Chapter 26
The smell of coffee drifting into his room roused Dylan from sleep. Glancing over, he saw Gabriel curled on the edge of the bed, still wearing the same clothes he’d been wearing when he dozed off as they had talked late into the night. He smiled softly. Dylan hadn’t had the heart to wake him, instead throwing a blanket over him and crawling into bed, the blanket keeping them separate. They had both discussed taking things further, but had agreed to wait a little longer. Dylan wasn’t sure what Gabriel’s hesitance was, but he knew he was afraid of getting too close to Gabriel and failing, leaving him to grieve the loss of more than a friend.
He climbed out of bed, taking care not to disturb Gabriel, and slipped out of the room to go downstairs.
When he reached the bottom of the staircase, he knew what was waiting for him in the kitchen. He could feel the stress wafting off his mother in waves. Shaking his head, he walked on.
“You two were quieter than I expected last night.” His mother glared at him over a steaming mug as he entered the room.
He shook his head. “That’s because nothing happened.”
She arched an eyebrow and sighed. “Why are you up so early?”
He shrugged as he grabbed a mug from the cabinet. He glanced out the window, the twilight of the dawn barely peeking through the trees. “Big day, I guess. I don’t want us to keep being prisoners on this property. Hell, Gabe’s got a job, and we’ve basically kidnapped him.”
She let out a dry chuckle. “I never thought I’d ever set foot in this house again.”
Dylan could hear the words she left unsaid. She refused to come anywhere near Homer after his father had died, blaming him for what happened. But it hadn’t been his fault after all, and now he was suggesting they search out not only the place it happened, but what she would see as the instrument of his death.
“Mom, you don’t have to. Gabe and I can go out alone. You three can stay here and keep digging through the library.”
She shook her head. “No. We do this together.” Her eyes narrowed. “If Anthony hadn’t been so bullheaded, maybe we wouldn’t be in this mess. You’re just like him, you know that? Shit, you even look like him. I know what you’re about to do.”
He opened his mouth to object, but she cut him off. “I’m not stupid Dylan. I’ve known you longer than anyone.”
“That’s not entirely true.” Dylan spun around. His mamaw stood in the doorway. “Me and Tinah both could feel what you felt from the moment you were pregnant. You didn’t go through that alone, but God knows you thought you did. We didn’t say anything because we figured you’d be the way you always are, but that doesn’t change the fact that we did.” She walked over and grabbed a mug and poured a coffee. “That doesn’t mean it was normal either.”
Merrin looked at her mother. “What do you mean?”
The old woman smiled. “You only had the one. Part of me is glad because if you didn’t experience that the same way, then I don’t think you would’ve given yourself a moment’s peace. That was not normal, even for our family.”
Dylan gaped at them. “What do you mean?”
She laughed. “Dylan, the best way I can explain is if our abilities were weight training, then you were pumping all three of us with steroids. I don’t know if it was the same with the Coates or not, but I don’t think it was. Homer didn’t say anything about it at the time.”
“I thought you all just had visions of the future.”
She nodded. “Yeah, but while your mother was pregnant, I could not only see things that would happen, but things that could . I could look at how different decisions could lead to multiple futures. Poor Tinah’s never had that kind of control and had to basically stay in her room until you were born.”
Dylan gulped and held his mamaw’s gaze. “Did you know what was going to happen to dad before it happened?” He could feel his mother’s eyes burning into him, but he did not move. “Could you have stopped it?”
She took a deep breath. “No. Like we’ve said, there have always been things we couldn’t see.” She sighed. “But I knew something would happen and didn’t say anything to Merrin because they were so damn happy. I never thought…” She coughed. “I always hoped the things I saw just happened to not have him in them…”
Merrin spoke. “I don’t see the future the way she does. Tinah kinda does. But I get it. Do you think she’s really happy avoiding heartache and always being alone?”
Dylan spun around. “What?”
Merrin sighed. “When you know what happens to other people, sometimes you have to keep it to yourself if you can’t change it. Things can be taken out of context.” She cast a furtive glance over her shoulder. “Sometimes the happiest moments are born out of anguish. I think sometimes Tinah misses out on happiness because she’s always avoiding something that may hurt just a little.”
He shook his head. “If I could’ve avoided this shit with Derek…”
Merrin flashed a slight smile, but her eyes were a million miles away. “If mom had told me, I don’t think it would have changed anything, but I don’t think I would trade the few years I had with your father for anything.”
Dylan nodded and let himself slide into a chair. Merrin sat across from him. He knew she was talking about more than herself in that statement, and as if summoned, Gabriel walked into the kitchen. His brow furrowed the moment he saw the trio.
“What did I miss? Is something wrong?”
Dylan opened his mouth to speak, but his mamaw spoke first.
“Not at all Mr. Coinin. Just a little reminiscing. Get yourself some coffee. This is going to be a long day.”
Dylan stared at her. He was terrified, knowing she was holding something back from all of them, not just Gabriel.