Enid was dressed in her most conservative black dress, she had Sarah’s platinum blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. Currently she was fixing the shoulders of Mitena’s own black dress. The eleven-year-old had recently pierced her ears a so was wearing silver studs and a silver crucifix Maria had given her. Enid lifted the crucifix with her hand.

“You don’t have to wear this if you don’t want.”

“Aunt Maria got it for me, and I like it.”

“You know why it is a complicated symbol for you to be wearing right? Some of your people are very angry with past behavior of the church.”

“I know mom.”

“You are going to displease them.”

“You said I can choose my own path.”

“I did say that. What sort of silly mother am I? Telling you that you have choices.”

Mitena smiled up at her mother.

“You’re a great mother. The best. And everyone at school is too scared of you to bully me.”

Enid laughed.

“Well, I did get recorded catching a bus. Come on, lets go support Allison. You know how hard it is to lose a parent.”

Mitena nodded her eyes showing the lingering sadness of her losses.

“Mother, will you die one day?”

“Yes. I am immortal but all things pass in time.”

“I hope I don’t live to see it.”

“And I hope you do, because that means you outlive me.”

Enid offered her hand which Mitena clutched onto tightly.

“You know, I have been told that eleven-year-olds don’t usually want to hold their mom’s hand.”

“Well then those elven-year-olds are silly.”

“I think so too.”

The pair walked down the lobby and out to Enid’s car. She had purchased a new one for the drive to Calgary. As much as she loved her SUV, she didn’t trust it for a six hour round trip away from home. It was a black four-wheel drive pick-up.

“I like this better than the silver one.”

“You better like it, you’re the one who picked it.”

“Its high, we can see better.”

“And it has internet access.”

“That is not why I wanted you to get it, mother.”

“And I was the Queen of Scotland.”

“Where you?”

“No, it’s a figure of speech.”

Enid pulled into the church parking lot. Enid looked over to Mitena.

“I’m going to remind you; This church is not the one Maria drags you and I too on Sundays. They have…less forgiving beliefs, especially about same-sex relationships. So, Allison and I are very good friends. That’s it.”

“If they are so unforgiving, why does she go?”

“I have no idea hon. Humans do strange things all the time. Its just the funeral, then grave side then the wake. One afternoon and we can go back to you me and Allison.”

Mitena nodded.

“Also, they think I’m like them, you and I both know I’m not the least bit Christian. They don’t know that, and it has to stay that way for now.”

Mitena nodded again. Enid sighed.

“I’m teaching you terrible things right now, look, do as I say, not as I do.”

Mitena smiled and nodded.

“You are a terrible mother sometimes.”

“I keep telling everyone that and no one believes me! You’re going to be in therapy for years stuck with me as a parent.”

Enid sighed and opened her door. Mitena snuck her hand into Enid’s again and the pair walked into the church. Allison saw them and motioned them to sit with her. Enid was surprised to see her mother had greying red hair. Enid sat down with Mitena between her and Allison. Mitena gave Allison a tight hug. Enid nodded to Allison.

“Sorry hon.”

“Thank you for coming, it means a lot.”

Enid nodded. Allison’s mother had been talking to someone beside her and did a double take when she realized that the poster child for Christian beliefs was sitting a few people down. Enid was sure she almost fainted. She spoke quietly to Allison. Enid was in sunlight so had no chance of making it out in the noisy church. Allison touched Enid’s arm which sent a jolt of warmth through her body. She grew flush without meaning too.

“Sarah, this is my mother.”

Enid leaned over and offered her hand.

“My condolences ma’am.”

“Are you here…for a demon?”

Enid shook her head.

“No ma’am, your daughter is my best friend.”

Allison’s mother being a typical Scottish mother slapped her daughter’s arm gently.

“You mean she could have come over for thanksgiving?”

“No mother, she has family of her own. This is her daughter Mitena.”

“I did not realize you were a mother.”

“I’m older than I look.”

“Thank you so much for coming, it would mean a lot to Henry he was a big fan of yours.”

“Allison has told me a lot about you two, I was a big fan of his.”

Allison smiled at Enid who sat back. Mitena snagged her hand again and held it tightly. She wasn’t good around big crowds yet apparently.

*****

Mitena had fallen asleep in a chair. The funeral, grave side and wake had taken far longer than Enid had predicted, it was almost midnight when she and Allison were finally able to start cleaning up her mother’s house. Allison’s mother was sitting in the living room staring out a window. The loss of her husband had hit her very hard. Enid and Allison were washing dishes in the kitchen.

“Have you lost anyone like this Enid?”

“Yes, quite a few.”

“How did you deal with it?”

Enid shrugged.

“I just went on with my life. My sister hit me the worst, I ran away.”

“Oh.”

“Does your mother have any family here?”

