Page 61 of Abducting Sarah

“If sheisthe special conduit they are all afraid of, she most definitely can make that happen.”

“You believe in her that much?” my father asked quietly.

I nodded. “I do. She is unlike any other person I have ever known, Father.”

“Very well, then.” He smiled. “I am glad for you, son.”

My insides twisted, but I needed to tell him something else. “There is more. Sarah is not the only person with whom I am involved.”

He frowned. “But you are united to her.”

“Yes, but—”

“Son, do not make the same mistakes I did,” he said, looking anguished for the sins he’d committed, and the devastating aftermath of those choices.

“I am not. Sarah knows.”

He paused. “She has given you her permission to take on another lover?”

“She participates.”

“I am not sure I need to know more than that, son—”

“It’s Jac.”

His mouth dropped open in shock before he could catch it. “Are you—you two are—again? Like when you were young?”

I nodded. “We are. Sarah has welcomed him into our union.”

“That is a very traditional idea of a relationship,” he mused. “But then you are of a different generation and far more open minded about such things.”

“You’re not upset by this?” I asked, wanting to be sure.

“Are you happy, son?”

“As far as my relationships go, yes. I am ecstatic.”

He nodded. “Then I am happy for you. Not upset. Your happiness is what matters here. And, if I am to be honest with you, I may have a twinge of jealousy on the matter.”

“Why is that?”

“Your mother never would have given her permission for me and Silence to be together, and certainly never would have joined us.”

I smiled uncomfortably, trying to keep the image of the three of them together from my mind. “No, she wouldn’t have. And I am sorry she asked you to stay away from the family, Father.”

“Speaking of the family, I think we should go see everyone out there,” he said, indicating outside of his bedroom. “Come with me.”

I followed him through the house until we found Silence asleep with the twins on the guest bed. He reached for them instinctively but could not touch or pick his new children up.

The weight in my chest was crushing, but I pushed it aside, or I would cry for his plight. “I have them, Father.” I bent and picked up my new sister and brother, one on each arm. They were so warm, tiny heartbeats thundering in their little chests. It was a comfort to hold them.

“Why don’t you and Silence get some rest?” I suggested. “I’ll take them for a while.”

“You are a good son, Deacon. I could use the rest.” He laid next to Silence, but she didn’t seem to notice.Birth must have exhausted her, after everything else she has been through.

I took the children with me to the parlor, where I found Sarah chatting with Camp Deo. Briefly, I wondered where Lanai Dea was, since I had not seen her in so long. But I trusted my android would return soon.

Sarah smiled languidly when she saw me. “Hey, you.”

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