DISCLAIMER: The writers of this collection sincerely respect the ingenuity of the authors that crafted The 39 Clues series. We own nothing.
Humongous and heartfelt thanks go to the following people: luverinreadin, SlytherinGurrl, Volcanic Lily, clara0414, think infinite and StuckInSpace. Much Love, Peace Out! XD
Begin.
ooOOoo
MACE (noun): Mace is a spice. It is commonly used for defensive purposes since it causes a painful burning when in contact with skin.
Branch Clue: Madrigal
"Mommy..." The little girl squirmed against the warm restraints of her mother's embrace. Her reddish brown hair was messily held in place in a complex braid and her cheeks flushed bright red in her excited inquiry.
The mother smiled at the ball of energy sitting on her lap. "What is it, cupcake?" The mother's mother – thereby, the little girl's grandmother - dropped by to give them a box of intricately decorated cupcakes that afternoon, hence the endearment.
"I wanna see that box," she said, pointing at the curious little box with all the curious and uneven dents. A little box especially designed to hold a particularly symbolic Clue: Mace.
The agitated mother bit back the strong resignation bubbling inside her. It's only normal for a little girl to be curious, she chided herself. Her grip on the little girl tightened nonetheless. Before she could even respond to the little girl's innocent request, she heard a resounding – and somewhat alarming - thump from the end of the corridor.
The father came inside the room in a hurried run, nearly missing the door. His face looked flushed with excitement, – and was that a growing lump on his forehead? – his tall and tan physique visibly shaking while he handled the excitedly squirming baby boy in his arms.
"Arthur!" Hope chided, setting Amy down on the couch gently. "What do you think are you doing with him?" She held her hands up, ready to take their little boy away from him.
He shook his head, still fuelled by his sudden exhilaration. "No, no. Hope, you have got to see this." He held up the Dan Cahill whose jade-green eyes glittered. The toddler giggled excitedly, reaching out his chubby little arms out to his mother.
Hope raised an eyebrow demandingly. "And... I'm supposed to be seeing what?" she asked exasperatedly.
"Wait for it..." he said, waiting for the suspense to kick in. Then, suddenly, he exclaimed...
"Moon face!"
Out of the blue, both faces – one, having seen the best and worst the world has to offer and the other, having seen the world only through his father's and mother's arms – split into a dazzling, happy grin. It was so full of chagrin, full of absolute happiness, full of everything that Hope wanted her family to have.
That smile was just so full of... magic.
"Would you like more mace in that, sir?"
That made him glance up sharply. "Excuse me?" he snapped, glaring at her.
The waitress looked at him, obviously freaked by his reaction. "I asked if you would prefer more ice in that drink of yours, sir..."
He breathed out a nearly inaudible sigh of relief. "Oh. No, thank you."
The waitress left with a hesitant nod and he caught the words, "Could've just said so."
He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. He's been sitting in this sorry excuse of a cafe for an hour and a half now. Waiting. Patiently waiting.
His phone vibrated from his chest pocket, beckoning him, seemingly mocking him. He sucked in a huge breath before taking his phone out of his pocket. He opened it, reading the message slowly.
If you're really my father, what did you use to say to make both of us smile?
A creeping smile stretched across his face, leaving him thinking of the irony of it all. He wasted no time typing up his reply.
Moon face.
Arthur Josiah Trent Cahill smiled at the shocked face his son is wearing. "Forgot to tie your shoes tight again, kiddo," he murmured, looking out the window towards a young boy who nearly tripped on his feet with his nose buried on the two-word reply on his phone.
Dan Cahill glared at the laces of his shoe, bending to tie them when he felt a prickling sensation on his neck. He clapped a hand on his nape, turning to look behind him.
Seeing nothing but a cafe window, Dan merely shrugged and trudged on before his sister realizes his absence.
ooOOoo
Characters: Amy C., Hope C., Arthur T. C., Dan C.
Author: AngelicSpring
Next: Bone, a Tomas clue, by FascinatingRhythm
Don't know what's more painful: saying something and wishing you hadn't, or not saying anything but wishing you had.
Read and Review.