"That's what friends are for. Come on. Let's get some of that great food," Abbie agreed. "Coming, Crane? Katrina?"
"We are right behind you, Abbie. Thank you," Katrina concurred. She watched as Kate took her place at the table alongside Jennifer and the latter's family. "It is wonderful. Is it not, Ichabod?"
"It is truly spectacular. None more spectacular however than you, Katrina. We have been through the fire as has Katherine. Now we should enjoy a measure of happiness," Ichabod assured her. He took her hand in his own. "Now shall we join them for the feast?"
"We shall indeed." Katrina let her eyes sparkle into her captain's before escorting him toward the table of delights.
Perhaps they'd all struggled through Life's challenges and fires. They'd all dealt with adversity. Other tests loomed ahead. They had love and fellowship too however.
And in that they had the means to overcome anything even doubt and insincerity….
In the end, that's all that mattered…..