Page 45 of Geoffrey the Very Strange
Finally, Aspic pulled off slowly and crawled up to flop beside Geoffrey who had forgotten how his limbs were supposed to work.
Aspic hummed contentedly against Geoffrey's shoulder. "I want to go back to sleep. But I'm thirsty. And I have to wonder where Sundrop's gotten to."
"Oh. Yes." Geoffrey sat up to look around the room. "We should find her. And I should feed you. Help me downstairs?"
He tried not to be mortified that Aspic had to help him into a pair of loose trousers, then even more when he had to rely on Aspic's strength to get him down the steps. Aspic's stomach growled ferociously halfway down, but Geoffrey couldn't blame him. Something smelled wonderful.
They found Grandma sitting at the table with a cup of tea and Sundrop beside her with a dish of water. "Hello, boys. Finally decided to join the world, I see. Sit down, Geoffrey. Aspic can help me set dinner out."
Geoffrey sank into the chair beside Sundrop, too grateful to protest, while Aspic ran bowls of thick vegetable stew and steamed buns to the table at Grandma's direction. The carrots and parsnips called loudly to Geoffrey, but he waited politely until Grandma brought tea to the table and everyone took a seat.
Then he dug in as if he hadn't seen food in weeks. He felt so hollow inside he had to question when the last time was that hehadeaten.
Grandma waited until he was halfway through his second bowl of stew before asking, "What now, Geoffrey? Will you go back to your death-magic experiments?"
He glanced sideways to find Aspic focused completely on him, still nibbling on a bun, which was probably a way of not interfering with Geoffrey's answer. "I will necromance no more."
"That's quite dramatic." Grandma Tutti smiled over the rim of her yellow teacup.
"It's done." Geoffrey shrugged. "I vowed to conquer death without blood magic, and I did. A rabbit out in the woods can attest to that. The consequences weren't worth it."
"What will you do, then?" Aspic asked softly. "I can't imagine younotworking on something."
Geoffrey watched the last of the sunlight spark on his spoon as he twirled it in his fingers. "A witch has to earn his way somehow. This region hasn't had a weather-worker in years."
"Always call for one," Grandma said too casually, though by the gleam in her eyes, she was enormously pleased. "Will you keep your cave?"
"Probably best," Geoffrey replied just as casually. "Good place to set up shop and to hone certain skills and experiment with others away from the house. Besides, Cecil would be upset if he had to guard an empty cave."
"That's true. Very sensible." Grandma turned her sharp gaze on Aspic, who shrank under the attention. "Aspic, dear, I wonder if you'd like to move in with us?"
Aspic blinked once, twice. "I… pardon?"
"Oh, it's obvious what's happened between you two." Grandma waved a dismissive hand at Aspic's sputtering, and Geoffrey tried his best not to slide under the table. "We have plenty of space. You could have a room of your own, if you like."
"As a lodger?"
She reached over and patted Aspic's claws. "No, dear. As family. You're a good boy, and I know you'd help around the house and garden."
"Oh. Well." Aspic sat frozen, his expression completely poleaxed. "I… you know I'm nearly forty?"
Grandma waved him off again. "That's still quite young for a demon."
"I'm…" Aspic groped for Geoffrey's hand without looking and seized it tight. "Yes. I'd love to. If Geoffrey—"
"Yes," Geoffrey interrupted. "Geoffrey says yes."
"That's all settled, then." Grandma Tutti rose and stretched her back. "I'll leave you boys to clean up. I'm going back to bed."
With food in him, Geoffrey found he had the energy to help with the dinner dishes, and he found the domestic rhythm with Aspic comforting and warming. Hewascomfortable, no longer wracked by nerves in Aspic's presence, and he realized he hadn't stumbled over a single word all through dinner.
The day off tosleep and recover had been necessary, but the next morning, Aspic knew he should go back to work. Fortified with Grandma Tutti's pancakes and a lingering kiss from Geoffrey that almost melted his resolve, he set off for Mrs. Pickle's house for a change of clothes. He also needed to let her know his living arrangements had changed, which made him a bit melancholy. Her house had been a haven and a place to find his feet.
Mrs. Pickle was out in the garden picking beans when he came through the gate. "Good morning, hoglet. Did you have a good night?"
He ducked his head and grinned. "Good morning, Mrs. Pickle. It was a wonderful night. I just stopped in for some clean clothes. And to tell you…" He took a deep breath since he didn't think it would be so hard to say. "I'll, ah, be moving out."
She nodded, still picking beans as if the news wasn't at all surprising. "Good. You need your own life. Not hiding here in my apron folds." She straightened and set her basket down to give him a quick hug. "We will miss you here. But we'll all see you in town."
