THE POWER OF LOVE

(Direct continuation of What It Is)

By Atonia Walpole

(Picture creations also by Atonia unless otherwise noted)

Part 1

Christmas Day seemed to go on forever. It began with the boys squealing and laughing down the stairs at daybreak and Rose left screaming in her crib alone in the nursery. Toni went up to Rose and Max downstairs with the boys. Jack was already downstairs and soon Terry followed to share in the kids' Santa. Toni cooked breakfast and Max helped her clean up the kitchen. There wasn’t time to think, much less worry. The Duncan’s were coming for dinner at 4:00 and so it would be a madhouse all day. She gave up trying to keep paper and ribbons picked up. She retreated to the kitchen with one of her own presents, an iPod fully loaded with music. Ludivine said she would try and get by but Toni had told her not to worry, just enjoy your own family. Now she was thinking she was crazy for being so generous.

Terry wandered into the kitchen to find her staring at a large piece of bloody meat. “I want mine cooked,” he said and opened the fridge door.

“What?” She pulled out an ear bud.

“Like that, do ya?” He found a soft drink.

“Yes, I do. I can shut out everything. It was a good idea.”

“A joint effort, Max and I both picked out the music…a little of everything. What are you um…?”

“It's beef tenderloin. I’m going to roast it. It’s not going to be a traditional Christmas dinner except for the dessert. I just…somehow don’t feel like tradition so I’m tossing it to the wind.”

“Toss away,” he winked and left the kitchen.

She seasoned the meat then lined the baking potatoes up on the counter. Salad…to the fridge again and the vegetable bin. All the makings were out. Broccoli casserole…she pulled out the ingredients for that and glanced at the clock above the sink. Two hours to go.

She went to pull Max from the living room to help her and then they all came, including children.

“OUT!” she yelled. “I only wanted Max.”

He looked at her over the kitchen island. “Love, you’ve still got on your pajamas.”

Toni glared at him. “Just when do you think I’ve had time to even go to the loo much less pay attention to what I’m wearing?”

He jumped in then and put together the casserole for her and sent her upstairs to change. He looked at all the ingredients out on the counter for dinner. Looked like a salad and he could do that, too. Max didn’t mind the kitchen at all. He just didn’t volunteer for it.

“How long before you think you will know something?” Jack asked, trying to read the instructions for a battery-operated jeep.

Terry rewound a doll and handed it back to Rose. “Probably in a day or so. I figure if it’s something then they’ll get right on it.”

Jack looked up at him and then back to his instruction sheet but his mind wasn’t on the jeep.  The House of Four Seasons had healed in the past. Broken bones, cuts and bruises, but it hadn’t healed Terry’s mind. He’d done that himself when he’d lost his memory. There may be limits to what it could do. He hoped it wasn’t put to the test.

Christmas dinner turned out to be a success. Penny was good about helping and was there for the clean-up as well. Toni wanted to ask her about Jean Paul, who she thought looked pretty good if not a little pale, but then Penny would ask about Terry and she didn’t know how to answer. She’d seen Terry and Jean Paul in serious conversation earlier but had no idea what it was about.

“You’ve got a houseful here, Toni. You do know that you could have sent somebody over to our place. There’s only the three of us.”

“That’s okay, Penny. They really pretty much look after themselves. Today was just a busy one. I usually have help but with the holiday I let everybody go about their business. And then we’ve had sickness, too. How’s Jean Paul recovering?”

“He’s doing okay. Honestly, I think it was more than the flu. It was some kind of West Nile virus or something. Who knows what they pick up around the world? Terry still looks under the weather. How is he?”

“Um, well, he had a chest infection so it’s taking a little longer and I think you’re right about the virus. I’ve had flu and it was nothing like Terry went through.”

Later that night Max was reading the kids to sleep, Terry had her iPod in the den and she was at the kitchen table with heavily spiked eggnog. Jack joined her.

“How are you, Pet? You’ve had a day, haven’t you?”

“It’s been a long one, and you, Jack, I haven’t even had a chance to talk to you since you got here.”

“You have a busy household. I’m well.” He took her glass and had a sip. “Oh, I’ll have one of these.”

“Eggnog is in the fridge in a plastic container and the booze is by the sink. Help yourself.”

“I, ah, may have bought a piece of property.”

Toni grinned, “You don’t know?”

“I’ve been at sea and I do know I signed papers but I’ve not gotten a reply. It’s a small cottage by the sea. I thought it would be a place I could take Rose.”

“Oh, good. Where is it?”

“Ah, well, it doesn’t actually exist now…in the present time.”

“You mean to take her back to your time, into your world…?”

“I do, yes. I thought the cottage being isolated as it is would keep her away from the worst of it, allow her to have some of her own things about her. I’d want you to see it to pronounce it suitable or not…if you, um, would, ah…”

“I’d like to see it.”

Jack smiled in relief. “Perhaps in the spring.”

“Or summer,” she smiled back.

“Summer, hmm?” He sipped his drink. “Of course Max is invited as well.”

“I’m sure he is…just what you had in mind…right?”

“Am I that transparent?”

“Very much so. It sounds wonderful, cottage by the sea. I could do with a bit of escapism right now. That’s what you are for me, a romantic, beautiful escape.”

“I could take you there now. It’s as easy as flipping your electrics on. I didn’t come by plane this time, I just wished myself here.”

“How…why haven‘t you done this before?”

“I didn’t know for sure that I could. I’ve been exploring the possibilities of magic.”

Toni took a drink. “I’d better not disappear tonight. While you’re exploring the possibilities I don’t suppose you know whether the House will be up to Terry if it comes down to that?”

“I don’t know, Pet.”

“I know what conventional medicine will do to him. I don’t want him to have to go through that if he doesn’t have to.”

“But you don’t know for sure. He said it would be a day or so.”

“I just have a feeling and it scares me.”

“We won’t lose him. There may be drastic measures to be taken by all of us, especially you. We won’t lose him.”

“Lose who?”

“Ah, Terry, mix yourself one of these eggnogs and join us.” Jack leaned back in his chair.

“I wish I could. I’d like a good stiff drink but with the meds I’m on I can’t drink.” He handed Toni back her iPod. “I’m going up to bed. I’m tired.” He looked around for his water jug, “Where’s the, um, water…?”

“I’ll get it for you. It’s in the dishwasher.”

“I can get it.”

“No…I’ll…just let me, okay?”

Terry put his hands up and backed off. “She treats me like Jacky.”

“Leave me alone and let me treat you as I want to.” She filled his jug with ice and water. “You’re very special to me.” She kissed him. “I hope you sleep well.”

“Good night, Terry.”

‘Nite, Jack”

“He’s going to resent you treating him like a child.”

