"What? Aunt Norma, are you nuts? Come on, sit." She let him direct her to into a chair. "You did right by me. You did everything you could."

She shook her head, let out a pained sob as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I promised Ruby I'd protect you."

"And you did."

"No. You wouldn't be back here if I did. I should have told you, should've told you everything."

"Norma, it's okay." He hugged her around the shoulders. She leaned into him, her breath hitching.

Sheila pouted at him from the doorway and he suddenly had to hold back from breaking up himself.

"You know, when people ask about where I grew up, ask me about Ruby, I always say you're the one who raised me, you know that, right?"

She nodded softly against his chest. "But I should have protected you—"

"You didn't know—"

"I knew. I knew this place wasn't safe for you. Never was, especially not since that day—"

"Hey, we don't need to talk about this now, Aunt Norma."

"—the day Ruby left. And when you didn't show up by midnight your mother said you'd gone back to the city. Given us your typical Irish goodbye. But I thought for sure They got to you." She looked up at him, her eyes big and wet with fear. "They did, didn't they? That's why the two of you look so scared?"

He shared a look with Sheila, not sure how much he should reveal, how much Norma knew. "Nobody got to us, Aunt Norma, we just..." He didn't know where to begin, so he decided not to try. "We got in a little car accident. Spent the night at the mechanic's. I should have called."

"Okay." She sniffled. Took a tissue out of the apron pocket and gave her nose a good honk. "Well, I'm just glad you're alive. Help yourself to breakfast. I hoped I'd see you by noon if at all, heat it up in the mike for ya."

"Breakfast sounds great, Norma. I'll get Ma."

"Let her sleep. She needs her beauty rest."

"It's our last meal together. I'd really like her to join us. She can go back to bed once we're gone."

Norma untied her apron and slapped it on the table with a heavy sigh. "Well, I suppose it's for the best, even though I'll miss you like crazy."

"You could come visit us in the city sometime," Sheila suggested.

Norma sputtered, already back to her old self. "Not flippin likely."

Martin smiled. "I'll get Ma."

He gave Sheila a serious look and left the kitchen. He didn't realize his error until he reached the stairs. Should have gotten a knife—if not for Barclay than for her.

The steps creaked as he ascended. What would he say to her? How would he explain their absence? Or did she already know everything? How much of the thoughts and powers did she share with the others?

Supposing she really was the first, as the vision at the stones seemed to recount, was she also the strongest? Or had her powers faded over time, with age and infirmity? Had her days spent in an aging human body withering away at the hospital dulled her powers, her extrasensory perception?