Chapter 113 – Making Up

Bastien

(actually think this chapter should be 111, so that it happens before the Drake and Sophie scenes-if not, it can be presented as a memory)

“Much more of this, and I’m going to regret coming back at all!”

I can’t stop hearing Selene say those awful words over and over in my head. They circle round and round, tormenting me every time my mind drifts from my work.

We haven’t spoken since that phone call. When I got back to the apartment last night Selene was already asleep, and this morning she took Lila to the park before I was even awake. It’s clear she doesn’t want to talk to me, and if our situation were any less dire ! wouldn’t permit such avoidance, but the investigation is keeping me busy day and night.

Luckily the eclipse festival will force us into the same room tonight, and I won’t let us go to bed angry again. We’ll talk all this out and keep at it until things are resolved, we can’t go back to bottling up our feelings and I can’t fail Selene again. I won’t.

The only blessing we’ve had since returning is Selene’s good press, and even my own has improved greatly since those first tense days back. Still, nothing is simple. I’m putting out fires left and right, and the more dead ends I reach searching for our enemies, the more stressed I become.

I can only pray that nothing goes wrong at the festival tonight-whether in my marriage, or the pack.

Selene

“Careful sweetheart.” I caution Lila, “the oven is very hot.”

We’re in the kitchen baking cookies, and in all her excitement to see the gooey chocolate confections come out of the oven, my pup is hovering right behind me as I extract the tray.

“How soon we eat dem?” She asks hopefully.

*They have to cool first.” I remind her, “but it won’t be too long.”

“One mint?” She chirps.

“More like fifteen minutes,” I correct.

“Mommy dat’s forever!” She exclaims.

“Better forever than a burnt tongue, my love.” I laugh.

As I get started on the dishes, Lila sets up camp in front of the cooling rack, hungrily watching the cookies as if she’s worried one might jump off and roll away. In fact she’s so intent, I’m surprised to hear her small voice after only a few moments. “Mommy?”

“Hmm?” i hum in reply, already preparing to tell her ‘not yet’.

However, Lila does ask me if the cookies are cool yet. Instead she inquires, “Are you ‘n’ Daddy fighting?”

angel.” i qualify, “just disagreeing. Sometimes grown ups disagree with each other and it can sound or feel like fighting, but it’s not anything for you to

I don’ like

I reply. “I

sounding as if she thinks

how you learn new things and grow.” I explain, choosing my words very carefully. Besides it’s important to share what you’re feeling with the people you love, even when those feelings aren’t good. Otherwise, you can never fix

Lv.1

advice doesn’t escape me. I avoided Bastien last night and this morning, more out of guilt for lashing out at

up inside of us, then they stay there and

I no like him?” She

mommies tell their

you ‘n’ Daddy make up?” My

– so you don’t say things you don’t mean.” Or when

it take?”

and Daddy?” I

“Yes.” She peeps.

so moody, but I really don’t want to fight with Bastien. I just have to find

Bastien

mother brings Lila down to my study just before seven to say goodnight, as we all decided she was too young to stay up for the festival. My pup toddles in, her adorable little face

the exact way Selene always does. Sometimes they’re so alike my heart aches. “There’s

same sober expression, “Daddy,

me off guard. Selene warned me how pups pick up on everything, but I wasn’t prepared for her to be so tuned in when she hasn’t even seen us together. “I don’t want us to

her arms up

not that simple, little orle.” I sigh,

Lila insists, “just

seem in children’s minds.

I promise, “I’ll talk to Mommy tonight. You

firmly, scrambling down from my lap now that the

“I don’t get a goodnight

turns back with a radiant smile and giggle, running back over to me

her tight, I reply. “Goodnight

ceiling mirror in my closet, decked out in a black suit and wrangling my cuff links into my sleeves. She leans in the doorway, looking so

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