Naleighna Kai's Literary Cafe Magazine November Edition | Page 80

Sierra Kay Excerpt from In the Midst of Fire They say there is no place like home. Unless your home is in a place so volatile that the devil himself would give it a wide berth and the only direction you’re trying to move … is out. Hawk’s dark brown eyes opened wider than the shades covering the matching lamps on the end tables. “Dad? Really? That’s more than fifteen years?” Giselle’s hands curled into fists. “Well, did you know each other before Vegas?” she inquired, her gaze falling to that wedding ring again. “Dad just left on Thursday. I mean, were you drunk? What happened? How can you get married in four days? She doesn’t even know—” Sera looked between the Glens. She shifted her gaze so that it took in each one of the Glens. “What? What don’t I know?” Chase relaxed again and rubbed his hand down Sera’s arm. “You know when you’re in love.” The twins whipped their heads to stare at their dad as if he had grown another head. “Love!?!” Chase grimaced and then stood, pulling Sera up beside him. “Yes, love,” he confirmed; but there was something in his tone that brought Sera up short. “It was instant and liberating.” Hawk shrugged, extracted his cell from the shirt pocket and looked at the caller ID. “I have to take this.” “Yeah, welcome to the asylum, Sera.” Hawk raced out of the room, but yelled back over his shoulder, “I hope you enjoy your stay.” Chase watched his son’s retreating back for a moment before shifting his gaze to Giselle, whose solemn expression signaled that something wasn’t quite right in the world of everything Glen. “Why don’t you whip up something for dinner?” he suggested. “We can get to know each other better.” Giselle nodded. “No problem, Dad. You could do steaks on the grill, and I’ll handle the sides. We have some asparagus, maybe a bit of risotto.” As Giselle rushed from the room as though a burning fire were nipping at her heels, Chase pulled Sera into a hug. “See, that wasn’t that bad. Was it?” Uneasiness settled into the seat of her soul. She angled her head toward the back of the house. Hawk had the phone to his ear, but he was watching them intently from the upper level of the steps. Giselle peered out from the edge of the dining room. If she had to sum up their countenance and expressions, it would be—sad. Sera didn’t know anything about the three wives that came in between his first love and the “love” he claimed he felt for her. 80 | NKLC Magazine www.sierrakay.com