Page 34 of Hera

“I’ll get the tray ready.” Demi disappeared again.

“Thirty seconds!” Hera called out, and a couple groans echoed around the room. She grinned mischievously. “Ten seconds!” No sound met this declaration. “Time, pens down.”

After the dessert table was almost picked clean, all the presents were opened, and the last of the guests were saying goodbye, Heidi found Hera cleaning up the decorations.

“Thank you so much for organizing all of this,” Heidi said, giving Hera a tight squeeze. “I had such a blast. I wish I could have attended my own baby shower.” She chuckled.

Hera smiled. “I heard about that. I’m sorry. At least you got to have a party afterward.”

“I did.” Heidi bent to scoop up some fallen streamers. “I think my favorite game was the modification on the pin the tail on the donkey.”

“You mean ‘stick the pacifier in the baby’s mouth?’” Hera asked with a chuckle. “I’m glad that was a hit.”

“My favorite was the list of baby names,” Chloe said, joining their conversation. “I know there were only twelve letters given out so that there were doubles, but even amongst just those, I got over a hundred new names to consider.”

Heidi shook her head. “That would just confuse me more. We made a short list of our favorite names and then waited until we saw the boys before we named them.”

“Oh, we have a short list for our little princess,” Chloe said calmly. “But I want to make sure that we don’t hear the perfect nameafterwe’ve named her, you know?”

“That would be frustrating,” Hera said.

“Don’t worry,” Heidi said. “Once your baby is named, it will be the most perfect name for her.”

Chloe’s eyes misted with tears. “Thank you.”

“Don’t start that again,” Hera said quickly, materializing a handkerchief and handing it over. “Deep breaths. You’re going to have an amazing pregnancy, smooth delivery, and end up with the most perfect baby girl Purgatory has ever seen.”

CHAPTER10

Augustine staggereda bit on arrival at the winery. Despite Hera’s warning about the abruptness of teleportation travel, he hadn’t quite been expecting the lightning-fast whipping that had transpired as Hera moved them from outside the Underworld café to where he stood now.

He braced himself on the stone wall with one hand. “Do you get used to the after effects?” he asked, feeling queasy.

“Eventually.” Hera passed him a tiny bottle. “I thought you might need this. Bottoms up.”

Trusting her implicitly, Augustine took the bottle with a shaky hand and swallowed the translucent blue liquid inside. He instantly felt better. “Thank you,” he said, straightening up. He adjusted his cuffs after returning the bottle to her.

“Not a problem.” Hera took his offered arm and they walked around the building to the front doors.

“This stonework is beautiful,” Augustine commented, admiring the winery building.

“It was modeled after a European castle,” Hera replied. “I’ve wanted to come here since it was built, just to see the differences.”

“You have been to Europe?” Augustine asked, leading her up the entry steps.

“Many times,” Hera replied absentmindedly. “Mostly for work. Look at this foyer!”

The entryway was easily three stories tall with an enormous chandelier of black metal hanging in the center. The walls were built of large stones that made Augustine feel small, not an easy feat, and were covered with luxurious wall tapestries.

Augustine walked over to the nearest one, as if it would make it easier to see. “This is Greece,” he said at last. “Mount Olympus in the background, one of the larger temples in the middle, and an olive orchard in the front.” He stared at it a bit longer and then said softly, “It has been a long time.”

Hera squeezed his hand. “I only left Greece a few years ago. It’s vastly different now in a lot of ways, but not at all in others.”

“Oh?” Augustine asked, curious.

“More ruins, now,” she said with a chuckle. “And much less color. Time and weather wore all the beautiful statues down to the base marble. Kinda sad, really.”

“That would be sad,” Augustine agreed. “The statues were so vibrant. I have not been to Greece for so long. I do not think I could count the years.”Hundreds,he thought, but did not say it aloud. Now was not the time to surprise Hera with his history.

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