89- Mother

After Kyffin changed into more appropriate attire, he and Tau left his house and headed back to Quayleigh's apartment. Kyffin had just merged onto the highway when his phone rang through the speakers.

"It's Kim," he said before answering the phone. "Hello."

"Hi," Kim replied, her voice was quiet and meek, but pleasant to the ear. "Um, you wanted me to call?"

"Yes. I wanted to apologize for my mother, and let you know that there is nothing to worry about. She shouldn't have bothered you."

"It's okay," she replied. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, everything is good here. There really is nothing to worry about. I booked the afternoon off to spend time with Dylan, and someone informed mother because I used the excuse of a family emergency to get the time off."

"Dylan's back from his vacation?"

"Yes. I only found out the other day and was planning on telling you when next we spoke."

"And you wanted to spend time with him?" she asked sounding overly confused.

"Yes, and I will explain everything in time, but first, I think he would like to say Hello," Kyffin remarked, catching Tau looking around the car as if he was trying to figure out where the voice was coming from.

"Hello Kimehiko," Tau said when he turned towards the radio. "How are you?"

"Hello Dylan. I'm well. We've all been really worried about you. I'm glad you're back. How are you doing?"

"Very well. I'm sorry that I made you worry. There have been some complications, and they are the reason that Kyffin took the day off. I'm sorry if this has caused you any further concern," Tau said leaning closer to the radio.

"It's best if you sit back and speak normally. She'll be able to hear you just fine," he explained.

"Oh, okay," Tau replied as he relaxed into his seat.

"Kyffin, are you certain everything is, okay?" Kim questioned, her voice wavering slightly.

"Yes, everything is just fine. I promise."

"And you… you are getting along?"

"Yes, we are. Things have changed here. More accurately, Dylan has," Kyffin said with a chuckle. "Anyways, I will get into all of this later, because now is neither the time nor way I want to have this conversation with you."

"Okay, um, I guess we can talk later then?" Kim hesitantly replied.

"Bother," Kyffin sighed, "Kim, it has recently come to my attention that I am terrible with communicating, and what I'm trying to say, albeit poorly, is that I want you to come home. I want you and our sons to come home."

"What? But why? I thought…" She drew silent.

"Please, say what you're thinking," Kyffin prompted her.

"I, um, I thought you wanted me to keep Hikaru away?"

"Yes, but the failure to explain what I was thinking is on me. I never explained what I really wanted for any of us, and I have been told that I may be entirely wrong in thinking that staying away was what you wanted. So, I am telling you, I want to keep Hikaru safe and away from Mother and the MET, but I want to protect him together, here. I never meant for you to feel as if keeping him in Javötpur was the only option, and I never meant for you to think that I didn't want you here. So, I'm asking, would you please come home?"

There was a brief silence. It seemed as if she was thinking or had no idea of how to answer. Kyffin knew that she probably felt blindsided as this had come completely out of nowhere and tried to ease the tension by continuing to speak.

"I tried again to get permission to travel. I wanted to be there over the holidays. I was denied. And I fear that mother is the reason that this keeps happening. If that's the case, it will never change. I know asking you to come home is probably what she wants because she believes that I'll allow her to have access to Hikaru, but I swear to you Kim, I won't allow that to happen. We will protect our sons, but I want to do it with you, together, as I should have all along."

"You really mean it?" she questioned with a tone of disbelief.

"I do. I know it's a lot to ask, and the arrangements will take time…"

"Okay," she cut him off.

"Okay?" he repeated, wanting to hear her confirm it.

"I mean yes. I'll start making the arrangements tomorrow. Once I have a timeline, I'll let you know."

"That's wonderful!" Tau exclaimed loudly. "I can hardly wait to meet you… again."

"What?" she said, her confusion coming through clearly.

"Ah, yes, that's going to take some explaining," Kyffin added with a chuckle.

"Are you… laughing?" Kim asked, the disbelief in her voice was staggering.

"Indeed, I believe I was," he replied with a smile. "There is a lot to speak about, and there are some people I want you to meet when you get back. Suffice to say, they have encouraged me, for the better. But I know it's getting late there, and I don't want to keep you much longer, but before I let you go, how are the boys?"

"Oh, um, Hikaru's sleeping, and Satoshi is in his room studying."

"How did he do on his last math test?"

"Still struggling, but he managed to pass. His teacher mentioned the idea of getting him a tutor, but I wanted to talk to you about it first."

"Then once you know the time frame for your return, we can figure out when it's best to arrange one for him. Does that sound good to you?"

