Eleos (Book two in The Empaths series)

Chapter Sixteen

"Why do you think it's taking so long?"

Jared sat across from Lucy at their dining table, tapping his fingers rapidly against its top.

Lucy shrugged. "I have no idea."

She stared out the window, watching as the trees danced in the breeze, and she thought about her father. She thought about the confused expression on Andrew's face as he had searched through their group, looking for his son. Maybe that's why he hadn't returned, because they had told him that Theo was gone and wouldn't be coming home.

Across from her, Jared was shaking his head. "I don't think it's because of that." He reached over and gave Lucy's hand a squeeze.

Lucy frowned. "How did you know? I have my mind blocked."

"I can see it all over your face," Jared replied with a sad smile. "And because I'm your brother, and I know how your mind works."

Lucy half smiled back.

Behind them, Tristan and Rachel were in the kitchen, making tea and something to eat. Rachel was whispering orders, while Tristan gathered what she needed.

They had stayed at Noah and Eden's for several hours before they decided that it would be best to wait at home. If Cora was to return with Andrew, they agreed she would probably want to speak with Lucy and Jared alone first.

Rachel and Tristan were just sitting down at the table when there was a light knock on the front door.

Lucy and Jared shared a look before Jared leapt up to answer it.

She could see Jared's stance tense noticeably as he opened the door, and she watched as Cora drifted into the room – gently touching Jared's face as she passed.

"I've brought someone who would very much like to speak with you both," she said as she smiled down at Lucy. "I'm sorry I had to keep him from you for so long."

Andrew took a tentative step into the house. He stopped in front of Jared and waited, as if he was asking permission to enter their home.

Jared stared back at Andrew for a moment, and Lucy could feel all of the emotions running through him – fear, shock, excitement, sadness and hope, all swirling away in his mind.

He visibly shook them off and stepped aside, holding out his arm in a warm gesture – directing Andrew to their dining room. "Please, come in."

Andrew smiled at Jared and placed a hand on Jared's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you," he said.

Lucy felt something comforting in the tone of Andrew's voice that she wasn't expecting. When she stood up to meet him as he walked into the room, and without really understanding why, she reached out to wrap her arms around him.

He seemed shocked at first, but he only paused for a moment before he embraced her warmly. "Well, I wasn't expecting that," he joked – his gravelly voice emitting a hint of a laugh.

"I'm sorry," Lucy replied, backing away a little. "I just... it's just that..." she stopped and looked at her feet for a moment.

"I understand," Andrew whispered. He reached over to place his hand gently under her chin, pulling her gaze back up to his.

When Lucy looked into his eyes, she could see exactly what he was saying without uttering a word. They had all suffered a major loss, and it was a blessing and a comfort to know that they each had someone that connected them to the ones they missed so much.

She smiled at him then, and his deep grey eyes creased around the edges as he smiled back at her.

"Why don't we all sit down and have some tea," Cora said as she gracefully moved across the room into the kitchen. "We have quite a bit to tell you." Her eyes twinkled as she glanced at them before she turned to look for what she needed.