Waymakers (Champions of the Crystal Book 9)

Chapter 13.3

They talked until lunch, with Scotty and Sabrina telling highly edited tales of their lives. Aunt Euphrasia was obviously enjoying it, but just as obviously tiring. The siblings left to meet Mara for lunch, returned for a few hours after the patient's nap, and met Mrs. Leighson, Euphrasia's longtime housekeeper, whose dark hair had gained new grey since they last saw each other. They all enjoyed catching up until dinner.

The next day followed a similar pattern, and Sabrina began to think Euphrasia might not be as near death as Khediva had told them. She seemed almost her old self, engaging in conversations with relish.

Sabrina met one of the hospice nurses in the hallway that afternoon, who smiled and said, "I'm so glad you could come. This is the kind of send off we all hope for. It's like she's getting to go to her own wake."

"I'm glad we're here too," Sabrina said. "She seems so much better."

The woman shook her head, her brown eyes kind. "Don't get your hopes up, dear. They often rally, especially if they have loved ones near. She's not getting better; she's just having one last hurrah."

Sabrina blinked back tears. "Oh."

"Cry if you need to, dear, but not in front of her, if you can. Did you read the literature I gave you yesterday?"

"Yes. And I haven't tried to make her eat, though it's hard to watch her push her food around."

"Good. She's on her way, and our task is to make her journey as easy as we can."

Sabrina nodded. "Yes. Thank you. Um, I'm sorry, I'm terrible with names, Nurse."

"That's all right. You have a lot on your mind. I'm Yvonne. Anything you need, just let me know."

"Thank you, Yvonne. And thank you for taking such great care of her."

"It's my pleasure. She's a real lady, that one. Not many of those left."

"Sadly, no," Sabrina agreed, turning to go back into the room.

"Ah, Sabrina, there you are," Euphrasia said merrily. "Scotty and I cannot remember the name of that nice young man who had that crush on you. The one who asked you to the dance your senior year?"

"Alfred," Sabrina replied. "Alfie to his friends. And he was very nice, despite Scotty being a complete jerk to him."

"Hey, I had to make sure he was worthy of you," Scotty grinned.

"Hah. Where did Mrs. Leighson go?"

Euphrasia said, "I sent her to get all my legal documents, so she can go over them with you. I appointed her my executrice, since I wasn't sure if either of you would be able to serve. The house is sold, and whatever is left after my stay here will be put in trust for you to share, minus a few charitable bequests, and some for Mrs. Leighson. It won't be much, I fear, but hopefully you'll find a good use for it."

"Don't worry about us, Aunt Euphrasia," Sabrina said. "But thank you. Thank you for always taking care of us."

"I was a poor substitute for your parents, I fear," she sighed.

Scotty patted her hand. "We are lucky to have you. It couldn't have been easy, taking on teenagers. I know I wasn't a barrel of laughs."

"No, you were fairly miserable, poor boy," Euphrasia agreed. "I always knew what you were feeling, unlike your sister, who kept everything locked inside. I was afraid she'd develop an ulcer, or perhaps a nervous breakdown."

"There's still time," Scotty grinned.

"Ah," Euphrasia said, "but soon she will have a child to blame it all on." She yawned. "You must excuse me, my dears, but I feel the need of a nap. Please meet with Mrs. Leighson, and then perhaps you will come to see me before dinner?"

"Of course. Get some rest." Sabrina kissed her cheek and stood, and Scotty followed suit.

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The meeting with Mrs. Leighson went well; as usual, Aunt Euphrasia had arranged everything perfectly. They checked in with Mara afterward, then went back to sit with the patient while she slept.

Yvonne looked in on them around seven. "She was a little uncomfortable, so we gave her something to help her sleep. You should get something to eat, and a good night's sleep."

"Thank you," Sabrina said. She looked down at her great-aunt, swallowing hard as she remembered that tomorrow was her final day.

She and Scotty left the hospice in silence, walking toward their bed and breakfast.

"It's weird," Scotty said after a minute. "Being back here. It's like...it feels like we never left, somehow. Like Praxatillus was just a dream."

"Yeah," Sabrina said. She rubbed a hand over her baby bump, to assure herself Rose was still there. "But it isn't. It's our real home, now. We couldn't come back here if we wanted to."

"I know. And after tomorrow, there'll be no reason to."

"But we could visit, if we want," Sabrina said. She had to say good-bye to Aunt Euphrasia; she wasn't up to saying a final good-bye to Earth as well.

"If we survive what's coming," Scotty said.

"Hey, I thought you were the optimist."

"I go by Mara. And she's bracing for the worst," Scotty responded after a moment.

Sabrina swallowed the flash of panic that seized her. "Let's focus on one thing at a time. We're here for Aunt Euphrasia. Praxatillus will wait until we get back."

Scotty was silent for a few more steps, then said, "I feel like we should go visit our parents' graves while we're here. Since we're with Mara, we don't have to worry about leaving a trail by traveling."

Sabrina blew out a breath to steady herself. "Okay."

"I don't really remember the funeral," he admitted. "And I want to say goodbye."

"Okay," she whispered, her throat closing with remembered grief. "Tonight? Or...after?"

"After dinner? It'll still be light in the U.S. by then, right?"

"Yes," Sabrina said. "And we should take Mara, but I'll do the transport. She's never been there."

Scotty grimaced. "I can't get used to that."

"Give it time. Just think how many times it would've come in handy before."

"Can't argue with that."