Inside the Fire Book One in the Warden's Series (13 page)

“Did you make a friend?” He chuckled. I
pushed my shoulder into his arm and rolled my eyes.

“Maybe.” I smirked as he playfully squeezed
my hand in his.

“Adam is a good guy, very friendly, not
overly friendly though. I can trust you with him.” He joked as we
walked to our seventh period.

“He is the first person to talk to me. Well
besides you.” I said adjusting my bag.

“People here do not do well when something
new is thrown into their mix. Everyone thinks a religious town will
be accepting to everyone. However when you think about it they have
gone to school together since kindergarten. Anything new and
exciting comes in and it throws them off balance.” He was talking
from experience.

“So what’s the plans this afternoon?” I
asked as we reached my classroom door.

“I was thinking it’s time you met my
father.” He stated, and the blood drained from my face. This is
where our relationship would end.

****

I followed him to his house that afternoon
after our final class. The entire time I was trying to convince
myself this would be ok. I had met ex-boyfriends parents before.
Yeah I usually gave them the impression I was a bad influence by
the way I dressed. The black dress I was wearing seemed to be quite
constricting all of a sudden. My calf length lace up boots seemed
even more so. I would suffocate before I even got there.

I pulled in behind Wesley’s car and turned
off the engine. Another internal pep talk and I was ready to
go.

“You look like you are about to be sick.”
Wesley said opening my car door and helping me out.

“I feel like I’m about to be sick.” I
confirmed as I fixed the bunched skirt. “I have never done well
with meeting parents.”

“You will be fine. My dad is pretty open
minded trust me.” He offered his hand, and I took it
gratefully.

Walking into the house again was hard
enough. I hadn’t set foot in it since the day I had run out. His
father was sitting at the table when we entered playing with the
edge of a napkin in front of him. He stood up as we entered and a
huge smile played on his face.

Wesley looked like his father; the same
height, the same blue yes, the same amazing smile. I had yet to
come across a photo of his mother so I was pretty sure my
assumption was flawed and slightly one sided.

“Dawn?” He asked a little too excited.

“Yes, sir.” I said trying to give him a
“pretty” smile.

“Please, come in and have a seat.” He
motioned for us to join him at the table.

Wesley led me to the table and pulled a
chair out for me. I took a seat putting my hands on my lap so he
couldn’t see how much I was shaking.

“So Dad. Dawn is new this year.” Wesley said
looking at his father.

Mr. Jensen glanced at his son and smiled at
him wearily. I noticed his father still wore his wedding band.
Seemed odd for a family that never talked about her or had any of
her photos in the house.

“Oh really? Where did you come here from?”
He raised an eyebrow.

“El Paso. My mother and I came here when she
changed her job.” I had already told the sad story to two people. I
didn’t think my emotional stability could take another walk down
memory lane.

“So it’s just you and your mother then?” He
asked.

This was probably the best conversation I
had with a boyfriend’s family since I started dating.

“Yes, sir.” I nodded at him.

“We moved here after Wesley’s mother
passed.” He looked away his eyes watering for a second.

“That is what he told me. I was sorry to
hear of your wife’s passing.” I bowed my head. Now I felt I needed
to tell him my mother was here due to the same terms.

The pain his father was experiencing was
heart wrenching. I could not imagine how I would be if Wesley was
torn from my life without any notice. I would stop at nothing to
get him back as long as what had taken him was not on his own free
will.

“Dawn’s step-father passed away six months
ago.” Wesley pointed out for me before his father could speak.

“That’s unfortunate.” Mr. Jensen looked at
me and frowned. “This must be hard for your mother.”

“She’s doing better. For a while I was
concerned. She likes where she’s at and she seems to enjoy the
congregation.” I said looking down at my hands. They were still
shaking.

“Would you like something drink?” Mr. Jensen
perked.

“Please.” I said my throat feeling dry.

His father stood up and walked to the
refrigerator.

“I have tea, coke, Dr. Pepper?” His father
looked at me and smiled.

