The Forgotten Ones

and over in my head. They had answers for so many of the questions I’d had my whole life—why I’d never known my father, why my mother lost her mind. And, why I felt like I was losing mine. Their answers sounded crazy , but they explained it all so perfectly.
    They even acted like my dreams meant something, like I might not be going insane after all. Unless they were just as crazy as I was. Which was highly possible.
    I typed the word Danaan into the search engine on my laptop, tapping my chin with a pen as I scanned through the results. I’d spent every spare minute the past two days looking up Irish fairies.
    The Tuatha Dé Danaan are magical descendants of the pre-Christian deities of Ireland who lived alongside the druids and Gaels. These human-like beings were forced to retreat under the hills of Ireland into another dimension of space and time with the rise of Christianity.
    It was reputed that only iron weapons could injure them. They became known as the people of the Sidhe (mounds) or fairies.
    Deities? As in gods? I scrolled through web pages on all manner of magic and fairy stories. Paintings of women wearing flowers in their hair with flowing gowns were on every page. Beautiful.
    I jumped when the phone rang. Again. It had been ringing non-stop all day. I glanced at the caller ID, seeing that it was Nicole this time. I silenced it and tossed it back on my nightstand.
    “Allison,” Gram called from outside my bedroom door.
    I heard the worry in her voice and tried to ignore it. “Come in.”
    She poked her head in, her brow creased with concern. “Supper’s ready, honey.” Gram was using her “cheerful voice.”
    “Okay, I’ll be down in a sec,” I said as I shut off my laptop.
    Gram smiled and tried to make her face look relaxed before nodding and heading back downstairs, leaving my bedroom door open.
    The smoky smell of grilled chicken that wafted in from the kitchen made my stomach grumble. I must have forgotten to eat lunch.
    Oh my god, lunch!
    Ethan had taken the day off so he could take me out for lunch on my birthday. No wonder the phone had been ringing non-stop. I groaned and rubbed my hand over my face. How could I have forgotten? I stood and smoothed my ponytail. I needed to pull myself together for Gram’s and Pop’s sakes. I was sure they had put together a nice supper while I sulked in my room all day.
    I went downstairs, and started when I saw Aunt Jessie and Uncle Dave setting the table.
    “Hey, birthday girl!” Aunt Jessie said as she walked by.
    Pop came in off the deck carrying a plate of grilled chicken. “There she is! Finally showing her face today. Happy Birthday, young lady!” His eyes twinkled like they always did when the family was all together. As he set the plate down, he kissed my mother on the cheek.
    The front door shut with a crash. Uh oh. There was only one person missing from the table.
    Nicole walked into the kitchen, staring at me with her eyes wide and lips pursed, but said nothing. It might as well have been a slap for what it meant.
    Gram saved me by announcing it was time to eat. Everyone loaded up their plates, the typical chatter going on across the table. I was about to take my first bite when Nicole spoke, her voice loud enough to stop all other conversation. “So, Al. I’m glad you’re okay.”
    “I’m fine, Nic,” I replied without looking up. I knew my family was looking at Nicole for an explanation.
    “That’s really good, you know, because I was convinced you were in some sort of accident or that you’d been mugged...seeing that you haven’t answered your phone all day.”
    “Nope, I’m all right,” I said evenly, fighting the urge to apologize. I had a secret now, something that set me apart from even Nicole, and I had to keep it that way.
    “Fabulous.” Nicole said sharply.
    Gram cleared her throat pointedly, and my head snapped up. My grandparents, aunt, and uncle were quietly cutting the food on their plates, and, my mother was slowly sipping her drink gazing out the back door. Finally, I raised my eyes and met Nicole’s hard stare. I shook my head and looked back down at my plate.

    I turned on the sink and picked up the sponge. Dinner was over, and helping to clean up was the best excuse I could think of to avoid Nicole. But Gram stopped me.
    “It’s a beautiful evening, and your birthday, so why don’t you go enjoy it on the deck?”
    I sighed. It would be no use to argue. I nodded and gave her a kiss, then