Dr. Mason placed the frozen lasagna in the oven. He set the timer on the electric stove and sighed. "It needs to heat about forty minutes." The anxious doctor brushed back a lock of hair and adjusted his glasses. "I'm sorry, dear boy. Dinner will be late."

It hurt watching his father pull together the shambles of his new life. The man had expected death. Sometimes Victor wondered if he'd been selfish to give him life instead.

"It's fine, Papa." He closed the front door to the one-bedroom apartment, placing his dance bag on the floor in the cramped hallway. After three months of residing with his father, neither felt the urge to do much organizing. Dr. Mason had offered to break his lease and find a bigger place, but Victor declined. "I have school, and I'm increasing my hours at the studio this summer. We don't need the space."

He knew they couldn't afford it anyway.

When Victor had refused her offer, Lovedae turned her back on him. "If that's your choice, pack your things, Victor. I want you out by nightfall."

 Lovedae had marched out of the clearing, ordering the Duo to follow her. Dr. Mason had run after her, giving Victor time to explain his reasoning to his distressed siblings.

He'd told them of the happenings in the genie realm and why Kristy was bound to him. He'd even explained why he saved their father. "Papa has nothing now, and I can't let Cataran get Kristy. Do you understand, loves?"

Rosetta had continued crying while Jason nodded, a somber expression on his face. "You're right. Dad shouldn't be alone. This ain't his fault." The boy gazed at his fellow Duo, who bobbed her sobbing head. "Me and Rosetta will talk to Mom after she calms down."

"All of this has been hard on Mum, and she's feeling betrayed." Victor had never known Lovedae to behave this way. He wasn't sure if talking would help. "Take care of her, okay?"

"Maybe Daddy can go to court and get some custody," cried Rosetta as Victor wiped at her tears. 

"Papa wouldn't do that. DNA would prove you're his biological children, but it'd ruin Mum's reputation. People know you as Craig Grant's children, not his distant cousin's." He'd pulled them both into a hug, pausing to kiss their foreheads. "I love you both. Hopefully, this is all temporary."

Three months later, nothing had changed.

A 'For Sale' sign decorated the lawn he'd once mowed on Fridays evenings. Lovedae had forbidden him contact with the Dueling Duo, removing his name from their school cards. She'd taken him off credit cards, the phone plan, and bank accounts, leaving him scrambling.

"It's ironic how Mum's erasing my existence," he'd said to Kristy during their practice session at the studio, "just as Roisin did to all those first-born sons Papa replaced."

"The cycle continues." Kristy had leaned toward him, her forehead touching his. "She's scared, Vic. First Arabella, then Roisin."

"When you put it that way, how can I blame her?" Victor stepped back and held out his hand. "Let's crack on with the routine, love."

She placed her hand in his. "It still doesn't justify her actions."

He felt gratitude toward his friends as none commented about his change of address. Only Nick knew the whole story and never blabbed a word. As he no longer had use of the second car, Victor relied on the city bus for school and work, or Nick when he'd borrow his family's car.

Nick had driven Victor home on the last day of school. "English, this can't go on. It's sucking the life out of you. I saw Lovedae at the carwash on Monday. She looks miserable."

Victor gazed out the window at the passing scenery, seeing nothing. "Papa tried talking to her countless times at the University, but Mum ignored him. He finally gave up. I guess they'll move when the house sells."

Nick reached into a pocket and pulled out his phone. "Listen to this voicemail I saved." He hit the play button.

The Duo's voices came over the speaker, arguing before Jason spoke over his sister. "Me first!" he shouted. "Vic! Nick said he'd play this for you. We're okay, sorta. Grandma Penny is staying with us for a while, ugh! I'm doing travel baseball, but it's not the same without you. I miss you so dang much."

Rosetta jumped in. "Vic, Mom put me in a new dance school. I hated it, so I quitted. And Mom turned down another buyer so that's good. I don't wanna move. I miss you, brother."

The message ended. Victor thanked Nick, hiding the tears from his friend.

Summer was well on its way, and to bring extra money into the household, Victor worked as many hours as possible. Roisin had shifted his father into the body of a man that hadn't managed his finances. Since he'd survived the encounter with Roisin, Dr. Mason worked to change the situation, but both knew it would take time. That day, his father had loaned him the car, and he'd stopped at the local shopping center to buy dinner. Victor checked his wallet and decided peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were the best he could do.

Victor moseyed to the bread aisle, holding a jar of jelly, when he heard two beloved voices calling him.

"Yo, Vic!"

"Victor!"

The Duo charged him, nearly knocking him over. But Victor didn't mind. He threw his arms around them, hugging them tightly. "Poppet! Jason!"

Jason drew back, frowning at him. "You don't look so hot."

