I woke up on the couch with a cold towel on my forehead. Everyone was staring down at me. Even dad’s other kids came to join in the commotion (it was the first time I’d seen their eyes fixed on anything but video games). I looked at the 16 eyes staring down at me and sat up slowly, raising my eyebrows and taking the towel off my head.

“Umm,” I started. Nobody was saying a word. “Do you think you could all back up? You’re making me nervous.” Thankfully, they all did. Dad motioned his boys out of the room and Faye rushed over to me with a glass of water. I gulped it down like I had been walking through the Sahara or something. “Is anybody going to say anything?” I was getting tired of the silence, everybody was so on edge.

“Maggie, you realize you passed out, right?” Katya asked kind of laughing at the question.

“Yes, I’m aware. But if you guys keep watching me to see if it’ll happen again, you’re out of luck. I’m fine. So feel free to talk any time now.” My head was still pounding. “Faye, do you think I could get some more water and maybe something for my headache please?” I tried to sound nice since she had been nothing but kind to me. She got up almost immediately to refill my glass and find something to kill the pain.

“I didn’t mean to overwhelm you or anything,” My mom finally said. “You’ve got to remember to breathe when you get all…excited like that.”

“I know, I know. I try.” Faye handed me two pills and the water. I washed them down eagerly. There was more silence.

“Your hair looks nice, Maggie.” Peter chimed in. Everyone looked at him as if it were an inappropriate comment.

“Thanks Peter.” I smiled, knowing how it feels to be stared at like that. He was only trying to be nice, and I preferred his comment to what everyone else was saying. My mom noticed that I appreciated the compliment, and decided to add her own.

“It does look nice,” I could hear a ‘but’ floating in her voice. “But we still need to talk about why you took off like that.”

What is so hard to understand about this?

“You really want to know?” My tone was getting a bit harsh. I noticed and calmed it. “I’ll tell you. It’s simple, and there’s nothing more to it than this, so don’t ask me anymore. I wanted to see Kat. Mom, even if you’re mad, I’m still glad I came. Dad and I worked things out between us. At least, I’d like to think we did.” I looked at my dad for approval. He smiled and nodded his head. “And I really like Faye and I’m glad I got to meet her. Their kids are still a little distant, but that could change I’m sure.”

“Maggie, I’m glad you and your father restored your relationship and that you’re comfortable with Faye and that you got to see your sister. But you have to understand, you didn’t tell me where you were going or why. Once I found out where you were, I was still worried about you…you know, mentally.”

“Why, because I’m not talking to a shrink anymore? I’m stable, I’m happy…I’m really happy, mom. I don’t need help.” I needed rest. I couldn’t take any more talking. “I can’t do this right now, I’m sorry.” And with that, I ran off to the guest room.

I knew someone was going to follow me up, but I never anticipated it being Peter. He knocked on the door. The first time I ignored it, but the second time he said my name first and it caught me off guard.

“Come in,” I was sitting on the bed clutching a pillow. He shut the door carefully to avoid any unnecessary noise, which I was thankful for.

“They all think I’m in the bathroom,” Peter laughed and walked towards me. “Do you mind?”

“Go ahead.” I moved back to make more space for him to sit on the bed along with me.

“So,” He rubbed his hands together, a little nervous. “She said yes.” We both smiled.

“That’s good, congratulations.” I was really happy for them, but couldn’t express it very well at the time.

“After the wedding, I was thinking you might like to move up here, closer to your dad and Kat.”

“So you want to get rid of me?” I was confused, not angry yet. I wasn’t sure if I should be.

“No,” He was shocked. “I would never want…I meant all of us; you, your mom, and me. What do you think?”

“If it weren’t for Eden and Angel, I would do it in a heartbeat but,” I trailed off.

“Your mother told me about Eden, I think. She’s your best friend, correct?” He asked and I nodded in confirmation. “I don’t think she said anything about anyone named Angel though.”

“That’s because,” I paused for a moment. “She hasn’t met him. I never told her about him.”

“Oh, Angel is a boy.” He raised his eyebrows like that made things make sense (which it didn’t, it really only complicated things). “Why haven’t you mentioned him?”

“It’s kind of a new thing. We haven’t been seeing each other for too long. I’m assuming you’re going to be here tomorrow?” Part of me hated that, but I was glad to have my family together anyhow.

“We’re leaving on the same flight as you.” Peter said.

“So is Angel.” I added.

“He’s here?” His face was curious.

“Well he will be tomorrow morning.” Again, I couldn’t help but smile. “You and mom can meet him then. I think you’ll really like him.”

“When your mom told me about you,” I prepared myself for a speech, but he insisted: “You can relax, I’m not going to lecture you.” so I exhaled and listened readily. “Like I said, when your mom told me about you, she told me that I have to chose my words carefully, not to take anything you say personally, that you’d warm up to me eventually; basically she implied that you weren’t going to like me.”

“I can’t blame her for saying that, really. I haven’t exactly been the most agreeable person in the past.” I think that was the first time I’d actually admitted it. “But I’m changing. Coming here has especially helped to change the way I think about things.”

“I can tell,” Peter agreed. “When I saw you walk into that living room downstairs, you looked happy. Worried as all hell, but happy nonetheless.”

“I am,” I was excited that someone finally understood where I was coming from. “I haven’t been this happy in years. I just wish my mom could see that too.”

“Life would be easier if everyone could see things the same way.” He hit the nail on the head. “For example, if your mother and father were able to see faeries…” I interrupted.

“Come on, do you really believe me?” I was very skeptical.

“Why would I lie about something like that?” He seemed to be telling the truth, but then again, he is a lawyer.

“Maybe you just want me to like you.” If I wanted him to be honest, I had to be too.

“I do want you to like me, Maggie. But I would never trick you into it.” With those words, I trusted him.

“What makes you believe me anyway? Can you see faeries?” I joked. There aren’t a lot of people who can see faeries, so the odds of him being able to were slim.

“No,” He admitted. “But I’d like to believe that anything is possible. Besides, I’ve met crazy people, and trust me, you’re not one of them.” We laughed before the room went silent.

“Is she mad at me? Like really mad? I want to know what to expect the next time I talk to her.” I braced myself.

“She’s not mad. Just hurt that you didn’t talk to her. She told me that she misses how open you two used to be with each other.” He looked at me as if he was trying to re-open my relationship with my mother.

“I love my mom, obviously. But after she started sending me to therapy, I was afraid to tell her things. I thought she wouldn’t believe me or take me seriously. I thought I was joke to her.” I focused on the embroidery on the pillow on my lap, running my fingers over the outline of a delicate vine.

“You’re not a joke to anyone. You’re a strong girl. I think you can do great things once you get your act together.” He lifted my chin to meet his eyes.

“I know. I’m starting to realize that this life I’ve been living isn’t good for anybody.” I confessed.

“I’m glad to hear that. Now I’d better go downstairs before they start wondering what’s keeping me.” Peter made his way to the door. “Try to get some rest.”

“Thank you, Peter. I really appreciate…well…” I didn’t know what to say.

“I know. You’re welcome.” He smiled and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

I fell flat onto the bed. I was proud of my mother for choosing such a great guy (finally) and glad that he was soon going to be part of my family. Besides, if I ever got into trouble, I’d have a good lawyer close at hand. But with the way things were headed, trouble was a thing of the past.