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

“No, besides me, they’re all in Scotland.”

“Is your mom moving back?”

“I think she’s considering it.”

“Do you want to go with her?”

“I can’t I’m not a citizen.”

“Oh, if your mom has hers, you can get it easy.”

“I don’t want to. I think I’d rather stay…here I have a good reason too.”

Her hand touched Enid’s arm. Enid smiled at her.

“I know, but she’s your mom.”

They glanced at each other then down at the dishes. They both jumped when they heard Allison’s mother speak.

“Kiss already. I’ve known grandchildren weren’t happening since Nancy Cooper in 9th grade.”

Allison blinked at her mother she dropped the plate she was holding, Enid caught it out of reflex and casually placed it back in the sink. Pondering if vanishing into the shadows at this point would be appropriate. She just turned back to the dishes and kept washing.

“You…knew?”

“Of course, I knew. Knew as soon as I saw you looking at this one that you two were together.”

“But…the church says.”

“Bugger the church. That was your dad’s thing. I loved him with all my heart but that church.”

She shook her head.

“So how long?”

“Last winter, she rescued me, I asked her out.”

“I suppose you aren’t really Mrs. Christian like you say.”

Enid turned to her.

“I’m not Christian, but I do get bossed around by God a lot. Sorry, it was my…PR Person’s idea. She said people would be less frightened of someone who had a good moral fiber.”

Allison’s mother shook her head.

“Are you going to drive home tonight?”

“We have a hotel.”

“Nonsense, you two use the guest room, Mitena can use Allison’s old room. Don’t stay up too late I make breakfast at seven in the morning. Whether you’re ready or not.”

Enid smiled at Allison’s shocked stare, then turned back to the dishes that were waiting to be dried. She tapped one of them.

“Hey, they’re piling up.”

“Oh…oh, sorry.”

Allison turned back to the dishes. She took several minutes to say anything else, she looked at Enid.

“Did that just happen?”

“Yes.”

“Did you do that hypnotizing thing you do with your eyes?”

“Nope.”

“Did you bring any PJ’s?”

“No, but when has that mattered with us?”

Allison blushed and went back to drying the dishes. Enid washed the last plate and put in the second sink.

“I’m buying your mother a new dishwasher. Gonna get Mitena to bed.”

Allison nodded to Enid who scooped up the girl and carried her up the stairs. She ran into Allison’s mother who motioned for Enid to follow her.

“I pulled out one of Allison’s old nightgowns for the little one.”

“Don’t let her hear you call her that.”

For the first time since Enid had met the woman, Allison’s mother started to laugh.

“True for all kids her age.”

Enid nudged Mitena.

“Hey kiddo, get changed and go back to sleep okay.”

Enid kissed Mitena’s forehead as she sleepily pulled her dress off and the nightgown on then fell face first on the bed and back to sleep. Enid rubbed her back before heading out to the hallway.

“She’s adorable. Nice to have a little girl in the house again, even for the night.”

Enid smirked.

“Where are you from in Scotland?”

“Ullapool.”

“I have a house there.”

“You do?”

Enid nodded.

“I inherited it. If you are going back…to visit, you can use it. Adorable, widowed neighbor there. If you can get past the fact, he thinks everyone should speak Scottish.”

Allison’s mother laughed.

“Where is your house?”

“Its on the outskirts. Belonged to a pediatric Surgeon?”

“Melanie Stuart?”

Enid nodded.

“I heard about her from my family. Good woman.”

“Maybe you and Allison could go?”

“Nonsense, that little one is the closest I’m going to come to a granddaughter, I’m not letting Allison out of your sight.”

Enid leaned on the wall arms crossed lazily.

“So, I’m your grandchild back up plan?”

“I will be honest, it doesn’t hurt, but I haven’t seen Allison this happy for as long as I remember. I knew something was up at thanksgiving.”

Enid smiled.

“My older daughter says the same thing, she hasn’t seen me smile this much since her father.”

“You have another?”

“Yes but she’s grown up, has her own life. Still butts her head into mine all the time, like she’s the parent now.”

“So would you have another.”

Enid shrugged.

“It is difficult for me to carry one to term. I’m not entirely opposed to it, but I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I’m going to see 2028.”

“Are you ill?”

“No, no. A war my family has been fighting for thousands of years is about to turn from cold to hot and I will have to make sacrifices to win. I’m afraid what that will do to Allison. I love her so much.”

Allison’s mother patted Enid on the arm.

“What will come, will come. Love will find a way it always does.”

Enid smiled at her.

“Thank you. I’m sorry about your husband.”

“He’s in a better place now.”

Enid smiled and nodded, though she didn’t believe that for a second. She knew the truth of the afterlife and it was thoroughly unpleasant if someone didn’t get out of the lands of the dead.

“So, you took that one in then?”

