Page 57 of Searching for Thanksgiving

Epilogue

Several weeks later:

“What do you think she is telling him?” Paul asked.

Morian chuckled. “I think she is giving him advice on how to court Crystal.”

“That sounds like our Morah,” he replied with a low laugh.

He wrapped his arm around Morian’s shoulders, and leaned back against the seat of the swing. He couldn’t help but think about how much he loved this world as he relaxed back and enjoyed the early afternoon sunshine. The garden was filled with laughter. Men and women alike were placing platters and dishes on several long tables for Valdier’s first ‘Thanksgiving’ celebration.

The kids had come up with the celebration idea, and Zoran had declared it as yet another holiday. Vox and Ha’ven were so impressed by it that they were already planning on introducing it on their planets as well when they returned. Vox said it was a great excuse to get everyone together—plus, he loved the feast.

Paul smiled when Shelly and Jack strolled up to them. He had been impressed with the other man’s shrewd defense of Devon, especially considering the short amount of time he had to put together his defense case. Jack returned his smile and looked around the garden.

“How are you and Shelly settling in?” Paul asked.

“Good. We are building a house near Christoff and Edna. It should be done in another month or so,” Jack replied.

“You know we could have one constructed within a few days,” Morian replied.

Jack nodded. “Yes. Zoran offered to have one created. Shelly and I talked about it. Before I became an attorney, I worked in construction for a few years. We decided it would be nice to build it together… with a little help from Christoff. I’m a bit rusty, but it is coming back pretty quickly.” Jack paused and watched Devon walk over to Crystal and Trisha. “You know, if you would’ve asked me a year ago if I thought I would be starting over on an alien planet, I would have laughed you out of the courtroom, but now… I can’t imagine being anywhere else,” Jack confessed.

“I agree,” Shelly said, leaning into her husband.

“Crystal appears to be settling in as well,” Morian observed with a pleased smile.

Shelly nodded and lifted a hand to the corner of her eye. “She has. She loves her little cottage.”

“And Devon,” Paul added.

Shelly laughed and nodded. “Yes, and Devon. He has been helping us with our house. They are taking it slow. They are both working through a lot of emotional baggage, but they are doing it together. I’ve seen a huge change in Crystal. I can’t tell you how much it means to Jack and me what your daughter has given us. She is truly a remarkable little girl.”

“Thank you. She’s a lot like her mother,” Paul said, lowering his arm to thread his fingers through Morian’s.

“He says that, but I never would have taken off on an adventure like Morah did at her age!” Morian replied with a shudder.

“She did it wearing a princess gown,” Paul chuckled.

“From the tidbits that I’ve heard, this isn’t the first time the kids have gone on an unexpected adventure. Christoff was telling me about the older kids coming to visit him one Christmas,” Jack said.

Paul nodded. “Let’s just say life can get a bit interesting when the dragonlings hear a story that captures their imagination, and they take it to heart.”

“Something tells me it might not be the last time either,” Shelly laughed.

“Goddesses help the adults when that happens!” Morian jokingly retorted.

“I think they might be just as bad about helping them,” Paul chuckled.

He looked around when his dragon snorted with amusement. Lifting his gaze, he swore for a split second when he saw a shimmer of gold and a pair of dainty matching slippers hovering above a branch in the tree above them. When he blinked, only the faintest of light laughter danced on the wind.

“Hey, Spring,” Roam called.

Spring turned from where she was gathering a basket of fresh paw-paw fruit from a tree to add to the table. The fruit was sweet, juicy, and meaty. She had hoped there would be enough ripe ones for their feast. So far, she had half a basket.

“Hi,” she shyly replied.

She held the basket in front of her and waited. A rosy blush rose into her cheeks when she noticed how handsome Roam looked with his almost white hair tousled by the wind. He was wearing a white shirt and dark khaki pants with a pair of dark brown boots.

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