"So, are you dating my daughter?"

Esha's POV

"You just moved here, right?" my mom asked.

"Yes" he answered, "Almost a month now or more than that."

I can't really remember, as well. I think I need to recount the days since his arrival but that's not too important, anyway. He is here and that's it.

"Thales" my mom said, I did not mentioned Cain's last name, did my mom already knew a while back when she lets him in? "I just got the feeling you are one, I heard sometime of your family's moving here, we got a lot of movers and goers in Dale Ven" she continued, "Mind if you tell us the reason you moved? But if you mind, well, it's okay."

Okay, Mom, what are you getting at?

"No, not really, I don't mind" Cain said, "My Dad has some business to attend to here."

"Like catching some criminal or something?" my mom said, out of the blue, while forking some of the salad, when she looks at us, "What? It's just a joke" - both Cain and I were looking strange, maybe, in her perspective, mom can have really this hunches, she is a witch (or was!) - "Just a joke, or a thought, sorry about that."

"No, it's okay" Cain said, "You can put it like that, though" he continued, "My Dad is not part of the police or the likes."

"Well, if you put it like that, I won't ask for too much details, that is your family's business" my mom said, "Didn't really expected you'd say that."

"Just being honest, Mrs. Mirsten" he said, "You're sharp and also have some good hunches."

"Really" my mom said, "I'm a bit flattered."

We continued eating and out of the blue.

"So, are you dating my daughter?"

I almost choke with my mom's sudden words, my surprised face looking at her. Cain's face appears amused. Now, what?

"I think that is better answered by Esha" he said, "Though I really want to date her."

"Straightforward" my mom said, smiling, "So are you or are you not?" she looks at me then at Cain.

"No"

"Yes"

We answered at the same time. My mom can sometimes act like a matchmaker or just being teensy (my term for adult acting like teens).

"Well, it's okay for me" she said, "Am not against anyone dating you, Esha" she looks at me, "As long as they have since feelings" - looks now at Cain then at me - "for you and will not do anything to hurt you or else, that's another thing."

"I won't do anything to hurt her, Mrs. Mirsten" Cain said to his defense, "I like Esha."

"Oh, you're really straightforward" she said.

"Mom" I said, "We're not dating, we are friends for now."

"So you'll date him not now but in the future?"

Ughhhh!!! Mom!

"Gosh, Mom, let's just eat please."

Cain is really amused with this? This guy! My mom is also smiling but did not push through with the conversation.

My mom ask about school and how he finds Dale Ven, instead.

"Do you like it here?"

"At first, not but now yes" Cain answered, "To be honest" he continued, "It's a change of heart because of Esha" - looks at me - "It's better here with her."

My mom smiled like some amused cat. My mind is thinking about Alice's cheshire cat.

"Now, that is sweet of you" she said, "Are you catering me to your favors for my dear Esha?"

"If that is alright with you, Mrs. Mirsten" this guy, really?

I feel like I am not here with them. I can't even say much. I will just let them have a chat.

Dinner ended that way for me tonight.

"Thank you for inviting to eat with you, Mrs. Mirsten and for letting me come here, Esha" Cain said to me and my mom, "Perhaps, one of these days, you both can come to our house as well, for dinner."

"Lovely, we'll be glad to accept" my mom said, "Thank you for visiting my daughter."

"I'm glad she is feeling a bit better as I can feel she is still not completrly well" Cain said, he just really went off and said that, "Esha, will you be able to attend to our classes this week?"

"Yes, probably, I will" I said, "I mean, I need to, still need to study and not be engrossed with what's happening."

I need to, because maybe school and studying can distract me with my life's revelations.

"Mom, why'd you ask that to him?"

"Just a question, hon, don't be stingy" she said.

"I am not, it's just embarrassing."

"Oh no, no, no" she said, smiling, "He's okay and he comes from a good family, I feel that he really cares for you."

"Is that gut feeling or just your witch powers reading?" I can't help but ask. She said she stopped practicing that craft.

"Uhm, maybe both" she answered, "I did stop but when you're born with this power, it can manifest at times without notice, like a habit that does not just go away."

"Are you powerful that the faes want you?" Is she? Is that the reason they want her?

"I don't praise it or am not proud of who I am but I have accepted what I can do, I don't feel ashamed of who I am as well but choosing a path between power, greatness and love is one thing I did that change everything" she answered, "I think you can ask your grandmother for any details you want, some of my past, I don't want to remember but I am not restricting you to know" she continued.

"You can't tell me personally about other events?"

"I can, though, what I told you last time is much of what I can tell" she said, "I'm sorry yet again, Esha, for keeping this part of my life from you and even not telling you everything about my past."

"I won't push you, Mom" I managed to say, "Why have we not seen grandma, though? Except that time she was here for us once."

"We are not particularly close but we don't really have distant feelings or anything like that" my mom answered, "Ever since I gave up my witch's path, we don't have much to converse with, she ask about my welfare and yours from time to time but just that."

"Will she accept me?"

"Esha, your grandmother is a nice woman, even though most times, she can be a bit unfriendly when you look at her but she's not like that" my mom have some contradictions describing my grandmother, "She is fond of you and your sister" she said, "How about you spend some time with her, I'll tell her over the phone when you will go there, this is an exception" she continued, "I have not been home for a long time, but you can visit her, I will allow you, I owe you that."