Part 2 (1/2)

Control yourself, Ella. Jesus.

I took a couple more deep breaths, waited a few moments, and then opened the door.

Chapter Four.

My heart dropped as I realized it wasn't Jonah, but a middle-aged man with a well-groomed goatee wearing an ominous black trench coat. He was very tall and somewhat gangly looking, but his face was handsome and looked slightly familiar.

”Good evening, Ella. My name is Divinus Chantrey. I'm Jonah's father,” he introduced as he politely extended his hand out to me.

Puzzled, I scrunched my forehead and offered my hand in return, allowing him to brush a light kiss along my knuckles, a gesture that had me feeling a bit uneasy about his motives for being here.

”I know you must be wondering why I am here. I would like to speak with you briefly if you have a moment?”

Uhh... mind reader? Probably, considering clairvoyance was hereditary.

”Oh, ahh... yeah, sure,” I blubbered, obviously suffering from a brain to mouth malfunction. I squeezed through the door and stepped out onto my porch, figuring it would calm my nerves to spend some time in the fresh evening air. When I was finally able to put two coherent words together, I said, ”I'm sorry. I was just a little surprised to see you instead of Jonah. Is he ok?”

”Not to worry, my dear. He is fine. He is not happy with my insisting on meeting you, but I just could not help myself. I had to meet the daughter of Delphina Hugh,” he said, shocking me still as stone, as he nonchalantly sat down on the wicker sofa.

”How did you... You knew my mother?” I stuttered.

I couldn't move. The mention of my mother's name from his lips left me dumbstruck. Is it hot out here? I thought as I fanned myself lightly, hopefully unnoticeably.

”Ahh, yes. I knew your mother many years ago. When Jonah told me he met another soul seer and, after plenty of coaxing and even some bribery, he told me your name, I just knew you had to be Delphina's daughter.”

He sat and stared at me for a moment too long for comfort. I began to fidget wildly under his intense stare. It's as if he was studying me. Branding me to his memory. Just as I was starting to get a little nervous, he said, ”Orella Hugh. You are so grown up. So beautiful. Just like your mother.”

Ok, that's it. I needed some answers. This had better be good!

”I'm sorry. Can you tell me how you knew my mother?” I asked, getting a little more uneasy about his presence and actually, a little ticked off someone would put me through the memories of her death yet again.

I loved the memories I had of my mom's life. But, ultimately, I would have to explain her death to this man. And, just the thought of talking about the worst day of my life with a stranger made bile rise in my throat.

”Del and I went to college together. She always seemed to keep me out of trouble-that is for sure. I am a bit surprised she kept her maiden name and even more surprised she pa.s.sed it along to you,” he said as he laughed thoughtfully. I knew why... My mom loved the meaning of our last name. And ever since she told me I was a soul seer, I understood why it was so important to her.

Hugh-I knew it was a distant German word meaning heart, mind, spirit. My thoughts went to Jonah's explanation of my first name. Orella Hugh... Oracle Spirit. d.a.m.n, my mom was such an amazing person. Even my name rocked because of her.

Bringing myself back to the present, I stood and stared at this man who was still uncomfortably studying me.

I could tell he was purposefully blocking his thoughts, although I didn't quite know how he was doing it or why. I've never known anyone to block his or her thoughts from me and the idea was unnerving. ”Even though I cannot read your mind, Ella, I know you can read mine. And I know you are probably wondering why I am blocking you.”

Well, even if he claimed he couldn't read minds, he was doing a d.a.m.n good job of reading mine.

”Yes, I am. I've never had anyone block their thoughts from me before.”

”Ahh, but I am sure you have. You just did not know it. That is actually the reason I wanted to come see you,” he said as a sudden look of sorrow pa.s.sed across his face. ”You see, Jonah told me about the loss of your mother. I was not aware. I know you do not wish to talk about it, and that is fine. I only want to offer my condolences and possibly offer my help.”

”Your help?” I asked as I finally became comfortable enough to sit in the wicker chair near where he sat. ”How can you help?”

