fantishu
Chapter 26
I nearly miss my turn as I try to process the information, slamming on the brakes and skidding along the icy road, then fishtailing into a parking lot. Having driven in the snow since I was a teen, the move doesn't scare me that much. For once, the nerves of the fae and I autopilot into a spot right in front of Nanny's assisted living home in Ipswich and exit the car, still fighting with the words floating inside my brain. The Last Witch?
werewolf are more frazzled than mine. But that might be because I'm in a state of complete shock.
Zev and Rune get out and fall in line behind me as I walk toward the entrance. Thankfully Zev grabs Rain out of her car seat, as I'm in such a haze I walk away from the car without even getting my baby. I would have remembered within seconds, but it's still a moment I know I'll beat myself up for until I die.
We pass people as I walk through the door, only half noticing the looks given to my companions. My weary brain is pretty used to the way they look and dress, but ten seconds in public reminds me how much they stick out in these small New England towns. The Last Witch? At this point I'm not just thinking the phrase, I'm mouthing it as well. We've arrived at the front desk and I'm about to sign in when Zev hands me my child and the obvious connection finally clicks.
"Holy SHIT. She's the last witch?!?"
Zev and Rune don't respond, probably because they're contemplating using magic to disappear. I look around the room, feeling no fewer than eighteen sets of eyes on me. The harshest glare comes from the young nurse working the reception desk.
"Hi," I say, trying to compose and cover for my outburst. "They're catching me up on a TV show and just gave away a huge spoiler." I playfully punch Zev in the arm for effect, forgetting again that his body is made of muscle armor.
I give a half-hearted smile, sign in at the front desk, and lead the way toward Nanny Tilly's room. There are more questions I want to scream, but this clearly isn't the place for it.
When we get to Nanny's door, I stop, the trailing Sexies halting behind me. I face them, giving as serious a look as I can muster, even while Rune's eyes melt me and Zev's eyes consume me.
"I need you two to wait out here," I say. "There's a window in the door so you can keep an eye on me, but my grandma's been in a... let's say, disturbed mental state since my mom died when I was 11. She's been worse since she started living here a few years ago, and I never know what kind of mood she'll be in. I don't want any extra bodies in the room that might stress her out. Also, be prepared for no fewer than a billion questions when I get back."
Neither of them likes the idea of me going in alone, but they both give a subtle nod of agreement. I put my hand on the cold brass handle, overwhelmed by this revelation but still excited about introducing Rain to her only living relative.
I have such fond memories of life
with my grandparents, Matilda and Edwin, or Tilly and Ed. They'd always take me to get pizza, even when my mom told them I couldn't eat more junk food. We'd spend long days on the beach, take camping trips into the mountains, sail to the Cape and drive to Boston to go see movies my mom said I was too young to watch.
Everything changed in an instant when my mom died. Nanny was reclusive for weeks, and then I became very sick and she just went insane. Couldn't speak in full sentences, would wail and point at things that weren't there. I recovered from my mysterious illness, but she never did. Gramps could keep her calm most times, though she was in and out of institutions until went away to school. Once I was out on my own I became focused on my life and didn't check in with my grandparents as much as I should have, and suddenly Nanny was moving into a home. I came back for a week to help Gramps make the transition, getting her room set up and personal items in order. She and I took a walk in the woods before I helped her settle into her new apartment that day, and it was the most peaceful I'd seen her in years.
I've visited with her a handful of times since moving back, but I can't tell if she recognizes me. I don't know if she's aware her husband died. I struggle to come see her because it makes me sad; I regret
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had
before everything changed.
I take a breath to steady myself and then walk into her room.
She's lying in her bed, staring out the window. She's still beautiful in her old age, long silver hair hanging just below her shoulders, deep lines on a face that was once so youthful. When she's still, it's easy to see the old Tilly, and it warms my heart. "Hi, Nanny."
She slowly turns away from the window until her eyes meet mine. We hold each other's gaze for a second, and she gives me a soft smile.
But then her eyes drift down to Rain, locked into her harness, blissfully unaware of the world around her.
Tilly stares at the baby, her smile fades.
And then she screams.