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  Michael rolled his eyes and flicked his brother’s ear, making his earrings chime.

  Philip ruffled Michael’s short brown hair. “Dinner smells wonderful.”

  “Oh, yes, please come in. I can take your coats.”

  “Anali and Preston must be teaching you manners,” Philip said, taking off his jacket and scarf to reveal a black shirt with a red tribal pattern over the shoulders.

  “It certainly isn’t Gavin,” Michael said. He wore a cable knit sweater over a blue collared shirt.

  Kayin laughed. “Come on, hopefully everything is on the table.”

  “Why hopefully?” Philip asked.

  “I’m afraid the table is about to break.”

  Michael stopped when he saw the table, causing Philip to run into him. “We have our work cut out for us, don’t we?”

  “I’ll give it my best shot,” Philip said, pushing past.

  “Go ahead and sit. I think we have everything,” Anali said.

  “Dinner smells wonderful,” Philip said.

  Anali waved away the compliment. “Maggie made everything and left heating instructions.”

  “Since this is Kayin’s first Thanksgiving, instead of just stuffing our faces right away, let’s go around the table and say what we’re all thankful for first,” Gavin suggested.

  “What a lovely idea,” Anali said. “Why don’t you start?”

  Gavin nodded. “I am thankful for my wife Anali, for Kayin joining our family, and for the hope that everything will go well for us in San Francisco.”

  “I am thankful for my family back in India, and the family I have here, which is bigger now.” Anali smiled at Kayin. “And I am thankful that I have become good enough at statue to perform it with Gavin.”

  “Let’s see,” Michael began. “I am thankful that my daughter Nyota is doing so well in school, and while I’m sad she can’t be here with me today, I’m glad she is spending the day with her mother in Florida.”

  Philip cleared his throat. “I’m glad I was able to go on a date without feeling like I was cheating on Taylor, who passed away almost two years ago, and I’m glad Gavin, Anali, and Kayin are going to be teaching at my winter break camp and spending Christmas with me.”

  Michael squeezed his brother’s shoulder. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “Thanks.”

  Taking a deep breath, Kayin looked around the table. “I will always miss my family and my home, but I am thankful I have found a new family and have experienced so many things I thought would stay childhood dreams.”

  Anali wiped her eyes with her napkin, and Gavin cleared his throat. “Okay, start eating; I don’t want to have to find room in the fridge for all of this.”

  * * *

  Kayin looked at his plate and sighed.

  “Roll?” Philip asked handing Kayin a wooden bowl full of delicious smelling bread.

  “I don’t have any room. I don’t know what happened. I was careful to take small portions so I could try everything.”

  “That’s how Thanksgiving is.” Philip took a roll. “See, you fit one right here.” Philip balanced the roll on the edge of mashed potatoes not covered in mushroom gravy and scoop of green bean casserole.

  “You fit it on my plate, but how do I fit all this in my stomach?”

  Michael laughed. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

  “Don’t worry, Kayin, eat what you like and stop when you’re full,” Anali said. “Don’t make yourself sick.”

  Nodding, Kayin decided to start with the yams with a crumb topping. Why would someone add sugar to yams?

  All talking stopped while they tasted the feast Maggie made for them.

  “Kayin, what do you think?” Gavin asked.

  “Everything is really good. The yams taste like dessert. I like the flavor of this.” Kayin pointed to what looked like bread pudding with vegetables.

  “The dressing.”

  “Yes, it’s good, but the texture reminds me of bread pudding, so it’s kind of odd.”

  Michael chuckled. “I can see how that would be strange.”

  “I love the cranberry sauce,” Anali said. “It makes my mouth pucker a bit.”

  “These mashed potatoes are so creamy.” Philip scooped up another bite of potatoes. Mushroom gravy dripped onto his shirt.

  Gavin gathered up a forkful of green beans shining with butter and covered in garlic and cream. “Everything is great, much better than our last cook.”

  “I need some more of the cheesy corn casserole,” Michael said. “And deviled eggs, please.”

  Philip grabbed three of the eggs, placing them on his full plate, before passing them to his brother. “Can’t have you eating them all.”

  Kayin looked at the platter of eggs. Was Philip really worried about Michael eating all the eggs? There were so many.

  “Greedy,” Michael said before taking four eggs, and setting the platter far away from Philip.

  “Boys,” Anali said, her voice full of laughter. “There are more eggs in the refrigerator. Maggie remembered the way you two acted last year.”

  The brothers blushed and focused back on their meal.

  Bollywood music echoed into the room. “Oh, excuse me, that’s my mom,” Anali said.

  Gavin frowned and kept his eyes on the door as he ate.

  “It’s the middle of the night in India, isn’t it?” Michael asked.

  “Yes,” Gavin answered. “I hope everything is okay. Sometimes her mom will call after large family gatherings to tell her all about them so maybe that’s all it is.”

  Anali opened the door tears streaming down her cheeks.

  “Sweetheart,” Gavin said, rushing to her side. “What’s happened?”

  “My uncle had a heart attack and died. My mom is devastated, they were so close.” Anali sobbed, and Gavin wrapped his arms around her.

