Page 66 of Cooper

Becoming a citizen.

Maybe someday marrying a native.

I’m not scared but it makes me a little uncomfortable.

Luckily, I have time before I have to make any firm decisions.

Giving me the opportunity to try out the job, so to speak, gives me some breathing room.

And it’s a beautiful June day here in Hiskale.

I’m out in the garden after going for a run, and I’ve got this massive notebook filled with floor plans that I’m trying to learn. Today I ran the eastern perimeter of the surrounding woods, getting a feel for them. I’m pretty good with learning my way around in general, but the palace and grounds are massive, so it’s going to take a while. Luckily, Joe and Sandor don’t want me to rush. Not only are they standing firm on making sure my body heals, they’re also forcing me into therapy to deal with what I went through in Iraq.

I didn’t want to, but Natalia is seeing the same therapist, and she swears it’s helped her, so I had my first meeting with Dr. Saluga last week. And I like her. So I guess I’m going back. Whether I stay here or not, it can’t hurt to talk about some of what I went through.

The doors open and I see the preschool class swarm into the courtyard.

It’s recess time, and they make a beeline for the fountain. They’re all fascinated by the bubbles of the splashing water and tend to eat their snacks beside it when they’re outside.

I like watching them.

Levi is cute as a button and full of energy, running laps around the fountain before settling down with whatever he’s snacking on.

Xander and Elen have a housekeeper with a large family, and her youngest daughter, Elena, is delightfully mischievous, always getting into something. I watch her make a break for the woods before their teacher, Felicity, calls to her, threatening to put her in time out if she doesn’t sit down with the others.

I sink onto a bench, soaking in the sunshine and listening to the laughter of the children. Casey has come out with popsicles for them, so now there’s a whole new round of energetic squealing.

Poor Felicity—she’s going to have a lot on her hands after recess.

“Hey there.” Lennox comes up next to me pushing the double stroller with her two-month-old twins.

“Hi.” I smile down at the babies. “They’re getting big.”

“They are.” She sits beside me, gently rocking the stroller from side to side. “You want to hold one?”

I can’t remember ever holding a baby so young, and I grimace.

“I don’t think I know how,” I say.

She chuckles. “They’re not that breakable. As long as you support their heads and don’t drop them.” She pulls out the one on the right and gently hands him over to me.

“He’s hefty,” I say in surprise, pulling the baby closer to my chest.

“That’s Harrison. He’s bigger than Hayden, but they’re both growing like crazy.”

I bounce the baby on my shoulder, one hand on the back of his head as I gaze out at the beautiful scenery surrounding us.

“This is a hell of a place to live and work, right?” she asks, practically taking the words out of my mouth.

“I think so,” I say quietly. “Do you have regrets about leaving the US?”

“None,” she says without hesitation. “I love my job, my husband, and the new family I’ve found here. My sister Harlow is here now too, teaching eighth grade history at the IB school. I’m probably a little more on edge these days because of the babies, but I’m coming back to work next month, and I think that will help.”

I nod. “Do you miss the marines? Fighting for the country you were born in?”

She smiles. “I’d already left the marines before this opportunity came up, so no. I was proud to serve my country, but I’m even prouder to be here helping Erik change the lives of an entire country.”

There it is again, the pull of doing something tangible to help people.

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