Page 38 of Perfectly Petite Shorts
Dillon shrugged. “It wouldn’t be a bad idea.” He and Ruthie could take a look. Maybe there really was something that stuck out.
“Oh, I’ve got it.” Excitement filled Ollie’s expression, and Dillon and Ruthie waited with bated, expectant breath. As excited as Ollie was, it had to be something spectacular. “Why didn’t I think of this before?” Ollie slapped himself on the forehead. “The party bus.”
Burt’s eyes lit up. “Shit. I didn’t think of that either.” Grin so wide Burt’s teeth showed behind his bushy beard, Burt bounced on the balls of his feet. “We bought our own a few months back. We take it out every chance we get. Everyone has a great time on the bus. Once you know the exact date, we can plan a party. We can put a big banner on the side and drive all around Rutherford Haven. By the time we’re done, everyone will know it’s Phil’s birthday.”
Ollie’s eye’s narrowed in thought. “Phil won’t be able to stay away from the house for long.”
“True,” Burt agreed. “Bonded pixies have to stay close and can only be gone a few hours at a time. Longer would be unsafe. How long does he stay at Dusk?”
“Not sure, but we could find out. Johnny would know.” Ollie and Burt turned to each other, hammering out plans that were far from confirmed.
Dillon gave Ruthie a meaningful look and nodded when she shook her head. He and Ruthie were on the same page. Hejust wished his conversation with Ollie and Burt had been more useful.
“Dillon! Ruthie!” Their collective heads turned toward the sound of their uncle’s voice calling for them.
“We’d better get going,” Dillon said, happy for the out. “Thanks for your ideas. We’ll, uh, keep them in mind.” Dillon grabbed Ruthie’s hand and started walking backward towards his uncle’s office.
“You just let us know, and we can get the bus gassed up and ready to roll.” Burt grinned and Ollie nodded his head.
“Thanks again.” Dillon waved before turning and jogging, Ruthie at his side. “We’re coming, Uncle Sedrick!” Dillon hollered. Quieter, he said, “I think that was a bust.”
“I think so too,” Ruthie answered. “Maybe we should ask Peaches.”
Dillon shrugged as they kept up their quickened pace. “Sounds good. We need to speak with him anyway.”
Phil and Sedrick were waiting for them outside the office. Sedrick’s arm was wrapped around Phil’s shoulders, holding him close. Phil leaned into the touch, his head resting against Sedrick’s chest. His uncle’s face was relaxed, his lips tipped up in a perpetual grin that was nearly always present when Phil was around. The sight always eased Dillon’s soul. Their uncle had never treated them poorly. He’d never doubted that Sedrick would care for them, but having Phil around made everything so much lighter and easier.
They were no longer simply existing. They were living.
APeach of a Plan
Dillon and Ruthie felt Peaches boundary wash over them, welcoming them into the orchard. The road leading to Peaches and Lucroy’s humble home was rugged with dips that challenged even the heartiest of vehicles. Dillon and Ruthiedidn’t care about that as they walked up the lane. Dillon hoped Peaches didn’t mind the uninvited visit. Maybe he should have called first.
Ruthie tilted her head back, arms spread wide as she twirled and giggled. Dillon rubbed the fabric over his heart. Ruthie was so much better now. While she still didn’t speak a lot to strangers, she often endlessly babbled when it was just the two of them or when they were around Phil and Uncle Sedrick.
The sun was low in the sky and would set in the next hour or two. Dillon considered coming the next day, but they didn’t have time to waste. For all he knew, Phil’s birthday could be tomorrow.
Uncle Sedrick needed to meet with his lawyer, Ray, in town. Phil decided to go with him and make a date night out of it. They’d be gone for the next two, maybe three hours. That gave Ruthie and him time to get out to Peaches’s orchard and back.
It was nothing for Ruthie and him to run to Peaches’s orchard in their wolf forms. They’d packed their clothes in a bag, hung it around Ruthie’s neck since she was bigger and stronger, and taken off. Dillon had made sure to leave a note just in case Uncle Sedrick and Phil got back before them. He’d figure out a story to explain their absence if needed.
A flare of bright, white light zipped past them along with a high-pitched squeal. The sprites knew they were there. It wouldn’t be long before Peaches came out to greet them. Then again, Peaches probably knew they were there the minute they passed through his barrier.
Sure enough, Dillon heard the reassuring hum of Peaches’s wings grow closer.
“Dillon! Ruthie!” Peaches dove in, wrapping them both in his arms. Typical pixie-sized, Peaches was considerably smallerthan Phil. His arms couldn’t encircle them the way Phil’s did. The hug was still nice.
“Sweet Goddess, I didn’t know the two of you planned on visiting.” Peaches swung his head this way and that, his ombre golden-yellow hair following the path of his searching eyes. “Phil and Sedrick aren’t with you. Did the two of you come all this way on your own?”
“We did. It’s not really that far.” Dillon puffed up with pride. He was strong for his age and Ruthie was too, especially since she was a dire wolf. Now that their grandpa Arie was gone, it was a lot safer to be out and about.
Peaches’s eyes widened. “Oh my. Well, to what do we owe the pleasure?”
“Indeed,” Lucroy Moony said as he walked closer. The vampire was difficult to scent considering he drank Peaches blood. As far as Dillon’s and Ruthie’s noses could tell, Lucroy didn’t smell any different than Peaches.
“Mr. Moony,” Ruthie greeted, a smile on her face. She’d taken a liking to the vampire that Dillon couldn’t readily understand. It wasn’t that hedislikedthe king of the Southeastern vampire nest. But he was a vampire.
“Ruthie.” Mr. Moony bent at the waist, opening his arms and picking Ruthie up. She giggled as she was swung around. More sprites invaded the area, swarming them and lighting up the sky. Dillon always had to be careful and quell his instinct to swat at them.