"I'm tired." He leaned down, kissing the top of Rosetta's head. "What are you doing here, loves?"

Rosetta beamed at him. "We were—"

"LET GO OF MY GRANDBABIES RIGHT NOW, YOU DEGENERATE!"

Penny Dunham, Lovedae's mother, stood watching them at the aisle's entryway. The stout silver-haired woman marched toward the three, eyes narrowed as she stared Victor down. He knew she had never liked him and showed her disregard by attempting to disinvite him from family events or sending gifts to the Duo and ignoring him. 

Last year, Penny had offered to take the children on a cruise but explained to Lovedae that she had 'accidentally' forgotten to purchase Victor's fare. He'd calmed a miffed Lovedae, who always seemed to overlook her mother's apparent transgressions, and urged the Duo to go. But like the stubborn mules they were, both refused.

"Grandma, no!" cried Jason as Rosetta shook her head.

"Mrs. Dunham—" Victor began, but she cut him off.

"You were told to stay away from them! How dare you ignore my daughter's wishes!" she shouted, loud enough to draw spectators. "Damn freak! It wasn't enough you stole her boyfriend and moved in with him—thinking you can have your perverted way with the children again?" Penny snorted. "Not on my watch! Security! Police!"

Victor opened his mouth, but words refused to emerge. The ugly accusations had rendered him speechless.

But not the Duo. "Shut your filthy mouth!" yelled Jason, his face turning as red as his hair.

"Nobody talks about our brother like that!" added Rosetta, moving in front of Victor.

Lovedae came tearing around the corner, stopping behind her flabbergasted mother. Victor could tell she'd heard everything from the shocked look in her eyes.

He wanted to die.

"Jason! Rosetta! No!" he cried, and the two turned toward him, anger etched on their young faces. "You mustn't speak to your grandmother like that." Before either child uttered a word, he handed Jason the jelly before meeting Lovedae's gaze. "So sorry."

"Victor!" called Lovedae. 

But he broke through the crowd of curious onlookers and ran, not stopping until he'd reached the car.

Back home, Victor stood in the tiny shower, the warm water rushing over his shaking body. How he wished the water could wash away the horrid words of Penny Dunham! He opened his eyes and placed glowing palms on the walls—a shimmering veil of quiet spreading along the walls, ceiling, and floor. With the soundproof barrier intact, he leaned against the misty tiles and let the tears come. He sobbed, releasing all the pain and anguish from the last few months.

Once he began, Victor discovered he couldn't stop.

Two soft hands circled his waist, and a cheek pressed against his wet back. Victor turned, puffy eyes gazing through the steam. The genie held her arms out to him, and he crumpled against her, burying his face in pink hair that smelled of vanilla. Slight but strong, Kristy lowered her weeping master to the bottom of the tub and held on tight as he cried.

Dr. Mason placed an over-frosted cupcake on the scarred wooden table. "Happy eighteenth birthday, son." The doctor adjusted his glasses and sighed. "This was the only one I managed to save. The timer on the stove stopped working."

Two weeks had passed since the incident at the market, with Kristy discovering him broken in the shower. They'd never spoken of the day, but the episode had caused him to double his efforts in finding a way to free her from servitude. She deserved nothing less.

"It's fine, Papa. Thank you." Victor picked up a knife and sawed the dry specimen in half. "Have some."

Dr. Mason took his half, placing it on a napkin. "It's July, barbeque season. I thought your friends planned something for you."

"They did, but I'd rather be with you, to be honest."

Dr. Mason beamed with pleasure. "What would I do without—" He stopped as someone began banging on the apartment door. Puzzled, the doctor rose to answer it.

Jason and Rosetta shot into the small dining room with Kristy a step behind. Dr. Mason's eyes widened when Lovedae followed, carrying a bakery box. The Duo hugged their father and then pounced on their brother, screaming 'Happy Birthday!' at the top of their lungs. Victor's mangled cry ended when Kristy appeared, peeling the children off.

Lovedae placed the box on the small table. "Happy birthday, Victor. It's a red velvet cake, your favorite."

"Thank you," he whispered, rising to his feet. Everyone turned to gaze at a nervous Lovedae.

Lovedae wrung her hands, gazing at the dumbfounded men. "I came to apologize and beg your forgiveness, both of you. I was so wrong. You both did more for our family than I ever did. Lyle, you came back to save our sons, ready to die for them. And Vic..." She eyed the motionless teen as her voice broke. "You were ready to die to give me my husband back. I know now if either of you had dropped that dagger, Roisin would have escaped."

Tears ran down Lovedae's cheek. "Fear led me to make unhinged decisions and illogical choices. Magic terrifies me to no end, but I'll learn to adjust. I'll spend the rest of my life trying if you'd—"

Dr. Mason stepped forward and yanked the weeping woman toward him, crushing his lips to hers. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she returned his kiss.