  Kayin shifted in his seat. He didn’t like seeing Anali so upset, but what could he do? “I’m sorry you lost your uncle.”

  “Thank you,” Anali said as she wiped her eyes with the handkerchief Michael handed to her. “I don’t know what to do. I feel helpless here.”

  “We’ll leave right away, I’ll get everything set up,” Gavin said.

  “Kayin,” Anali said between sobs.

  “He can come with me,” Philip said. “We can hang out in San Francisco, and I can teach him proper circus technique so he can help teach during camp. We’ll have a great time, and that way you can stay longer.”

  Anali looked up, her brown eyes watery and filled with sadness. “Kayin?”

  Kayin nodded. “Yeah, I can go to San Francisco. We’d be heading there soon anyway. I’ll be fine and you need to go home to be with your family.”

  “Thank you,” Anali said, her eyes filling with more tears.

  “Come on, let’s go to our room.” Gavin wrapped an arm around her waist and guided her out the door.

  * * *

  Kayin fidgeted in his seat as he stared out the airplane window. Would San Francisco be very different from New York? Would Philip be as nice as Gavin and Anali? He seemed nice.

  “You did a good job,” Philip said. “Gavin asked me to thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For pretending to be excited instead of scared for the past two days.”

  Kayin looked out the airplane window. “I didn’t want Anali to worry, she was upset enough.”

  “And we’re grateful. I hope you like San Francisco. I’m not as good of a cook as Maggie, but we won’t starve.”

  “I’m sure I’ll have a good time. I hope you didn’t think I’m not looking forward to San Francisco.”

  Philip shook his head. His salt and pepper mohawk which was down today, fluttered against his jaw. “No, don’t worry. This is your second airplane ride, the second time you’ve had to leave your home, and I know you liked New York a lot.”

  “I do, but I always knew I’d be leaving to go to San Francisco eventually.”

  “San Francisco and t
hen the world.”

  Kayin grinned and touched the fire pendant at his neck. “Yes, San Francisco and then the world.”

  I hope you've enjoyed Kayin’s Fire. To find out when the next Children of Fire book will be published, learn more about my “eccentric artistic process”, or to ask me questions, or send comments you can find me on-

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  About the Author

  Being told she was a horrible speller and would never learn to use a comma correctly, Alica never thought to write down the stories she constantly had running through her head. Doesn’t everyone daydream about flying on a spaceship while walking to school?

  Not until she was thirty did Alica dare to write down any of the people living exciting lives in her head. The relief was instantaneous. By giving them life on the page they could be released from her mind and given greater adventures.

  As her books grew in size and the voices in her head learned to wait their turn, Alica found a loyal group to journey with. Women who would help her slay her commas, and use their magical gifts to traverse plot holes, transform words into their proper spelling, and release characters from any Mary Sue spells they might be under.

  In-between magical adventures, Alica is mom to two personal kids, five foster kids, has one exceptional hubby, a bunny she knows is plotting her death, and some fish, aka her daughter’s minions.

  Other Books by Alica McKenna-Johnson

  Phoenix Child: Children of Fire Book One

  There should be a law, a Universal Rule, as to how much weirdness can happen to a person.

  Fifteen-year-old Sara walks into the San Francisco Center for the Circus Arts determined to ignore the freaky things happening to her. As powers she doesn't want and can't control overwhelm her, Sara must decide if she can trust the strangers who say they are her family ... descended from a common ancestor four thousand years ago.

  Sara clings to her contented and well-planned life as a foster kid, successfully working the system, as dreams, powers, and magical creatures drag her towards her destiny.

  When the ancient evil that killed her parents comes to San Francisco, Sara is forced to choose between her fears and her desire to protect those she loves.

  Sometimes great things are thrust upon us. Sara wishes this supposed 'greatness' didn't include a new name, unicorns, and catching on fire.

  Legacy of the Feathered Serpent: Children of Fire Book Two

  First an ancient Phoenix King and Queen and now a sleeping Mayan god, could Sapphire’s life get any weirder?

  Sapphire. 15 years old, strong, intelligent, with newly acquired Phoenix powers. She travels through South America, with her recently-discovered family. Performing with Cirque de Feu Magique as a cover, the Children of Fire respond to the need of magical creatures to return home to Akasha.

  Powerful beings take a dangerous interest in the creatures they are called to save. The challenges of growing leadership and conflict with a Mayan god force Sapphire to realize she’s stronger than she thought.

  Heirs of Avalon: Children of Fire Book Three

  Christmas lights and her sixteenth birthday brighten Sapphire’s days. Her London nights are warmed by the attentions of Ramsey, a kilt-wearing selkie with a smile that promises both fun and trouble.

  She is growing into the role of leader of the Children of Fire. But her closeness with Ramsey and choice to withhold information causes distrust within her family. Their weakened bond allows a new evil to grow, unrecognized, around them.

  Horrified by the consequences her decisions have on the people she loves, Sapphire has to choose between her own happiness and her responsibilities as the Jewel of Akasha.