Page 11 of Witch (Gray Wolf Security #24)

Gaspar was seated on the hand-carved bench on the island home of their animal kingdom. In fact, his mother had named it Royaume Animal de l'?le du Bayou. Island of the Bayou Animal Kingdom. Only she really believed it was their kingdom.

It wasn’t that he didn’t love the animals and want a safe place for them. But why did there have to be so many of them?

“Man sad,” Semu signed to him.

“Yes, Semu. I’m sad. My parents are now ghosts and it has me thinking of my own mortality, and I’m supposed to take care of all you animals, and dear God, I’m talking to a gorilla,” he said, shaking his head.

“Semu sad for you too. Don’t be sad.”

The gorilla placed her hand on his knee, a loving, soft touch, and Gaspar could only smile, touching her soft head. Semu was well past her prime and well past the time she should have died. But as he’d learned, those things are not always the same at Belle Fleur as they are in the outside world.

“Human sad.”

Gaspar looked up to see Karuna, one of the giraffes. He’d heard her thoughts. He’d heard it as clear as day.

“Human sad because white-haired woman and white-haired man spirits.”

“Jesus, you two are having a conversation now?” he asked.

The animals just stared at him, and Gaspar noticed that they were all walking toward him, surrounding him. At first, he was nervous, then he felt a sense of peace and calm. When Alvin crawled in his direction, he knew that Trak was not far behind.

“Good morning,” he said calmly to Gaspar.

“Morning, Trak.”

“You’re sad.”

“Did the animals tell you that?” he grinned.

“No. Your face looks like it was hit with a frying pan. You’re sad. Why?” Gaspar just chuckled, shaking his head as Trak took the seat beside him.

“I don’t know if I can do this, Trak.”

“You’re already doing it.”

“Am I? I feel lost already, and it’s only been a few days. The weight of all of this,” he said, waving his arm. “The animals, the oil and gas business, the property, the pond, the businesses. How did Mama and Pops handle this?”

“Like they handled all things,” said Trak in a flat tone. “Through love. You might think that’s strange coming from me.”

“No. No, I don’t. I think you, more than anyone, have a capacity for love unlike anyone, and had every reason to not love.

I think because you were denied love in your childhood, you recognized it even more as an adult.

First, in your Delta teammates, then in Nine and the others.

Then, I’m eternally grateful you saw it in me and my siblings, my parents, and all our people here.

“But more than anything, you show me you’re capable of love with Lauren, your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I think you’re the most loving man I know.”

Trak stared at Gaspar for a moment, just looking at the sincerity in his face. Then he reached over, gripped his hand, and gave it a firm squeeze.

“And you thought you couldn’t do this,” he smirked. “That was a speech that I would rank up there with some of my top five from Irene and Matthew.”

“Huh,” frowned Gaspar.

“Gaspar, I’ve known you for more than fifty years now. Fifty. Isn’t that odd that we’ve grown old together, aged so that your parents could live with four generations?”

“I guess it’s odd,” said Gaspar.

“I spoke to a Delta teammate a while back. He was a new operative as I was heading out with Nine. He just turned eighty-one. He’s sick, can hardly move, but wanted to tell me he’d just attended the funeral of two teammates of mine. The last two teammates from my Delta team.”

“Shit, I’m sorry, Trak.” Trak shook his head.

“Gaspar, they were old men. Aching, not in their right mind, gasping for air. What do you think would happen if those men saw me? Our aging has slowed. Time has slowed for us, and we have your parents to thank for that. It has given me time with my children, grandchildren, and now, great-grandchildren. More than anything, it has given me time with my wife.”

“I guess their magic was bigger and stronger than even I thought,” he said softly. “But what if I can’t do the same for everyone?”

“You will, my friend. You, your brothers and sisters, your children, all of us. We will all ensure that the gifts provided by your parents and this land will last. So long as we use those gifts for good, I feel certain we will be alright.” Gaspar said nothing, just looking at the sweet faces of the animals waiting expectantly for his reply.

“You are a good man, Gaspar. I’m honored to be your friend.” Trak stood to leave, and Gaspar called out to him.

“Trak? Are you–are you more than a man? Are you like my father?”

“Never has a comment honored me more,” said Trak. “No, mon frére. I’m just a man.” As he walked away, Gaspar noticed that Semu’s brow was raised in a questioning gaze. He couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I agree, Semu. I doubt that he’s ‘just’ a man.”

“Is your sadness gone?” asked the gorilla.

“Almost, Semu.” He looked up to see his mother and father walking toward him. “Are you two here to give me a lecture?”

“No lectures, my precious boy,” said Irene. She kissed his cheek, and Gaspar was shocked at how warm it was. It was his mother. As it always had been. When his father kissed his forehead, he was instantly soothed.

“Mama. Pops. What if I can’t do this? For one of the few times in my life, I’m scared.”

“Caring for something as precious as people you love, animals you love, is scary,” said Matthew. “Gaspar, the day you were born, I had a conversation with God. A virtual one.” Gaspar chuckled at his father, nodding.

“I was going to ask if it was in person,” he smirked.

“No,” said Matthew. “I begged him, pleaded with him to give me time to see you grow into a fine man, to allow you to grow into a fine man. He granted me that wish and a million others. So many that at times, I didn’t feel worthy.

I look around this land and know how absolutely blessed I am.

But hear me, Gaspar. If the land was gone.

If the bayou was no more. If your mother and I had been forced to raise all of you in a two-bedroom apartment in New Orleans, I still would have been blessed because I had you. ”

“Pops,” he sniffed, wiping his tears.

“Because you arrived, because you lived, all this was made possible, Gaspar.”

Gaspar stared at his father, then his mother.

“That’s right,” she smiled. “If you hadn’t lived through the first few weeks, I would never have been able to have other children. Every child that was born here was a gift of more time, and more blessings.”

“Mama. Your miscarriage. The one…” He couldn’t continue, swallowing as his mother placed her hand on his cheek.

“It was meant to be. But had the child lived, we would have had sixteen, instead of fifteen. But I was given something more, Gaspar. Look at all of this. All of these blessings. I might be a little crazy,” she giggled. “Some would say eccentric. But I’m a blessed woman.”

“I think we all are, Mama. I think all of this has taught me to count those blessings and enjoy them.” His parents smiled at him, and he stood with them, walking toward the docks. Turning, he waved at the animals, and Semu rushed toward him, hugging him.

“Okay, girl. I’m okay,” he laughed. She waved, and then he turned to his parents once again. “Do you really think I can do this?” Matthew just laughed.

“I think you’re already doing it.”