Bruce

Fallon POV

I walk down the stairs to Bruce. He is singing in my kitchen, and I believe he is cooking. I stop at the entrance to the kitchen and listen. I listen to the noise coming from the kitchen, the sounds of joy. Can I be joyful now? Is it wrong for me to be thinking about joy? I smile for the first time in days, and I feel guilty about it.

"Hey! I didn't mean to wake you. I am cooking. I guess that is obvious. I was planning to bring you breakfast when it was ready," Bruce stammers. He looks cute and sweet as he cooks breakfast for me.

"You didn't wake me," I respond. I go into the kitchen and sit at the family-sized table.

A table for a family, but there is no family anymore. There might be a lost family. I want to find this other family, but I don't want to disrespect the family that raised me. There is a lot to think about today.

"I planned to bring breakfast for you, but since you are here, we can eat together," Bruce says. He suddenly realizes he has already said that. He is nervous around me today, but why?

Bruce makes a plate for me and one for himself. He sets everything on the table along with a glass of orange juice. I can tell something is bothering him. Is he tired of being here?

"You don't have to stay if you need to go home. I do not want to be a burden to you, Bruce," I say as Bruce sits with me.

Bruce looks perplexed. "No, I want to be here. I want to help you. I heard something last night, and I think I might be hearing things in this house. Is there anything you want to talk about or tell me?" Bruce inquires.

I know what he heard, but I am going to ask anyway. "What did you hear?" I ask him.

Bruce smiles. He always has this sweet smile, but when he is worried, his smile changes. He is showing me his nervous smile. "I heard a voice, and I heard rain last night after you went to bed. It wasn't raining last night, so what was it," Bruce says.

I take a sip of my orange juice and think about exactly how much I should tell him. I have to tell him everything if I want his help finding these uncles in New Orleans. I can't exactly rush off to a big city by myself, looking for two old men that I don't know. I could end up at the bottom of a river. I need Bruce to help.

"I don't want you to think I am crazy, Bruce," I start.

"I know someone was here last night. So if you're crazy, then I am crazy too," Bruce interrupts me.

We both laugh. "Fair enough. I think we should find my parents, and I know where to start if you are serious about helping me,, but do not feel like you have to help me. I do want your help," I say. I hope he agrees to help me.

Bruce digs into his breakfast as he listens to me remember and detail everything that happened last night. Right down to me, thinking it was a dream, until I stepped on a wet floor, and then coming to a realization that I am a witch as I cleaned up the wet floor.

"Your parents helped hide you, or they didn't know?" Bruce questioned the logic of my hidden magic. I doubt it too, but there is no way for me to know the answers until I go to New Orleans and find the Uncles.

I shake my head. I didn't have an answer to the question he was asking me. "I know nothing about New Orleans. I have never been there. How in the hell will I find these two men? What if they are dead? What if I find my real parents and they do not want me? I am only 17. I cannot even reserve a hotel room for the night, Bruce. How can I accomplish this?" I ask.

It suddenly occurred to me that maybe these people don't want to know me or see me. Maybe they have forgotten me altogether. Bruce reaches across the table and takes my hand. "How could anyone not want to have you in their life? They hid you to protect you. I am more worried about what it is exactly they were protecting you from, and is that something still a worry," Bruce says.

There are so many questions and not enough answers right now. "Well, I guess there is only one way to find out, right? We have to go to New Orleans and find the Uncles," I say.

"Okay. I have some family in Louisiana. I will go with you. Do you want to leave today?" Bruce asks.

I think about it for a moment. "No, in the morning. I have to take some papers to the lawyer's office and the bank for my parents. Are you okay to go tomorrow?" I ask Bruce.

"Yes, I am ready to go when you are. I will call my family so we will have a place to stay while we are there," Bruce says.

"Your family won't mind helping me?" I ask.

Bruce shakes his head. "No, they will not mind at all. I will call my mom and tell her what is going on," Bruce says.

I sit thinking about what I am doing right now. I buried my parents yesterday, and tomorrow, I am looking for my family in New Orleans. I wonder if they would have told me if they were still alive, or is this something they were not supposed to tell me ever? Why did these ancestors tell me now? How much did my family know about how or what I am? Is this what my mother needed to talk to me about when she returned from her visit with my aunt?

"Fallon," Bruce calls out to me.

"What?" I ask.

"Where did you go?" Bruce asks. He looks concerned.

I realize the kitchen is clean. I zoned out for a few minutes, at least long enough for Bruce to clean the kitchen. . "I was thinking about all this. It is a lot to handle. I feel overwhelmed. I have no idea how to handle any of this. Why did this have to happen right after I lost my family? I wish my mom was here," I answer.

Bruce sits back down at the table with me. For a moment, I think he is going to offer some words of wisdom, but he doesn't. He sits with me while I think and then leaves the kitchen after a few minutes. He is such a good friend. He always knows what I need, when I need it.

I wander the house, looking in the bedrooms, looking in drawers. I waste most of the morning while Bruce leaves me to my thoughts. I finally go back into my father's office and grab the papers I need to take to the lawyer's office and the bank. I look around. I can smell him and hear him in this room. Why didn't they tell me? I am so angry and so upset with them.

Bruce is waiting for me outside the office door. "Ready to run errands?" Bruce asks me.

I shake my head. "I could use a ride if you don't mind. I am not sure I am ready to drive today," I say. I know I am not ready to drive.

"I can take you, but first, I have to tell you something. I made some calls while you were sorting through some things. I wanted to give you some space. I found both of your uncles. They own a little magic shop in New Orleans. It is called Elemental Magic," Bruce says.

"G****e?" I ask.

Bruce laughs. "Something like that. My sister booked a hotel for two nights for us. She lives right outside New Orleans and will meet us at the hotel. She wants to help. Libby is wonderful. You will love her. We are ready to look into your past," Bruce says.

I jump up, grabbing Bruce in a hug. "Thank you," I say as I melt into him. I want to cry, but there really isn't time for that right now.

"I am always here for you, Fallon," Bruce says. I know he means it.