Enid nodded.

“I love her and wouldn’t change my decision if God himself told me to, but it was the last thing I wanted to do when it happened.”

“That’s usually how the best things come. I’ll find some more comfortable clothes for her, I still have all of Allison’s old ones. Her dad wouldn’t let me get rid of them. Bless his heart, but that’s going to change.”

Enid smiled and glanced back when she heard the stairs creak. Allison paused when she saw the two talking.

“Am I in trouble?”

Enid smiled at her.

“Not yet.”

Allison pointed at a door and head towards it. Enid nodded to Allison’s mother.

“Good night, ma’am.”

“Call me Gladys I think we’re past ma’am now.”

Enid smiled and followed Allison into the room.

*****

Enid had her arms full as she unlocked the door for Mitena. They were greeted by a full house. Maria was doing homework at the dining room table. Violet and Eyre were playing Street Fighter and Angus was reading a book. He put it down immediately, walked over and picked up Mitena.

“Hey there.”

“Grampa!”

She kissed his cheek and he put her down then grabbed one of the fabric bags Enid had in her arms. Which lessoned her bulky burden by half.

“Thank you, dad.”

“How was your trip?”

“It was good. I mean it was for a funeral but…it was better than I thought it would be.”

“We expected you back Friday morning.”

Enid shrugged.

“Allison’s mom needed help.”

Mitena yawned and stretched. She noticed Eyre and Violet had finished the match and ran over and gave Eyre a bearhug. Mitena was a hugger. Enid smiled at her daughters then started carrying the bags of clothes she’d been handed by Allison’s mother to Mitena’s room. Her father followed with the bags he was holding.

“What are these?”

“Allison’s mom was cleaning stuff out, these are Allison’s clothes from when she was younger. I didn’t want to say no, figured we could see what’s going to fit and what won’t and donate the ones we can’t use.”

He looked down at Enid who was wearing her real face by now.

“Something’s bothering you.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I can tell, you got a shadow over your shoulder.”

“It is nothing.”

“It is something.”

“Look dad, I appreciate that you’re trying, but this is not something I’m going to talk to you or anyone about.”

“Talk to someone.”

Enid waved him away with a nod.

*****

Enid was enjoying a rare day off from parenthood and school at West Edmonton Mall. She had decided to go Christmas shopping since Mitena was in school. The catholic schools were having some teacher faith day. She had finished most of her noodle dish and was poking at them absently. She’d finished shopping and was mostly just avoiding going home to everything that that entailed. She heard a familiar voice and groaned.

“Is this seat taken?”

“What the fuck do you want Ezekiel?”

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re rude?”

“Yes, you on several occasions.”

She looked up at him. He was wearing the same grey suit with the same manicured silver beard and hair as when she’d last seen him.

“That opinion hasn’t changed.”

Enid sighed.

“My day was going so well, what is it this time?”

“Boss is wondering what the hold up is. You have your trap. You have your battleplan.”

“I don’t want to die?”

“Little late for that now isn’t it dear.”

Enid pointed her chopsticks at him.

“I’ve killed people with these before.”

“Enid. You have a job to do.”

Enid sighed.

“Its three weeks to Christmas, can’t I just…have one Christmas with my new daughter before all of that shit?”

“While the Boss is sympathetic to your plight, that’s too late.”

“Why?”

“You’ve really mastered this teenager girl thing, that had just the right amount of whine to it.”

“What do you know about teenage girls?”

“Quite a bit. I’ve been observing Sariel’s classes.”

“That sounds incredibly creepy coming from someone wearing the face of a sixty-something year old man.”

“What are you implying?”

Enid was still leaning on her palm and went back to poking her food.

“Never mind. Tell the Boss I’m not doing shit until I know why he is in a rush.”

“Your enemy is going to make his move soon.”

“And I care why?”

“Because if you don’t do something everything you love will be destroyed, along with yourself, and me.”

“I could live with that last part.”

“How flattering.”

“So why you?”

“Because everyone else would be too soft on you. Grow up and do your job.”

Enid sighed and poked her noodles.

“You’re going to badger me until go yank that sword out of the ground, aren’t you?”

“How very perceptive of you.”

“I know why the angels weren’t welcomed in Sodom and Gomorrah.”

He chuckled.

“There were never any angels there.”

“Figures.”

“You’re just delaying the inevitable, one way or the other, this will be over by the New Year.”

“You win, jerk.”

He touched Enid’s hand.

“Sister. I know you don’t understand the big picture. He loves you. He will be with you the whole time.”

“Seriously the Black Son is making his move at Christmas? What an evil asshole.”

“I’ll see you again soon. Go show the world who you really are.”

“Can’t wait. Yep. Can’t wait.”

Enid watched him walk away and looked back down at her food.

Fuck.