Page 117 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
Tami couldn’t picture it. And then she didn’t have to,because Joe found the elusive catch. Suddenly, her brother was draped in aluxuriant fur stole. His gaze sought hers, full of messages that didn’t needwords.Didn’t I tell you? Can you believe it? Isn’t he amazing?
And he had. And she did. And he was.
FORTY
Hers and His and Theirs
For a long while now, Ash only had eyes for Tamiko. Butsomething in Kip’s manner snagged his attention. He was mostly himself, mostlyhappy, but Ash could sense a crosscurrent flirting just past his wingtips, aturbulence that wasn’t like Kip at all.
Ash would have gone to him, except Joe was right there, a bulwarkof quiet and calm. The drape of Kip’s tail suggested an intimacy that was onlyconfusing because of its suddenness. Something good must have happened for Joeto take to Kip so quickly. They would have become friends eventually. That’sjust the way it was. “Everybody loves Kip,” he murmured.
“Even you?” asked Biddie, her head tilted back to search hisface.
Ash brushed a knuckle over her cheek, awed by the subtlepatterning there, like fine wood sanded to silk. “He’s my best friend.”
Biddie leaned into his touch and said, “My Tami loves you.”
“You think?” He couldn’t help smiling.
She sweetly declared, “Ash loves my Tami.”
“You can tell?” Not that he was very good at hiding things.Not on his own.
“Some.” Her brow puckered. “Too many fences. Too many walls.”
Ash supposed she was picking up on the overlapping wards andillusions that made it possible for him to stay ordinary. “Kip can trick youreyes, but the truth is right here. Can you see my claws?”
“No. None.” But her fingers were already searching. Sheasked, “What else?”
This was supposed to be his big moment, revealing himself toTamiko. But maybe a little test run would help his nerves. “I don’t have prettyears like yours. Mine are human.”
She patted and pulled, verifying his claim.
“No fangs,” he admitted. “Not all avians have them, but mysort usually does. So it’s another way I’m like my mother.”
Biddie poked a finger into his mouth, and he gently trappedit with blunt teeth. Not shy, this kid. Given what little lore he knew of trees,she was going to be all kinds of trouble when she grew up.
“Eyes?” she asked.
“Classic crow. Or so I’m told.”
His attention drifted back to Kip, who’d offered his palmsin the Amaranthine way. Getting the honest meeting Ash was still waiting for. Tamiwent on tiptoe as she searched Kip’s eyes, which were tearing up. What asoftie. This kind of thing would mean the world to Kip, and Ash was every kindof grateful that there was still something they could share.
Ash murmured, “I guess it makes some kind of sense, nestsand trees go together.”
“Hers and his and ours,” said Biddie, in what he assumed wasagreement.
Greetings dropped the formalities when Kip opened his arms,and Tami slid in for a hug. Ash might have been a tiny bit jealous, but Kip methis gaze over the top of her head and mouthed two words.You next.
The accompanying smirk almost made it a threat.
What did the everlasting prank-monster have up his sleeve?
Kip kissed the top of Tami’s head, turned her around, andgave a little flourish of one hand. In a voice low with emotion, Kip asked,“Isn’t he beautiful?”
Her eyes widened and tracked upward.
Ash knew he’d been exposed and wished he’d had a little morewarning. He’d figured Kip would go for a bigger build-up, prolong the moment,and shout, “Ta da!” But he was just standing there, holding Tami by theshoulders, hiding behind her like he didn’t want anyone to figure out he waslosing it.