“I don’t mean to treat him like a child. I just want to do for him.”

“Don’t treat him any differently now than you did before. Believe me, Pet, he doesn’t want it.”

“Have you looked in the den?” Max asked, heading straight for the liquor bottle.

“No, I don’t think I want to,” Toni replied.

“Looks like it did before we moved all their clobber upstairs.” He knocked back his drink neat and poured another, adding a little eggnog. “Passed Terry on the stairs. I just read his son to sleep and do you know Rose was the last one to go down?”

“She’s a night owl, Jack,” Toni said

“Can’t think where she gets that.” He sipped his drink.

Max gave Toni a kiss on the cheek. “How are we holding up, love?”

“Winding down now. Thanks for all the help today.”

“Max, have you a plan once Terry gets his results?”

“Actually we’re planless right now. We were supposed to go to John’s tomorrow but I’ve cancelled the plane. We just have to wait and see. I’d only made plans for four and now we have Jacky and possibly Terry and you. It’s not a problem at all to reschedule once we know something.”

“Terry has his own plane at his disposal, does he not?”

“He does, Jack, and I’ll leave that up to him. How did you get here anyway?”

“Oh, I just popped over.”

“What?”

“He can wish himself somewhere and, voila, he’s there….” Toni spread her hands.

“I’ve only tried it once.” Jack raised a brow.

Max looked at him a moment. “Why is that not comforting to know.”

Part 2

The call came at 11:30 the day after Christmas. Max answered the phone and called Terry. They were in Max’s study and Max swiveled his chair back and forth, watching Terry’s face.

Terry took a deep breath. “Thorne here…right,” he sighed. “Okay, when?” He turned and looked at Max. “Tomorrow morning…well, I’m not in Marseilles…Bonnieux. 3PM. I’ll be there.” He handed the phone back to Max. “I’m fucked.”

Max hung up the phone. “No, you aren’t.” Max’s whole being went still.

“It’s cancer.” Terry moistened his lips. “I, ah, have to go in and talk to them about it, treatment…blah blah blah.”  He felt for the back of a chair and sat down. “Early stages…treatable.” He rested his head in his hands.

“We'll beat the fucker.”

“What’s this we shite? It’s me…only me.”

“You don’t think you have to go through this alone, do you? You don’t think we’re going to sit back and say too fuckin’ bad. Oh, hell, no. It’s not going to happen that way.”

“Don’t get all gung ho on me. I don’t think I could stand that. I don’t want a string of cheerleaders following me around.” He looked toward the door. “I need to digest this for awhile.” He got up and walked toward the door.

“Terry…it’s not over. It won’t stand. We won’t let it. Whatever we have to do.…”

“Yeah…whatever.”

Max stared after him.

Terry went to his room and got a coat, one of Max’s. He’d been in the tropics and hadn’t needed warm clothing. Down the stairs and out of the front door. He hunched his shoulders against the wind.

Max went downstairs and found Jack in the library. He motioned for him to follow and they went down into the cellars away from Toni. That would come but not yet.

“Terry’s had the phone call. It’s cancer. He said it was early stages and treatable.”

“Oh…no.” Jack hung his head for a moment. “Where is he?”

“I think he’s gone for a walk. What’s the most we can do aside from the House?”

“Aside from the House?  First I think we should try the House and see. We don’t know what miracles can happen there. It’s all tied to the House.  If the miracle does not happen and he is not cured then…we must start over. Break the circle and start over.”

“Oh…bloody hell! I don’t want to do that.”

“No, but that’s a last resort, if nothing else works. Toni mentioned some treatments?”

“Well, we’ll find out tomorrow about that. He’s, ah, got an appointment in Marseilles at three.”

“That’s the danger, you see, coming out into the real world. All of its pestilence are there, diseases, accidents, death. He couldn’t wait to get out there away from the magic that protected him. You, too, are vulnerable and so is John.”

“I used to believe that we had some kind of special shield around us but Terry dashed that a long time ago. Why is it always him…why? I’ve had little more than a smashed thumb.”

“I can’t answer that. Perhaps he was chosen to suffer for all of you. I exclude myself for I am not of this world. I face danger enough in my own.”

“Is that why you never came out? We thought you had in London. Are you afraid?”

“No, and I find it odd that you would ask me that. It’s not fear, it’s the knowledge that I could not function in this world as I do in my own. Not much call for fighting captains nowadays, is there? And I have my family that I would lose, my Sophie.”

“Sorry.” Max ran a hand though his hair.

“No offence taken because I know none was intended. There is time. We have some time, I think, to get him to the House and see what may happen. There are the treatments that should be considered. If all else fails and it looks to be fatal then we break the circle and start over. A second chance.”

Terry walked down the drive to the road that cut down to the vineyards. It was warmer there, not so much wind. He stopped and looked at the rows of vines, unnaturally twisted trunks waiting for spring to put forth their creepers.

“Ah, Mister Thorne.…”

“Hello, Duflot.”

“You are better now. My wife, she make the best chicken soup.”

“Yes, she does,” Terry smiled a little. “Very good soup”

“Ah, you see the vines? They look dead, no? But I love them and love gives them life. Yes, you will see in the spring, and grapes will come.”

“They’re not really dead?”

“Non, only resting.”

Terry walked on…that a man could love a grape vine. What did he love…he loved Jacky…he loved Toni…he loved Max and John and Jack. His brothers…but not really…they were himself. They were one uniquely one. Did he love himself…he loved living…stupid…stupid daily things. He wanted more stupid daily things. He wanted to live.

He’d walked to the other side of the vineyard. A road led out to another. He stood there debating when a movement caught his eye.

Toni ran down through the vineyards. She’d seen him from the house after Max had told her about his phone call. She came running full tilt and he remembered her running to him when he’d parachuted from the plane right here in this road. His eyes stung but he remained still.

She ran straight into him, wrapping her arms around him.

“What are you doing?” he  asked.

She had her face buried in his shoulder. “Finding you. Max told me. I’m going with you tomorrow.”

“Honey, there’s no need….”

“Hush…just don’t push me away. I’m in this with you so…get over it.”

He nodded his head and held on to her. After a while they broke apart but held hands as they walked. “It’s warmer down here,” she remarked.

“It’s protected, the house on one side on the rise and past the trees the hills.”

“Terry, we’re going to the House of Four Seasons. It’s up to you when. Max can book a flight for us all.”

“I want to talk to this quack tomorrow and see what he says. If I have any treatment it won’t be here. I’ll go home to England, get a second opinion. “

“You’re not going to fool around…?”

“No, I’ll decide tomorrow what to do. We may go straight to the House. I’m not opposed to that. I can arrange a plane. “

“We’re all going, kid,s too. They can stay at John’s but you and I are going to the House.”

