Vindicate (Insight #5)(44)

“And how did you do that?” Draven asked with the slightest bit of hope that it would be easier to teach me to see than he thought.

“Gut feeling,” I mumbled , to o anxious to point out that Madison was the next Queen of Esterious.

Madison had caught my father’s stare. At first I thought he was looking over her to see how healthy she was, or to convince himself that I was right this entire time.

“You know my family,” Madison said warmly as a sense of recognition and relief washed over her face. “I’ve seen photos of you at my house with my parents.”

“Do I?” m y father asked. “What is their name?”

“Blair , ” Madison answered .

“John Blair?” my father asked as what I thought was panic rushed through him. Madison must have felt it , to o, because she furrowed her eyebrows to question him.

“That’s right , ” Madison said as she focused her eyes. I assumed to see him more clearly. A second later , she stepped back in what looked like shock.

“What is it , Jason?” Alamos asked quickly.

My father was speechless as she looked from me to Madison.

“Somebody say something , ” I said , looking from him to Madison.

“Your father delivered Madison , ” Draven answered with a confidence that could not be argued with.

“You did?” I asked with wide eyes.

He nodded. “And her father delivered you. A lmost simultaneously.”

“What?!” Alamos and I said at the same time.

My father cleared his throat. “We , um…there was a medical convention in Washington– I didn’t want to go that close to your mother ’s due date , but she insisted that she wanted to travel – she knew no matter what , I would protect her health.” He paused taking in the memory. “There was a snowstorm. The worst one in years…and as luck would have it , your mother went into labor…and Bla ir followed a few hours later. There was no way for us to make it to a hospital…so John and I , along with the other doctors there , prepar ed to deliver our first child. None of us there practiced this field. I was the one with the most understanding of it, so I shifted back and forth between Mrs. Blair and Grace. Neither of them were due at that time, both weeks away. Willow had turned almost instantly , but – Madison was breach. I could see that. I knew which way I needed to turn her. I knew if I didn’t , the cord would suffocate her.” My father locked eyes with me , and I felt his bliss. “The moment I turned Madison – I heard you cry – it was – it was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard.”

“How many minutes apart, Jason?” Alamos asked urgently .

“Seconds. Minutes . No one was looking at the clock. We were in an emergency situation.”

I had heard this story before . Every year on my birthday. I knew about the snow – about another woman. I heard my mother tease him that he could handle anything but delivering his own child. I had no idea he was saving another life.

“How is your father?” m y dad asked .

“Busy,” Madison said , as she stared at him . “Thank – thank you,” she said humbly.

My father nodded once as he smiled. “I lost touch with Joh n years back.” He looked at me. “I guess I’m regretting that now.”

“Seconds or minutes?” Alamos asked again .

“Willow was born fi rst. John cleared her airway and made her cry just as Madison was born. I t was not the same second , ” m y father said to reassure him.

“Sixty -seven seconds apart , ” Draven answered.

“How c er t a in are you?” Alamos asked .

“Very – clock on the wall , ” Draven answered , showing us all how vividly he could see our past.

“That’s close enough for them to be perceived celestial twins. You realize that , right?” Alamos asked my dad.

“What does that mean?” I asked quickly.

“Celestial twins are born at the same moment – life events occur simultaneously - including death , ” Alamos answered .

“It has to be the same moment. The y’re a m inute and seven seconds apart. That’s a lifetime , ” m y father said to calm the room.

“Regardless – we have no choice but to protect her life if we are going to protect Willow’s , ” Alamos argued .

“And wh y would my life be in danger?” Madison asked shortly.

“Let’s just say that looking like Willow does not serve you well when it comes to the enemies that are in the court , ” Alamos said as he looked to the doorway. “Which reminds me , w e have a meeting with them now. Where is Marc?”

“Coming down the hall , ” I said as I focused on his emotion of frustration and disdain.

“You need to cancel that meeting,” Draven said , looking over Alamos.

“You again , ” Alamos said in disgust.

He smirked , finding joy in irritating him. “Drake never had plans to speak with anyone – they’re tricking you. You show up , and they will know you are mocking a life that we are fighting for.”

“Why should I believe you? I have no idea what Drake did or said when I was not around.”

“I do,” Draven said confidently. “He never speaks to anyone without you at his side –he just stares at them coldly. Looking fearless.”