#welcometophu

He made it back to Leo and Colt’s so that he could meet up with Lucy and Rowan when they came down to help Emma’s parents re-establish themselves. Then he spent an entire day helping pack that house, so that by Thursday night everyone is living out of suitcases and eating take-out off of paper plates with plasticware. The move starts early on Saturday morning, and no one wants to be still packing while they’re loading the moving truck.

Saturday is going to be chaos enough. They have plenty of help arranged, but there are a lot of people involved. More, now that it’s been decided that Emma’s parents will be taking the second house. Their community has officially grown by an entire family.

Which means Pawel is moving into the main house with Colt and Leo. He’s known this for a while, but having the other house completely unavailable makes it more… real.

The one thing he hasn’t managed to do in the past week is get over to his father’s place to pack up the few items he has there, along with the contents of Conor’s room. So Friday he heads over mid-morning, figuring that he’ll get that done while his father’s at work. It’s early enough that he should still be on time for the closing at two, in the lawyer’s office downtown.

There’s a car on the street when he pulls in, visiting someone next door, he assumes. He unlocks the door with his own key, only registering the country music playing loudly after he pulls the door open. There’s a wordless shout and the music cuts off; Pawel drops his keys in response, looking into the kitchen. A woman stands there, her dark hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, tendrils escaped around her face as if she hasn’t managed to brush it yet this morning. She’s tall, with soft features and lines in her face, and has one hand pressed to her chest, over a t-shirt that Pawel knows belongs to his dad. 

“You scared me,” she says. “John didn’t say you were coming over today.”

Pawel blinks, his mind sorting through data quickly. He knows who she has to be, even if they haven’t met. He should be able to come up with her name. “Daisy,” he says, latching onto it like a lifeline. “You’re my dad’s—” He stumbles, because girlfriend sounds so high school, but he can’t think of a different term. Are Leo and Colt his boyfriends? No, that’s not the point right now; he needs to deal with the person in front of him.

“Girlfriend.” She holds her hand out as she approaches him. “Yes, that’s me. We should’ve met before now, but your father seemed to think you’ve got something against him dating.” Her smile is pleasant. Friendly and open. When Pawel clasps her hand, she offers a firm, quick shake. For a moment he thinks she’s going to hug him, then she hesitates and the moment passes as she withdraws her hand.

This is awkward.

“I don’t,” he says. “Have anything against him dating. I’ve assumed he has. It’s been a long time since Mom died, and—” Pawel winces, because he’s sure this isn’t coming out right. “I just don’t want to think about him having sex, and Dad overshares. So we’ve had a don’t ask, don’t tell policy for a long, long time. Which was good, because it meant he didn’t ask about the specific details of my life when I was doing things he probably didn’t approve of. Like everything in high school, and getting my not-girlfriend pregnant in college.” He glances at the door, relieved when that isn’t somehow a cue for Chelsea to walk in. “But yeah. It also means I didn’t know he was dating until I came home this summer. I take it this has been…?”

“Five years now,” Daisy says with a small smile. “At least if you ask me. He’ll tell you it’s been maybe nine months, possibly as much as a year. He thinks we started dating a year ago September, at the fall picnic.”

“How does that work?” Pawel closes the door carefully. “Also, if you’d like to—” He gestures at her bare legs. “I can wait while you get dressed. Are you…?”

“Living here? No, not really. Not yet.” Daisy walks into the kitchen, sliding eggs from a pan onto a plate and taking it with her to sit on the couch. “I’m retired, and I do have my own place, but sometimes it’s just nice to wake up here with him. I’m sure you know how that feels.” She smiles at him, and Pawel flushes, because yes, he does. Intimately. And that just makes him think—

Academically he knows that sex is a thing and that other people have it. Obviously. He can’t explain why he’s so hung up on not knowing that his own father is obviously happy and healthy and having a great time—no, he tried. He’s not thinking about that.

“I’m older than John—not that it means much at our age,” Daisy continues. “It just means I’ve been able to retire, between my own savings and the remains of my husband’s life insurance money.” Her expression is soft when she glances up. “I know what it’s like to be alone. It’s been a good thirty years for me, since before you were born. This relationship with John has been like a whole new start.”

Pawel sits at the other end of the couch. “How have you been together five years, if he thinks…?”

She laughs softly. “Well, we’ve known each other a good deal longer than that. I used to be a cop in his precinct. I started after my Sammy passed, actually. We didn’t have any kids. I wanted to do something good for the world, so I thought police work might be that. I retired six years ago, after twenty-five years of service. When they took me out for a drink to celebrate, I asked your father if he’d like to get dinner, or see a movie.” She pauses long enough to eat, gesturing with her fork when she speaks again. “We got to be friends. More, sometimes, when we felt like it. So I guess in my head things changed about when I realized that the only old fool I was fooling around with was him.”

“And he took a little longer to catch on?”

The look Daisy gives him is sharp, her smile wide. “Leo Papa tells me that the Szczek men are just a bit oblivious when it comes to emotional entanglements.”

Pawel makes a face. “We come around eventually.”