“Max okay with that?”

“He’s okay with anything right now that’s going to help you. We won’t take advantage of that.”

Terry slipped his arm around her waist. “I wouldn’t do that to him.”

“You’re not going to be stubborn or anything about this, are you?”

“No, luv, I want to get out of this alive.”

She hugged him back. At least so far his attitude was good.

Terry and Toni were ushered into Dr. Chou’s office. “And this is?” He looked at Toni.

“My wife,” Terry answered and reached for her hand.

Toni sat and listened, looked at the pictures the doctor pulled up on his computer. Certain things stood out in her mind, Stage 1, operable, follow up with chemotherapy. The doctor wanted to move right away.

“Would it be possible if he has the operation here, for him to travel soon after, or how soon after?”

Fourteen days before he could travel. It was a major operation. Yes, it would be possible for him to have the chemo treatments in England. He had the name of a specialist he could refer him to. Time was important, the tumor was small and the cancer had not spread.

“Let me go away and think about it for 24 hours.” Terry looked at Toni and she nodded.

They left his office and found a little bistro and a cup of coffee. Terry had been quiet and now he played with his cup. “I think I want to have the surgery. I want it out of there.”

“I want it out, too, but the way he described the surgery, oh, Terry!”

“I wouldn’t know. I’d be asleep.” He looked up at her.

“We could go to the House when you’re able to travel.”

“Yeah,” he licked his lower lip. “I think that’s what I want to do.”

“Is there any reason to wait until tomorrow to tell the doctor?”

He shook his head no.

“Well, finish your coffee and let's go back and get this thing scheduled, the sooner the better.”

When they left Marseilles he had thirty-six hours.

 (By Jo)

Part 3

Toni drove back to La Siroque. He didn’t argue. She’d held up pretty well in the face of it, but she was numb. Afraid to wander too far from the center, not wanting to investigate the outer edges. She had to be strong for him. The silence in the vehicle was deafening. “Do you mind?” She turned on the CD player.

“No, it’s good.”

“We should get back in time for supper.”

“Um…”

“I think we need to let Jacky know something. Not all of it, but since you’re going to have surgery he’s bound to wonder. He’s been here now for three months.”

“I’ll talk to him.”

“Okay.”

“Toni, thanks for being my wife today.”

“Terry…I…I don’t know what to say.”

“I need you to be right now.  I’m not asking for conjugal rights…just be with me.”

“I am with you, right beside you all the way.” She blinked away tears, they were almost home.

“So that’s where it stands,” Toni finished telling Max and Jack. Terry had gone up to see Jacky as soon as they got home.

“I’m glad he’s going to have the surgery. I was afraid he wouldn’t. I’ve been researching it on the net. There is no guarantee it won’t return.”

“I know. Dr. Chou laid it out for him, didn’t sugarcoat anything. As soon as he’s able to travel we’re going to the House and hope for the best.” She was about to lose it.

“You’ve been very brave today, Pet. Don’t give in now.”

“It’s hard…I’m not. I may be spending a good deal of time with him. You should know that. He needs me right now and I’m not going to let him down.”

“Of course I expect you to, Toni. Don’t give it a second thought.”

“He’s just so…quiet.”

“What would you have him do? He has a lot to think about. It’s not easy to realize one’s vulnerability. He’ll come through; he’s strong in here where it counts,” Jack said.

“I think I’ll, um, go up and e-mail John. He wanted me to as soon as we knew something.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Yes, Ludivine fed us. Yours is in the oven.” Max took her in his arms and hugged her. “It’s going to be all right. It will be.”

He hadn’t come down for his supper and Toni went up to find him in his bedroom.

“You need to come and eat. You have to stock up, you know.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Maybe you don’t have much of an appetite but your body needs all the help it can get right now. Don’t deny it what it needs.”

“Come here.” He patted the side of the bed.

“Talk to me.” She sat down and took his hand.

“I don’t feel very social tonight. I talked to Jacky and Maxi and told them that I had a thing inside of me that had to be removed and a bunch of shit. I think they understood that. Jacky wanted to know where it was and Maxi wanted to know how big it was. They’re pretty sharp.”

“Yes, they are they understand a lot more than we give them credit for.”

“I didn’t mention the C word. Are you okay with this, Toni? I kind of made the decision today without discussing it.”

“I think you made the right one and I would have told you if I didn’t agree. As for being all right with this, how can I answer that? We do what we have to. If you don’t want to talk to anybody tonight, that’s fine. I’ve let them know what happened today. Max is emailing John so we’re all in the picture. It has to be that way. You know that. Everybody is concerned and worried.”

“Yeah, family….”

“Exactly. What did you tell Jean Paul?”

“That he’s going to have to take over for me in the field for now…and I don’t know, Toni, it might be forever. If I get through this I’m not sure I want to risk my life again. It’s too precious.  I’ve sent an email to Brian and to Dino. I thought he’d want to know.”

“I was going to ask you if you’d talked to him. Where is he now?”

“Miami.”

“I’ve lost track of you and I know why. There was a lot of emotional crap in the way. I hope we’ve cleared all that away by now.”

“I think we have.”

“If I bring you something to eat, will you eat it…for me?”

“I’d do anything for you.”

Toni took his face in her hands. “I love you, Terry Thorne.” She kissed him gently and left to get his supper.

While he ate she went up to the nursery to check on the children. Max had put them to bed but she could hear them as soon as she reached the top step. The boys had made a tent out of Maxi’s blanket. Toni squatted down and peeked in. “What are you doing out of bed?”

“We want to sleep here,” Jacky answered

“All right, if you want to sleep in a tent let’s make a proper one and get some bedding down there. You don’t want to sleep on the cold floor.” The boys thought she was wonderful…old Tuppy would never have let them do something like that. Between the twin beds she stretched out a blanket and tucked it in so it wouldn’t fall. Quilts and pillows were arranged underneath for the two little boys. Jacky had been there for three months. It occurred to Toni that Maxi was really going to miss him when he went back home. She talked to them a little and reminded them that Rose was asleep and if they woke her there would be no more tent.

“See, you were hungry.” Toni took the tray from the table. “Are you okay tonight, and it’s okay not to be, you know.”

“I’m all right. I wanted to be by myself for awhile and let it all sink in.”

“Max wanted to see you but morning is okay with him.”

He nodded, his eyes slowly meeting hers. Toni put the tray down on the table and lay down beside him, holding him. “Want me to make you a tent?” She told him what she’d done. He smiled and held her close for awhile. Quietly she lay with him until his hold began to loosen and he was asleep.

“I’ve put everybody to bed,” she told Max, coming up behind him at his desk and massaging his  shoulders.

