Chapter 38 - Goodbye to Hidden Springs

Now that Delia knew the sad truth, she had to decide what to do. Rather than upset Francie and Nate, and let them know that her mom is a freak, she will have to move on again. The town’s people already are afraid of her anyway and that itself is almost a good enough reason. But this time she will take Aiden with her. He knows there is something to the supernatural and he is old enough to get it. He will understand, maybe. They will tell Francie and Nate that she had to leave town for her job. That will work. 

Now that Delia had her plan she had to break it to Aiden. When Aiden got home she sat him down and began to explain to him that she had to leave Hidden Springs for Twinbrook due to her job. He would be able to finish his last year of school there with her. Needless to say, Aiden wasn’t having any part of it. He and Antoinette were talking about getting married as soon as they finished school. He couldn’t - no - wouldn't leave her. She was the best thing that happened to him since his father died and he said his mom couldn't make him. They continued to argue and finally Delia gave in.

They talked about his headaches and he said they were gone. Delia wasn't so sure, but she had no evidence to the contrary.  He would have to stay with Francie and Nate and finish his last year of high school with them. This broke Delia’s heart. Once again, events out of her control (but no more since she understands what is happening) are forcing her to leave her family behind to begin a new secret life. But what could she do. Things were so not as they seemed. And it was high time she figured it out.

Nick - Delia's grandson

She called Nate and asked him to come over. She wanted to talk to him first without Francie. He had little Nick so the two of them came by. It warmed Delia’s heart to see Nick. He was already in school and as he grew he looked more and more like her Francisco. He was such a cutie pie. 

She explained to Nate what was going on with tears streaming down her face. He agreed they would take in Aiden. He was no trouble and Francie and Aiden were very close.

 
She called Aiden in and they all three sat down and discussed the logistics. She had to leave very soon. 

After they worked out the details, she told Nate to call Francie and ask her to come over so she could tell her goodbye. Delia went in the bathroom to clean herself up before Francie got there. She didn’t want her to see how upset she was.

When Francie arrived it didn’t go as well as she would have hoped.  Francie and Delia were like two peas in a pod when she was growing up. She didn’t want her mom to leave and even more she didn't want her to leave Aiden. He already lost his father and now he would be losing his mother. 
They continued to discuss it and everyone eventually came to terms with Delia's move even if it was an unpopular decision. Delia promised she would stay in touch.


It was time for goodbyes and hugs for all. Her sweet grandson Nick and her confused son Aiden with his special talents.




Hardest of all was when she had to say goodbye to Francie. Tears came hard and fast. Then they packed up Aiden's things and he and Coal moved in with Francie and her growing family.

Delia had intended to leave right away, before the baby was born, but she didn’t feel well enough to travel. She hid out in her home and didn’t let anyone know she was still in town as they had no idea she was pregnant and thought she had left already. Two months later, the baby came, a little boy.

When Alexander was born, the doctors and nurses began to talk in whispers as the baby made a small high pitched cry. Delia asked what was wrong. They handed Alexander to Delia so she could hold him and she was in shock. His skin was a translucent blue, just like the ghost in her dreams and he was cool to the touch. The doctor's told her he was very ill and may not live and if he did he may never be normal.

Delia had delivered an undead ghost child. A child caught between two realms. Delia left the hospital and ran home with little baby Alexander before anyone could see them. This had to remain a secret. Another secret.

She was glad now that Aiden wasn’t coming with her. He would have been so disappointed and exposed to things that even she didn’t fully understand. So many secrets; when will they ever end?  She didn’t know if Alexander would live or die. She just knew she loved him like she did all of her children and she would care for him until that day.  Francisco - she thought - what have you done? 

Delia took Alexander home to gather the last of her possessions before they could leave for Twinbrook.  She stood in the rain, holding her strange baby, and took one last look at the home she had made for herself, Francie and Aiden. The flowers, the garden, even the teeter-totter that both of her children played on. She remembered the fun times she and Francie had before she married Nicholas and even after Aiden was born how great things were - for awhile anyway. Things went downhill from there. Now she was off to another new start in a little cabin hidden deep in the bayous of Twinbrook.

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