“Dr. Pepper sounds great.” I said as he came
back and handed me a can.

“So what are your kids plans this
afternoon?” He asked changing our conversation from what it had
been previously.

“I would show Dawn the woods.” Wesley said
glancing at me.

The woods? I don’t want to go in there.

“What is so exciting about those woods?” His
father asked as Wesley smiled.

“It’s just beautiful.” Wesley shrugged.

“I’m fine not going into the woods.” I said
my voice shaking.

He laughed.

“There is nothing in the woods that could
hurt you.” He said as my eyes shot to his father.

“I’ve lived in the desert for so long being
in the trees makes me feel confined.” I lied. I knew something was
in those woods. I was not ready to find out who or what it was.

“Fine, fine.” Wesley caved.

“Daddy?” A girl about twelve entered the
room in a flower print dress and a confused expression.

“What is it Melissa?” Mr. Jensen asked with
affection.

“I can’t figure out this problem for the
life of me.” She put her head in her hands. “Sixth grade is so
hard!”

I had to muffle a laugh.

“Who is she?” Melissa said pointing at
me.

“This is Dawn. Wesley’s girlfriend.” Mr.
Jensen answered her.

“She’s a step up from the last one.” Melissa
said calmly.

“Thanks rugrat.” Wesley said giving her a
smirk.

“Dawn, do you know how to braid?” She asked
me ignoring her older brother.

“Of course.” I had long hair what made her
think I wouldn’t know how to braid.

“Can you teach my dad how to do it?” She
asked nicely. I looked at Mr. Jensen just as he blushed.

****

I left the house shortly after six to get
home in time for dinner. I had politely declined the invitation to
eat with Wesley and his family. I actually wanted to see my mother.
I had a feeling she would be the perfect person to talk to Wesley’s
dad seeing how they both moved here under the same pretenses.
Luckily her car was in the driveway.

I entered the house and put my bag down by
the door. She was standing at the stove the radio turned up singing
along. I might also want to add she was dancing.

“Mom.” I said putting my hand over my mouth
trying not to laugh out loud.

She turned around and smiled at me.

“What’s up darling?” She asked. She was in
far too happy right now.

“I met Wesley’s dad today.” I said locking
my hands together.

“Oh? How did it go?” She asked. She had been
through this before. I think she felt the same fear I did
concerning the matter.” Actually quite well. I was wondering
something though.” I paused and glanced towards the stove.
Spaghetti, my favorite.

“What’s that?” She asked.

“You know how I told you Wesley’s mom died a
few years back.” She nodded. “He still wears his wedding ring. I
was wondering if maybe you could go over to his house and talk to
him. Seeing how you both came here for the same reason.”

“It is not a horrible idea.” She smiled.
“Leave me the address and I will stop by tomorrow on my way to the
church.”

“You are the best mom!” I exclaimed throwing
my arms around her.

“So it didn’t just go well then.” My mother
laughed as I jumped up and down.

“Only one thing happened that was odd.” I
said as I pulled away and straightened my skirt. I couldn’t believe
I had just done that.

“What was that?” She returned to the
stove.

“His sister. She said I was a step up from
the last one.” I popped my knuckles. Her shoulders tensed, I knew
she was making a face.

“That is interesting. Wesley must be one of
those guys.” She laughed.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I crossed
my arms a half smile on my face.

“Nothing honey. You just aren’t exactly
normal. You already know this.” She was teasing me.

“I love how you have my back on this.” I
groaned.

“Set the table will you? It’s just about
ready.” She pointed to the cabinet that housed all the plates.

Invites &
Confessions

“
Dawn?” Adam’s voice
echoed through the hallway and I stopped in my tracks.

Turning around I looked at the boy as he
sped walked through the crowd apologizing to those that seemed to
be in his way. When he reached me I put his finger up to give him a
second to catch his breath.

“What’s up?” I asked situating my bag so it
wasn’t digging into my shoulder.

“I have tickets to a drag race this
Saturday. You have anything planned?” He asked me.