“You haven’t put me to bed. Jack?”

“I’m sure Jack can find the bed by himself.” She bent over and kissed him. “Did you talk to John?”

“They’re pretty upset over the whole thing. John thought maybe we should have tried the House first.”

“It was Terry’s decision and you know if the House didn’t work then it might have been too late to have the surgery. Right now everything is contained.”

“I’ve checked out this Dr. Chou. He’s the man for the job. I’ve called Tuppy back. She’ll be here tomorrow. I can’t think of anything I’ve left undone, so we can leave tomorrow afternoon for Marseilles and stay at a hotel until he can come home.”

“I’m glad you’re coming.”

“I wouldn’t leave you alone, love. You’ve never been good on your own.”

“No, I haven’t. I’m afraid I’d just fall apart and I can’t do that.”

Max pulled her down on his lap and kissed her. “I think it’s time you put me to bed.”

“Who’s going to put me to bed?”’ she wanted to know.

He growled against her neck.

It was late when Jack climbed the stairs. He stopped by Terry’s door, seeing a light beneath it. He opened it a little. Terry was propped up in bed, reading.

“There you are,” he said quietly entering the room. “I thought you’d gone down for the night.”

“Hello, Jack. No, I, uh, seem to be up and down all night, probably from spending too much time in bed. What’s up?”

“I just wanted to wish you well. I’ve been elected to stay here and help with the children while the rest of you go off. You’ll do fine, Terry. I myself have been wounded many times. I reckon my body looks like a map. You’ll carry a scar for awhile.”

“I don’t care as long as I’m carrying it.”

“You’re a brave soul.”

“You are, Jack. You’re my hero, you know. I want to be like you when I grow up.”

Jack chuckled, “First you have to grow up. Did I ever tell you about the time I’d nearly lost my right arm? For months I went around with it strapped to my body.  I was a prisoner of war at the time…but we made our escape, Stephen and I, and found ourselves an English frigate to board. Well, before long we were engaged in battle with one of the Americans. Stephen, seeing that I was bound to go into the thick of it, I’d gotten pretty good with my left arm. Anyway, Stephen placed a brass bowl over my heart and lashed my arm across it.”

“Did you win?”

“Of course we did.”

“That was your bit of armor, the bowl?”

“Yes, I suppose. It was Stephen’s idea. We don’t always have armor as Maximus did or even you. What was it you have?”

“Bullet-proof vests?”

“Yes…more often than not the armor is within. It’s in here in your mind. You declare yourself invincible and you move out without fear to do the thing you must. You go at it full strength and never doubt but that you will prevail. There may be collateral damage but you accept that. As a soldier you know you must. You are a strong man body and mind. You are disciplined and you will prevail, my brother.”

“Thank you.”

“I suppose I will see you when you get home if I’m still here and the children haven’t demolished me. Try and get some sleep. I think I shall do the same.” Jack patted Terry’s arm and stood up then looked at him a moment. “If ever you need me, think hard on it and I will come.”

“As you did for me in London that time when I need to talk to you?”

“Yes, but it will be easier this time because you’ll know what you are doing.”

Terry thought about him after he left. He’d fought side by side with him with  a 1^st Lieutenant’s sword in his hand before he found the knife. Jack did not know fear. He was a man to have on your side, fighting with you. It was good he was there.

Part 4

“Well, here it is, dear, home sweet home for awhile.” Max opened the door to the hotel and picked up their bags.

“There’s something familiar about this hotel.”

“Ah, that’s because we’ve been here before. This is where you seduced me.”

“MAX, you always said I didn’t…!”

“But you did and so very cleverly, too. Of course it took me a while to get my twisted arm back into…”

“Oh, right! You were a pushover. There was no arm twisting.” She went over and opened the drapes. “I’m glad they took Terry right in.” She noticed the spires across the street.

“Yes, so am I, no sitting around thinking. He’s got blood work tonight and an early surgery. He handles himself very well. I’m not sure I wouldn’t be scrabbing at the doors and wailing into the night.”

“You like to put yourself down, don’t you? You’re as brave as any of them, all of them put together. Look what you’ve taken on with me.”

“Well, I’d hardly call that something to be brave about. I was dancing about with self adorned laurels at the time”

“No, you weren’t. You were in mourning for Connie and I was mourning for Terry. You had  a small baby without a mother. Suddenly I was thrust at you with all my baggage and you took me on.”

“It wasn’t quite like that. I wanted you; I’ve always wanted you even on my wedding day. You mentioned  that not long ago.”

“I am an immoral woman. When I think of all the things I’ve done.”

“No, you aren’t.” He lifted her chin. “You are all I will ever want or need.”

She smiled a little, “I know who I am.”

“Dinner in or out? Sorry, but we have to think of such things.”

“Out.” Her eyes strayed to the cathedral across the street. She wanted to go and pray for Terry but would God even let her in, would the doors be locked? It was getting late. “What time does a church close?”

“You’re asking me?” Max raised a brow. He followed her gaze and looked back at her. “Let’s go find out.”

Hand in hand they dashed across the traffic and up the steps to the huge doors. One was open as if He’d remembered, maybe hoped. They slipped into the silent, softly- scented air. Old air, Toni thought, air that had been there for centuries. Air that had heard all kinds of tales but none so fantastical as the one she could tell but wouldn’t.

She knelt, pulling her scarf over her hair and felt strangely conspicuous there as though she were being watched and perhaps she was. What was she doing here? Why had she come? She began with The Lord’s Prayer. How long had it been but the words came to her as if it were yesterday. Then she prayed, she prayed for Terry. It became easier, the words flowing in her mind as she prayed for their children, for Max, for John and even Jack, who was not of this world. She asked for forgiveness and guidance. Amen.

She sat back on the pew and Max took her hand. “Are you through?”

“Yes,” she whispered back.

Outside, she asked him if he’d prayed, too. “No, it was not God that delivered me into this world or guided my footsteps. I’m something apart but don’t let that distress you, love.”

“You don’t believe?”

“I believe in magic.”

“Where do you think magic comes from, good magic, that is?”

“How do we know that this is good magic, Toni? How do we know He looks down and approves of the kind of magic that's born us?”

“It’s not evil.” She stopped on the sidewalk. “We’re not evil.”

“I never said we were. I don’t think we are evil. I’m saying we don’t know if we came from God-sponsored magic or not. That’s all I’m saying. I don’t know where it comes from and neither do you.” Max took her hand and began down the sidewalk again. “We aren’t going to argue about it.”

She let him lead but it bothered her a little that he didn’t believe. She glanced up at the stars for a moment as they turned the corner to find a restaurant.

The next morning found them on the hard seats in the surgical waiting area.  They’d only had a brief moment with him before he was taken into surgery. Terry had already been sedated and could hardly keep his eyes focused on her.