"Yeah, that sounds good," she replied, her voice sounding stronger, almost happy. "I know he isn't going to like it either way."

"Probably not but do tell him that math was never my strong suit either. That might push him to be better. If for no other reason than to be less like me."

"I will pass along the message," she said with a faint giggle. "Um, I should probably let you go now. I know you're busy."

"Currently, I'm just driving Dylan back home. And when it comes to my schedule, I'm going to do better Kim. Life is far too short for things to continue as they have. I'm so sorry that it took me so long to figure that out."

"Kyffin, it's okay. We can work on this together. I'll talk to you again, soon."

"I'm looking forward to it," Kyffin replied, a feeling of hope tingling at the back of his mind.

"Be safe, both of you."

"It was nice speaking to you," Tau piped up.

"You to, Dylan. I'm really happy the two of you are finally getting along."

"So am I. And it seems I owe you a debt of gratitude. Just the other day, I learned that you were responsible for Kyffin buying me my first camera. If I never said it before, thank you."

"He told you? He remembered? I'm, well, you're welcome," she replied in a flabbergasted manner.

"Of course, I remembered. All of the best gift ideas always came from you. I'm completely hopeless with that sort of thing. My track record proves that."

"Oh, do tell brother," Tau said with a nudge to his shoulder.

"Another time," he grumbled before clearing his throat. "Anyways, we'll stay safe, have a goodnight, Kim."

"Goodnight!" Tau practically shouted at the radio.

"Goodnight," she replied, and the call was disconnected.

"Well, that went better than I thought it would," he remarked as they came up to the exit from the highway.

"I'm glad for you. I wasn't certain, at first, if you were going to go through with it. Speaking your mind still seems a new concept for you."

"It is. I'm not used to anyone ever wanting to hear what I have to say. When you live that way, you tend to stay silent, and then it becomes normal to keep everything to yourself. I admit, I like this better."

"As do I. Single sided conversations are always lacking a competent partner."

Kyffin laughed at Tau's comment and a few minutes later they arrived at the apartment building.

"I enjoyed today," Tau said as Kyffin stopped the car near the back entrance. "If mother becomes a problem, call me. I'll be certain to let her know that she doesn't take priority over plans with Quayleigh. Although, I may phrase it slightly different, as I also don't want her to dislike Quayleigh just out of spite either."

"You should simply avoid as much contact with her as possible. Mother will never approve of you being with Quayleigh. Even if she appears to, assume it is an act. As the son of a Kirkwood, it is your one and only responsibility to marry for wealth and name. Quayleigh has neither. When you aren't paying attention, mother will make Quayleigh go away. First, she'll talk to her; try to convince her that she simply isn't suited for this type of a lifestyle or that the two of you are just too different to make a relationship work. If that doesn't work, she'll try a bribe. After all, everyone has a price. And if hers is too high, then it will be a threat. And in the end, as a final, worst case, she'll follow through on that threat."

Tau sat silent for a few moments, the atmosphere in the car having turned sour.

"I want you to know that Quayleigh has given me one rule to follow; don't kill family. I know what she means, and even as Anquiliria isn't my mother, she is family by extension. However, there are exceptions to every rule, and even my willingness to keep Quayleigh happy has its limits. If she ever harms Quayleigh…"

"Say no more, I understand," Kyffin interjected. "I would mourn her for a time, but I wouldn't miss her. Enough of this morbid talk though. Just be careful around her. Keep your distance for as long as possible, and never leave Quayleigh alone with her. As much as I think you should never introduce them in the first place, that simply isn't realistic, and it's unfair to the both of you. It's going to happen sooner or later, but my brotherly advice, do your best to hold out as long as possible."

"Sage advice. I'll be certain to do what I can."

"Good. Give Quayleigh my regards."

"Sure thing. You're still coming over on Sunday?"

"I wouldn't miss it," he replied as Tau opened the door and stepped out.

"See you then. If not sooner," Tau remarked as he shut the door.

"Take care, brother," Kyffin said to himself as he drove off.

A short while later, Kyffin arrived at his parent's house on the northeast side of Wahlborn Grove in the wealthiest and most affluent neighborhood of Briar Hills. Here, every house was a mansion, ten times to large, filled with empty rooms, family secrets, and memories of different times. And the Kirkwood's house was no different in that regard.

The house had the appearance of a small palace with sprawling grounds, built upon the crest of a rolling hill, and overlooking the city. Built of stone and stucco, the two-story structure stretched near 7000 square feet on the main floor alone and had a separate guest house the size of a large family home. There was a fountain in the center of the 'P' shaped drive, and large cherub statues marked the entrance.

