ENSHROUDING LIGHT

THE NEW NORM

CHAPTER 8

THE NEW NORM

She stopped the bus near the café and, after taking a deep breath, pushed the pram across the road. She stared through the window for a moment to muster courage and, after noticing Winston's afro bobbing up and down behind the counter, entered.

'Where's Jack?' she asked before Winston could greet her.

'He's upstairs. I'll shout him.'

'No. It's you I've come to see.'

'Oh?' Winston's face froze as if not knowing what expression he should pull.

'I've just seen Rose,' she said before Winston could greet her.

'Aww, man!' He threw down a cloth. 'She's not made you worse, has she? She's not supposed to give advice, you know! She makes everything seem complicated.'

'She's not made me worse! I just want to know how this is supposed to work, you know, with me and Tom working here.'

His face lit. 'Any way you want, man!'

'I still don't want you interfering! I do things my way.' She held her talisman for support. The beautiful, diaphanous chain was sending stimulating waves into her neck and down throughout her whole body, causing some kind of internal massage. Could such an item make a conscious attempt to soften her tense muscles? Did it have a built-in radar to sense when she felt anxious? Whatever magic it contained, the pulsation worked to calm her nerves.

'That's fine, man,' he said. 'Whatever you say!'

'It's the practical side of things I'm a bit concerned about. Like how can Tom be looked after properly in a play area? He'll only be four months old when I come back. I'd need someone to keep an eye on him at all times. I mean, what's he going to be in, a high chair or baby walker or something? And if the Corruptor comes back in here and...'

'Nev, we'll work it out. I don't think he'll be back for a while now after what Tom did to him. He'll need to feel more confident before he has another go at him.'

'What did Tom do to him?'

'Tom stopped him from using his biological gift on you. Ethan's not used to having someone fight back before he's aged seven. A Moderator can't usually fight back until aged seven. Tom seems to have the same amount of residual power and gifts that he has now.'

'Oh.' Nevaeh looked at Tom, who was staring at Winston as if taking in every word.

'Ethan will probably make sure Kate or any of his men don't go near Tom now until he knows more about what he's up against. So you'll be able to chill out until your birthday in July when you can invoke...'

'No, no. Not invoking. Don't need to,' she said, twiddling the smooth crystal between her thumb and forefinger. How could a crystal send, warm, soothing sensations into her skin? She pressed the tips of her fingers onto the jewel. Was it her own pulse vibrating against it or did it have one of its own? 'Let's just discuss me coming back to work.'

Winston's cheeks flushed as he sucked in a breath. He fiddled and pulled at his apron for a moment and then let out his breath. 'You don't have to come back after four months. You can come back when he's walking and talking if that makes you feel better? You don't even have to work at all, man. You're part of the order now. We could find you something else to do. There's always an experienced Moderator needing support or...'

'No, I want to stay here!' She needed Jack. And some form of control left in her life. Her old job would go some way to keeping the norm. 'If that's okay,' she said in a less demanding tone. 'I'm not a freeloader. Like you say, we'll find a way.'