“Do you want to go and get some breakfast?” Max yawned.

“Yes, it will help pass the time.”

Terry was in a tunnel of some kind. He could hear the cries of men. Somewhere there was a fierce battle going on. Looking ahead, he realized he wasn’t alone in the tunnel. Captain Jack Aubrey was with him, cutlass drawn, urging him onward. Bodies pressing from all sides, Aubrey ahead, bashing and slashing. He felt helpless because he had no weapon. Every once in awhile Jack looked back to make sure he was still with him, even came back for him once and again urged him forward. ‘Strait at ‘em’! he heard him say and he did. He ran straight at them, weaponless and fearless, all or nothing.

“Can you hear me?” Toni asked.

Terry heard her. He opened his eyes a slit and there she was. He felt like he had a weight on his chest and plucked at it only to have her take his hand. “No, no,” she told him.

“Welcome back, brother.” Max came into his line of vision

“Jack…?” he croaked.

“He’s not here, Terry. He’s at the chateau,” Toni answered him.

“No…here.” He closed his eyes again.

Max immediately got on the phone making arrangements to get Jack to Marseilles. After talking with him Jack tried to wish himself to Marseilles and ended up on the other side of Bonnieux. Finally Aubrey Duncan picked him up and drove him to Marseilles. He had the boys in the back, strapped in their seats.  They were going to stay with Grandpa Duncan for awhile. Tuppy was back and in charge of Rose.

Later that night Jack was allowed in to see Terry for a moment.

“Hello, my boy. How are you?”

Terry shook his head a little. “Um, awful…thanks for getting me through.”

“Sorry?”

“Straight at ‘em…I did.”

Jacks eyes glittered for a moment before he lowered his lids. “You follow orders well and I assume you also can hold your tongue when necessary.”

“Magic…”

“Somebody had to keep the link open. Rest and heal.” Jack touched his hand and left him.

The first thing Jack wanted to know when he met up with Toni and Max was when Terry could leave.

“Out of the hospital in three days if all is well, but he can’t go anywhere yet, not for a couple of weeks. The doctors want to monitor him closely. You know we almost lost him. At one point everything went crazy, his blood pressure, his body temperature, oxygen level and then it leveled out. He appears to be all right. They took the tumor out and a little surrounding tissue,”  Max said.

“His body did not like being operated on. When he is released from this hospital put him on a plane and let’s get him to the House.”

“But they said he couldn’t travel….”

“Who are they? And more importantly, what do they know of him? Nothing except what a machine tells them. We can do more good than harm in taking him right away. His own plane has seats where he can lie down. Good Lord, do you not remember bringing him from London?”

“That’s true…when we rescued him from the rehab center. Okay…” Toni looked at Max.

Because Terry was kept heavily sedated for the next two days, Max made all the arrangements. SI would send the plane to Marseilles. Tuppy and Aubrey would bring the children and their luggage. They were going to fly into Bangor, Maine, where John was coordinating things on his end.

Terry went from his hospital bed to a wheelchair to a taxi and to the airport where he was carried aboard on a stretcher and laid out in one of the comfortable seats and strapped in. He was aware of what was happening but only just. Toni was feeding him pain pills.

In the middle of the night Toni got up and went to check on him, down on her knees in the aisle. He felt his hand on her and took it and kissed it.

“You’re awake.”

“Not really…children?”

“Back of the plane asleep. It’s all the kids, Jack, Max and us.”

“No nanny?”

“No, they’re going to John’s. John is going to get us to the House by helicopter and ambulance. If you can believe it, he’s going to drive it,” she smiled.

“Quite a show.”

“Yeah, but you’re worth the price of admission.”  She ran her hand over his brow, “Need anything, pills?”

“Pills before we land. Hurts  when I move. Luv you.”

Toni smiled, “Love you, too.”

The plane was well lived in by the time they set down in Bangor. Donna was there to help with the kids. She’d left theirs at home with a sitter. John climbed aboard the plane before they got off. He was going to walk them through customs.

He was going though his pockets. “These are your keys, Max. I rented you a four wheel drive. We got snow on the roads here. Donna will drive mine back with whoever wants to ride. We got an extra car seat if you need it. Hey, Jack.”

“Hello, John.”

“And I got an ambulance to transport Terry to the helicopter. These are all people I know, so we’re cool. Won’t be a long flight from here. Might not be that comfortable for him but once we’re in  Gloucester I got an ambulance waiting for me to drive him to the house.”

“How are you going to get him in?” Max asked.

“One man can operate a stretcher. It’s on wheels. I’ll tell the damn house to build me a ramp pronto,” he grinned. “Where’s my other passenger…there she is. Hey, sweetheart.”

“John, honey, good to see you.” She came down the aisle still holding Maxi’s coat and gave him a hug.

John moved back a few seats and stopped at Terry’s. ”Is he out?”

“As much as I could give him without worrying.”

“Well, good. Helicopters ain’t comfy.” He looked towards the back of the plane.  "What’s this back here…what’s goin’ on here? Who do I need to lock up, huh?” He started in on the boys and had them giggling and laughing at his funny hat and wanting to see his badge. Rose came tearfully up, tugging on Toni’s sweater.

“Is that man about to get you? We won’t let him, will we.” She was rocking her back and forth and Jack came to her. ”Let me have her now.” He met Toni’s eyes. “If you need me, Toni, think hard.”

“Hopefully I won’t. A few days and we’ll be joining you. Here you go, Rose’s blankie”. She sighed watching him carry Rose down the aisle.

Max had finished with the custom’s officer and came down the aisle, grabbing Toni around the waist. “We’re not that far away, love. I know you can’t call from the house but slip out somewhere and let me know something, okay. I’m worried, too. I love you.” He kissed her and held her close a moment until John made an exaggerated sound in his throat.

Max took the boys now with their shoes and coats on, so now there was just Terry to get off the plane. They were waiting until the ambulance got there.

“Strange how quiet it is now,” she said.

“How are you holding up?”

“I’m okay.”

“I heard you had another meltdown.”

“Oh, Jesus, is nothing private anymore? I had an emotional month. Maybe it was hormones or something. I’m strong when I need to be and I need to be right now.”

“You’re doing great and, no…nothing is private. It’s my business what goes on with you, too. Here it comes at last. Damn it! I told them no sirens.”

Part 5

Toni followed the ambulance from Gloucester to the house. The roads were snowy and frozen. John had rented her a Rover from a local ice skating coach. The helicopter had set down in an empty shopping center parking lot just inland from Salem. She was anxious to get Terry inside the House, feeling if she could just do that everything would be all right. Through the gates of the snowy drive. The House was alight and welcoming. Fires were lit and the door swung open before Toni reached it. She didn’t go in, though. She waited. The ambulance pulled right up to the front steps. Toni felt it and turned around and tilted her head. Had the house just staggered?

