Exaltation (Insight #11)(23)

Jamison raised his chin and gave her a slight smirk. Dealt with that.

“Yeah, well, that same girl figured out the twins didn’t have a dad. First they called Miss Emery a cad saying she couldn’t catch a man, then something about how the devil had impregnated her, finally settling on the basic test tube baby chant. I don’t think Ash cared too much but it bothered River. She doesn’t get why Miss Emery did what she did.”

“And what were your thoughts on it?”

Raven shrugged as she took a sip of her tea. “I told her that Miss Emery chose to have her. That meant she was wanted, loved, and sought after. Not all kids can say that. I mean, I would rather be called a test tube baby than an accident.”

Jamison’s eyes danced over Raven, the miracle she was. Not many could think the way she did constantly. “You’re right. Miss Emery wanted a family very badly.”

“Right, well now River wants to figure out who gave her the juice. It bothers her not knowing where half her blood came from.” All at once shock came over Raven’s visage. “Oh my God do not tell me it was Mr. Berries! River would never recover from that!”

Jamison just shook his head as he held back a grin.

“Seriously, tell me! Do you know who gave her the juice?”

“Raven, we’re about to eat. Juice? Really?”

“Would you like for me to call it by its medical term? I’m well versed in sex ed, Dad.”

“How well versed?” he asked, as the playfulness left his expression.

“Not that kind of versed. You know what I mean.”

Jamison gave Raven a once over, wanting to believe his daughter was still innocent. “Miss Emery was seeing Mr. Newberry around the time the girls were born but he’s not their father.”

“You know who it is, don’t you?” Raven said with a sly smile.

Nothing.

“All right, but you know something.”

He pursed his lips briefly before he spoke. “Fate had its say when it came to Miss Emery becoming a mother. She searched endlessly for a decision she felt at peace with.”

Raven leaned back in her seat, crossed her arms, and gave him her most suspicious gaze. “Must have found some good juice. River and Ash are like amazing rock star peeps.”

Jamison shook his head before breaking his stare with her and looking out the window. This was not the topic he wanted her on, not yet.

“Pretty, dark blonde hair,” Raven pushed. “Blue eyes just like mine—just like ice.” She leaned forward. “You know some people call us triplets.”

No engagement.

“Oh come on, Dad! If it was you, spill it. If not, I’m sure I will be aiding and abetting in a B&E somewhere in the future.”

Jamison looked right at her then. “Excuse me?”

She raised her hands to stop the joke. “Just playing. But seriously, River is on the hunt. If it’s you I would come clean.”

He glanced away, and made it seem as if he were watching the distant water just outside the window seat.

“I thought you said she didn’t talk about it much.”

“That doesn’t mean she’s not hunting. She knows her mom went through a ton of names. I think she said close to a thousand. Then she had one set to go and changed her mind the day before. The reason why—unknown.”

“Did she ask Emery about it?”

“She did. Miss Emery told her it was because of prickles but good ones instead of bad ones. That the one she chose felt right, like perfection, and she could feel that all of nature agreed with her—of course she followed with ‘and of course it was the right choice because now I have you.’”

Jamison glanced away and tried to hide a small smile. He was glad that was Emery’s answer. But he wasn’t thrilled she’d had a chance to tell River the truth and not only didn’t tell her, but didn’t tell him she’d avoided the question. He had no idea what it was going to take for her to understand that children or not, he wouldn’t have been able to resist being at her side much longer than he had.

After a moment he spoke again. “Are you avoiding my question about your mom by talking about River?”

“Promise, Dad, it has never crossed my mind. Seriously. I have you. It feels like it was supposed to be you and me and of course aunt Saige and the Sabines. I get I should be curious, that it’s weird I’m not, but I can’t make myself feel anything.”

Silence.

“But I mean, if you want to tell me about her. I’ll listen.”

Nothing.

Raven had been told over and over by River that she should care about this. That it wasn’t natural for her to be so nonchalant. For a hot second Raven did think something was wrong with her when River was giving her that speech, but then she decided she couldn’t change who she was.

“What was she like? Where did you meet her?” Raven assumed those would be the questions she’d ask if she cared.

“A dark and stormy night,” Jamison teased, knowing she didn’t care. Raine was right. Raven would never feel her absence.

Raven rubbed her hands together with a giddy smile. “Oh, was she a foe? Was it one of those I hate you but want you kind of things?”

He let out a wicked smile. “Perhaps.”

“What was she like?”