Unforeseen Dives – 21b – Party

<< 21a – Party

Casey turned to me and put is free hand on the shoulder of the arm he already held.
“Are you okay?” He asked, a hint of worry in his voice as he watched the single tear roll down my cheek.
“Yes. It’s just…” I sighed, not quite able to find the words. “Read me.”
Casey nodded and I soon felt his presence inside my head. I wanted him to see the situation through my eyes. I focused on what I was feeling and let it ooze into his consciousness.
Wayne suffered from an affliction unique to psychics and deemed incurable. Today, we were celebrating his return to a normal life. Maybe the treatment of my own problem was definitive and would allow me the same bliss of normality.
Wayne murdered his partner and harmed a few other colleagues. Me included. Yet, the widow and the other victims forgave him, even felt for him, because we knew the violence wasn’t his and that he had also lost a lot in the tragedy. Psychics understood because they risked the same thing. Telepaths read the pain right in him.
Our community was understanding to a fault. We were so opened to each other, we could hardly act differently.
And it might all be sent to hell.
As the thought crossed my mind, Casey winced. I realized the mental conversation about the readers versus non-readers war only included Becky, Maeve and I.
I was such a klutz! We agreed not to spread the word to avoid a panic and here I was spilling the beans to Casey one day later. Damn it!
Sensing my distress and reading how I beat myself up, Casey promptly pulled me into a hug and breathed soothing thoughts into my mind.
“It’s okay.” He broadcasted in a honeyed tone. “I won’t say a thing.”
“You better not.” Rebecca responded straight in his mind.
I saw her over Casey’s shoulder. Her serious face lasted for about a second before she returned to her party attitude. Behind her, I watched my mom arriving with a stranger, probably Samuel. She smiled and waved at me. She winked as she took in my hug with Casey.
The memory of her comment about my improbable pregnancy rushed to my face and reddened my cheeks.
“One passionate kiss, huh?” Casey echoed in my mind. I could hear the smirk on his face. I blushed even harder and disengaged from his embrace. I punched him on the chest, for good measure, while I restored my composure. He chuckled in harmony with Rebecca.
I turned my back on them with a dramatic spin of heels and caught up with my mom.
“I see we’re both well escorted.” She said while we kissed each other’s cheeks.
“It’s not like that.” I muttered.
“Oh! Right!” She apologized, not looking sorry at all. “Samuel, this is my lovely daughter Cassidy. Cassidy, this is Samuel.”
The man gripped my hand firmly to shake it, which won me over instantly. My mother needed someone who could stand his ground. Plus, he had a smile to die for.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet the beloved daughter.” He definitely deserved my stamp of approval. First, his voice resounded almost like a warm growl. Second, he didn’t approach me as the famous TV personality. That man was worthy to take my dad’s place in my mother’s life for as long as she wished it so.
Samuel and I chatted a little about each other’s job and other traditional icebreakers while my mother glowed and commented here and there. We parted so my mom could present her man to her friends.
I scanned the crowd quickly. About a third of the psychic community of DC and a tenth of the telepaths showed up which put the party somewhere in the vicinity of a hundred people. Most of the crowd gathered around Wayne to offer their support and a warm welcome back in society. The few gossipers who had already talked to him decided to prey on me. Flanked by Casey, Rebecca and Sean, I answered meaningless questions and signed a few autographs.
There were less buzzards then I though there would be. Most of the guests either knew me from before or read in my attitude that attention made me uneasy. Eventually, Daniel and his helpers started searing meat on the grill and the interest shifted toward the mouth-watering smell.
I chose that moment to approach Wayne and wrapped my arms around the wide expense of his shoulders. He returned my hug, nearly lifting me off the ground.
“Square.” He breathed in my hair. I chuckled. He had to remember the damned nickname, didn’t he?
“Fridge.” I retorted. He chuckled and held me at arms’ length.
“You haven’t changed one bit. Except that you’re a freak now, if I’ve heard right.”
“Cured freak! Just as you.” I winked.
“I just survived a persona replacement. You’re dealing with prompt diving. Way more terrifying.” Wayne laughed with a heartwarming sincerity.
“It’s nice to have you back.”
“Back in society but don’t expect to see me at PSI.”
“I suspected as much.”
While we talked, we started a round in the garden, trying to find a calm spot to discuss.
“The Ocean is not the familiar place it used to be.” He sighed. “Look at this.” He encompassed the whole garden in a wide gesture. “It’s beautiful. It’s safe.”
“Just like the Ocean.” I breathed.
“Yes. I miss that Ocean.”
“I guess I wouldn’t find it as lovely if the garden threatened my life and started killing people.”
Wayne chuckled but the undertone was painful.
“Right.” He paused. “I’ll just find myself a safe non-reader job.”
I nodded. We came full circle, back to Wayne’s family. His wife shook my hand and so did Wayne’s ex-partner’s widow. I broke away from them after a parting hug with Wayne and found Casey, Rebecca and Sean, sitting on a blanket in the shadow of a tree. I dropped next to them and Casey handed me a plate and a drink he had picked up for me.

22a – Confusion >>