John was opening up the back and going inside, getting him ready to move.

“Can I help?”

“Order up a ramp.”

Toni turned and looked toward the house but it was already forming from the door to the back of the ambulance. She had to move out of the way.

John expertly rolled him into the living room. “What now? He needs to be in a bed not lying on this sofa.”

“Dining room. There will be a bed in there.” Sure enough, a king-sized bed dominated the room. A fire in the fireplace, warm covers and feather pillows.

“Fit for a king,” John remarked, loosening the straps on the stretcher.

Toni turned the bed down and moved on her knees over to take one side of the sheet to move Terry from the stretcher to the bed. He moaned a little before they got him settled.

“I know you want some coffee,” she said, moving from the bed and heading down the hallway.

John checked over Terry. He was a trained medic, just didn’t often have to use his skills. His blood pressure was good, color okay. He covered him up and tucked him in and pushed the stretcher out of the room. Did she say coffee?

The House had indeed staggered. Never had anyone arrived in an ambulance before and when it determined it was Terry, a shudder went though the timbers. Now that Toni and John had left him alone the magical spirits hovered over him to find the hurt, the thing that needed healing, the thing that had brought him down.

They withdrew, circled him, and came again to his chest, a grievous wound and something was missing inside of him, part of his lung. They swirled up angry now. Who had done this to him? No time for anger, they descended again over his chest to immediately ease his pain for they could feel it, too. During the next hour more spirits were called in.

Toni and John sat at the kitchen table eating sandwiches and chips and drinking coffee. Brownies were now added to the table.

“You know, John, I don’t know how this will work. If his outer scars disappear how will we know that inside he’s okay? If one little cell escaped it could travel anywhere and set up shop again. That’s what chemo is for.”

“You’ll just have to take him to be checked when he leaves here. There’s a medical center in Boston that has a good cancer research department.”

“A doctor would have to refer him. I couldn’t just go up and knock on the door.”

“I’ll take care of that. Are you going to be okay up here by yourself tonight? I know he’s here but he ain’t, you know?”

“I’ll be fine. Thanks, you’ve done an outstanding job.”

They walked to the dining room again and John leaned over him. “ The air is thick with magic here. I’m going to leave him alone.” John stopped and hugged and kissed her. “Hell, it’s winter! I should be here,” he grinned.

“Like old times,” she hugged him back. “Let Max know we’re settled. I love you, John.” She walked him to the door and waited while he loaded the stretcher and secured the back doors of the ambulance. Its red lights soon faded into the cold, dark night. She turned back to the house and to Terry.

Quite without realizing it she was answering questions. “It was a cancer on his lung and it had to be removed. There was not time to come here, not knowing whether you could do anything for him. Can you?”

She didn’t receive an answer.

He slept on. Toni already had his pills out for when he woke up but he’d slept through the four hours. She watched him and sometimes it looked as though he was trying to push something away. The weight on his chest, she already knew he felt that. She didn’t know what to do. Upstairs she could sleep in peace but she didn’t want to leave him alone down here. Four days ago he’d had his chest ripped open. He still had stitches and drains, things she knew nothing about and she was leaving it up to the House, who wasn’t communicating with her. Finally her head drooped onto her chest in the chair by the fire. The House changed the chair into a recliner and gave her a soft blanket.

He had no idea of the time or the day when he came to. He turned his head. Where the heck was he? The House, he was at the House. Vague memories came back to him of being put into an ambulance at the airport. Had something else happened to him? His left hand did a little exploring. The tight bandage that had weighted his chest was gone. He looked down, no tubes, his right arm was free. His chest looked like it always did. He coughed a little, expecting a piercing pain, but none came. Was it over, finally over? He closed his eyes and rolled over on his side.

Toni came running down the stairs. She’d been up and had a shower and dressed in warm sweats, she came down to check on him before she went to find something to eat.

He’d moved. “Terry?”

His eyes came open. “Toni.”

She crawled up on the bed with him. “How are you? How do you feel?”

He swallowed, "I’m still trying to assess the situation. What can you tell me?”

“You’ve been out of it for three days, counting the day we brought you here. I didn’t try to wake you because I could see what the House was doing. To look at you, you’d never know anything had been wrong with you. But the thing is we don’t know about what’s inside."

“Shouldn’t be anything inside.”

“I know but there was the chemo that you didn’t do. I want you to have a scan done.”

He took her hand and pulled her close to him. “You’ve had a shower. I smell your hair. I need one, too. Hospital  and three days here, I’m ripe.”

She grinned a little. “You are a bit. It takes away from your natural scent.”

“Who else is here?”

“Nobody, just you and me.”

“I remember John. Was he here or was I dreaming?”

“He brought you here. How’s your appetite?”

“I’m gutted,” he grinned and threw his legs over the side of the bed. “Where are we? This the dining room?”

“It was. It’s your own personal suite now. We couldn’t get you up the stairs. Bath is through there.”

Terry got in the shower, checking himself out, still amazed the operation was gone. He began thinking about what Toni said about what was inside. Had it been put back as before or…or what? He felt fine, hungry as hell, but otherwise he was good to go. He walked out in a towel to find some old familiar track pants and a sweat shirt on the bed. He padded to the front windows, seeing snow on the ground.

“Breakfast is ready!” Toni hung in the doorway.

“So am I,” he smiled and followed her to the kitchen.

“How’s your strength? I know how weak you were before the operation.”

“Feels normal. Well, not exactly. I’ve been lying fallow for two months. I’ll build it back gradually.”

“You’ve lost weight.”

“Probably needed to.”

He cleaned his plate and Toni refilled their coffee cups. “It’s good to see you eating again. I can’t tell you how worried I’ve been over you.”

“I’ve worried over you, too.” He took a sip of his coffee. “Ever since you had that episode in your bath room…I’ve worried. I’ve tried to figure out something and there isn’t anything.”

She looked down. “There isn’t and I don’t want to go there again."

“We aren’t.  Have we got a vehicle?”

“Yes, in the garage. Why?”

“We can get out of here, go to Maine.”

“I need to get out and call John. He’s going to arrange a referral for you so I can take you to the cancer center in Boston for a scan.”

“I’ve had enough of hospitals.”

“You’re not going to be difficult about this, are you, Terry? It’s important. There is no way to know what’s going on inside of you without it.”

“How long does a referral take?”

“I have no idea. Why?”

He rested his chin on his hand. “I’ll tell you why. Because I’m sitting here in a snowbound house with a woman I love. I feel good…she looks damn good. I used to make love to her upstairs until she cried out my name. I rolled in the grass with her right outside that door in the moonlight. Do I need to go on?”

