He nodded and pointed with his cup. “It’s in the journal.”
“How long did they meet?”
He tipped his eyes to the ceiling. I knew he was accessing the collective data of all the books and works in the library. Which meant he was checking the facts in Dad’s journals too. “I’d say two years at least.”
“Did they meet here?” That didn’t make sense. Demons wouldn’t have been invited into Ordinary unless they signed the contract and vowed to follow the rules. “No, it couldn’t be. Somewhere else? Outside of Ordinary?”
“Yes. He discussed it with me on several occasions.”
“And…what did he think about Bathin? What did they talk about?”
“He thought highly of him. Why the surprised look? Your father was a very good judge of character. He had to be since he was the bridge before Delaney.”
“He liked Bathin?”
“I believe he did. He thought Bathin was following a path most of his kind never attempt. To truly understand humans and souls in a way alien to him. To understand emotions and caring and love.”
“Dad said all that?” My words came out stilted. My fingers were stiff from holding my cup too hard.
It was a lot to take in. That Bathin had done more than steal my Dad’s soul. That maybe it had been part of their agreement, him keeping Dad’s soul from passing into death.
That maybe Bathin didn’t have all the manners and norms of being human figured out, but that he’d been trying to do so for years.
“Why wouldn’t Dad tell me any of this?” I asked.
Harold pressed a finger to his lips. “I can only guess, of course. He hoped Bathin would come to an understanding of the human world. He wanted him to understand why there was a contract he must sign to enter Ordinary, and why he must follow the laws and rules while here.”
“But he wasn’t going to tell any of us a demon wanted to live in Ordinary?”
“He may not have thought it worth mentioning until Bathin made his decision. Perhaps now you’d like to read the marked section?”
The journal. It was right there on the oversized ottoman.
“I’ll get us both some more tea.” He gathered our cups and quietly left the room.
I drew the journal into my lap and brushed my palm over the cover. If there were answers, they’d be here.
I opened the book to the yellow silk ribbon tucked between two pages.
I had to blink several times to get my eyes to focus on the page. Every time I saw his handwriting, it was like a string in my heart plucked and sang out that one, sweet lonely note, echoing away and never answered.
I’ll be meeting with Bathin this evening at sunset. I can tell he thinks that makes him more mysterious, but, yeah. No. Mysterious is why my Tupperware never has matching lids, and how come the massaging chair is always too strong on my ass and not strong enough on my shoulders. If I wanted an ass massage, I could drive any coastal road after spring wash out. Demons have nothing on the mystery of why Bertie can’t just leave me out of one—just one—of her community events. I swore to give my life and soul for my community, but if I have to judge one more soggy rhubarb pie…
I grinned. I’d forgotten how much he liked to complain in his journals. He never did it in person, not around us girls. But I imagined he and his friends, mostly gods, but some humans like Hatter and Shoe, got into epic bitch sessions when they went out for beers every now and then.
I think he’s finally going to admit he wants to be a part of Ordinary. He’s risking a lot to come here. The learning curve on rules and law will be steep, but I think he’ll manage. It will be the beginning—the first demon to come into this land set aside and blessed by the gods. Monumental, really. I can’t think of a better demon, or man, to take this plunge. Bathin is reaching for something that’s been out of the grasp of demons: empathy, compassion, hope, love.
I think he’ll find it. Faster here in Ordinary than any other place in the universe.
Honestly, I’m looking forward to him taking this step. I think he’ll fit in just fine. I think he’ll find his legs. I think he’ll find his heart.
That’s one of my favorite parts of being the one who can say yes or no to the creatures and gods who want to come here: Saying yes.
So, let’s do this, Bathin. Let’s get you to that yes. Let’s get you to this new life.
I have a feeling once you taste it, you’ll never turn back.
I have a feeling once you learn love, feel love, you’ll do anything to keep it. Do anything to protect it.