Pulling up to the gate, Kyffin punched in the security code, and it rolled open allowing him inside. Parking in front of the main entry, he had barely managed to get out of his car, when he was greeted by his parent's longtime butler, Simmons.

"Your mother is waiting for you and your brother in the living room."

"Then she's going to be disappointed," he replied as he walked past the older butler and headed inside.

He had been preparing himself on the drive to return to his silent nature. He had no reason to show his newfound happiness. If she knew, he was convinced that she would attempt to steal it away. She had never been a loving mother, at least not to him. She had left all the nurturing to the various nannies that had passed through over their earlier years. And although he knew she was capable of kindness, having seen her dote over both of his younger brothers, he had rarely experienced anything outside of her strict rules, harsh discipline, and unobtainable goals. He truly believed that her favorite pastime was reminding him that he could always do better, even when he had achieved perfection.

Making his way into the living room, Kyffin was already prepared for the incoming lecture, the heels of his shoes clacking against the marble floors, announcing his arrival.

"Kyffin, where is Dylan?" His mother's voice, as sweet as sugar, echoed from across the room.

"He had plans."

"More important than visiting his mother? How unusually rude of him. Apparently, his time away has done nothing good for his attitude," she remarked as she glared in Kyffin's direction from where she sat, stretched out along the dark leather couch.

Anquiliria Laurentian was a woman of both grace and beauty. She had piercing blue eyes, long, raven hair, gentle features, and a fair complexion all on a tall, delicate frame. However, her appearance and naturally high-pitched voice, belied her truer nature as a harsh, and manipulative matriarch.

"I do hope he is in better spirits though. It's quite troubling to not know where he is and what he is up too. Well, it's too bad his plans were unavoidable. At least yours were not. Which makes me wonder what was so important that you had to take time off of work? Do you have any idea of the position you put me in, Kyffin? Imagine my surprise when I got a call from Magistrate Nagashi asking if everything was alright, and me not having the faintest of idea about what she was asking. When she told me, you had called in because of a family emergency, I was left trying to explain that it must have been one of your children. Because in what other possible scenario would I not know what is going on in my own family?!" she hollered as she stood up and began pacing around the room. "The humiliation of being caught unaware; it's nigh unthinkable! And what's even more unbelievable is that you, of all people, did it to spend time with Dylan? Care to explain why?"

"I didn't come here to discuss Dylan, and I've cancelled my plans. Now, what is it that you called me here for?" he stated as he stood perfectly upright, his hands behind his back; no emotion, no reaction.

"A localized rain spell for Magistrate Rosia."

"And you couldn't handle this on your own?" A tinge of frustration seeped through, and he knew it.

"Is this what spending time with Dylan is going to do to you? You should be damned grateful that I even allow you to work on such a thing! If today is proof of anything it's your lack of dedication! After everything I've done for you! Ensuring you had the best teachers, the most opportunities to prove yourself, the constant practice, the extra hours; you should already be a magistrate at your age, but instead you're goofing off with your disappointment of a brother! I expect as much from Caoimhín, but you? I expect better of you! You are more a Laurentian than a Kirkwood, do not make me remind you again!"

He watched as she took in a breath, calmed herself, and put on the fakest of smiles, before lowering and sweetening her voice.

"The next time I tell you to do something, I expect you to do exactly as you are told, regardless of whatever plans Dylan thinks he has. Don't let him drag you down Kyffin. You are already so far ahead of him, but you still have so very far to go. Everything you need for the spell is in the workroom. Let me know when you're done," she said before dismissing him with a wave of her hand. "Oh, and Kyffin," she added as he turned and stepped away, "don't fuck this up. I can't keep gifting you these opportunities to prove yourself forever. Eventually, you're going to have to do it all on your own."

He bit his tongue as he continued to walk away. Oh, the things he wanted to say to her, to scream at her, but he couldn't risk it. There was too much at stake, too many things that could still go wrong, and too much work still left to do. He had only just discovered the truth of his own magic and rescued his withered tree. And he still had no real reason to believe that Cole would follow through on his offer. He was putting a lot of trust in someone he barely knew based on a feeling, and that thought alone, made him uneasy. All the progress he had made, the small fragile happiness he had found for himself, the spark of hope, the tiny taste of freedom, and in a matter of minutes, she had stripped it all away and made him doubt. He hated it, he hated her and what she did to him, and thus, he chanted the mantra he had been repeating for years in his head, 'Never react. Never speak. Never let her see.'