”Well, most telepaths wait until their offspring's sixteenth birthday to explain their gifts, mainly because the parent needs to be well aware of exactly what types of gifts the child possesses. But, since your mother suffered an unfortunate departure early in her life, and yours, I am worried you may not have anyone to turn to with questions or just to talk about your abilities,” he paused for a moment, scratching his well-trimmed goatee before he continued. ”Was your mother able to tell you about anything?”

”She was able to tell me, very briefly, who I was. Unfortunately, she was very weak. Even her mind was fading. She explained to me her body was no longer alive and that soon her mind would not be either. I was in shock. I had never known my mom to project directly to me the way she did that day in the hospital. I...” I trailed off, suddenly feeling the tears beginning to p.r.i.c.k my eyes and threaten to take over my emotions.

”I am sure you miss her terribly. She was a wonderful woman. I have no doubt she was even more exquisite as a mother.”

I wanted to change the subject. Not because he was incorrect in his a.s.sumptions but because, if I began to cry now, I would ruin my Jonah-makeup. I may be a confident person, but I was still a girl. And the last thing a girl wanted to do was ruin her makeup before a date with a G.o.d.

”Why are you blocking your thoughts from me?” I asked curiously, successfully changing the subject and deciding to be straightforward with him, worried that he was hiding something.

”I wanted to show you the possibilities of our kind, Ella. I am not trying to hide from you, just trying to demonstrate some of the things I could teach you, if you would like to learn,” he explained with kindness in his eyes.

I nodded and looked down at my hands as I nervously wrung them in my lap until my knuckles were white with tension. Then I decided to open up to him just enough to satisfy him, but not give away too much information about myself.

”I hear her talking to me. In my sleep, mostly. I hear her telling me stories, reading to me, telling me how much she misses me. She even talks to me about art, describing the artwork to me in an almost poetic fas.h.i.+on. I try to talk back to her, but she doesn't ever seem to respond, which makes me realize it's just a dream.”

”Ahh, but they are wonderful dreams, are they not? Just to be able to hear her voice, remember how she spoke to you, how she sounded. It is definitely better than nothing, yes?” Divinus asked with delight in his eyes.

”I never really thought of it that way, but I guess you're right.” Maybe this guy wasn't all that creepy after all. He had a very valid point. I should be thanking my lucky stars I am able to remember her voice, her smell, her stories...

He looked at his watch and then patted me on my hands. ”I must be going now. Jonah warned me to be out of here before six. He has a real treat in store for you tonight, Orella. You are going to have a very nice time, I am sure.”

With that, he got up and headed toward the front steps. Just as I said goodbye and was about to head back inside, he said, ”If you ever need anything, you know how to get in touch with me. I told Jonah to give you my cell number and email. Please, do not hesitate to call upon me if you need any advice, Ms. Orella Hugh.”

Just as I said thank you, he turned and glided down the short steps to the sidewalk. His coat billowed behind him like a cape, making him look like a comic-book villain. Maybe I should have given him more of a superhero status instead. After all, he was kind enough to realize when a young, confused girl needed help. Yet I couldn't shake the thought he was intentionally hiding something from me.

It didn't take long for Jonah to show up at the door with an apologetic look on his face. Even his remorseful stare made me smile.

Chapter Five.

”I'm sorry, Ella. If I thought for even a moment he would take it upon himself to come bother you, I would have never told him. I was just so excited to meet you,” he said as he walked in my door.

”Don't worry about it, Jonah. He was nice. His reason for coming to meet me was very sweet. Although, he was purposefully blocking me, which I've never known anyone to do. I couldn't read him at all. The fact I felt he was hiding something from me made me a little uneasy,” I admitted.

”Oh, he keeps that mental block up all the time because of me. He's gotten really good at it. My mom doesn't have the ability to though, so I still get a glimpse at some of his secrets,” Jonah said with a wink and a naughty grin.

Oh, heart. Fly away. Surely it couldn't stay contained a moment longer with the amount of fluttering ravaging my chest.

The idea he blocked Jonah all the time as well made me feel a little better and more at ease. At least it meant there was a possibility he was telling the truth.

We stood in the foyer as we talked about his dad. Our conversation was followed by an awkward moment of silence.