As we pull into my drive way, my mom and Nan are standing outside waiting for us. I look at Tristen, "I called them to let them know we are on our way. And you were ok." Knowing this now I nod my head and unbuckle my seatbelt. Mom and Nan rush over to my side of the car.
"Oh honey, are you ok?" "Where have you been?" "We have been so worried about you when the school called us that you were not there" "Never in my life have I ever been so scared." Both over lapping the other, all the while hugging me rubbing my arms. Touching my face and hair to check me over.
"Okay, Okay. I am fine. Really, I am fine. Can we go into the house please?" I say to them to get out of the eye sight and ear shot of the neighborhood and to stop the public display of embarrassment in front of Tristen. I could hear him snickering to himself. Looking back, I shot him a "I will Kill you look" if he ever thinks about saying anything about this to anyone.
Walking into the house, mom looks back at Tristen and says, "Thank you for bringing her home, we've got it from here." He stops, "No mom, he needs to be here for this." I say to her.
Nan touched her arm, "She is right, Faith. "Mom agrees and we make it to the kitchen. Nan's kitchen was not small nor big in size. It was my favorite place of her house. Not only because she could make some unbelievable meals here, but she was always in here. It was the heart of her home. The heart of her. Sitting down at her wooden round table, Tristen to my right, mom to my left and Nan across from me.
"So, I found out a lot about my history today. And who I am. Well, who my family is, I am still learning about me. It is true that my family," I pause, "our family, you both are White lighters?" I ask but already know the answer.
Sighing Nan starts, "Yes dear, we are all White lighters. Even Mr. Keller here is. And I take it you were the one who told her this?" She stated as she glared at him.
"Yes, he told me, but he also helped me to see what some of the things that I am capable of doing too." I answer her for him. "But, this is not about him. He has been the only one to be honest with me. Let's focus on the lie my whole life has been. So, let's not forget that it was both of your job to not only protect me but, to prepare me for my life. And I am at least part white lighter." Looking at my mom when I get to the end.
She just stares at Nan, and Nan nods. "Just tell her honey. She deserves to know the truth."
"You are more than part white lighter. Your father was one too." Mom breathes in and sighs. "There are so many things that you don't know about. Or how things work here. "
"Well whose fault is that? "I say as rudely as I could. Even though I know they had to have a good reason for this, I was still hurting to know I have been lied too. "I deserve that but, I am asking you to listen to it all before you judge me," my mom replies.
"When it comes to white lighters, every family is part of a Covent. They can be as little as three families and up to as many as twenty or so. In this town there are five. Keller's, Chaffins, McComas, Pack's and Collins. In each convent, there are seven elders and one leader. The leader has say over and runs the convent, the elders are the ones who teach and develop the rest. Usually, the leader is the most powerful whiter lighter in the convent. And ours is Jack Keller, Tristen's father." Nan explained.
"It was not my family at first though," Tristen said as he looked from me to Nan and to mom. "Your Nan was the leader for many years."
"This is true dear, I was Head White Lighter" She said with pride coming through her voice. That was a shock for me. My family, the plain janes of the world, were the most powerful beings in this small town.
"Then what happen Nan, why are you not now?" I ask. She looks at my mom with so much love, and touches her face. "Family will always be stronger than a convent. Especially, when that convent is wrong." Mom bows her head.
"Your Nan gave up her spot due to me and my stupid choices."
"No, it wasn't you fault honey." Nan exclaimed. "You were taken advantage of. Back when you mom was your age, she was the beauty of the town. Many fellas were battling to catch her eye. But, you know your mom. She has always acted older than who she is, trying to take care of everyone else beside her own self. Faith, had her mind set on taking my place on the council. She was next in line and shown the most developed in her skills. Besides doing her best in school, she also ranked first in her spirit culture courses. Normal kids her age were out experimenting with things of the world and themselves." Nan face was lite up talking about her child. "Your mom worked at the local hospital part time."
This is where mom took over the story, "It was such an exciting time for me. Being around people who wanted to serve and protect others, people they did not even know. That was one of the first lessons that we are taught in Spirit Culture, Serve and protect the people. And the knowledge that I was able to experience was unlike any other that could be given at that time." There was a small smile playing at the corner of her mouth. "I always had a crush on a boy from the time I was little. In my senior year, we both started to open to one another. Before you knew it, we were inseparable. The way we clicked together it was so magical. There was talk of us being such a power couple, and the things we could do."
"The biggest dance of the year came around. My dress, hair, makeup everything was perfect. I waited for Michael for over an hour to pick me up as planned. He never showed. I went to the dance anyways thinking that maybe I had it wrong. He was nowhere to be found there either. My friends tried their best to make me feel better but, there was nothing anyone could do. That's when Alan Collins approached me, being his ever so annoying self. His father worked at the hospital with me and always pushed for us to be together. He was not the one who owned my heart. We never heard from Michael again, he just disappeared. And it wasn't long before I found out I was going to have you." Mom looked me in the eye tears flowing down her cheeks. "I knew something happened to him, someone made him leave. He would never have left me or you."
Nan wrapped her up into her arms. "This stays in this room." She stated firmly while looking at Tristen. Nodding in agreement he stood and started walking around the room.
"What do you think happened?" I asked.