“At least you didn’t take years.” Daisy looks at him. “They’re good men, with a good family. I think it makes your father happy to see you with them. I’ve heard about your ex, too. Sounds as if things are complicated.”

“In a good way,” Pawel says. Yes, it’s taken him a while to get here, but he thinks he likes where he is. With Leo and Colt. With Chelsea wandering in and out at inopportune times. “It might still take some getting used to, but it’s worth it. We move into the new place tomorrow. Dad said he’d be helping.”

“I’ll come with.” Daisy answers the question he doesn’t ask. “I think John’s enjoying having a few extra grandchildren around. I get the feeling there will be more.”

The way she says it, Pawel isn’t sure if it’s an observation of the family he’s joining, or something more. “Are you prescient?”

“Talented? No.” She shakes her head. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there were Talent in my family—it’d explain a few things about my cousins—but as far as I know I’m not. Your mother though—I could almost see the way she glowed. You’ve got the same look about you.”

Wait. “You knew my mother?”

“Weren’t you listening?” Daisy snorts softly. “I joined the force before you were born, Pawel. I remember when she was pregnant with you. The way John would spoil her, and the way she’d light up the room when she walked in. I remember Sylvia well.” Her gaze narrows, mouth turned up at the corners in an impish smile. “I could tell you stories. Things you probably don’t remember, from when you were young. Things your father might still find too painful to talk about.”

Pawel gets the feeling it’s a bribe, but he doesn’t care. “I’d love it if you’d talk to Conor about her, too,” he says quietly. “I’ve told him everything I can, but I was twelve when she died. My memories are fractured sometimes. I think it’s like the whole world ended then, and I started fresh as a new person. Death can do that to you.”

“Imagine how Conor felt when you disappeared,” Daisy says solemnly. “Or how John felt, either time. Even knowing you were coming back this time, there’s still that uncertainty. He didn’t sleep well while you were gone.”

And that was definitely Pawel’s fault. “I’m sorry.” He pauses to let the apology have the weight it needs. “It was worth it, in the end. Emma has her parents back, and I think I’ve learned something more about my mother, and about how magic—Talent—works. It’s never-ending. I think I’ll be on my death bed someday and I won’t have learned everything there is to know. Every day seems to bring something new.”

“That’s how the world is.” She leans in, expression still serious. “If you ever think you know everything, you’re wrong.” Her smile blooms suddenly then; Pawel feels the mood shift in the room. “I’m glad to have finally met you properly as an adult, Pawel. Your son is a good kid. You’ve done well with him. Smart, polite. Gets his work done.”

“Are we talking about the same kid?”

“They always behave better for someone else. And that new family of yours. Of course, I’ve known them both before now. Good men,” she says. “I approve.”

“I’m still a little surprised at how well Dad—and you—are taking the idea that I’m in a relationship with two men.” It’s getting easier to say it so plainly. It’s also getting easier to accept it. They’re closing on a house today—well, Leo and Colt are, but Pawel’s moving in with them tomorrow. They are joining their families.

“I’m old, but not dead. I see how attractive they are.” Daisy winks, and Pawel feels the heat in his cheeks. “Your father respects them. I actually remember you dating them years ago. The things your father worried about… he knew more than you thought.”

Pawel covers his face with one hand. “Great. Remember: that’s why we had a don’t ask, don’t tell policy. It was better if we pretended that he didn’t know.”

“I understand. Look. It’s clear they both care about you deeply, and that you care about them and their children in return,” Daisy says. “I lived through the sixties. All these ideas that young people think are new, and that adults can’t understand—the adults that say they can’t get it don’t want to understand. It’s willful ignorance. Polyamory has existed for far longer than just your generation. It might not be my cup of tea, but I can see when it’s a good thing for someone else.”

“I didn’t think it was going to be my thing, either,” Pawel admits. “But I never stopped thinking about them. They were the ones that got away.”

“And now you’ve reeled them back in.” Daisy pats his knee. “Good for you.” She stands up, taking her plate with her. “I’m just going to go clean up in the kitchen. You came here to pack, didn’t you? Why don’t you get together whatever boxes you need, and when you’re done, I’ll help you carry them out to the car. The guest room still looks like Conor lives here, and it seems like Emma’s left a lot of her stuff here as well. Might take a couple of trips.”

“I was actually just going to pack what I could now, and have Leo swing by with the minivan later,” Pawel admits. “There’s no way everything’s fitting in my car. You go on and do whatever you were going to do this morning. I’ll grab the boxes from my car and get started. And….” He feels like no matter what he says, it won’t be enough. “Thank you for being here. My father seems happy, and so do you, and that’s a good thing. I’ll try to be more involved. Although I think we’ll both be glad if I’m not sleeping on his couch anymore.”

“We’ll definitely all be glad of that,” Daisy agrees. “Go on now and get everything done. I’ll come help, if you’d like.”

It’s putting things in boxes. It’s the same thing he’s done all week, back in Unity. But at the same time… this could be good. “On one condition,” he says. “You tell me stories. Not about my dad, or about my mom, either. Tell me more about you. I’d like to get caught up on everything I’ve missed.”

Her laugh is loud and bright. “I think we can do that, although maybe not quite everything. We’ll let your dad and me keep a few secrets.”