Jason nudged his brother, his mouth full of cake. "Mom said it's a peace offering cake, so I offered myself a piece."

Victor smiled instead of admonishing Jason for cutting his cake. "I see."

"Remember the grocery store?" asked a grinning Rosetta. "Mom ripped Grandma Penny a new one for what she said to you. She made her pack up and leave and said she wasn't gonna ignore what a turd Grandma had been to you anymore."

"Mom's been really messed up, doing some serious soul searching. Then Kristy appeared when we went for a walk the other day and ripped Mom a new one," added Jason as he helped himself to more cake. "Lotsa ripping going on."

Victor gasped, his gaze locking on to the smug genie. 

"Someone had to set her straight and explain what you guys did," said Kristy.

"Victor?"

He turned to face Lovedae, who stood near the doctor. She held out her arms to him. "I don't deserve you. I messed up years ago, and you forgave me. Now I've done the same thing again. I was wrong. Please, son... come home." Her eyes met his, begging for forgiveness. "I miss you."

Victor crossed to her, holding back tears as he slid into her embrace. "I missed you too, Mum."

A week later, Victor lay under the red leaf maple tree when Kristy arrived in the clearing. Clad in jean shorts and his Batman t-shirt, she joined him, making herself comfortable on the sweet-smelling grass.

"Thanks for coming." Victor sat up. "I need to talk to you."

But neither spoke.

Kristy picked up a blade of grass as she broke the silence. "Nick lost his coffee shop job."

Victor frowned. "What'd the bloke do?"

"A woman asked if the nut milk was freshly squeezed." Kristy giggled. "Nick told her they don't squeeze their nuts there. She got mad and reported him."

"No, he didn't! He's such a card." Victor gave a brief laugh, then grew silent as he stared at the genie.

"You seem troubled, Vic. Things okay with Lovedae?"

"When I was little, Papa told me that my 'perfection' was my greatest flaw." He shrugged. "But my emotions aren't dampened down now, and I admit to wounded pride, anger, and hurt. I forgive her, but I realize I can't forget."

The genie nodded, a sober expression on her face. "The price of humanity."

 "Kristy, how did you remain my genie if I gave Jason your Focus?"

"Giving it to someone to hold doesn't transfer ownership." Kristy dropped the grass and slid her fingers into his. "You called me here to ask that?"

"No." His fingers tightened on hers. "I called you here to ask you to marry me."

"Oh... well...WHAT?" Wide-eyed, Kristy gazed at him in shock.

Victor almost smiled. "I was miffed with Princess for taking the dagger and dirk after we defeated Roisin. So, in repentance, she's been helping me find a way to free you. Here's the deal. If we marry and uh, consummate the marriage, your father's authority over you automatically switches to me. Matrimony is binding by genie law. When that occurs, I'll free you."

Before Kristy could respond, he held up a hand. "Your freedom is first. But understand, I want to marry you because—I love you. You see me for what I am, imperfect even though I was created to be the opposite. You've seen the sucky grades, the blunders, the awkwardness and accepted it. I can't imagine life without you, but ultimately it's your decision."

"You want to bond... with me?" Kristy whispered, hands covering her mouth. "But I'm a mutt, a nobody."

"You're perfection, love." Victor swore he'd work on building her self-esteem. "Figured we'd marry or, uh, bond after graduation. Gives us time to plan a small wedding."

Tears formed in her lovely eyes. "I adore human weddings."

He had his answer. "Would you stand?"

When she did, Victor rolled to one knee and pulled a small black box out of his pocket, opening it to display a pink gemstone ring he'd bought with the last of his savings.

The genie melted before his eyes. "It's beautiful!"

"It's a cushion cut Morganite with single-cut diamonds crafted of 14 carat rose gold. Morganite represents love and harmony. I picked it because it reminds me of us." Victor took a deep breath. "Kristy McMillian, will you marry me? Share my forever?"

Kristy lowered her hands from her lips. "A thousand yeses."

He slipped the ring on her finger and stood, his eyes never leaving hers. "A kiss to seal it?"

She gave him a naughty smile. "Do you need to feed your fish first?" 

"You'll never let me live that down, will you?" Victor burst into laughter before pulling her closer. "Cheeky girl."

"Most definitely." Kristy's arms slid around his neck as his lips claimed hers.

Two northern cardinals, hidden in the maple tree's leaves, stared down at the young couple, locked in a moment of happiness and adoration. The tree and its complement of colorful flowers once represented a tribute to a man time had snatched away. But today, two wild birds in the sunlit clearing witnessed the maple's rebirth as a symbol of life, love, and promise.

The End

This ends the second book of The Clearing. Hope you enjoyed and thank you for reading!