The Forest of Aisling: Dream of the Shapeshifter (The Willow Series Book 1) by D.S. Elstad Read Free Book Online

Kelleigh and Quinn.
    “Dad, Kelleigh left a note in my pocket today.”
    “Oh?” he responded.
    “Yeah, she wants to come over to our room for a
visit tonight; would that be ok?”
    Dad stopped in his tracks, stared straight ahead
then turned to me, “Why?”
    “Why? Just to be friendly, we got along well at
Uncle Eagan’s.  I like spending time with her and Quinn.  Remember,
Mom said this would be a perfect time to meet some family here.” My pace
quickened as I walked in front of him.  I felt angry.
    “Slow down, Willow, of course they can come
visit.  I just meant did they have a special reason or something. 
Let’s get back and you give them a call, ok?”  Dad remarked as he caught
up to me.
    “Ok, thanks,” I mumbled, embarrassed for clearly
overreacting.
    Back
in our hotel room, Dad made himself scarce so he could talk to Mom privately. 
While waiting for Kelleigh and Quinn, I switched on the TV.  It was
interesting to see how different TV was in Ireland compared to home.  It
seemed calmer, relaxing even.  Just as I was getting into a program about
a vampire and his girlfriend, a knock came at the door.  I jumped up,
looked out the peephole, and saw Kelleigh mussing Quinn’s hair with him
twisting her arm behind her back.  Is that what’s it like to have a
brother?   I wondered.
    “Hi there,” I opened the door just as Quinn came
crashing in.
    “Oops,” he laughed, almost totally losing it and
face-planting on the floor.
    “Quinn, you really are quite an embarrassment,”
Kelleigh sneered as she grabbed him by the arm, leading him into our room.
    “Where’s your pop, Willow?” Quinn asked, scoping
out the room.
    I tilted my head towards the bathroom.
    “Ah, ok,” they both said in unison.
    “Willow, do you think your Dad would let you go
out with us to meet some of our friends?  They live just across the way,”
said Kelleigh as she plopped on the bed.
    I wasn’t sure how he would feel about me going out
– wasn’t even sure how I felt about me going out – but I tapped on the
bathroom door. Dad opened it a crack, exposing one side of his face and the
phone. “What is it, Wils?”
    “Dad, I’m going out with Kelleigh and Quinn to
meet some of their friends, they live close, ok?”  I asked, pressing my
eye to the crack at the door.
    “They’re the O’Keefe clan, Jack, over on Popper
Road, just a stone’s throw from here,” Kelleigh shouted from the bedroom.
    I could see Dad was not happy about this; the
visible side of his face broke into a frown and he glared at me with one
squinty eye.  He was always the over-protective one, never comfortable
with me “venturing off.”  Most times it took Mom to reassure him that I
wasn’t going to disappear or anything.  He definitely didn’t like being
the one to say o.k.  I looked at him pleadingly, hoping Kelleigh and Quinn
wouldn’t pick up on our wordless conversation.  Then Dad spoke softly into
the phone filling Mom in on my request.  After a few grunts and nods, he
finally said yes.
    “Not too long, eh, Kelleigh; so you’re driving
now?” He opened the door further and looked toward the bedroom, waiting for an
answer.
    “Been driving for a year, best driver in
Killarney.” Kelleigh sprang up and stood behind me facing Dad.
     In the bedroom we heard a sarcastic snicker
from Quinn, “Righto.”
    “No more than two hours. Willow, take your phone
so I can be in touch if need be, and no funny business, you three.”
    “Of course not, Jack! We sing in the Sunday choir,
don’t ya know,” Kelleigh added holding her hands together in a prayer pose.
    Dad opened the door fully, “No funny business. No
kidding ,” he said, glaring at Kelleigh.
    Kelleigh quickly stiffened and nodded. “Sorry,
Jack. We’ll be careful, I promise.”
    I smiled at Dad and reached in through the door,
touching his hand.  His face softened and he winked. “Have fun,
sweetheart.”
    “Thanks Dad.”
     Quinn shot out the door and