Chapter 31

By the time I found my way out of the woods, the sun was hanging low in the sky, and I was really not keen at all about being caught in the dark. My car, unfortunately, was on Earth and I had left my purse in the church during our battle.

I had only one option and I gritted my teeth, knowing I was in for it. I crossed the street to a local pub and asked to use their phone.

“Hey Mom…” I said into the receiver, as nonchalantly as I could manage.

The tirade that came down upon my head was enough to make me consider taking my chances with the nasties that come out at night.

“Mom,” I interrupted, “Can you come give me a ride? You can yell at me in the car.”

I guess that was not the way to phrase things because I called the Wrath of the Unappreciated down upon my head with that one. Once she had yelled herself out, though, she was out front in a matter of minutes.

“Don’t you EVER give me that kind of scare again, young lady,” she scolded as I climbed in and fastened my seatbelt.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I wasn’t expecting to get attacked by an army of doppelgangers.”

“Well, maybe if you would hone my side of your talents a little more…”

I couldn’t take it anymore and decided to play my trump card, “Mom, Mindy has the sight.”

That shut her up. Thank god.

“She said she is seeing Dad,” I continued.

Mom shifted sort of uncomfortably in her seat, “Well, that doesn’t mean anything.”

This was a first.

In the past, if Mindy or I expressed even the slightest hint of sight, Mom was acting like we were on our way to the Carnegie Hall of Seers.

“Really?” I asked.

“It was probably just her missing him,” she went on and then was awkwardly quiet.

That got my senses all a tingle, “But Mom… um… Here’s the thing. When I was jumping through the portal, I thought I saw him, too.”

“You saw nothing,” she snapped.

This was a different kind of anger. Yes, she bickered and yelled, but it was all out of love. This was her slamming the door shut and I didn’t know what to make of it. This was the woman who had spent lonely nights convincing herself Dad was coming back, but now the combat boot was on the other foot.

“Okay,” I replied slowly, “we were probably mistaken.”

We rode in uncomfortable silence all the way to my house.

“Do you have your keys?” she asked as I got out.

“Yah,” I said. I had a hidden pair tucked inside a pile of fake cat poop in the garden.

She nodded primly and pursed her lips, “I don’t want you to die anytime soon, do you hear me?”

I have to say that I totally agreed.

“I’ll try my best not to,” I replied. I shut the door and waved at her as she left.

As I walked up the path, I flipped the conversation around in my head. This was a weird day. And coming from me, that was saying something.