She shook her head no.

“Max has bent over backward for me for the last two months. He’s been there for me when I needed him. When I was looking at…the end, he was there for me to lean on. I know what you are to him and what he is to you. I asked you if you wanted to come home with me, remember that? The offer still stands but you turned it down. I don’t trust myself around you, especially here. I know I asked you to be with me when I was ill. I’m not ill now. It’s not a good idea for us to be here alone. You know that. Unless it’s okay with you…if you want it to happen, then it’s a different ball of wax.”

Toni got up and went to the sink. “We won’t take advantage of this situation…we won’t. I need to go out and call John. Do you want to come with me or not?”

Terry pushed away from the table. “I’ll come with you. I’m sorry, luv.” He left the kitchen.

She tilted her head, looking out over the snow-covered back garden and the glistening ocean beyond. He’d taken her argument away from her and made it his own. He could be a sly devil when he wanted to be. Now if she even batted an eye at him…it was all on her. Well, we’ll see how this plays out, she thought, and went upstairs to change into a pair of jeans.

“You want to talk to him? He’s right here.” Toni handed her phone to Terry.

“Hey, John. Ah, it’s a miracle. You wouldn’t even know I had an operation. I’m standing on the corner of Main…yeah, it’s right across the street.  I will. I’ll have one for ya. Okay, we’re going to be in town for awhile so let us know about the cancer center.”

Toni walked over to a storefront while he talked to John. So many memories in this little town. Down the street is where John played hockey. She’d been in these bars  with Terry and Max and even Jack. She smiled, thinking about him and the old fellow that recognized him that time. John had been recognized in this town, too, and she’d had to use a bit of magic to take care of that. They’d lost that, that bit of magic, except for Jack. She wished sometimes they had it back; it protected them.

“Something in there you want?”

“Oh…no, I was just thinking, remembering. A lot of our lives is tied up in this little town.”

“Yeah, let’s go tie it up across the street for awhile.”

“Okay.” He did it again. That was the second time she’d noticed it. He reached in his pocket for  the cigarettes that weren’t there anymore. “Still reaching for the smokes.”

“I don’t know where that’s coming from today. I’ve been off them for nearly a month now. Did you bring the meds for that?”

“Yes, you haven’t had one for three days. Maybe that’s it.”

“Just as well. I can’t drink and take them and I intend to drink. Coming?”

How could she resist that look, those eyes. He was playing her, she knew it. He was a good flirt. She let him. Since she was driving she ordered a soft drink. He was drinking beer and playing pool, enjoying himself. After the ordeal he’d been through she thought he deserved a little play time.  She ordered a pizza and made him eat. It was three by the time she got him out of there and headed for the car. John called as she was backing out. Terry could be seen in three days. She saved the message.

“Three days, we’ve got three days.” She glanced over at him.

“That’s a long time.”

“Is it?”

“Could be…maybe we could go into Boston…stay there.”

“Hmm , we could if you want to.”

“But you’re not going to, are you?”

“Not right now. Look how we’re dressed and there’ s all your medical records at the House.”

She pulled up in the drive and he opened the garage door for her.

“It’s bloody cold out here!”

“It doesn’t feel too bad to me. It’s probably all that alcohol thinning your blood.”

Inside the fires were lit, it was all cozy and warm. He went into the dining room bedroom and took off his jacket. “I wonder why this is still here?”

“What?” Toni was turning on the CD player.

“Bed in the dining room.” He came out, pulling on a sweater.

“I don’t know. You know the night John brought you here the house kind of shuddered. I felt it.”

“Don’t blame it…but what’s that got to do with a bed in the dining room?” He’d moved in front of the fireplace.

“It was put there because we couldn’t get you up the stairs. You were too…we couldn’t. I don’t know why it’s still there…I don’t .”

“Aren’t you cold?” he asked.

Chapter 6

There was a good thick stew and fresh rolls for dinner. Great cold weather fare and normally the kind of thing Terry would have dug into but he played in his plate much like his son did at times. “What happened to that appetite?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I overdid it a little today. I felt so good this morning. I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”

“Why don’t you go to bed? I think you need to take it easy for awhile. Just remember where you were a few days ago.” He worried her and now she felt a little guilty for not paying closer attention to him all day, but he’d seemed fine…the house had worked it’s magic.

Toni brought a book into the living room and turned the CD down a little. Across the entryway Terry had gone to bed, his dining room bedroom lit by firelight. Her eyes kept shifting in that direction and she couldn’t concentrate on her book. Something wasn’t right. She got up and went into the room with him and immediately she knew she wasn’t alone. He was asleep and she went over and pulled the quilt over his shoulders. “What have you done?” she asked the spirits.

She lay down on the bed with him and took him protectively in her arms. He responded by sliding his arms around her but didn’t wake up.

Sometime in the middle of the night he woke and, finding Toni wrapped around him, he began arousing her as he used to do when they were together. He found her lips and teased her with the tip of his tongue until she opened for him.

At first she thought she was dreaming but soon that dream was a reality and she didn’t stop him. He was Terry, her Terry, and always would be. He’d been right about the House. They could never be here alone without coming together in love.

“You’re hot,” she smiled against his lips. “I mean hot…hot. Your skin is hot Something’s not right here with you. I feel it and the house knows it.”

“I feel it, too. I’m chilled, like with a fever, a little vertigo. Yesterday I put that off as too much beer and not enough food. It’s like coming down with a cold or…something.”

“I don’t understand how you can be sick here. Something’s not working. We were never sick here in all the years we spent here. Oh, Terry!” She pressed his face against her bosom. “We’ve got to get you well.”

Toni watched him throughout the day. He was all right through the morning but in the afternoon his fever came up and he said he ached all over. His symptoms were soon taken care of she noted so the house was monitoring him closely as well. He began coughing in the night and soon that stopped as well. Toni sat awake, propped against the headboard of his bed. The House wouldn’t communicate with her except to tell her not to worry.

He didn’t wake all night and by dawn Toni could feel the heat from his body without touching him. She eased out of bed, bundled up, and took her phone to the outside of the drive.

“Hey, Max, I know it’s early but I’m worried.”

“Darling, what time is it? Worried how, why?” Max was coming awake in one of the cottages behind John’s house.

“It took three days for the House to 'fix' him. He felt good day before yesterday but last night…he has fever and a cough. The symptoms go away quickly but he’s not right. This shouldn’t be happening now.”

“Jack, he may have more of an idea, love. Are you okay? Do I need to come and get you?”

“I wish you were here, all of you, because I’m getting really concerned. He’s supposed to have that scan tomorrow and he can’t go out like this.”

