Page 131 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
“No kidding?”
“He’s good with his hands.” Tami trailed her fingers overAsh’s, finding her token. “It’s carved from one of Biddie’s branches.”
“Tamiko,” he sighed “I love you.”
Even if she lived straight on into forever, Tami knew shewould never grow weary of those words.
Ash’s usual tucking and fussing and nuzzling left off, andhe murmured, “Something on your mind?”
She nodded. Little by little, she spilled out her concernsabout what might happen once she was officially identified as a reaver.
“I understand. Believe me, I do.” He held her close andstroked her hair. “I sometimes worry about what could happen if people foundout what I am. Everything could change, but I don’t think you need to take suchan ominous view. I mean, if Melissa’s able to put off marriage and a familysimply by paying a fine, then there are allowances for personal preference.”
Tami slowly relaxed. “You’re right. I was frantic earlier,inventing one outrageous contingency plan after another.” She hesitated for afew heartbeats, then admitted, “I did come up with a surefire plan to keepyou.”
“Oh?” His lips brushed her cheek. “I like the sound ofthat.”
She wondered if he would. “No one could oppose us ifeveryone’s cheering us on.”
“Who is thiseveryone?”
“America.”
Ash’s wings lifted, allowing moonlight to slant across herface. She could see his confusion, but she was confident that her idea wasgood. No, it was great. A truly grand scheme.
“We have the opportunity to make a difference, and not justfor the Amaranthine in Perch County.” She smiled and said, “I want peace toflourish. Let’s give it a place to take root. That way, it can grow.”
“I feel like we’ve had this conversation before.”
“Yes.”
“Is this where I’m supposed to ask about consequences?”
“Yes.” Tami leaned up to kiss him. “Because if you agree,there’ll be a bunch.”
Ash’s head tilted to one side, and he smiled faintly. “Breakit to me gently. What are you angling for?”
“We could become America’s answer to the Miyabe-Starmarkcourtship.”
His wings shook and settled a couple of times before heasked, “If people find out I’m a crosser, I could lose my job. Kip, too.”
“I don’t see why,” she countered. “We’re already bringingin Amaranthine staff. Why not two more?”
“That’s optimistic. Too many people are looking for targets.Exposing the truth could put the enclave at risk. And Biddie.”
“Not if there’s a plan in place.”
Ash was clearly struggling with serious doubts, but he wasalso listening. “A plan. And you have a sure-fire one?”
“Yes.” Tami smiled. “We’ll get a go-between.”
His brows knit.
She went right on. “Having go-betweens has worked wondersfor the Miyabe-Starmark courtship. Do you suppose Hisoka Twineshaft would takeus on?”
Ash said, “Hold up. I’m pretty sure a go-between is supposedto mediate between you and me.”
Tami shook her head. “And I’m pretty sure that Twineshaftand Farroost are the publicists of the century, marketing the love story of themillennia.”
