back. Now that I couldn’t weave, this was a depressing awareness. Kessler cocked his head and looked me straight in the eyes. “You don’t have to worry about anything, I’ll look after you.” I tried to give my most appreciative smile, but honestly, that just didn’t make me feel much better. I wasn’t used to being dependent upon anybody, least of all Kessler.
We followed Pepper up the three cement steps that led to her front door and waited while she fished out her keys. Marty opened the door and she stopped rummaging to yank the screen door open. The two of them locked into a smooch that left Kess and I standing there feeling like third wheels. The last thing I felt like seeing was another couple kissing. I shifted my gaze to the white blossoms of a crabapple tree nearby unit they stopped. After a brief exchange of lovey-dovey talk, we were led inside their place. Pepper had explained to Marty that I was in town for a surprise visit, and apparently Kess had a weave in place that had Marty convinced he had business in Atlanta and that was why he was in town so often. I could hear pots and pans clanking in the kitchen and then Pepper called out, “Aunt Gen, could you come out here? I’d like you to meet a friend of mine.” The clanking stopped and she came around the corner brushing her hands together.
She was taller than I had imagined , and I noticed that she and Kalan had the exact same color hair. She wore it in a short, pixie style, which flattered her milky completion perfectly. Dressed in a frilly, pink blouse and a pair of white Capri jeans she could have stepped right out of a magazine. She extended her hand and smiled warmly, “Joey, how nice to meet you.”
“Likewise, ” I said. There was something regal in her mannerisms, but she was nothing like I’d envisioned. I’d expected her to look like a mom. This woman looked liked she’d never given birth, or that she was even old enough to have a son Kalan’s age. We took seats in the little living room and Pepper put on a pot of coffee. I could tell she was grateful to have something else to focus on. Marty excused himself saying that he needed to check something on Pepper’s car, and that left Kess and I alone with the queen.
“Your majesty, I’m so sorry for all of this trouble. It was never my intention to create problems for you or anyone else, ” I said sincerely.
“Please, just call me Gen, and none of this is your fault, you must know that deep in your heart.” Her large blue eyes searched my face for some acknowledgement, so I nodded to let her think I agreed. Her voice was like a lullaby, so gentle and sweet. I didn’t have it in me to disagree with her. Besides, I felt this wonderful sense of peace in my body. Pepper appeared with a tray of coffee cups and I was unhappily jerked from my trance. Gen reached out in one graceful motion and collected a cup for herself from the tray. I sipped from my own cup but I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I’d almost forgotten what I’d come here for. It was as if nothing else even mattered to me anymore.
“Jo, do you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?” Kess asked with a hint of laughter in his voice.
“Mmmhmmm,” I muttered, allowing my eyes to droop just a little bit.
Gen laughed at patted my hand. “I have that affect on most weavers. It can’t be helped. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.”
“But I’m not a weaver anymore Gen,” I said softly, but my head was nodding in agreement. I was distantly aware that I probably had a really stupid grin pasted on my face but I just couldn’t help it.
“Of course you are a weaver Joey. If you weren’t, I wouldn’t have this affect on you.” Kess reached across the coffee table and said, “Jo, give me your hands.” I reached out to him, and the moment his hands took mine I felt a zap of static electricity that caused me to bounce
We followed Pepper up the three cement steps that led to her front door and waited while she fished out her keys. Marty opened the door and she stopped rummaging to yank the screen door open. The two of them locked into a smooch that left Kess and I standing there feeling like third wheels. The last thing I felt like seeing was another couple kissing. I shifted my gaze to the white blossoms of a crabapple tree nearby unit they stopped. After a brief exchange of lovey-dovey talk, we were led inside their place. Pepper had explained to Marty that I was in town for a surprise visit, and apparently Kess had a weave in place that had Marty convinced he had business in Atlanta and that was why he was in town so often. I could hear pots and pans clanking in the kitchen and then Pepper called out, “Aunt Gen, could you come out here? I’d like you to meet a friend of mine.” The clanking stopped and she came around the corner brushing her hands together.
She was taller than I had imagined , and I noticed that she and Kalan had the exact same color hair. She wore it in a short, pixie style, which flattered her milky completion perfectly. Dressed in a frilly, pink blouse and a pair of white Capri jeans she could have stepped right out of a magazine. She extended her hand and smiled warmly, “Joey, how nice to meet you.”
“Likewise, ” I said. There was something regal in her mannerisms, but she was nothing like I’d envisioned. I’d expected her to look like a mom. This woman looked liked she’d never given birth, or that she was even old enough to have a son Kalan’s age. We took seats in the little living room and Pepper put on a pot of coffee. I could tell she was grateful to have something else to focus on. Marty excused himself saying that he needed to check something on Pepper’s car, and that left Kess and I alone with the queen.
“Your majesty, I’m so sorry for all of this trouble. It was never my intention to create problems for you or anyone else, ” I said sincerely.
“Please, just call me Gen, and none of this is your fault, you must know that deep in your heart.” Her large blue eyes searched my face for some acknowledgement, so I nodded to let her think I agreed. Her voice was like a lullaby, so gentle and sweet. I didn’t have it in me to disagree with her. Besides, I felt this wonderful sense of peace in my body. Pepper appeared with a tray of coffee cups and I was unhappily jerked from my trance. Gen reached out in one graceful motion and collected a cup for herself from the tray. I sipped from my own cup but I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I’d almost forgotten what I’d come here for. It was as if nothing else even mattered to me anymore.
“Jo, do you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?” Kess asked with a hint of laughter in his voice.
“Mmmhmmm,” I muttered, allowing my eyes to droop just a little bit.
Gen laughed at patted my hand. “I have that affect on most weavers. It can’t be helped. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.”
“But I’m not a weaver anymore Gen,” I said softly, but my head was nodding in agreement. I was distantly aware that I probably had a really stupid grin pasted on my face but I just couldn’t help it.
“Of course you are a weaver Joey. If you weren’t, I wouldn’t have this affect on you.” Kess reached across the coffee table and said, “Jo, give me your hands.” I reached out to him, and the moment his hands took mine I felt a zap of static electricity that caused me to bounce
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