The Rift

Chapter 15 Part 2

              Echoes of the flashlight hitting each step of the stairs to the garage attic beat against everyone's ears after Gray dropped it. Elsa quickly looked between Marie and her youngest nephew, who was standing with his mouth wide open. He blinked rapidly. "Oops!" the boy exclaimed as he turned to descend the stairs.

"No!" Marie said loudly. She pulled out her cellphone from her red jacket pocket. "It's too dark," she explained in a softer tone. "Here. Use this." She turned on the flashlight on her phone and handed it to him.

He took it and accidentally shone it on the two women, who both turned away from the brightness. They still had their eyes covered in Marie's dark magic. "What were you doing?" Gray asked.

Elsa bit back a laugh as Marie let out a stifled grunt. "We were, uh..." Marie scratched her head and looked at Elsa. "We were-"

"We were kissing," Elsa stated.

The boy blinked in confusion as Marie shot a wide-eyed gaze towards Elsa. "Why?" he asked.

Marie scratched her head again. "Well, because, um..." She grabbed Elsa's hand and squeezed it as she looked Gray in the eyes. "Because we're together." Gray furrowed his eyebrows. Marie sighed as a small smile came across her face, which made Elsa smile as well. "Do you know what dating is?" Marie asked him. He nodded. Marie lifted her and Elsa's entwined hands. "Elsa and I are girlfriends."

Just hearing those words made Elsa's cheeks red, and she squeezed Marie's hand back. She approached the boy and knelt to his eye level. "I was kissing your aunty because I love her," Elsa said. "I've loved her for a long time."

Gray smiled sheepishly and mimicked his aunt by scratching his head. A warm feeling spread across Elsa's chest like a blanket. Marie approached and knelt as well. "Gray, listen," Marie said as she took his little hand into her own. "I know it's very exciting, but please let us be the ones to tell everybody."

Gray's attention snapped back to his aunt after he scanned the attic. "You mean that you were kissing?"

"Yes," Elsa answered. She gave Marie a nod of understanding. "Your Aunty and I want to be the ones to tell everyone that we are together, and that we were kissing."

The boy titled his head. "When are you going to tell them?"

"Tomorrow at suppertime, or maybe a little before then," Marie said. She ruffled his hair. "Keep this secret of ours, okay? Even from Hayden," she added when Gray opened his mouth. Marie raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I know you, kiddo."

"But-!" Gray shifted his little blue coat back and forth. "He won't tell anybody!"

"Gray," Elsa said softly. "We want to be the ones to tell everybody in case anyone doesn't like it. We don't want you to be the one they get mad at, okay?"

He blinked. "Why would they get mad?"

"Well," Marie started. She paused to consider her words. Elsa thought it was best to let Marie tell him, so she remained silent. Marie looked at him with a soft gaze, although her mouth formed a frown. "Some people think that only a boy and girl should be together, not a boy and boy, or a girl and girl. Some think that it's wrong and sometimes, they can get really mad and mean about it."

"Why?" asked Gray.

Marie let out a small chuckle and touched his cheek. "That's a very good question, and one I don't have the answer to. Some think it's God's design, or some are really old fashioned and-..." She stopped when a blank expression covered her nephew's face. "What's important to remember is that love is love, and two people that, um..." Marie paused again, completely aware that Elsa was hanging on her every word. Marie's face turned red. "...that feel the way that Elsa and I do for each other is never wrong." She tugged at the pink scarf that was wrapped around her neck. "You can't help who you fall in love with."