Of Blood and Bone (Chronicles of The One #2)(95)

Fallon felt something release inside her because now she knew. She knew what her mother felt.

“You loved him, and love him, but Simon Swift is the love of your life. Not just your mate, your husband, not just the father of your children. The love of your life. I know it, feel it. I’m glad of it. I’m so glad.”

“You’re so grown-up. I missed so much, so many changes, so many firsts.”

“I kissed a boy.”

“Oh.” Torn between laughter and tears, Lana cupped Fallon’s face. “Mick, right?”

“How did you know?”

“Moms know. Was it lovely?”

“It was … nice. He’s nice when he’s not being a butt. Sort of like Colin. Huh, I just realized that. It was nice,” she said again, “but he’s not going to be the love of my life. I don’t know that I’ll have one of those anyway.”

“Don’t say that. Don’t ever put up blocks to love. But,” she added, “that kind of love can definitely wait a few years.”

“I thought I was so grown-up.”

“Don’t contradict your mother when she’s being contradictory.”

Fallon laid her head on Lana’s lap. “I have a lot more to tell you, to tell you and Dad.” She eased back, stood. “But they’re coming back.”

“I don’t hear them.”

“It’s probably the elf blood.”

“What?”

“A lot to tell you,” Fallon repeated.

Nobody, witch, faerie, elf, baked a ham like her mother. Nobody put on a celebration dinner to compare. They ate like kings, with candles flickering and the fire crackling.

She noted the pecking order in brotherworld hadn’t changed. Colin still lorded it over the others with his firstborn-male status. Travis could still, when he wanted, level Colin with wit and words. Ethan remained sunny of nature.

When she caught herself wondering how she could help hone their individual strengths, shore up weaknesses for what was to come, she shoved the thoughts aside.

Not yet. Not yet.

She waited until after dinner, when the boys grumbled about kitchen duty.

“I want to check on the horses. Dad, maybe you’ll come out with me.”

“Sure. I’d like another look at that super steed of yours.”

He took her hand as they walked in the cooling night from the house to the stables.

“What do you want to tell me?”

“I never could fool you. I have a lot, a lot to tell you and Mom together. But I already told her this, and I need to tell you. I met Max Fallon.”

“How’d you manage that?”

The ease of the question, the simplicity and ease of it, relaxed her tensed muscles.

“You know, magicks, Samhain, ritual, stuff.”

“Uh-huh.”

“We had most of the night to walk and talk.”

“Good.” He opened the stable door. “That’s good.”

“You’re not going to ask what we talked about, what he said to me?”

“Honey, he’s your father.”

“So are you.”

“That’s right.” He grabbed her face, kissed her. “You got two for the price of one.”

Just that simple, she thought. Just that simple with him. That was strength, she realized, knowing at that moment every man she met, any man she considered, would be measured by this one.

Any man, every man would have a high bar to scale.

She moved to the stall, to Grace, stroked the mare’s head, offered one of the carrots in her pocket.

“You told me Max Fallon was a hero.”

“He was.”

“He said the same about you. He said you were a hero.”

“I’m a farmer.”

Tears shined in her eyes, but good ones. Loving ones. “You’re my hero.”

He drew her against him. “There can’t be anything that means more to a father than hearing his daughter say that. Nothing tops it.”

They walked to Laoch. “Must be twenty-two hands. Back in the day, I’d’ve pulled out my smartphone, got a video of you on him.”

“You taught me to ride, to build with wood, to throw a ball, to block a punch, to love and respect the land, to be generous and not to take any bullshit.”

“I didn’t teach you that mouth.”

“Sure you did.”

He had to laugh. “Guilty.”

She offered the second carrot to her father. “You give it to him.”

“Here you go, big guy.”

“I know Max Fallon now. I love him now, not just as a picture on a book or the words inside it. Not just from stories I’ve been told, but through the man. I know you. I know now everything you taught me mattered and helped me to be who I am. I know more of you, through the man you are, from being away.

“Max Fallon was my sire. You’re Daddy. And I love you.”

He held her close, held her tight. “You just found something to top it.”

She knew her parents, their habits, doubted they’d changed. She waited until her brothers slept, until her parents assumed she did. Then she went out to the kitchen.

They sat, as she’d known they would after a momentous day, at the table, drinking wine and talking.