Waymakers (Champions of the Crystal Book 9)

Chapter 13.2

Sabrina felt her heart sink as they walked down the hallway. When they reached the door to Euphrasia's room, she hesitated, swallowing hard. Then she felt Scotty take her hand, and she looked over at him, knowing he was thinking of the same moment she was: standing on Aunt Euphrasia's doorstep, newly orphaned, not knowing what lay ahead but sure it was worse than what they'd left behind. We got through that; we can get through this too, she thought, sure he was thinking the same thing.

Behind them, Mara whispered, "Courage, my friends."

In unison, they took a deep breath, and Scotty pushed open the door.

Their great-aunt lay sleeping, her face turned away from them, and Sabrina was struck by how small she seemed. Slowly, she went to the bed, picking up one frail hand as Scotty did the same on the other side. Mara remained near the door.

Scotty frowned; Sabrina made sure the expression showed on his disguise as well, using the odd double vision the Crystal provided so she could see both his true face and the one she was maintaining. He looked at her and whispered, "Will she wake up?"

Sabrina eyed the oxygen tubing running into the patient's nose and the screen on top of a stack of machines, but the readouts made little sense to her. Her great-aunt's heart was still beating regularly and she was breathing, but that was all she could discern. "I hope so," she replied, as calmly as she could.

Scotty looked upset. "I should have come before."

"She's proud of you. I told her how hard you work defending innocent people."

"Oh yeah?" He gave a wry grin. "That Peace Corps kind of thing you told her we work for? Someplace far away with no internet access?"

Sabrina rolled her eyes. "You couldn't come up with anything better, remember?"

Scotty looked past Sabrina to Mara. "Can't we take her home? Buy her more time?"

"If we do," Mara said softly, "she can never come back here. Would she wish for that?"

"No," Scotty sighed. "I just wish we could tell her everything."

There was silence for a while. Then Sabrina said, "The only thing that matters now is that we're here, and we love her. The rest is just details."

Scotty nodded, swallowing hard. "We'll be here for her til the end. That's all we can do, I guess. But now that I'm here, I wish I'd done more."

"I think that's natural," Sabrina replied. "I wish I'd come more often too." She looked down at Euphrasia again, then over at Mara. "This isn't going to be much fun. Are you sure you don't want to just come back for us?"

Mara shook her head. "No. I'm here to help. Khediva suggested several places we might stay in the area. She also firmly suggested that I make the arrangements, so neither of you leaves a trail of your visit. The Air Force may still be looking for Scotty, after all."

Scotty sighed.

"I will go and do that, so you have somewhere to rest tonight. Then I will take in some of the sights, to give you privacy. Sabrina can reach me through the Crystal if you want me."

"Thank you, Mara," Sabrina said, touched.

"It is really the least I can do," Mara replied. "You are in this position because of me. Allow me to make it up to you and to your great-aunt, as much as I am able." She smiled, then left.

Scotty cleared his throat. "How're we gonna introduce her? Aunt Euphrasia's not going to believe she's your mother in law, or my stepmother. Or our cousin."

"She's met Tirqwin, so we can say she's his wife," Sabrina suggested.

Scotty grinned. "A professor's wife? That's a new one."

"Mara might enjoy it. Not many expectations attached to that role at least."

"Well, since Tirqwin and Khediva obviously sent her as our babysitter, she doesn't need another job," Scotty said.

"I'm sure they did, but that doesn't mean she didn't want to come," Sabrina pointed out.

"Oh, I'm sure she did." Scotty chuckled. "I wish I could see her wandering around Canterbury Cathedral like a tourist, trying to figure out who Henry VIII is and why he had Becket murdered."

"Maybe we can explain it to her tonight, noting, of course, that it was Henry II. Or go ourselves at some point. I've never been," Sabrina said. "After...we'll need to be here a few days, to deal with funeral arrangements."

They sobered again, and sat in silence for a while. Sabrina looked at her great-aunt's face, remembering it at various points in their lives and marveling at how age could change a person. She was so busy recalling and comparing that she almost missed it when Euphrasia's eyes opened.

"Hey," Scotty said, trying to sound cheerful.

Euphrasia cleared her throat, and Sabrina filled the cup on her nightstand from the pitcher there, then helped her drink a few sips. "Hi, Aunt Euphrasia," she said.

Euphrasia smiled. "Well, I know I must be dying, if Scotty is here."

Scotty's expression crumpled, and Euphrasia patted his hand. "There now, dear, I was only teasing you. I'm glad you're here. Both of you."

"Sorry we weren't here sooner," Scotty said. "Especially me. It wasn't that I didn't want to."

"You were busy, leading your own life. As  you should," Euphrasia said. "I've been fine on my own—I've had a great life, you know. I would have liked to see more of you, but I haven't been bored or lonely. There's no need to feel guilty." She paused for a moment to catch her breath. "And no need to grieve on my account. I had a full life, and I have lived much of it missing my family. I look forward to our reunion."

"We'll grieve on our own account, because we'll miss you," Sabrina said.

"I know, dear. But not too much, yes? You have that handsome young man of yours. Did you bring him?"

"Unfortunately, he wasn't able to come. Family obligations," Sabrina said. She stood up, laying a hand on the baby. "But I did bring you someone to meet. It's a girl, and we're going to call her Rose."

"My middle name," Euphrasia said, smiling. "Thank you, and congratulations, Sabrina. You will make a wonderful mother." She turned to Scotty. "I hear you have gotten married as well. I'm sorry I haven't met your wife."

"I'm sorry about that too," he said. "We have a little girl, Annamarie. I wish you could meet her."

"Did you bring pictures?" Euphrasia asked.

Sabrina and Scotty looked at each other in chagrin. Then Sabrina said, "Not with us, but in our luggage. We can show you tomorrow." Surely Mara could make something, she thought.

"I look forward to it. Meanwhile, tell me all about what you've been doing," Euphrasia instructed them.