Yeah, Dad has definitely found his match in her. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you,” he says. Maybe there are pictures somewhere, something with Daisy in the background, from when Pawel was younger and going to those departmental picnics. Something to help him place her in the life that existed before Pawel moved to Unity. Apparently she’s been here a long time. Pawel should make an effort to connect with what he’s missed.

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Welcome to Pine Hills University, where magic changes and danger lurks!

People with Talent—Mages, Dreamwalkers, shapechangers, and others—have always lived among mankind. Their existence was hidden until ten years ago, when the world was abruptly introduced to the existence of these secret magic users after a young gymnast spontaneously teleported during the Olympics. This event heralded the start of the Emergence; whereas, once, Talents were close-kept secrets that ran in family lines, now everyone knew that there were people with incredible abilities in communities all over the world.

The Emergence wrought changes at every level of society.

At Pine Hills University, a small liberal-arts college in Upstate New York, these changes have been pronounced, as the University has taken the lead in studying Talent academically: encouraging Talented students to apply, hiring Talented faculty, and debuting Talent-related curricula, minors, and majors.

This is the milieu against which the events of the Twinned trilogy unfold. Ten years has been just long enough for the young, Talented students of Pine Hills University to think they know where they fit in the world—but there are many changes yet to come…

Book 1: Commit to the Kick

Blurb:

Don’t hesitate. Don’t overthink it. Commit to the kick.

For eighteen years, Alaric has lived under the cloying politics of family and his Clan community. His freshman year is supposed to be a chance to explore a world where Clan and his shapeshifting Talent isn’t central to his life. But when his inner bear bursts forth during his first football game, endangering those around him, Alaric realizes that it’s not so easy to ignore his past, or his own internalized anger.

In his quest for anger management, Alaric begins to train in taekwondo, and makes new friends in both sports. He finds that he is creating his own small community, where Clan, Mages, other Talents, and even humans come together and build their own found family.

When Alaric receives news that something has happened to his brother Orson, he must return and deal with his Clan and his place in their world. He discovers that old prejudices are still strong between Clan and Mage communities, but that both may be in danger from a creature long thought to be only a legend. Alaric must figure out how to move forward and prevent a war and protect both his home and newly built communities, his found family with him every step of the way.

Book 1 introduces the Welcome to PHU world, an aromantic lead, a growing m/m relationship, a lot of family angst, and a wonderful hoard of diverse, fascinating characters you’ll crave learning more about. Chapter 1 preview!

Book 2: Missed Fortunes

Blurb:

To solve the problem of now… Remember what lies behind… Pass through your hopes and fears… …to the final outcome.

Carolyn knows the Emergence brought her a new community, but it also revealed the existence of people with magical Talent to the scrutiny of the world. Her high school life ended on a tumultuous note, but now that she’s a junior at Pine Hills University, her life has become stable. She has her twin Kit. She has her sorority sisters. She has her Talent and her Tarot cards.

But when the Tower appears in a reading, the world shatters and changes. Kit has left his predictive Talent behind, and Carolyn’s own predictive Talent is changing decidedly unpredictably. She’s seeing visions of fire and destruction, of Shadows moving in the darkness and intruding into the light. And her sorority sister Drea and Drea’s brother Alaric have returned from winter break, warning of looming dangers and the risk of Clan going to war.

Carolyn shouldn’t get involved—doesn’t want to get involved—but with the world crumbling around her and her predictions hinting at worse to come, she can’t imagine not doing what she can. To make matters worse, the only way forward is to reconcile with her past, but Carolyn isn’t sure how to do that nor why it seems so important to the world that she does.

Book 2 picks up where Commit to the Kick ends and features an asexual lead and her trans twin brother, a f/f queerplatonic relationship, and a huge amount of self-exploration, all while widening our focus from the University to the world beyond. Chapter 1 preview!

Book 3: Into the Split

Blurb:

Watch out. Don’t fall into the Split.

Nikolai is a Dreamwalker born into a family of Weather Witches. His boyfriend, Seth, is an Empath, anchoring him so that Nikolai won’t accidentally open a pathway between the physical world and the Dreamscape.

But Dreams are slippery things: they can attack, and they can trap, and Shadows live in the dark spaces between worlds. Shadows escaped the Dreamscape and came to Nikolai’s world when he was a child. They fed hungrily, drawn to those of strong Talent, killing Nikolai’s family and destroying his home.

Nikolai and Seth have have been on the run ever since.

When the veil between the Dreamscape and his world cracks open again, Nikolai is shocked to meet his doppelganger from another world, Nikita. Claiming that Nikolai’s life has been in her nightmares for months, Nikita promises to save him, but the actions of her and her friends draw the Shadows to them wherever they go. And worse yet, they quickly realize that their worlds are linked: if Nikita cannot save Nikolai, her own world may be lost as well…

Book 3 brings the Twinned trilogy to a delightfully satisfying conclusion and features an established m/m relationship and a lot of other things that we can’t share, because shhhhh, spoilers! Chapter 1 preview!

Be among the first to get the print version of Into the Split! Back our Kickstarter today, before time runs out!