Page 22 of Endless
Jandro and I walked together, keeping an eye on the twins and Hades a few feet ahead of us. Rori had already discarded her hat, and her golden curls bounced with every step.
"Does it feel real yet?" Jandro knew what I meant. I asked him all the time during moments like this.
"Oh yeah." He grinned at me, rubbing the back of his neck. "Right now, it sure does. But that," he nodded ahead to the kids carefully tracing one of the wall paintings with their fingers, talking softly to each other, "seeing them explore, learn, and thrive withusguiding them?" His hand dropped, eyes locked with wonder on our two children. "I still can't believe it sometimes."
I patted at my pockets, searching for the phone I rarely turned on because it barely worked half the time. A few local engineers had gotten some cell towers working last year, although reliable phone calls were still a long way off. But the phone had a camera, which was the only way I really used the piece of shit.
"Aw, Mari will love that," Jandro breathed as I held the phone up.
The kids stood in a patch of sunlight, framed by bright orange poppy flowers on either side of them. Their backs were to us—Rori's hair aglow like a halo and Daren's dark and glossy like raven feathers. Their hands were stretched out in front them, still running over the ancient wall paintings with a quiet, almost reverent curiosity.
I snapped pictures of them until Hades blocked my view. Since he didn't tell me who to kill anymore, his new favorite pastime was getting into every photo of the kids he possibly could.
The kids moved on, walking through the canyon while Hades sniffed ahead and Jandro and I trailed after.
"How you sleeping lately?" Jandro lowered his voice so only I could hear him.
"Fine." My knee jerk, default answer.
"Just fine?"
I swallowed. After everything he and I had been through, and now that we were raising a family together, he deserved more than a dismissive answer. Old habits die hard. Even all these years later, I was still working on the whole opening-up-emotionally thing.
"Yeah, I mean pretty good for the most part. The nightmares don't come around that much anymore, once every few months or so."
"Your doctor says that's normal?"
"There is no normal, really. Everyone processes shit differently. But it's better than a couple times a week like it was however long ago."
"Yeah, that's true. I just wanted to check on you." He knocked his shoulder into mine. "In case you needed anything."
Always such a caretaker. It was why Jandro took to being a dad so naturally.
"I'm good, dude," I assured him. "Really. I can actually say that without any bullshit now."
"That's a first," he snorted, then shot me a good-natured smile. "I'm glad to hear it." The kids moved on, wandering deeper into the canyon with Hades while we followed a few paces behind them. "It's crazy how uneasy we feel about life being so much simpler, isn't it?" Jandro mused.
"Yeah. Like this is temporary and we're waiting for the other shoe to drop."
My fingers twitched at my side, the cigarette craving hitting me hard. It always did when I thought of our past life, all the stress and fear we were under. I never smoked around the kids, only indulging when they stayed with grandparents for a few days so we could have our adult time.
"Eight years is hardly temporary," Jandro retorted.
I rolled my eyes toward him. "Everything is temporary. I just hope this peaceful period lasts through their lifetimes." I nodded my head at the twins. "Or if it doesn't, I hope that whatever comes next doesn't touch them."
Jandro's eyes narrowed, his hand coming up next to his ear. "You hear that, Reap?"
"Yeah, yeah, it's the sound of me being a sap. You're hilarious, man, but that one's getting old."
"No, I'm serious. You don't hear that hissing?"
I paused, cocking my head to listen. There was a breeze through the canyon, plus the sounds of insects echoing and distorting through the canyon walls.
"It's just the wind, dude. I don't—"
Hades growled, low and full of warning. I hadn't heard him make that sound in years. Fast and silent as a shadow, he darted in front of the children who were none the wiser.
"Hades, move your big butt." Rori pushed on his flank to get him out of her way, but he remained stiff, blocking her path with the broad side of his body.
