Christmas in the House of O'Byrne, end of Chapter Two

    



     Tragedy struck the family in 1958, when her great-granddaughter Violet, was brutally murdered by her estranged husband—George Leonard Taite. Violet's children came to live with Lidia and Shade. Amber was twelve, Richard was eleven, and Adell was almost eight. George Taite had never been prosecuted for that horrendous crime. He had escaped from the law and disappeared.

     Lidia set up rooms on the second floor for herself and the children. The children were so traumatized by the death of their mother, that Lidia felt the need to send out a S.O.S to the family for assistance.

     Leah answered that cry for help. She was a Druantia Priestess, and came to live with them. She was young for a priestess—only twenty-four—but was very wise, and had a calmness about her that the children responded well to. It was at her suggestion, that the children legally regained their mother's name of O'Byrne, clearing some of the emotional baggage the name, Taite, triggered.

     Leah could never really settle into the rooms in the house, so chose to set up rooms down by the chapel in the underground labyrinth. Lidia assumed it had something to do with her vow to the Goddess. Leah had created a really cozy home within the caverns. The place was complete with a large warm bedroom, a small kitchen nook, a good size sitting/workroom, and a bathroom.

     Leah had also influenced the creation of a large natural hot pool. The pool was made from stone, baked by magic into a smooth surface. The heated water was fed to the pool from the mountain itself. Lidia had done a lot of soaking in that pool. It was very soothing to sit in the hot fragranced water while drinking one of Leah's home brewed beverages. They had become very good friends through the years.

     Michelle and Gary Marvin also answered Lidia's S.O.S. The twins, Teddy and Lilly, were the same age as Adell. The Marvin's offered to let Adell stay with them in Fresno. Lidia thought it would be a good distraction for Adell, and would allow her more one-on-one time with Amber and Richard. She accepted the offer. The five children spent a lot of time back and forth between the O'Byrne and the Marvin households. Now the children were grown, and Lidia was very proud of all of them. They had grown into strong, fun loving people.

     Amber had moved out when she became an adult, but moved back into the house when she became pregnant with Emily. She never talked about the father—Lidia never asked. She just supported and loved them both. They still lived in the house on the second floor.

     Adell was still living in the house when she met Phillip during an ice storm. They were both assisting in a search and rescue mission to bring some rock climbers down from one of the nearby cliffs. He was a helicopter pilot, and she was a searcher. Lidia could understand why Adell fell so quickly for Phillip. He was tall and strong, strong enough to pull Adell and the fallen rock climber to safety. He had black hair, vivacious blue eyes, and a charming smile. He was very gentle and kind. The two fell in love, married, and had little Natilie. Lidia had the upper story remodeled into a suite when Natilie was born. The O'Byrne property now had a helicopter pad sitting in its back pasture.

     Lidia was finally free of the house and property. She had been waiting to hand the keys over to someone else for quite some time—but the house wouldn't choose anyone. It had its own code and would only allow ownership, and admittance, to the family member that passed its own "rite of passage".Adell had recently passed these tests. Lidia was finally able to step down and let Adell take over. It was such a relief. The house was a huge responsibility—a very demanding presence. It was ageless and didn't seem to notice the aging of its occupants.

     Lidia moved back to the house where she grew up, married, and had her children. It was a sad type of homecoming returning alone—but she needed the rest that the place offered. The Oregon Cascades was not so different from the Sierra Nevada's. The Cascades might not be as high, or majestic, but neither were they as cold. She liked to watch the nymphs play while sitting on her small porch. She knew that the magic was strong in her Oregon home, and it felt good. She could put her feet up, and for the first time in her life—just enjoy doing absolutely nothing.