Nan looked at me, "it was Christopher Collins, Alan's dad. We just know it was him somehow. He had nothing but dreadful things to say about Michael and how your mom was wasting her potential with him. And when Alan asked your mom to the ball and she refused he made a threat that he would hurt her anyway he could." Soon as the words left her mouth Tristen stopped pacing and turned to her.
"That cannot be right?" he whispered. Nan just stared at him and nodded yes. "Mr. Collins doesn't have a son."
That is when mom shot up, "Oh yes he did! And when they found him floating in the lake dead was one of the happiest days of my life."
The room became quiet. It was as though my body was numb right along with everything around me, I understood what was going on but I was not taking part in it. Closing my eyes, I work on remembering how to breathe and attempt to stay calm. So much has happened in this little bit of time but such an important conversation. Learning how my mom went from being star student and golden child to suffering a traumatic event of losing my father. Then to finding out not only who my father was but that someone would want to hurt them like this. And for her to live her life everyday seeing me, and being reminded of him. The man that was taken away from her.
Brynn, I need you to think of your favorite thing in the entire world. What? Why in the world would you ask me to do that? Humor me please. If you could do anything or be anywhere where would it be right now?
It was not hard for me to imagine my favorite place in the world. Wrapped up in Tristen's arms, feeling his warmth and the electricity of his touch. Having the security of his protection no matter what, and to smell him. Oh, it is as if I am right there. I open my eyes to find, myself in his arms as I envision. But, what I did not know is that we were floating in the air.
Grasping tighter to him in fear of falling, he snorted "You are amazing".
"How, how did we get here? What did you do?" I almost shout.
That made him laugh, "I did not do this honey, it was all you. Before I spoke to you, it was only you that was floating. Thinking I could talk you down, instead you made me come to you. Even though I resisted at first." Feeling a little embarrassed I hide my face in his chest.
Tristen whispers in my ear, "ar dóigh". I feel my feet touch the floor. Turning around, I find Nan and mom looking at me as if I were a movie star or something. "I am sorry." I say sheepish.
Nan walks over, with her hands in mine she says, "My dear child, do not be sorry. You just pulled off something that usually takes quite some time to learn to do." There was such pride coming from her eyes.
"I knew you would learn some day about your father, I didn't know how you would take it. And here that day you show the strength in your power as well as in control too. My child, I am at awe in you right now." My mom said. Not really knowing what to say to that, I am not one to like the spot light much, I turn to Nan and say, "So, I take it you stepped down after everything happened and Tristen's father stepped in."
"No," she answered. "It fell to him because he was the second most powerful besides Faith and me. With Jack's mother passed in the few months before, he became Head even before his father. Your father was not but a year or two older than Faith at the time. He did not want it at first, but your grandfather explained that if he did not then it would have fallen to Mr. Collins." Nan explained while looking at Tristen. "And now you son, are next in line for Head White lighter."
He stood straighter, "Actually ma'am, that would fall to Brynn not me" he said with a smile. "seeing what power, she has shown in just a brief time, I cannot wait to see what you can do with the proper training." He said to me.
"No! She will not be anything in that convent. "Mom shouted. "I have done everything in my power to make sure that she never knew about that. And I will be damn if he ever finds out."
"Now Faith, that is not your call. This falls on Brynn. She knows now and is plenty old enough to make that choice." Nan calmly says to mom. "But she does not know how they work or what they could do to her." Mom replies. They both turn to me. For the first time in my life, I had to make a choice that would not only affect me but so many more. Biting my bottom lip, I think over everything everyone had to say.
"Ok, this is my choice, with that said I am not going to hide from the convent, especially since they know I am your daughter and at least possible part White Lighter. But, I am going to start these Spirit Culture Courses and get caught up on where I should be. And I am not really worried about becoming Head. At this moment I do not want it nor would I ever. My life is hard enough." I announce. "I do however want to know more about my father."
Mom walks out of the room and comes back with a shoe box that looked rough. Sitting down next to Nan at the table, she opens it. With a smile forming on her face she pulls put a piece of paper. Slowly opening it she says, "Your father was such a wonderful person. His heart was so good and pure, he always found the best in everyone." Nan scooted closer to her. "I remember the first time that we actually talked to one another. It was in Algebra class." She laughs almost more to herself as if remembering. "Your father was not the best or even average in math. Our teacher asked me to stay over that afternoon to help him through some problems."
"After about an hour of watching him struggle so much and him erasing his paper so hard that he tore it, I decided it was enough for the day. He asked me to help him the next day and the next until about after a week of staying over, he got the nerve to ask me out. He was so cute and shy, the most wanted boy in school and he asked me out. From that day on we were together."
She handed me the paper and it was lines of a poem. Titled on the top line was "My All". "That was the song he wrote for me. The last thing he gave me before you," mom said. Looking up into her eyes I finally figured out that I got my musical side from my dad. I had a part of him in me. I did not want to read the words he wrote for her, that was her special memory of him that should only be hers. Handing it back I sank back into my chair with a sigh. All of this is a lot to take in. And to think I thought I was just a normal plain jane of the world.
We went through the whole box together and it was great hearing about their times together. When I saw his picture, my heart fell. With bright green eyes, sandy hair, the main thing I noticed was the love that shown through his face as he was looking at my mom. I took that photo and placed it on my night stand. It should be the first thing I look at every morning. Knowing that my parents were so in love that they made me. Something that I fought with my whole life wondering if I was a mistake.