Synching With the Devil's Son

Chapter 140

Bella's P.O.V.

I turn toward Kate after speaking briefly with Lucien and smile widely. "Samael should be able to find them and this should be over soon."

She nods, but doesn't look convinced. "He hasn't confronted Michael yet, and I'm worried about that encounter. He and his brother have a malevolent relationship, and I'm afraid Michael has the ability to goad Sam into doing something he shouldn't while he is in Heaven." She sighs quietly. "I just want him to come home, I miss him terribly."

Now that is something I can totally relate to. I miss Lucien so much it hurts. He's been gone almost two weeks, and even though I am really enjoying Kate's company, she is not a substitute for her son, nor am I for her husband. We've gotten to know each other quite well, and I truly like her. I've never felt like our relationship was forced or started under false pretenses. We share an unbreakable bond because we are the keepers of the greatest secret the world has ever known. Divinity exists - Heaven, Hell, angels, demons...they're all real. I take Kate's hand in mine and commiserate with her for a few minutes, empty and bereft without the other halves of our souls.

Finally Kate sighs and says, "Enough of these morose thoughts, let's go enjoy your graduation party. Look," she says, pointing to our driveway, "your friends are arriving." We head over toward them and I introduce them all to Lucien's mother. Then Kate retires to stand next to my father who has his arm around Mary's shoulders.

I smile at them. With Kate's help, Chris and I finally convinced our Dad to ask Mary out. Kate pointed out that shortsightedness comes with fear, and fear ruins opportunities. "Imagine how you will feel when you look back on your life at its end. Did you take the chances you should have taken? Did you live your fullest life? Love with everything you had? If you can answer 'yes' to those questions, then maybe being with your friend next door isn't what you need. But, if you have any doubts, even a smidgeon of uncertainty, why aren't you spending every moment you have trying to answer those questions?" Kate asked him at dinner one night.

My Dad was silent for a while, staring into his lap. When he finally looked up, his eyes were glassy. "I miss your Mom," he said quietly to Chris and I, "but I'm so lonely. I want to be a husband again, I want to share my thoughts and dreams with someone. I want to eat, relax in front of the TV and sleep in the same bed with a woman by my side. I want Mary," he quietly admitted.

"Then Dad," Chris said, "what are you doing still sitting here? Go get her!" And with Chris' and my permission, our father marched out of the house, crossed the grass that separates our properties, and climbed the steps of Mary's porch. We didn't see him for a few days. I went to Kate's house, and Chris disappeared to visit with friends, discretely giving our father privacy to woo our neighbor. He must have been convincing because they've been inseparable ever since.

Trish approaches me with a raised eyebrow and then smiles with me while I'm gazing at my Dad. "It looks like he finally broke down the walls he erected when your Mom died," she says with a gentle smile. "He's been in a much better mood lately too," she snickers.

I laugh with her. "I always knew they were perfect for each other."

She nods, looking at the happy couple as they converse with Kate. "Speaking of perfect for each other, where is Lucien?"

"Oh, uhh, he should be coming home any time now."

Trish looks at me with a calculated gaze. "Are you ever going to tell me what is really going on with Lucien?" When I don't say anything, Trish sighs and changes the subject. "Did you get your period yet?"

I shake my head. "You know I would have told you if I did. I thought I wanted to wait for Lucien, but I don't know exactly when he'll be home and the suspense is killing me. I should take the test now so I can get this elephant off my back. Will you come with me?"

"Of course, Bella. You were there for me, I'll be there for you."

"What did Ryan say when you told him you were pregnant?"

She smiles and pulls her left hand out dramatically to show me the ring on her ring finger. "He proposed?" I ask excitedly.

"He did and my Mom is over the moon. She's started planning a late summer wedding before I start showing. Will you be my maid of honor?"

"Do you think wild horses could keep me away? Of course, I would be honored!"

We start walking toward the house arm in arm when Kate catches my eye. "Uhh, Trish," I say as I stop walking. When she looks at me expectantly, I say, "Lucien's Mom might be pregnant too. Mind if she comes with us? She has a test to take as well."

Trish's eyes get as round as saucers. "Are you shitting me?" When I shake my head and wave Kate over toward us, I hear Trish mumble, "Must be something in the water..."

The three of us head into the house, and walk upstairs to my bedroom where Kate and I use the home pregnancy tests Lucien bought for us. While we are waiting for the results, I stand next to Kate, holding her hand so tightly I'm sure I must be cutting her circulation off, while she fields questions from Trish.

"I'm thirty six, I had Lucien when I was eighteen," she answers Trish's inquiry, squeezing my hand in an apology for her lie. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. I'm beginning to understand that white lies are a common occurrence in the world I now live in.

"You look fabulous for thirty six!" Trish tells her, making Kate laugh.

"Oh honey, thirty six isn't that old, I promise you. You are going to blink and your child will be eighteen and graduating from High School," Kate says, just as the timer goes off on my phone. Kate and I look at each other expectantly...she's excited, but I'm so nervous I can feel sweat trickling down my back, and I'm finding it hard to swallow past my dry mouth.

"Ok," Trish says with a smile, rubbing her hands together excitedly. "Do you guys want me to look at the results for you?" There is still a chance I'm not pregnant. It was only one time, maybe I hadn't ovulated yet...oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. Okay, I can do this. I shake my head. "Let's look together. Kate, you go first," I say, chickening out.

Kate smiles, and graciously lifts her test off the counter to look at it. "What does it mean when there are two lines in the window?" she asks, showing me her test results.

"It means you are pregnant," I whisper in disbelief. Lucien's four hundred and twenty six year old mother is pregnant. I'm still stunned when Kate screeches, her smile splits her face from ear to ear, and she dances in a tight circle, hugging herself.

"I am SO excited! I've always wanted more children!" Trish smiles at her show of elation and offers her her congratulations.

Okay, I'm not so excited, and I'm not sure I want a child right now. Trish tells me it's my turn, and I nod, swallowing audibly. I take the test off the counter and close my eyes, holding it against my chest. "Come on, Bella, you cannot undo what's already been done. Get the suspense over with, let's see it," Trish cajoles.

"I just don't know if I want it to be positive or negative," I admit quietly.

"Look," Trish says, "if it's positive, then we will go through morning sickness and back aches together. Our kids will be best friends, in the same grade, maybe the even same sports, or perhaps they'll get married one day." I smile at the picture she's painting. "And if it's negative, then you can start a family when you're ready. Either way, it will be fine."

"You're right," I tell her as I lower the test so we all can see the results. I stare at it for a few seconds, and right before I comment on it, there is an enormous explosion, as if a propane tank blew up on the side of our property. The test forgotten, we race to the window to see what caused the commotion. What we witness makes my insides wither, and we all race downstairs to greet the problem outside.