Page 78 of The Reanimator's Soul
Felipe’s chest tightened as he nodded with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He wasn’t superstitious, but it felt like a sign, that they had led him home. Oliver’s fingers threaded through his and gave him a comforting squeeze as they drifted to the parlor with the dogs trailing beside them.
“I saw the paper this morning,” Louisa began as she joined them, “that doctor you arrested is facing murder charges. Teresa told us what he really did with the bodies. I hope the society plans to make an example out of him.”
“They do. After we let the Sister Mary Agnes case go, thinking it was an isolated incident and all the people involved were dead, the head inspector is planning to prosecute Yates to the fullest extent of the law along with everyone he worked with,” Felipe replied, watching Louisa’s gaze harden.
“Good, though we all know they’ll throw the doctor to the wolves and look for someone else.”
“Trust me, I know, but at least, this might give us time to investigate who those other sources might be and stamp them out before they become a major problem. The Federal Branch is supposedly going to make curbing anti-magical sentiment a priority.”
“And I’m sure it will get worse before it gets better, as it always does,” Agatha added with a sigh as she plopped down beside Louisa on the sofa and draped an arm behind her. “I don’t look forward to that.”
“Me neither, but the society plans to do more community outreach. The werewolves are sending more money to expand Bennett Reynard’s shifter union, and the society is going to try to do more to support those like us who aren’t actively involved in the society. I thought maybe you and Agatha would want to get involved too.” When Louisa grimaced, Felipe added, “You’re very good at managing funds and delegating tasks. Reynard would find you a very useful ally. We can leave the actual outreach part to more social people.”
“I would prefer it to balancing the books,” Agatha replied with a good-natured shrug. “Count me in if Mr. Reynard needs extra hands. I’m sure we can begrudgingly rope in some of our friends too. Would anyone like cake or coffee?”
Oliver opened his mouth to reply when Felipe put his hand on his knee. He needed to do this now. If they had cake and coffee and started talking about all the things they had been up to, he wouldn’t have the heart to bring the conversation down. It had to be now. Oliver’s dove grey eyes met his in understanding as he gave him a wan smile and rested his hand over his.
“Actually, there’s something I need to tell you first. Teresa, can you come in, please?” Felipe called. His heart fluttered in his chest as his daughter sat on Agatha’s other side. Squeezing Oliver’s hand, Felipe released a tense breath. “Before I tell you, I need you all to promise you’ll wait until I’m done to say anything or ask questions. If I stop, I don’t know if I’ll be able to finish.”
Agatha and Louisa exchanged a worried glance. “Of course, Cariño.”
“Back in January... back in January, I died.”
***
OLIVER HELD FELIPE’Shand as he told his family the story of the case that ended his life and the accident that started it anew. The three women listened intently while the story poured out of him. Sadness, fear, and longing sluiced across the tether, and even as the story brought back wretched memories, Oliver stoked his love for his partner in hopes it would bring Felipe comfort. By the end of the tale, tears gathered in the corners of Teresa’s eyes while Agatha looked ashen as she held her daughter’s hand. Louisa, on the other hand, sat in stony silence, her face an impassive mask, but Oliver understood. Even if her face didn’t show it, a storm of emotions swirled beneath the surface. More than anything, Oliver hoped they would be kind to Felipe. He had been so worried they would disbelieve him or hate him once they knew. Oliver could take being hated for being a necromancer, but Felipe would be gutted if they turned on him.
Swallowing hard, Felipe locked eyes with the women on the sofa and said, “And that’s it. You can say what you want now.”
“This sounds like an absurd question, Felipe, but are you all right? You aren’t in pain or distress because of it, are you?” Agatha asked softly.
“No, I’m okay. The way my powers have changed has been an adjustment, but I’m all right.”
Staring at the space between Oliver and Felipe as if she might see the tether, Teresa chewed her lip and fought back a wet breath. “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”
“Because I didn’t want to alarm you or burden you with my problems.” Felipe’s hand tightened in Oliver’s grasp. “I— I could barely admit to myself that— that I died. How could I tell any of you?”
Oliver wrapped his other arm around Felipe’s shoulders and pulled him closer as he spoke. Beneath Oliver’s hand, Felipe trembled.
“I didn’t want to let you down,” he added, his voice cracking, “and I was afraid you might love me less for it.”
“Love you less?” Louisa said, shaking her head. Perching on the edge of the coffee table, she took Felipe’s face in her hands. “Cariño, we would never love you less. I have loved you and have worried about you leaving this world every day since we were sixteen. There is nothing that would make me love you less.” Her thumb brushed away the moisture on his cheek. “And despite what happened, we get to have more time with you. And that makes you all the more precious.”
Felipe bit back a sob as he wrapped his arms around Louisa and pressed his face into her shoulder. She held him close with one arm and wrapped the other around Oliver. When he met her wet gaze, she mouthed,thank you, and hugged him fiercely. In an instant, Agatha and Teresa crossed the room and wrapped their arms around them. Whispers and sniffs mingled with wet laughs as they held each other. Oliver couldn’t be sure who held whom or where his emotions ended and Felipe’s began, but for the first time in many years, Oliver wished he had grown up with a family that loved him the way Felipe’s did. He had never had parents or siblings or cousins, and he would never have children. Even if Felipe’s family welcomed him with open arms, he would never have people of his own, besides Gwen, who could love Felipe as much as Oliver did.
Pulling back from the group, Agatha dabbed at her cheeks and drew in a long sniff. “I think now is the perfect time for cake. How better to celebrate your second life than with cake and coffee?”
“Teresa, come help me get the coffee,” Louisa said.
“But I—”
“Give your father a moment,” she hissed, ushering a reluctant Teresa into the other room.
When Louisa shut the parlor’s pocket door, Felipe let out a shuddering breath and turned to Oliver. His eyes were red and his hands shook with fatigue, but he looked lighter than he had in months. Felipe let his head fall on Oliver’s shoulder as his partner rubbed his arm and held him close.
Kissing his temple, Oliver said softly, “Do you feel better now? I know this wasn’t easy for you.”
“I do,” Felipe whispered, his lips curling into a tired smile. “And now, they know, and nothing’s changed.”
Or perhaps, everything had but nothing that truly mattered.
