Episode One Hundred and Ninety-Eight: Grilling

Her head moved back and forth as Onyx cleaned the patio.

My insides remained frozen as her words repeated themselves inside my head.

Smells wrong, sick.

I swallowed hard and cuddled Indigo closer. There wasn’t anything to do about my dad. Though, I had to ask myself, was that really true? Could magic help him get better?

Maybe I could find something in the massive collection of books I had on my magical book reader, or in the bookstore. Once they were on their way, I’d ask Betty about healing.

“Hope he gets better…” she added, as she watched Onyx outside.

“Me too, Indigo…” He had too. I couldn’t imagine my life without him. At least not yet. Both my parents still felt so young. They’d had us kids in their early twenties, and now we were in the same age range. None of us were rushing to have children. And, surprisingly, our mom wasn’t pushing any of us to rush either.

Onyx did something with the grill and flames leaped up. He threw his head back and laughed, though the sound didn’t reach us inside.

I leaned on the back of the couch and let my mind wander as I watched him continue to work. 

“Sable?” asked a soft voice.

My eyes snapped open and Onyx stared at me from the back of the couch.

“You got a little nap in,” he added with a smile. “Dad’s in the library, living the dream.”

I stretched. “How long was I out?”

He shrugged as he went back to the island. The meat I’d put away earlier now sat on a platter in a marinade. Cut up veggies were on skewers, and a hint of garlic lingered in the air.

Obviously I’d slept a little longer than I wanted.

Indigo wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

“She’s with Dad,” added Onyx as he poured himself some sparkling water into a massive cup I hadn’t seen before. “Your cat. She’s been by his side since he got up.”

“Good to know.” I yawned and shook my head, surprised at how comfortable I was. The clock let me know a few hours had passed. Time I’d missed with Onyx. Yet, I couldn’t find the energy to beat myself up about it. I rarely napped.

“Can I help you with anything?” I asked as I stood.

“Nope, I have the charcoal going in the grill, and it’s getting down to coals, so soon the veggies will go on. They take longer than the meat.” He sipped on his water as he moved closer to the slider looking out into the woods.

I headed into the kitchen and the espresso machine. The grind of the beans made me smile, and the pitter-patter of footsteps came from the hallway.

“I’d love something warm,” said my dad as he popped around the corner.

Indigo trailed right behind him.

“On it.” A canister of tea popped up on the counter right behind the espresso machine. I swallowed hard and pretended like it’d always been there.

A fruity flavor filled the air as I popped the lid open before putting some in a mesh tea bag. I set a timer on my phone for the correct time once the water was ready.

“Oh, what is that tea?” asked Onyx. “It smells so good.”

“I’m not sure, it came with the place.” I held up the container, and he took it out of my hands, then I went back to steaming my milk for another latte.

Dad studied the fixings for dinner on the island, but moved closer to me when the timer went off on my phone.

“Here you go, let me know how it is.”

He nodded and blew on the hot tea.

I finished making my latte and wished I had the space to make one for the Cat. Though, I wasn’t sure where he was.

“Oh, this is really good!” 

We both turned toward him. He smiled brightly and gave me a thumbs up. “I’ll need to see if your mom can order me some of that.”

I chuckled to myself as I picked up my drink.

Onyx grabbed the platter of veggies and headed to the slider.

I quickly beat him to it, opening the door. 

He nodded and headed out into the darkening sky. Wherever we were, the sun set early given the time of year.

The brisk air made me want to grab a sweater, but it was comfortable once I shut the door.

“So, firepit tonight?” asked Dad.

I didn’t know what to say and tightened my fingers around my mug. A warmth came from the floor, which felt like an affirmative from Betty.

“Sure, that’d be good.” I tried to sound cheerful, but I wasn’t exactly sure how it’d work. “I’ll need to grab a hoodie. Hopefully the snow stays away.”

“Ah, a roaring fire with snow falling is magical.” My father joined me near the slider watching Onyx.

“He misses you,” he whispered. “More than he’d admit.”

“I miss all of you as well.” 

“Just visit and I think everyone will settle down,” he added.

I couldn’t respond with more than a nod.

Onyx marched back our way after closing the lid on the grill. I opened the door for him with a smile.

“Well, those are started. We have at least 15 minutes before the steaks can go on.”

“How didn’t I know you liked to grill?” I asked.

“He doesn’t,” ribbed my dad. “I just didn’t want to do it.”

Onyx chuckled. “I can, I just don’t do it often. No need, with Umber cooking most of the time, or someone deciding to make something for dinner.”

“That only works until Umber builds his house and gets married to Jackie.” I stuck my tongue out at Onyx.

“If you think that will stop him from cooking for everyone you have another thing coming.” He snorted. “He’s started putting on massive monthly potlucks for basically the entire town.”

“That sounds amazing…” I could easily see a crowd of people gathered in our massive kitchen.

“We had to build a pavilion for it with an outdoor kitchen,” added my father.

The images inside my head dissolved as I frowned. “Where?”

“On the farm, it’s where the patio will be.” 

More changes I didn’t know about. Would I even recognize the place when I visited?