Arianna Rose: The Arrival (Part 4) Read Online Free PDF

nestled deep in the Canadian woods outside Halifax gave her a false sense of security and endangered its inhabitants. 
    Squeals of delight interrupted her brooding.  Arianna looked up to see Beth’s uncle Ted and aunt Kirsten, and their two children making their way down a narrow stone pathway that connected their yard to the porch.
    “Yay, breakfast!” Ella, a lively three-year-old with pigtails, said excitedly as she clapped and bounced on the balls of her feet.  Her brother, Joe, babbled something unintelligible then lost interest and began plucking at his diaper. 
    “My blood will stop flowing today!” Beth’s grandfather smacked his lips together and stepped from the kitchen.  “I know Jason uses real butter, not the low-fat crap you guys keep trying to feed me.”
    “Hey grandpa,” Dane reappeared and mumbled with half a bun sticking out of his mouth.
    Arthur Parker smiled warmly and shook his head.  He rubbed his generous belly.  “Ah to have the metabolism of a young man again.”
    “I don’t think it is your metabolism, dear,” his wife Adele slipped a hand into his and said.  “I think it’s the cookies you keep in your nightstand.” 
    Both Adele and Arthur Parker, Beth’s paternal grandparents, were silver-haired and elegant looking.  They lived in a small house on the property next door to Beth’s aunt and uncle and their two small children.  Her maternal grandparents lived on the property too, along with her great-aunt and uncle. 
    Six aging family members and two children under the age of five did not inspire much confidence in the safety department, even if they were supernatural beings. 
    Heaviness colonized deep in Arianna’s chest as she watched the large family settle into the bench seats of the picnic tables.  Beth’s mother and father continued bringing platters and bowls out and Desmond carried jugs of juice and milk.  When all the food and drinks had been arranged at the center of the tables, Jason stepped through the sliding glass doors onto the deck.  Numerous compliments were directed at him.  Dane offered up several catcalls and Jason smiled shyly. 
    “Please eat , everyone,” he said softly.  Desmond slid onto the bench beside her and did not waste time forking several buttermilk pancakes and scooping up some eggs benedict.  He wasn’t alone either.  Without hesitation, the entire family, delved into the delightful dishes offered. 
    Jason wedged himself between Beth and Arianna and was his usual unflustered self.  “Hey,” he said.  “How is everything?”
    “Great,” Desmond replied, his voice garbled by the food he’d shoveled into his mouth. 
    “So good,” Beth agreed as she chewed enthusiastically.
    “What about you, Arianna, aren’t you eating?” Jason asked quietly. 
    The truth of the matter was that everything looked delicious, but guilt had wormed its way into her belly and interfered with her appetite.  Watching all the wonderful people around her, Beth’s warm and welcoming family, she felt troubled.  None of them were safe.  Not with her around.  The realization that the time to leave had come hit her hard.  She’d been unprepared for it.  She would miss them.  And she did not know how or when to tell them of her impending departure. 
    “Oh yeah, I’m starving,” she said to make Jason happy.  “I wanted to wear my yoga pants when I found out you were cooking but someone rushed me down here because she was worried about getting cold or picked over food.” She nudged Beth who was oblivious of the act and too busy stuffing her face to notice. 
    Jason smiled timidly.  “I hope you enjoy your breakfast,” he said then hurried back into the kitchen.
    “Aren’t you going to eat?” Beth turned to ask her brother in a voice muddled by food, but he had already disappeared inside.  “Please tell me he’s not in there eating yogurt or drinking a protein shake instead of this.”
    “I don’t know about all