Page 72 of Asher

“I thought you might visit today,” Uncle Hal says as I scoop up Chloe for a hug. She’s so much bigger now, nearly eight, but I’m not willing to give this up just yet.

“We were planning to, but it was more complicated than we thought. I’ll explain… just…” I turn to Grandmother. “Jesse said five minutes.”

She inclines her head. “I’ll go now, then. I want to fill him in first.” She teleports out without another word.

“Does this mean no snacks?” Isaac asks. “Grandmother never goes when we visit.”

“I’ll get the snacks,” Garrett tells him, grinning. “Come and help me find the cookie jar.”

“Me too.” Chloe squirms to be let down, then grabs his hand and tugs him toward the kitchen as Isaac races ahead. “I know where she hides the chocolate ones.”

I wait until they’ve left the room, then fill Dad and Uncle Hal in on the events of the day. It’s entertaining to see them react with such shock, it’s written on their faces clear enough for any species to read.

“There’s a dragon hoard within walking distance of here?” Uncle sputters.

“And the door is a giant puzzle?” Dad’s eyes are wide.

“Did you say Garrett arranged for the town to own it?” Uncle adds.

I nod. “That’s what Grandmother’s doing right now, sorting it with the council. We’ll get the puzzle expert out here to open the door, then catalogue whatever we find and set up a… I guess a museum of sorts. Garrett believes it will attract a lot of academics and tourists.”

Dad smiles. “So even if we’re slow to convince other species to move here, there will still be plenty of opportunities for us to mingle with them.”

“Exactly. His main goal is still to get a more varied population of residents here, but he sees this as being an excellent stepping stone.” Not to mention how good it is for the town. He’s excited to be able to make this contribution.

“Looks like your marriage worked out well for us all,” Uncle teases, and I chuckle. He has no idea. I still can’t believe how much has happened today… that Garrett loves me and wants to stay married.

Dammit… does this mean I have to be grateful to Alistair for trying to set him up with someone else?

The kids return, cookies in hand, trailed by Garrett, who comes over and leans against me the way he always does. I love it. “I was just telling Chloe and Isaac that the cave has a secret room that a dragon put some things in, and someone is going to come and open it for us.”

Isaac’s eyes are big. “Are you really sure it wasn’t Ed?”

“We’re really sure,” I tell him. “I don’t know what this dragon’s name was, but I can find out, if you like? She lived a long time ago, and she was only visiting here. It definitely wasn’t Ed, and there’s no dragon there now.”

“But,” Garrett adds, “there’s going to be a dragon visiting when we get the door open. Maybe I can convince them to visit the school for some questions,ifeveryone promises not to go to the cave without an adult.”

“Promise!” they both shout. “A real, live dragon?” Chloe adds, her voice breathy with excitement. Dad winces, and I know he’s thinking that if we weren’t so isolated, dragons would just have been part of her narrative by now. There might not be many of them, but they exist in the community.

“A real, live dragon,” Garrett assures her. “And the person who’s coming to open the cave makes special puzzles. Maybe he’ll come and show you some.”

Part of me wants to laugh that Garrett’s already committing these experts to a Q&A at the school with the children, even though we don’t know who they are and they haven’t even committed to coming. But I know my husband… these strangers are going to talk to the kids and think it was their own idea.

I can’t wait to see it happen.

* * *

It’s wellpast dinnertime by the time Gideon and Alistair teleport into the house—our house, the one Garrett and I share with my cousins. We left Grandmother’s when Micah called to tell us all the visitors had gone to meet with the council. Since then, we’ve been waiting on tenterhooks to see what the final decisions and plans are.

My cousin looks just as grumpy as always when he strides into the kitchen, Garrett’s cousin practically bouncing behind him. “Is there food? I’mstarving,” Alistair declares. “I was ready to eat the table.”

“We can do better than that,” Zac says, opening the fridge and pulling out some leftovers. “It needs five minutes, so you can tell us how it went while you wait.”

“Are we expecting anyone else?” Micah asks. “Or did they leave already?”

“They’ve left,” Gideon confirms as he slouches into a chair at the table. “We’re only here because Alistair threatened me if we didn’t come fill you all in.”

“Threatened you with what?” I take a sip from the cup of tea Garrett made me. I never used to drink it much before, but since the wedding I’ve started having some when he does, and I have to say… it’s nice. It’ll never be coffee, but there’s something about a hot, soothing drink with my husband.

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