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himself.
    Ander had relied on his father to finally tell his mother the family secret. He’d hoped Daen’s presence would have prompted Callie to do the right thing. As he watched the family interaction, Ander wondered what his father had shared. "Dad, can I see you for a moment?" he asked. He stepped from the kitchen, through the dining room, and into the living room, allowing enough space for them to have a private conversation.
    "What is it , Son? You look ... upset."
    "Not upset. Concerned. What have you told Mom about Daen ... about us?" Ander needed to know before he made a formal introduction and his mother started asking questions.
    Caille didn't answer.
    Ander nodded. "Just as I thought. You know that she's going to hear everything you've kept from her—right?"
    "You're right. It's time she knows. I've actually hinted at a few things over the years to see how receptive she would be but it didn't go well. She just changed the subject."
    Ander ran his hands through his sand -colored hair, worried that his mother was going to freak out when all was revealed.
    "I'm going to talk to her ," he said. Ander stepped past his father, hoping Caille would stop him and have the talk with his mother himself, but he didn't.
    Ander entered the kitchen and hesitated before asking, "Mom, can I see you on the porch?" He held open the door and escorted her out, giving his father a disappointing look.
    Pam watched as Ander closed the door before turning to Caille. "I take it that means she still doesn't know?"
    Caille replied, "Not the unbelievable stuff that I can't prove. I'm afraid I haven't had the courage that Ander had with you." He let his son start the conversation as he worked up the nerve to join them.
    Pam understood. She remembered how nervous Ander had been when he shared aspects of his family history. She hoped Mary would be open to hearing her son just as Pam had been.
    Daen knew something was wrong and hoped whatever it was, wasn't because of him. Upsetting Ander's mother or father was the last thing he wanted to do. He stood as far away from everyone in the kitchen as he could, trying to be invisible, but at the same time anxious to talk to Caille about his mother.
    ~~~
    "Ander? What is it?" Mary asked as she sat down at the table on the far end of the porch.
    "We have a guest."
    Mary interrupted, "Yes. Daen, is it? He's a friend of ... yours? Your father said he was a friend of the family."
    Ander nodded. "That's true , but some things are going to be revealed that might ... how should I say this? ... things are going to be revealed that you might not understand."
    Mary scrunched her brows together. "Honey, if you're going to talk work, that's okay. I don't need to understand."
    Ander shook his head. He was beginning to understand why his father hadn't broached the subject with his mom before. He decided to just say it and have it out. "I'm just going to tell you. Bear with me."
    He took a calming breath and dove in. "Dad's mother was not from this world. She was sent here to hide from ... something ... I don't know. She came from a world where some people have what we might call magical powers. She had the gift of reading people. She could actually see their aura and understand their feelings. Dad inherited her gift, as did I, and now Randell as well.” Not wanting to give his mother a chance to tell him he was crazy, Ander pressed on. “Have you ever wondered how dad was so successful? I don't use my gift for business, but he did on occasion.
    "The reason I'm telling you this is because our guest, the man inside, is from the same place that Raisal came from. He needs to ask Dad about her, and things will be said that won't make sense unless you know where he's from." There. He'd said the hard part. The details could be filled in later. Now all he needed was her to say something.
    Mary's thoughts were scrambling as she searched for a kind way to respond. This was her son. The last thing she wanted to do was not