Gathering Water by Regan Claire Page B

crab-dip-laden chip in my mouth. I held up one finger while I chewed, like some sort of conversation pause-button.
    “Yes. We got all the painting done in the main part of the house, just need to do the bedrooms now, and the little stuff like the window trim. Cash and Dove surprised me and did the entire front room before I even got there.”
    “How good of you, Cash! We ought to have Dover over one night for a crab pickin’.” Ellis was pretty much beaming in pride at her son.
    “Great. So, what all needs to be done after you finish with the painting?” This was from Connor, who had taken a big interest in all of the goings on at the house.
    “Just need to sand and wax the floors and bring the furniture back in, then I’m done with the inside. I need to re-stain the porch and new stairs, and I’d really like to rebuild the little dock that was in the back but that can wait.”
    “I shouldn’t have let it rot out.” Regret laced Connor’s voice and he and Ellis exchanged a look-you know, one of the “weighted” kind.
    “D ella, we’ve been trying to get hold of Gabby’s remains for a while now. Right now it looks like they cremated her, and they disposed of her ashes already.” He coughed to clear his throat, probably so I wouldn’t catch the little hitch in it. “We still really want to have a service here for her, if that’s all right with you. We’d have it, oh say in about a month. What do you think?”
    “ Well, it’s up to you guys. It’s just, I didn’t really know her, you know? So, it’s really up to you.” Ellis looked a little teary at my words, but they were the truth. I knew that the guilt I was feeling at her grief was irrational.
    “There’s something else that we really wanted to talk with you about, Della. Something about our family.”
    “Sure,” I said, though I had an idea what he was about to bring up.
    “Well, there are things, that is, abilities, that you may think you need to hide. What I mean is, our family has this…”
    “You mean like the Gathering thing? Cash told me about it this afternoon.” I interrupted him before he could go on. He gave Cash a look that had him instantly on the defensive.
    “Hey, it’s not like I just came out and said, ‘Look, our family has these mystical abilities, thought you should know’. She Gathered right in front of me, after she got a little wet. Dried herself instantly. It was awesome.”
    “After you sprayed me with a hose, you mean.”
    “Cash, you didn’t!” The pride that had lighted Ellis eyes just moments ago vanished.
    “ Hey, she splashed me first!” he said indignantly. Ellis may not have approved of his actions, but Connor was obviously holding back a few chuckles. “But dad, you’re still going to need to work with her. She says that’s all she can do, and that she just figured that much out a couple of weeks ago.”
    “Really? That’s very unusual.” His face echoed the confused look that Cash’s had when I told him that.
    “Why is that so weird? Cash didn’t say, but he acted all weird about it too.”
    “Because Gathering usually presents itself when you’re a child. See, Della, Gathering is really absorbing energy from the elements. So, as a child when a lot of what you do is instinctual, you may Gather when you’re throwing a temper tantrum, or skin your knee, or even in a footrace against your friends in school,” the look he gave Cash made it clear my cousin had done that. “It gives you a little kick of energy, and you can’t do anything without Gathering first. So, in Cash’s case, we knew something was happening if he started Gathering, and we’d go check on him to see what was wrong. If we didn’t, we’d end up with a small wind storm or something. It happened far more frequently than it should.” He gave Cash an affectionate look. “Cash is a bit emotional. Basically any time that your emotions are high you lose control of yourself, and your abilities might present themselves.