Chapter 31
Jack
Rose started yawning, and we wrapped up our visit. Tess hugged everybody, and I shook Alejandro’s hand and kissed the top of Rose’s head. The hospital had cleared them to go home in a few hours, with promises to see their doctors at home in Ohio immediately.
“Do you need a plane?”
Alejandro’s eyebrows rose. “You have a plane now?”
I laughed. “Not hardly. But I can swing renting one for you. That Atlantean gold Conlan made me take comes in handy when there are new babies to transport.”
He clapped me on the back. “You are a good man, my friend, but we’re set. Justice and Keely are arriving at any moment to take us through a portal.”
Tess, who’d approached while we were speaking, looked at us. “Justice and Keely? The Justice you named the baby after, I’m guessing?”
“Lord Justice, third—or is it fourth?—in line for the throne of Atlantis. He’s an interesting guy,” Jack said. “I’ll tell you all about him later. We should probably get going and let Rose rest.”
I put my arm around Tess and pulled her close. The sight of her with the baby had made me feel odd. She was going to be a wonderful mother one day. Would it be better for her if I left Dead End, so she could find a nice, normal guy to settle down with?
My mind—and heart—gave the answer in sharp, deadly sure syllables:
Never. She’s mine.
On our way out the door, we met Justice and Keely. Tess’s eyes widened at the warrior’s long, blue-black hair.
Justice grinned at me. “Hey, kitty cat.”
I shook his hand. “Hey, fish breath.”
Keely rolled her eyes. “Men.”
“Hey, Keely.” I’d forgotten her hair was almost as blazing a red as Tess’s.
The two women smiled at each other.
“Hey, nice hair,” Tess said.
“Fellow ginger!” Keely said.
Tess’s gaze dropped to Keely’s gloved hands, and her gaze sharpened.
Keely noticed and gave her a rueful smile. “Not the same as yours. Riley told me about your visions. I’m a touch psychic. I can tell an object’s history from touching it—but only objects.”
“My … gift looks to the future, and yours looks to the past,” Tess said, a little sadly. “I’d trade with you in a heartbeat. Being a touch psychic would come in handy in the pawnshop business. Want a job?”
Keely laughed. “Maybe if I ever leave the archaeology field.”
Justice raised an eyebrow and looked at me. “Clearly this woman is far too beautiful and intelligent for you.”
“Tess Callahan,” she said cheerfully. “Not ‘this woman.’”
Justice gave her a brilliant smile and bowed. “Justice of Atlantis. It is our delight and honor to meet you, Tess Callahan.”
“I … same right back at you,” Tess said.
“Don’t mind him,” Keely said, grabbing Justice’s hand. “He has … issues.”
Justice threw his head back and laughed, and then they moved into Rose’s room, and an older woman who looked like a hippie version of Rose walked gracefully down the hall toward us.
“Mrs. Cardinal,” I said.
“Jack! Lovely to meet you.” She turned to Tess. “And you. You delivered my granddaughter. I can never thank you enough.”
The older witch pulled Tess into a hug, shushing her protests. “I am one of the most powerful witches of my generation, child. Did you think I would let you see inside my future?”
Tess finally relaxed and hugged her back. “So nice to meet you, Mrs. Cardinal. I love your daughter.”
“Call me Sue, dear.”
“Sue? There’s a flower named Sue?”
“It’s a nickname, Jack.” She pulled back to look at Tess. “Rose told me what you asked. We’ll work on it. I promise you we’ll work on it.”
Tess blinked hard, fighting tears. “Thank you. Thank you both.”
“All right. I need to get in there and ward the room, so the magic of the portal doesn’t interfere with any of the hospital equipment.”
She hugged us both and went in to her family.
As we rode down in the elevator, I realized Tess hadn’t said a word since we left Rose’s mom. “Are you okay?”
She just nodded, then shook her head. “I don’t know. I can’t talk about it yet, okay?”
I took her hand. “Tell me when you can.”
“Jack?”
“Yeah?”
“You have interesting friends.”
I laughed. “Oh, Tess. You have no idea.”