Page 94 of Treasure and Tarot

“So, how’s Abby? Is she ready for a little sister?”

Sebastian shrugged. “I think it’s pretty normal, you know? Half the time she’s going to love it and the other half she’s going to eat it. But hey, that seems pretty average for a four-year-old sibling. I only have a year with them both home together, though, before Abby starts going to school. Can you believe that?”

Colton sighed at Sebastian’s words. “Could you quit saying that? I don’t want there to be any sort of growing-up situation happening right now.”

“Go over and grill meat with Kaleb,” Sebastian said. “So we can all discuss the vagaries of how babies grow up without hurting poor alphas’ ears.”

“I’m so abused.” He winked at Sebastian and finished his chips before heading over to the grill. His leg was getting better all the time. It really didn’t have a choice given that he was chasing around a very active four-year-old.

Speaking of active four-year-olds, Abby slammed into his backside, almost toppling him over. “Papa!”

“Careful, little one. What do you need?”

“Dease are just my friends.”

Everyone was bringing their kids, and so he wasn’t sure which one of the dozen little ones that Abby was leading around were friends or who belonged to who, but… Well, at least he knew who he belonged to. “Friends, this is my Papa.”

Chorus of ‘hi’s sounded, and then the kids were off again, running, Abby’s ponytail bouncing. She had picked out her outfit for the day, choosing to go with denim overalls, a pink unicorn T-shirt, blue galoshes, and rainbow fairy wings.

It was the perfect sartorial choice.

Elliot, Hank’s husband, caught him before he got to the grill. “How’s that book going?”

Elliot was an amazing resource, as far as the publishing world went.

“Surprisingly well. How’s everything with you?”

“We’re great. I’m on my third book in a series. Hank’s business is just growing. Of course, he’s not near as interested in being in front of the camera. He likes to be behind the microphone. He’s a podcaster down to the bone, a storyteller, you know?”

“Well, you know, I can see that. I mean, you two got along like a house afire.”

Elliot snorted. “Did I ever tell you how we met? I was sent by a magazine to debunk ghosts on his tour.”

“No shit?” He couldn’t believe that. Hank had a knack for ghosts.

“No shit. And now look at me. My daughter’s named after a ghost in the hotel.”

“And I hear that the ghost activity there is really kind of calmed down.”

Elliot nodded. “So long as there’s not some sort of nefarious shit going on, it’s very, very quiet. I would imagine it’s kind of like your house.”

He snorted. “My house isn’t quiet at all. In fact, I have to admit to you that it’s a little odd to me that Sebastian can be so casual about it. There’s a ghost, la di da.”

Elliot twisted his lips as if he was pondering something. “Well, he grew up with them, right? I mean, these are his people. Like with all of us? It’s not personal. These are all strangers. But with Sebastian and Abby? This is their direct lineage. These are literally the spirits of their ancestors. I don’t imagine that will ever be the same.”

“No. No, I guess not.” And there was something very comforting about the way Elliot had put that.

“Colton? Where do the presents go?” Thierry the medium came bouncing down the stairs into the park. He had grown a beard and gotten some more tattoos since they had shot the footage from the house, and he was smiling to beat the band. He was standing there with bags and boxes and baubles. “I come bearing gifts.”

“There’s a table set up over there. I’m so glad you could make it.”

“It was nice to be invited. Thank you.”

Colton got the idea that a lot of the time Thierry didn’t get invited to things, but there was something about the little medium that made him happy, and Sebastian kind of adored him.

He heard Sebastian’s laugh. “Thierry, hey, you made it. I’m so glad! We’ve missed you.”

“Careful,” Elliot teased. “Or that little guy’s gonna just stay.”

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