Page 49 of Walking in Darkness

“Lovely idea,” Grace said.

Chris nodded. “We’ll meet you back here, then.”

Everybody said goodbye, and Kit’s parents left. Connie pulled his cell phone out and started tapping away.

“What are you doing?” Kit asked as he wandered over.

“Sending out a mass email requesting volunteers. We should know something by the end of the day at the latest,” Connie said as he slipped his phone back into his pocket. “I know we keep asking you this, but how are you doing?”

“Do you mean in regard to how my pops reacted to your dragons being in his territory?”

Hudson joined them and rubbed his hand up and down Kit’s back. “Yes.”

“I think things got a little heated there, and my pops may have felt like he got outmaneuvered, but I’m okay with how things went.”

“I hope there isn’t resentment on his side, but I would understand it,” Connie said.

Hudson shrugged.

“I don’t think so. If he was well and truly pissed, he would’ve fought a lot harder. In fact, he would’ve made it as unpleasant for your dragons to be there as possible,” Kit mused. “Instead, he agreed to accept them. He’ll treat them good.”

“He better.” That was all Hudson said.

“He will. He’s not like that. And I appreciate you giving them a little extra time so they could talk.”

“I figured they would need that. There have been a lot of things thrown at them over the past twenty-four hours,” Hudson said.

“Not to mention bringing up the past,” Kit said.

“There is that,” Connie agreed. “Hudson? Do you want me to contact Stella about that picnic basket you volunteered?”

“I’ll do it. I’m also going to check the garage for fishing poles and tackle.”

“Sounds good. Do you need me to come with you?”

“No, that’s not necessary. This won’t take but just a minute.” Hudson did change into some trunks, an old T-shirt, and sandals first, though.

Kit and Connie were both ready when he returned. Kit’s parents were just arriving.

“Hey, are you ready to go?” Hudson asked as they drew near.

“Yes,” Grace said.

“Let’s stop by the kitchen, and then we’ll be ready,” Hudson said.

Grace exclaimed happily when she saw the three huge picnic baskets. Chris and Connie grabbed one each, and Kit took the other. Hudson led everybody out to the garage, and he, Michail, and Grace handled the fishing equipment and tackle boxes.

“Is that skiing equipment?” Kit asked, staring at something off to the side.

Hudson looked to where Kit was staring. “Oh yes, I forgot about that. You want to take that too?”

“Absolutely.”

They picked up what was needed, then walked to the lake with the boathouse. They stowed everything on the boat, got in, and took off.

They fished for a little while but released what they caught. Kit never said a word when Hudson baited his hook for him, although he was more than capable of doing that. And getting the fish off. And cleaning it. And cooking it over an open flame. He grew up hunting and fishing, after all.

They swam, then took turns skiing. After that, they were absolutely ready for the stuffed picnic baskets. They returned toHudson’s house right at dark, cleaned up, and had dinner. Then they watched a movie with Kit’s parents in Hudson’s private quarters.

---