Careless Magic book 1

Chapter 26

"Good morning, Eden," Aunt Syl sat at the kitchen island sipping a cup of coffee in her white pajamas. Her hair was a mess and she was wearing her glasses; it was such a comfortable feeling. I loved having breakfast with her in the morning; it was something we rarely got to do. "I'm surprised to see you up so early. Isn't today Saturday?" she turned to look at the clock, and I knew her question was sincere.

"Yes, today's Saturday. I don't know, I had the strangest dream and then I couldn't fall back asleep," I rubbed my eyes feeling like I had had no sleep at all last night. "Have you been at the hospital?"

"Yes, since sometime yesterday.... or the day before. I can't really remember anymore," she yawned big, causing a chain reaction, and I yawned in response. "The days are starting to run together. Do you want a cup of coffee?"

I nodded my reply and she stood up to get a big black coffee cup from the cabinet. I sat down next to her seat and inhaled the aroma of the strong Columbian coffee she was pouring into my cup.

"Did you want me to make you something for breakfast?" she asked while handing me the hot cup and taking her seat next to me.

"No thank you, this is fine," I smiled and looked over her shoulder at the newspaper she had been reading. While she may have been an expert surgeon, pancakes were a little out of her league.

"Hey, how are you doing with the whole Immortal thing?" she looked up from the business section of the Saturday morning World Herald and gave me a concerned look.

"I'm fine; I mean.... I'm coping," I gave her a reassuring smile and contemplated my feelings. I hadn't really thought things through; I'd just accepted everything at face value. I knew there were lots of things I needed to learn and sort through, but at the moment, all I could do was accept who I was and what I was capable of.

"Well, if you ever need to talk about it, I'm here," she patted my back and kissed the top of my head. She was the reason I never felt the need to think about my parents until now.

"It doesn't freak you out?" I asked, taking a nice long sip of the steaming hot coffee.

"Oh no, not at all. Amory and I have been friends for years, long before you came along," she gave me a wink and I didn't think I wanted to ask her any more questions about that.

"But you didn't know my parents?" I wondered out loud.

"No, I never met them. Amory and I were—" she was interrupted by the doorbell. We both looked at each other and rolled our eyes; mentally calculating which one of us was dressed enough to answer the door. The familiar tingling of electricity pricked the back of my neck and a feeling of anxiety washed over me.

"I'll get it," I groaned, standing up and regretfully setting my coffee down. I made my way through the large chef's kitchen to the front room; my slippers made a padding sound as I walked over the hardwood floors.

Not bothering to look at who it was first, I threw the door open, and sent a rush of cool air into the house. I didn't know who I expected to see on the front porch, but Talbott Angelo was probably the last person I wanted to see. He stood in front of me, dark hair combed, green eyes blazing, holding a bouquet of pink chrysanthemums. My mouth dropped open.

"Hello Eden," he said calmly, accenting each syllable to clean up his accent. I tried to mouth something in reply, but couldn't make a sound. What was he doing here? "May I come in?"

I moved out of the way silently and allowed him to pass; this was so strange. I instantly regretted not asking Aunt Syl to answer the door instead.