Max padded to the kitchen and plugged in the kettle. “We’re coming.”

“Thank you, love.”

Max and Jack each had a cabin behind the house. Max took his hot cup of tea and a coat over his pajamas and went next door and banged on the door. Jack was up, but not dressed.

“Come in out of the cold. What’s brought you out this early?”

“Toni called…something's not right with Terry. It took three days for the House to sort him out and he’s running fever now. I think it’s time we all went down there and get this thing taken care of, don’t you?” He sipped his tea.

“Yes…there is not a moment to lose. Roust out John and let us be on our way.” Jack finished his coffee in a gulp and reached for his clothes.

John was already awake, standing in the kitchen with a large mug of coffee. He noticed the lights in the cabins. Something was afoot. He ran up the stairs and pulled on his jeans and a sweater and was at the back door coming out when Max appeared on the shoveled walk.

“What’s goin’ on?” he asked.

“Terry’s running fever.”

“At the House?” John was astonished.

“Yeah, so, ah, we’re ready to go down there.”

They were making good time on the interstate highway, John driving with Jack riding shotgun and Max in the back seat.

Toni brought him several things to eat but he only wanted hot tea. “I’ll tell ya, luv, if I didn’t know better I’d say it was that flu coming back. I don’t know how that can happen here. I just feel really strange." He swallowed one of the pills the doctor had given him for anxiety, something to help him get off the smokes. “And this, ya know I was doing pretty good with the no smoking thing. We don’t have any patches left, do we?”

“No, I can go into town and get some at the pharmacy.”

“Don’t leave me.”

“No, no, I won’t.” Toni climbed into the big bed with him and held him close. “I’ve called in reinforcements.”

“Good,” was his muffled reply.

“I’m scared, Terry. I don’t know what we’ve done. It’s okay to come here. You know we have in the past with things gone wrong but this was serious. Maybe we should have just taken you to London to your own doctors, to that specialist Dr. Chou recommended and played it out the conventional way. I’m afraid.” She kissed the top of his head.

Within the hour she heard a vehicle and moved out of the bed to the windows. Such a feeling of relief went through her at the sight of the brothers.

Jack was through the door first and went directly to Terry after a quick kiss for Toni. She went to Max when he came in.

“I just feel like there is something not right about him.” She stood at the foot of his bed with the others gathered around. Terry, looking glassy-eyed, had pulled himself up on a pillow.

“The House in its infinite wisdom and quite unaware of the outcome has repaired his body to the point it was before he became sick. However already the virus was in his system. It is straining now to contain the virus, which is why he has bouts of fever and wellness. You understand what this means…?” Jack stood back from Terry’s bed.

“It means he’s at the point he was before he was diagnosed with cancer. Oh, fuck!Fuckin’ nice job.” John ran a hand over his face.

“Surely it knows about the cancer. How in heaven’s name could it have done such a thing?” Max asked, outraged.

“Maybe this is the first time it’s come up against something like this. It reacted when he was brought here. Kind of a stagger or shudder. This is my fault…I should never have brought him here.” Toni ran out of the room.

Max followed her. “It’s not your fault. We were all involved. All we wanted was his quick recovery and a clean bill of health. I suppose we should have been a little more specific.” He glanced around  at the living room.

Toni was crying softly against his chest. “He went through that surgery…for nothing. All that pain he suffered but at least he didn’t have a tumor…now what?”

“Toni, you and Max come back in here,” John called from the dining room door. “Jack’s doing something. You know he’s.…”

Jack summoned the spirits of the House into the room. He reached for Toni’s hand and pulled her to his side. “We should join hands here, concentrate on Terry’s wellness.”  He took Terry’s hand, Terry took John's and Max between with Toni.

They all closed their eyes. Toni felt it like an electric current moving through her. She tried to keep her mind on a healthy Terry. It strayed and she squeezed her eyes even tighter. She could smell it, the old air scented with incense. She felt her left hand being transferred to Terry. She was being moved to Jack’s place in the circle. He’d moved to her right now. The air was thick around her and still she would not open her eyes, no…Terry…concentrate. Her limbs were growing heavy and warm and soon strength she didn’t know she possessed flowed from her hands. Love, oh how she loved all in this room. Good men who loved in return, loved each other enough to lay down their own lives if need be. She felt it. They were apart but still part because she loved them, they were hers, in her care to love and protect against harm. Because she loved them they existed. They were an extension of her own desires and love. They were part of her. All this came to her in waves and she began to understand. It was she who was given  the power to heal not the house and well meaning unseen spirits. It would come through her because she loved and because she believed and had asked for help.

She didn’t know when she’d taken him in her arms, or that there had been a soft glow about her when she did so. It was his own impishness that made her open her eyes. He’d bit her nipple through her knit top. She felt a little disoriented for a moment. “What happened?” she looked up at the three of them surrounding the bed.

“You are amazing,” Max replied.

“You glowed,” John added.

“You have the power within you.” Jack looked at her steadily. “How are you, Terry?”

Terry moved in her arms and pushed himself up. “I’m all right now. I thought you were going to consume me.” He  looked at Toni.

She smiled slightly. “Only what needed consuming. How do you feel, seriously?”

“It’s gone. I know when it left. I’m okay now…hungry…in need of, ah, but of course not with an audience.”

Toni looked at him a moment, glanced down and kissed him softly, whispering against his lips. “Take it to the bathroom and have a good pee. It will do wonders for you.”

He grinned and hugged her. “Love you, baby.”

 She slipped off the bed and left the room, thirsty and in need of some air. It was Jack who joined her on the back terrace. Still traces of snow lingered among the stones. She had on Terry’s coat and Jack had pulled on one of John’s left on the coat rack.

“What happened, Jack? You’re the one who’s the keeper of all things magical and mystical.”

“Oh ho, am I?"

“At least you’re the explainer of such things. I had kind of a revelation. I saw you all as extensions of myself. You each fulfill something, some need I have and I love all of you. I think we’ve gotten away from the magic, so wrapped up in our daily lives that we forget.”

“What you did today is not just magic or if it is, it is a magic more powerful than has ever existed here on this spot. Love is very powerful, a very powerful emotion. It creates it’s own magic and that magic we felt today as we joined hands.”

“I felt it and then something else. I was trying so hard to concentrate on Terry, on healing his body…something entered me for awhile. I felt that, too, and then it left me but during that time it healed Terry. I think I know what it was.” She pushed some snow with the toe of her boot.

“For myself I feel rather refreshed, renewed.”

“You are all under my protection but especially the others. You have your own magic. I’ve always known that.  I succumb to it now and again,” she smiled sideways at him.

Jack smiled and slipped an arm around her waist. “I hope you always will.”

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