Jake, Son of Zeus

"No," Rachel said, her voice firm, and Jake began to wonder why on earth he'd brought it up again.

Even over the phone, he could picture the pursed lips that went with that tone. "I want Lily to know her grandfather," Jake insisted, "and I want Dad to meet Lily. What's wrong with that?" He tried to come up with some convincing statement, something that would make her see his point of view. Rachel was good at that, good at finding the perfect words at the perfect pitch and volume to get her way. He'd never been good at fighting with her.

"What's wrong with that? My god, Jake, these people, these creatures, have plagued you your whole life, and me, too, for as long as I've known you. You really want to bring Lily into that world?"

Jake didn't point out that, as his daughter, she was already a part of that world. For months he had been expecting that statement to come from Rachel as grounds for keeping Lily away from him altogether. He said instead, "I want her to meet her grandfather. That's it. You haven't had any problems since I left, have you? Nothing will change." He wanted to suggest that he move back in and keep an eye on things, but she would laugh at him. And she would be right to laugh. Jake had been convinced for awhile now that he was cursed. It was true that all the children of Zeus were plagued by visits from the other world, but he seemed especially set apart. Everything he touched turned to sludge, and that was no way to run a life, a family.

"But what if—" Rachel protested.

"Nothing will change. You know Lily doesn't have any light of immortality on her at all, so they don't take notice of her."

"Your mother didn't have any light," she sneered, "either, but someone took notice."

Jake felt that was a cheap shot, but pretty much true. His mother, Delilah, had been lovely, but not in any remarkable way. The most remarkable thing about her had always been her incredible ability to deny reality and avoid doing anything that might seem practical or useful or responsible. His mother and father were deeply in love for nine days, until Zeus met a blonde volleyball player in the park one afternoon.

"You're right," he said, "but it's not like Dad ruined her life. She was happy, maybe happier than she would've been otherwise."

"But it doesn't usually turn out that way."

"No. It usually doesn't."

Rachel, unused to being agreed with, gave in after a few more verbal slaps. Lily would meet her grandfather during her next Saturday with Jake, and Jake was proud that he had fought for it and surprised at how easily he had won. Maybe Rachel realized since she wasn't around to "keep an eye on things," that Zeus and Lily would probably meet anyway, either because Jake set it up, or because it just happened. Zeus rarely called before he showed up outside Jake's door in a borrowed body.

After hanging up with Rachel, Jake dialed his father and gave him the news.

"Ooo," Zeus said through the phone. "That��s not a good day for me."

Jake kicked the sofa.

"Just kidding. I wouldn't miss it. Put some ice on your toes."