Page 102 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
“So we’re here in an honorary capacity?”
“Oh, there’s a practical aspect. My new packmates need tounderstand that I’m neither a threat nor a chew toy. I’m often honored to be thefirst to learn a cub’s name, since I’m granted a formal introduction.” Jiminy slouchedagainst the wall, totally relaxed.
“What about Rook?”
Jiminy shot her a questioning look.
“Isn’theanother male? Why does Doon-wen let hisbrother in here?”
“Rook is Doon-wen’s comfort, and Doon-wen is Rook’sconfidence. They are together in everything.” He made a gesture she couldn’tinterpret. “True is a part of their pact, so they are all a part of each other.You know?”
She didn’t. But she was beginning to see. Maybe it wasbecause the brothers never covered the same shift, but she’d rarely seen themwork together. They were perfect. Without a word spoken, they readied the denfor new arrivals. Doon-wen arranged basins and towels, and Rook checked theboxy setup in the corner that Melissa recognized as a blanket warmer. Tailsswaying in perfect tandem, their attention stayed on True.
“Are they twins?” Melissa asked.
Jiminy shook his head. “They are close because they chooseto be.”
Melissa pulled her legs to her chest, feeling extraneous, retreatinginto herself.
“Not like that.” Jiminy pushed straight through boundariesto press his hands against her shoulders. Before she could elbow his gut, hesaid, “They know we’re here, you know.”
A silly thing to say. She tried to shrug him off.
“The cubs. Even before they’re born, they can sense oursouls.” Jiminy carefully withdrew his hands, but he held her gaze. “We are thefirst brightness they know, even before they can open their eyes.”
Nobody had mentioned that in her classes at Bellwether’sKith shelter. Melissa asked, “How do you know?”
“The cubs often have baby names for me. They remember me,even if they haven’t seen me since the day they were born.” His eyes danced. “Iwonder what they’ll call you?”
“But … what should Ido?”
Jiminy said, “Treat this like a tending. Calm yourself andthink welcoming thoughts.”
“I’m a battler,” she reminded. “My soul isn’t exactlygentle.”
“But it can be confident.” He bumped shoulders with her.“Leave the comforting to me.”
Melissa was fully aware that he’d used the same terms forDoon-wen and Rook. Was Jiminy trying to imply that they, too, could be …perfect?
“Focus on the cubs, Melissa.” Jiminy nodded toward True.“Let them get a sense for all the love and loyalty you’ve always wanted tooffer.”
Oh, she wanted to. Desperately. But wouldn’t that be takingadvantage of the situation? What about her classmates at Bellwether? Theywanted this as much as she did. “But … is that fair?” she ventured.
Jiminy shook his head as if she were being very silly.“That’s family.”
Even though Jiminy wanted to help Melissa navigatethrough her uncertainty, he knew his place. Mostly because Doon-wen made itabundantly clear, and Rook—much more politely—reinforced their alpha’s message.Back off.
So he took a seat and waited to see how she’d fare. In away, this was Melissa’s final exam. Her behavior—unguarded and unguided—would determineher attainment.
Rook paused beside him, tousled his hair, and said, “You’rejumpy as a cricket.”
“Should I wait outside?”
“No. Doon-wen wants you here. Perhaps you should take yourown advice. Focus on the cubs.”
Jiminy composed himself as best he could, but his attentionkept straying to Melissa … and the way Doon-wen’s gaze lingered on her—keen,critical, calculating. Without really meaning to, Jiminy protested on herbehalf, a soft whine, a bid for sympathy.
Doon-wen arched a brow and offered no reassurance. Onlycommanded him to watch and wait.
