“We should have heard back from them by now,” he said. “Why haven’t we heard back from them yet? It’s been hours!”
“I’m sure we’ll hear from them soon,” Diana said anxiously, as if trying to convince herself.
“I won! I won!” Mackie shouted jubilantly, racing into the room.
“Did not, you cheater-head!” Zoe objected, following.
“Did so!”
“Not!”
“Mackie, Zoe,” Walker said. “What’s going on?”
“We had a mind battle, and I won!” Mackie declared.
“You did not! You cheated!”
“No, I didn’t!”
“Did so!”
“Did not!”
“Mackie! Zoe! Enough!” Walker frowned.
Mackie and Zoe went silent. Then the sound of a car was heard coming into the driveway. Nate rushed to the window and looked out.
“It’s them,” he said, relieved.
Taylor stumbled out of the car first. Then a shapeshifted Carla came out, carefully carting a prone Zac and Jessica. Nate opened the door for them.
“What happened?” he asked. “Where’s Isaac?”
“Oh, it’s all my fault!” Carla wailed. “If I had only gone out and merged with him, none of this would have ever happened.”
“Carla! Put them down before you start babbling,” commanded a weary Taylor.
“Yes, yes, of course…”
“Here, I’ll take her,” Walker said, reaching out for Jessica.
Zac slid to the floor.
“And I’ll take Zac,” Doug said.
He lifted him both physically and telekinetically, and the two fathers took them upstairs to their beds. Carla was now sobbing with self-incriminations.
Taylor collapsed on the lounge and rubbed his head. He waited until Walker and Doug returned before telling them what happened.
“And he just threw the car? With you in it?” Diana repeated, eyes wide.
Taylor nodded.
“How Carla got us out of there with half the car folded in on itself and on fire, I’m not entirely sure, but she did it,” he shook his head. “And I think Jessi nearly killed herself trying to heal everyone. Then Zac nearly killed himself restoring the car.”
“I wondered why it didn’t look like a wreck,” Nate said.
Taylor snorted.
“It looks brand new now. And handles that way too.”
“I’m sooo sooorrrrrryy…” whimpered Carla. “You were counting on meeee. And I betrayed that trust. I feeeel soooo awful. I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“And we’ve had to put up with this ever since,” Taylor said.
“Well,” Doug said firmly. “You’ve learned down, haven’t you? We all make mistakes, and even though your intentions are good, you know you can make them too?”
Carla paused, then nodded.
“Good. Now, stop your whining – we know that you’re repentant. We accept your apology. Now, can we rely on you to do your part next time?”
Carla nodded again.
“Even better. Now, stop your crying. We have to come up with a new plan.”