Golden Eyes

T W E N T Y E I G H T

Bonnie eyed me warily, "Are you going to react to how you did to me last month?"

"I might," I shrugged still looking out the window.

As a child I spent hours looking through this frame. At the same angle. Some nights when Bon and Grams were sleep I'd sneak to the window and watch. The cool breeze from the tree always made my face cold while I cried.

This window was cursed. It had to be. Its unnatural wave of uneasiness washed over me like my final years in this house.

And when we locked eyes through the glass I immediately looked down. After all these years I couldn't face her.

What are you like? What's your favorite color? Do you think of me? Have you ever?

Bon went out to greet her. They hugged, said a few words then came inside.

"Hi Cecelia," Abby greeted with a wide grin. I resisted the urge to glare at her. Why was she so smiley? "How's my grandbaby doing?" She cooed  reaching a finger to poke my stomach. Before it could make contact her wrist was in my hand.

"Grandbaby? You're barely a mom." Was it mean? Yes probably. Did I care? No. Did she care all those years I wished she was here?

"Cece," Bonnie said in a warning tone, plopping back on the couch.

Abby ignored my comment, pointing at the couch. "Where's the plastic?" The stained material was over in a pile by the back door. "And in your outside clothes. Your grandma is rolling in her grave." She set her purse down on the coffee table then sat across us in the love seat.

They waited for me to start but I couldn't take my eyes off the woman before me. I analyzed every detail of her face knowing this may be the last time I see it. She was older of course, but her smooth skin didn't show it. She looked exactly the same even down the fading scar on the tip of her nose.

With a deep, calming breath I leaned forward. "Why did you lie about Greyson Gilbert being my father?"

"Wait a minute" Bonnie's mouth dropped. "He's not your father?"

"No," I answered locked in a staring contest with the woman across from me. "My father is a werewolf down in New Orleans. Right, Abby?"

I didn't need to read her mind to tell her she was considering lying again. Her flared nostrils were a dead giveaway, the same as Bon.

"How did you find out?" she demanded with wide eyes. Her heartbeat was frantic just like her expression. "Did she find you? How did she find you."

"Who?" I asked just as confused. I knew she wasn't talking about Morgan. There's no way she knows who that is. Whoever the mystery woman was she struck fear into Abby.

She let out a relieved sigh. "Bianca. You don't know Bianca?"

"Who the hell is Bianca?" I asked finally letting my back rest on the couch. I shifted a few times trying to find a comfortable angle. My angel decided she wanted to be in my ribs for the day.

"She's-" Abby paused, "I need you both to understand I love you more than myself. Both of you. You may look at me differently after I tell you the entire story."

"My standards for you can't possibly be any lower than they already are," I mumbled under my breath. "No more secrets. Deal?"

"I'm going to start from the beginning. Bennett witches have been targets since your creation. It's believed the beginning of the Music Enchanter lineage started with Bennett witches."

I looked over at Bonnie who was happily finishing her pizza looking everywhere but our conversation.

"Okay let's cut to the important part," I urged as I got comfortable. "That's too far back."