Page 34 of Spindrift

“Angieand Stevie’s lair,” said Lillian.

“Areyou into gaming?” Hope shone from Stevie’s face.

“Sorry.Last thing I played was a Nintendo, before they were retro.”

“Theyhave one,” said Lillian. “Consider yourself warned.”

“Anddown here is Lil’s lair.” Stevie led them through a door with steamy glasspanes.

Emiliafroze on the step, feeling like her eyes might fall out of her head. “This isincredible.” Greenery exploded at her feet, and it took her a moment to findthe glass walls of the greenhouse through the jungle. Tropical plants sharedspace with citrus trees and vegetables, and the sound of trickling water camefrom a fountain in the center, which poured into a pond. She walked down thebrick path toward it, entranced.

Somethingrustled through a collection of potted ferns.

“Don’tworry. It’s just a velociraptor,” said Stevie then added an “Ow,” as someoneslapped her.

Lillianappeared at Emilia’s elbow and crouched down as a tortoise shoved its way pastthe nearest pot. “This is Circe.”

Lillianstroked the shell affectionately, and the tortoise bumped against her hand in asurprisingly dog-like gesture. “Someone dumped her at the clinic, and now sheguards my greenhouse.”

“Andeats strawberries. It’s adorable,” said Angie.

“Anyidea how old she is?” Emilia asked. The tortoise’s carapace was at least a footin diameter, maybe more.

“Notreally. She’s mature, and my guess is that someone’s relative died and theydidn’t know what to do with her.”

“Anddidn’t care enough to learn,” said Angie.

“Honestly,I’m glad. So many people think they want exotic pets without understanding thecare and responsibility that goes into them.”

“Lillianis an exotics vet,” Stevie said.

Lillianstroked Circe once more, then stood. “Exotics and small animals. Morgan and Iwent to vet school together at Cornell. Do you garden?”

“Ijust had house plants back in Boston. My dad did, though. He’s got a big plotat the house I might do something with.”

“Well,if you need any seedlings, let me know. I always have extra.” Lillian pointedtoward a table with trays of young plants.

“Thatwould be incredible, actually.”

“Picksome out before you leave tonight, or come by another time.”

“They’retalking about plants,” Angie said to Stevie. “What do we do?”

Lilliangave them the middle finger with a graceful motion that belied the crudegesture, then looked past them out the window. “Oh good. She’s got the grillgoing.”

Emiliafollowed Lillian’s gaze out through the glass walls. The greenhouse borderedthe backyard, forming an L between the house and the fence, and she saw Morganshut the lid of a large grill and wave. She raised her own hand in recognitionand felt her heart leap for its new home in her throat again.

“She’sseen you,” Stevie said with a pout. “Now we have to give you back.”

Morganmet Emilia’s eyes with a grin that lit up the room when Emilia reentered thekitchen. “You made it.”

“Afterburning some cookies. Dad’s oven is a little off.” Emilia eyed the plate. Quitea few of the cookies were already missing.

“That’swhy I stick to cooking over open flame. They give you the tour?”

“Thedownstairs,” said Lillian.

“Notmuch to see upstairs anyway,” said Stevie. “Just beds and Lil’s hamster wheel.”

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