Page 17 of Mountain Air
Epilogue
Three months later
Rob sat staring at his laptop. What he’d found couldn’t be right. The park wasn’t a hot spot, it was a fucking farm for knotweed. Someone had cleared an acre right on the border of the natural area and was harvesting it. Yes, the plant could be used in recipes if it was harvested properly but there really wasn’t a long enough season. The damage that it did to the surrounding environment wasn’t worth the return.
“Hey you, ready to go to the lodge?” Garrett asked from the door.
A quick glance at the time on his laptop, had Rob saving his findings and standing up. “Sorry, I didn’t realize it was that late. You’re ready?”
“Medi, let’s go,” Kelsey yelled from the kitchen. Rob loved that the girls had started calling him ‘Medi’ taking after their unchi and shortening the Latin word for ‘doctor’.
“Impatient, isn’t she?” Rob asked as they walked down the hall.
“Uncle Mario said he had a surprise for her and Erin tonight. Mom dropped them off an hour or so ago for me to take them for a romp. They were driving her insane apparently. I’ve had them running in the backyard for about forty-five minutes,” Garrett told him before giving him a kiss. “Now, before you distract me again and—”
“Me? I seem to recall someone, ahem you, walking into the office the other day naked as the day you were born asking if I knew where the extra toothpaste was. I was innocently trying to edit my report and—”
Garrett laughed, throwing his hands in the air. “Okay, okay. Girls! Unchi and Medi are ready. Where are you?”
“We’s here,” Erin said from next to the couch.
Rob looked between Erin and Kelsey. They seemed to be clean and dressed. “Oh no, the tickle monster is here. Quick out to the car,” he teased as he wiggled his fingers at the girls, causing them to shriek and run out the door.
“After you, sir,” Rob said waving Garrett out the door.
§ § §
Garrett watched his nieces run around the meeting room. They’d been handling the past few months better than he’d expected. The night that Kim attacked the man and protected them hadn’t left any scars on them. He’d been worried about any aftereffects of them watching their mom almost rip a man’s arm off but somehow, they were fine.
He’d meant to ask his uncle how Kim was doing but hadn’t gotten the chance. The Quad had taken Kim and the man that night to the lodge. A crew appeared to clean the blood from the spare room with a call from Thiago — that man never missed a beat. The girls were settled at his parents’ house and spent time with him and Rob. Having the girls accept Rob and call him a nickname similar to Garrett’s ‘doc’ made him smile every time.
Once again, a throat clearing had the room going quiet. His uncle wasn’t one to raise his voice unnecessarily. “Mea conclave, we are here by the grace of the gods again. This time I have better news. The council has sent word that their scientists have discovered the genome for the concoction and a serum to reverse its effects. They believe that the drug is being derived from the Japanese knotweed plant and are—” A gasp from Garrett’s left had him looking at Rob. “Yes, Roberto the plant you’re researching seems to be the main component. The council is sending someone to meet with you about your research,” Uncle Mario said, letting the members of the conclave murmur about the news for a minute before calling their attention back to him.
“Now, the happiest news of all. Many are aware that mynepti, Kim, was under the influence of the concoction when she attacked a man trying to take her daughters from their uncle’s house. I am pleased to welcome her back to the conclave tonight after completing treatment from this drug. Kim?” His uncle held out his hand and the door to his left opened.
Garrett watched Kim walk through the door with her head held high. A bright smile went across her face as the girls screamed “Mama!” and ran to her arms.
“Guess the spare room will be empty tonight,” Rob said quietly.
“Want to hit eighty-eight tonight?” Garrett asked.
“I’ve got some gigawatts to burn,” Rob answered.
