Tiger's Eye (27 page)

“Will you marry me?”

I swallowed hard. “We haven’t even been together that long.”

“We’ve known each other most of our lives.”

His face was sincere, so very sweet.

“I just think it’s too soon.”

He shrugged, still on his knee. “Maybe, but things are different now.”

“What things?”

“You know.” He put his hand on my belly. “The baby,” he said softly.

“What? I’m not pregnant!”

“You’re not?”

“No.”

“Oh.” He looked confused. “I saw you buy two pregnancy tests. I was on my way home from a job, stopped to get a soda at a convenience store.” He gave me a sheepish look. “I didn’t say anything because I thought maybe you wanted to keep it a secret for the time being. Superstitions do run strong with the Geraghty women, after all.”

I grabbed his cheeks and kissed him. I did not deserve this man. “Oh, Chance”—I shook my head—“that was for Cinnamon.”

He looked surprised for a moment. Then he said, “So what? Marry me anyway.”

I turned down the proposal, gave back the ring. I couldn’t agree to marry him. Not now. Not when there was one more very important thing to do.

That evening, after the wine was poured and the fire started, my grandmother approached me. We stood there in silence for a moment.

“You know why I did it, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me.”

“You wanted me to stand on my own this time. Because if I didn’t learn now, I wouldn’t be prepared for my mother’s retrieval.”

“Very good. How did you figure it out?”

“Your son was a cop. I don’t expect you’re all that gun shy.”

She smiled, wistfully. “Are you prepared to begin your training? To learn more about your ancestors?”

“You mean the red-haired, fair-skinned magical people called the Tuatha Dé Danann?” I sipped my wine. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

Birdie nodded, her red cape slipping just over her forehead.

I glanced at Lolly, clutching her lost groom’s gift. And Fiona, gently stroking Thor. Then I looked down at my own glittering blue cape, wondering if any of the Danann’s gifts belonged to our tribe.

Wondering if the months of training that lay ahead would prepare me for the next journey.

“They better,” Birdie said. “Because it’s the most important mission of your life.”

I hated it when she did that. “And if I fail?”

“Neither you nor your mother will return home.”

“Well, at least there’s no pressure.”

THE END

Author’s Note

While writers often take great liberties in fiction, we also strive to make the reading experience as authentic as possible. Much of what you’ve read here came from hours of research. In case you’re interested in further information, I’ve included links below to some of the highlights of the story you just read.

The Hill of Tara is located in County Meath, Ireland, and was the ceremonial epicenter for the seat of high kings. This is just one of many impressive ancient sites and has been the focus of many archeological digs over the years. Myths and rumors surround this sacred site, which is older than the pyramids of Egypt.

You will learn more about it—and other spiritual enclaves—in
Emerald Isle,
Stacy’s next adventure.

The godlike people known as the Tuatha Dé Danann are to Ireland what King Arthur’s legend is to England. Their gifts to the land and her people were many, with the four treasures being the most sacred. The ancient text
The Book of Invasions
highlights their journey in detail. It was compiled in the twelfth century by Irish monks.

Finally, the prison dog program has been adopted by many correctional facilities across the globe. It’s been an invaluable tool to not only save the lives of dogs who otherwise would have been euthanized, but also the spirits of men and women who have lost their way. You can do a Google search to find out if there is a program in your area and how you can support it. The blog below has some great information and videos so you can see for yourself what a profound impact this program has on the lives of both four-legged and two-legged souls.

http://prisondogs.blogspot.com/

LITHA

This book takes place before the summer solstice, or Litha, when the sun is at the zenith of its power. It’s the longest day of the year and is celebrated by pagans with a large bonfire to ward off evil spirits. This practice is called “setting the watch.” Revelers jump through the fire for purification and good luck and often toss in herbs sacred to the day, such as rue, roses, and St. John’s wort.

The word “solstice” is Latin for “sun stand still,” which is precisely what appears to happen every year on the summer solstice. Usually the date is June 21, the first day of summer, according to our calendars. However, the longest day of the year technically falls when the sun has entered the Tropic of Cancer. Past cultures have viewed this time as Midsummer, or the middle of the growing season. After this date, the sun moves through the waning stage, days shorten, and winter approaches.

Midsummer’s Eve is also charged with magic and prime time for casting spells. Pagans feel that this night is ripe for love charms, so couples jump over the flames of the bonfires to strengthen their bond and maidens tuck sprigs of yarrow under their pillows, hoping to lure suitors. Herbs plucked on Midsummer’s Eve are thought to be at their peak for mystical purposes and ready for enchantment. As the veil thins between this and the Otherworld, it is also thought that one can see fairies dancing by rubbing a sprig of thyme on the eyelids. Often, folks linger all through the night drinking mead and ale, hoping to spot a fairy.

Midsummer marks the beginning of the waning sun, perfect to rid yourself of bad habits or negative traits—in other words, banishment rituals. Try this: while the fire is still hot, take a dark-colored piece of paper and write down the habit you wish to dispense. Fold the paper three times and toss it onto the coals, envisioning the heat burning away the negativity.

