Page 136 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
Grateful for the reminder, Tami rested her head on hisshoulder. He kissed her hair.
Across the world, Tsumiko giggled and called them cute.
Jacques said something in French that caused Gingko to rollhis eyes. But then he leaned away from the microphone and hollered, “Hey, Dad.Got a sec?”
He was there? Tami had assumed Lord Mettlebright was away.Her calm evaporated.
Several seconds passed, and Tsumiko called, “Argent?”
And just like that, there was another person on screen. Armsclosed around Tsumiko, and from over her shoulder, a pair of keen blue eyesstudied them critically.
Gingko tossed up his hands. “Oh, sure.Heryou’llanswer.”
“Tsk.” Without breaking eye contact with his virtualaudience, Argent reached over to gently tug his son’s ear. “Explain yourself,Jiminy.”
He shrugged and said, “The Miyabe-Starmark courtship is thebest thing to happen to the In-between since the Five. With careful management,the Reaverson-Sunfletch courtship could mean the world for America.”
Argent flicked a finger at the screen. “Crosser?”
Ash flexed his wings in an involuntary display. “Half NativeAmerican. Crow clan. Like most Amaranthine in the States, I pass myself off ashuman.”
“And you?” Argent’s gaze switched to Tami.
“Elementary school principal, recently selected by theTwineshaft Initiative. Unregistered reaver. Co-founder of the Red Gate Farmenclave. And ….” Leaning closer, quietly added, “And tree-kin.”
The fox’s brow arched.
Tami nodded sympathetically. “It’s complicated.”
Melissa spoke up. “We have as much to hide as we do toshare.”
“We’ll understand if it’s too much for you to handle,”Jiminy added breezily.
Gingko chuckled.
“I do not require baiting,” Argent blandly assured. Lookingoff to the side, he called, “Twineshaft, do you have a moment to spare?”
Tami covered her mouth with her hand, holding back thesudden urge to sob … or scream.
Ash made a soft, birdlike sound in her ear. Comforting.
“How are you so calm?” she whispered.
His eyes creased at the corners. “I already have everythingI need.”
When Tami glanced back at the screen, Argent was watchingthem closely. But then Hisoka Twineshaft strolled into view, a sleeping babytucked into the crook of his arm. He was closely followed by a man with blondcurls and an easygoing smile.
“Kourogi-kun,” the man greeted warmly. “Oh, hello! Is thatMelissa? I’m Michael. Howarethings?”
Jiminy made a frantic gesture.
“No? Ah.” Michael sounded disappointed.
“Yes, I’m Melissa.” She awkwardly added, “Thank you for yourletter.”
Tami stole a look at Jiminy, who seemed to have stoppedbreathing.
Ash surprised them all by curving his wings around them,effectively hiding Jiminy and Melissa behind a curtain of black feathers. In aneven, almost amused tone, he said, “They’ll be fine. We’re the ones seekingcouncil.”
