Page 50 of Wolves' Midlife Reunion
She watched him with tired eyes. “That’s all right.”
Dex wondered if the separation between them had dug down into her soul the same way that it had his. “No. It’s not all right. I overreacted. I was so worried about Sage’s emotional state and the harm she might cause, but the truth is that I needed to look in the mirror. I need to work on my emotional state when it comes to magic, and especially my history with magic. Holding out on Sage’s education wasn’t helping her. It was just something that made me feel better in the moment.”
“I understand.”
“You do?” He felt his wolf reacting to her presence, just as it always had. It told him to grab her and pull her close, to kiss her like he’d never kissed anyone before, to hold her tightly and never let go. It told him he was the biggest fool in Salem if he thought he could ever make it without her.
But the cool distance of her eyes told him otherwise. He’d done some real damage, and his actions had caused distance between them.
“I do,” she affirmed. “It took me some time and a little help to see it, but you were just trying to put Sage first. You’re a good father, and you only want what’s best for her. I just wish you understood that’s what I want, too.”
“I know it now,” he admitted. “That’s exactly why I asked if you’d continue training her, despite her father being a complete ass every now and again. I probably should’ve asked you privately before I said anything in front of her, but?—”
“But you figured I’d say yes anyway?” she concluded for him. “I would. In fact, I was hoping to find some way to help her, in spite of you and me being at odds. I wonder if that makes me a bad person for wanting to butt in on a child’s life when I’m not their parent, but I can’t help it. Sage is a very special little girl.”
“Then we have at least one thing we agree on.” He hoped that someday it would be more, that at some point they could at least look at each other without such wariness. “So you really will continue training her?”
“Yes. Does Monday night work?”
“I’m sure it does.” He had no idea what was on his calendar for Monday, especially after all they’d just been through, but he would make it happen, no matter what.
“Great. Then I’ll be there.”
19
“I wantyou to close your eyes and try to clear your mind,” Tina instructed gently as she lit the last candle. Sage’s lessons were taking place in the guest bedroom at Dex’s house. The space was calm and peaceful, and they could close the door. It also meant that the lessons would be a little easier on Sage’s schedule and give her more time for being a child instead of just being schlepped around from one event to the next.
Tina felt that last part was crucial. Sage could find a passion and work hard toward it, but she also needed time to simply be a kid.
The bonus was that Sage could set up her very own altar right there in the spare room. She kneeled in front of the old wooden chest right now. It was covered with a soft scarf, a special present from Maeve. A framed photo of Marie sat in the very center, and Tina had given Sage free rein to arrange flowers, crystals, kid-friendly candles, and anything else that pleased her around it.
“How do you clear your mind?” Sage asked, opening one eye.
“It’s a challenge,” Tina admitted. “Our thoughts can be very busy. You have to try not to think about anything at all for ashort time. When you think you’ve done the very best that you can, say the words we went over.”
“Okay.” Sage sounded a little uncertain, but she closed her eyes again and took a deep breath.
There was a long, meditative silence. Tina also closed her eyes and absorbed the peace there between the two of them. As much as she loved running The Crystal Cauldron, it was coming there two days a week to teach Sage that truly made her happy.
“Mommy,” Sage said softly, “I want you to look out for me and guide me. I also want to see you again, if I can.”
Tina opened her eyes to watch as Sage did the same. The little girl picked up the small, round mirror on her altar and held it before her eyes. It flashed and shimmered.
Sage smiled. She tipped her head slightly to the side, and she nodded as though she were listening. Her face changed slightly, and then she smiled again, setting the mirror down.
“Well?” Tina asked.
“I saw her!” Sage nearly shouted. “I wasn’t sure I would since it isn’t Samhain anymore, but she was still there!” She wrapped her arms around Tina.
Her heart and spirit were in pure bliss. Tina had known all the way down in the center of her gut that Marie had reached out to Sage on Samhain not as a simple hello, but as one of her spirit guides. Who better to be a contact from the other side? “I’m so happy for you, sweetheart.”
Sage turned her head and rested her cheek on Tina’s shoulder. “She told me that she loves me. She said that she knows I miss her, but that I don’t need to because she’s right here with me all the time.”
“That’s so wonderful.” Tina ran her hand down Sage’s long, curly hair. “And she’s absolutely right. You can reach out to her any time you need, and she’ll always be there.”
“Do you know what else she said?” Sage asked.
“No. Would you like to tell me?” Though it was Tina’s job to teach as much as she could to Sage, some things were very private. Sage’s conversations with her spirit guides—whether with Marie or anyone else—weren’t her business.