THE STORY OF DEMETER AND HELIOS

Demeter was the Greek goddess of Mother Earth. When her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped, she turned to Helios, the all-seeing sun god, for answers. He informed her that it was Hades, god of the Underworld, who had taken Persephone. In anger, Demeter withdrew her services as an Earth mother and the plants began to wither and die while Demeter searched for Persephone, who emerged months later. When Persephone returned, Demeter tended to the
Earth once again. This was the Greeks’ explanation for the harshness of winter and the spring thaw.

RECIPES FOR THE SUMMER SOLSTICE

Tomato-Cucumber Salad

Vine-ripened tomatoes and fleshy cucumbers are staples of the summer harvest. Pluck these veggies at their peak and before the critters steal them. If you don’t have a garden patch, venture out to the nearest farmer’s market. It’s a world of difference from store-bought varieties.

2 medium cucumbers, sliced thick and halved

2 large tomatoes, quartered

½ medium red onion, chopped

8 ounces plain yogurt

1 tablespoon lemon juice

½ teaspoon sugar

1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint

In a medium bowl, toss together first three ingredients. Set aside. Mix thoroughly yogurt, lemon juice, sugar, and mint. Fold into cucumber mixture and chill for 30 minutes.

Grilled Sweet Potatoes

The vibrant orange of sweet potatoes reflect the hue of a late-summer sun, making them a perfect addition to a summer solstice celebration.

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced

1 teaspoon cumin

2 tablespoons brown sugar

¼ cup butter

Fire up the grill. Tear off two sheets of heavy-duty foil. Divide potatoes in half, placing each batch on top of a piece of foil. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of cumin and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar over potatoes on each foil sheet. Divide butter. Dot each potato mixture with butter. Seal tightly. Double wrap, if needed. Place potato packets on grill and cook over medium heat for 40 minutes, turning occasionally.

Pomegranate-Chili Chicken

Ancient Greeks believed that the love goddess, Aphrodite, planted the first pomegranate seed on the island of Cyprus. The Chinese passed the seeds to wedding guests and lay the fruit around marital beds to ensure a prosperous union. So although pomegranates are winter fruits, they symbolize fertility, love, and marriage, important themes for a Midsummer meal.

4 chicken breasts

1 tablespoon chili powder

½ cup pomegranate juice

¼ cup sunflower oil

Rub chili powder into chicken breasts on both sides and place in a glass dish. Mix pomegranate juice and sunflower
oil. Brush both sides of chicken breasts with half the juice mixture. Grill chicken breasts over hot coals, basting with remaining marinade until cooked through.

Berry Bowl Bouquets

Nothing says summer like colorful berries and fragrant flowers. This treat combines both in a refreshing, light dessert.

1 pint each, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries

1 cup each pesticide-free violets, strawberry blossoms, and dianthus flowers

1 cup superfine sugar

Wash all fruit and flowers. Hull and slice strawberries. In a pretty bowl, gently toss together berries and flowers. Sprinkle with sugar and chill until ready to serve.

Sun Drops

Legend has it that the sunflower was once a water nymph so in love with Apollo, god of the Sun, that she gazed up at his golden chariot hour after hour, day after day, trailing his every move with the tilt of her head. She sat so long that her limbs transformed into roots and her golden hair and round face became the head of a sunflower, still following the sun.

½ cup butter, softened

½ cup white sugar

1 egg, beaten

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon vanilla

½ cup ground sunflower seeds

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

2 to 3 drops lemon food coloring (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in egg, lemon juice, vanilla, sunflower seeds, zest, and food coloring. Gradually mix in the flour until well blended. Round into balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cookies are lightly colored.

Mead Punch

Mead is a sweet honey wine, often incorporated with herbs, spices, and fruit. Some cultures refer to the full June moon as the “mead” moon or “honey” moon, hence the popular term for the vacation a bride and groom embark on after they take their vows.

1 quart white grape juice

4 cups honey

1 cup sweet woodruff leaves, rinsed

2 bottles white wine, chilled

1 liter soda water, chilled

1 cup chamomile blossoms, rinsed

In a large saucepan, gently heat grape juice, honey, and woodruff until the honey dissolves. Strain woodruff and chill juice mixture for one hour. When the guests arrive, empty honeyed juice, wine, and soda water into a large punch bowl. Float chamomile flowers on top and serve.

Sun Tea

Busy schedules and modern conveniences often make us forget just how magical the sun can be. Harness the power of the great star by preparing a batch of this herbal tea.

6 to 8 cups fresh herbs, washed

Water

Fill a glass tea jug with your favorite herbs and edible flowers for tea. Use a variety. I like to combine lavender, mint, and rose petals. Other combinations can include lemon balm, stevia, sage, hyssop, fennel, scented geranium leaves, and thyme. Place the jug in a sunny spot and let the sun penetrate it all day. Sweeten tea with sugar or honey and serve over ice.

Acknowledgments

I want to thank Jeff Bezos for creating Kindle Direct Publishing and allowing this writer to find her audience when no one else would. Thanks also to Terry Goodman, who took a chance on a self-published author who will always be grateful. Your guidance made the entire transition so much easier than I thought it would be. Thanks also to my editor, Alison Dasho, for keen insight and gentle suggestions that improved this book tremendously. To the creative people who gave Stacy a make-over and put up with my change requests—you guys rock! I love my covers. And my author team, especially Jacque Ben-Zekry, thanks for taking the time to answer tedious questions expediently and for all the conference magic you perform.