“You want me to go with you?” I was
shocked.

“Yeah. I figured you might be into that kind
of thing.” He laughed.

“Wow. Um. I don’t know I will have to ask my
mom if there is anything going on.” I blushed. He wasn’t kidding
when he said he wanted to get to know me.

“Awesome. Just let me know.” He gave me a
wave and walked off down the hallway.

He was a friendly boy that was for certain.
As he walked down the hallway he exchanged a brief conversation
with just about every student he ran into. He seemed well liked by
our classmates.

I shook my head and laughed under my breath.
I left the school and kicked my way through the gravel to my car.
Wesley had to go somewhere today, so I was going straight home. My
mother would freak when she saw me before six. When I got home from
school that day I put my keys on the counter and my bag on the
table, my mother must have heard me come in and called for me from
the living room.  I ambled in and I found her to be very
worried. She was chewing impatiently on her bottom lip her hands
twined into her dress her eyes blood shot.  I was concerned
instantly.

“What’s wrong mom?” I asked the moment I saw
her face.

“
I went and saw Wesley’s
dad today while the two of you were at school.” She sighed. “He’s a
very nice and very troubled man.”

She pulled a photo from beside her and
turned it towards me.  I was looking into a set of pale eyes.
She was smiling her children hanging all over her. I could tell she
was a happy woman. So why did she die? What had happened to
her?

“This is Greta Jensen.”  She motioned
for me to sit.

“
She’s beautiful mom.” I
said staring at the photo. 

I could see Melissa in her mother’s face.
The shaped even the size of her eyes. Everything was similar in
comparison including the small dimple on her right cheek.

“
Yes she was.” My mother
looked troubled. A few moments passed before she spoke again. “I
knew Greta.” My eyes widened. “I knew her back before she had
Wesley. Actually I was there with her when she took the pregnancy
test. Unlike me, she showed many warning signs early that she was
with child. She had all the morning sickness, the odd cravings,
things I never had when I was pregnant with you. She was almost
through the first trimester before she took that test.” Her eyes
started to tear. 

“She was so scared. They had just married,
and he was always on the road with his work so she was afraid to
have the baby. She was fearful she couldn’t do it without him there
with her.” She brushed the tears from her eyes.

“We had to leave town about six months into
the pregnancy. After your father set fire to the police station
while dealing with a criminal investigation.  I never heard
from her again.” There was another sigh and her shoulders quivered.
Her emotions were getting the best of her.

“Greg knew me the moment he opened his door.
He apparently never forgot me, even after eighteen years.  He
was more than willing to tell me what happened with Greta.” She
looked down at her hands before proceeding.

“Wesley was in tenth grade when she became
ill.  She was unable to sleep, very skittish. He said she
would jump at the smallest sound.  It wasn’t long before she
started talking to herself as if something was with her. After a
short while she was answering herself and talking to the air.” She
sniffed and wiped at her eyes.

“He said she was drawing disturbing images
of a woman devouring the souls of her family with what appeared to
be their spirit floating from their mouths to hers.” She paused.
“Greg said he’s going to see if he can find the sketch book. He
thinks it’s in the attic and he’s going to let me see it. He
actually thinks I can make some sense of it.”

“How are you going to do that mom?” I
asked.  I had this uncomfortable tightness in my chest.

“Dawn, how quickly you push aside my powers.
Have you forgotten I was an instrument of God once? He may have
taken my wings and threw me into this Hell hole but he let me keep
my powers.” She looked at my blank stare. Rolling her eyes she
looked at me seriously. “Did you really think your father was the
only one with a little magic up his sleeve?”

I admit I had thought my father was the more
powerful of the two of them. My mother very rarely showed her power
unless it was to simply assist a plant grow or an animal give
birth.

“You did didn’t you? I hope you know demon’s
used to fear me.” She smiled proudly.

I looked away and bit my lip. I think in a
way I had actually insulted her. That wasn’t my intention, my
assumption as apparently wrong.