“Of course.” It was a perfectly agreeable answer laced with disappointment. “You have my number.”
“I do. And I promise I’ll get back to you within twenty-four hours to get something scheduled.”
“That’s more than reasonable.” Sheriff Andrews sounded relieved. “I appreciate your time and willingness to work with us, Necromancer Boone.”
I could feel my muscles relax. I liked this sheriff and knew Franklin would too, if only because she treated me with respect and not as a necessary evil. “No appreciation required, but it is nice all the same. I’ll contact you soon.”
“Have a good evening.” Sheriff Andrews ended the call before I could get out a similar parting farewell.
Before lowering my phone, I checked to see if I had anymore messages from Franklin. Unfortunately, the text screen didn’t have anything new. I frowned at the thing, as if it were my phone’s fault. Truth was, I missed Franklin. He’d been spending so much time at the precinct recently, and getting called out before the crack of dawn had stolen what little time I did have with him.
Of course, it wasn’t his fault. Franklin was a homicide detective, and he was doing his job. I typically didn’t resent it as much as I currently did.
“Erasmus? You in here, honey?” Momma called from the front door. I hadn’t even heard it open.
“In the living room, Momma.”
I started to stand, but Momma waved me back down as she approached. “I’m sorry. I knocked, but you didn’t answer. I saw your car in the driveway as well as a rental, and I thought youshould be home. But when you didn’t answer the door…I guess I just got a little worried and decided to let myself in.”
I patted the couch cushion beside me, and with a sweep of her hands under her rear, Momma settled her dark gray skirt and sat beside me, leaning in and giving a side hug. “You doin’ okay, sweetheart?” Momma’s manicured fingernails swept through my hair, gently scraping against my scalp.
With a heavy sigh, I leaned into the soothing touch. “Just feeling sorry for myself.” Momma gave me an expectant look, forcing me to elaborate. “Franklin got called into work early this morning. He’s been so busy, and I guess…I guess I just miss him.” I absently twirled my engagement ring around my finger.
“Perfectly understandable,” Momma answered with a kiss on my temple. “I see no reason for you to beat yourself up simply because you miss your fiancé.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m beating myself up. I just…I don’t want to sound unsupportive.”
“Nonsense. I don’t believe for a second that Franklin would view it that way.”
I didn’t either. “I don’t want him to feel guilty though.”
“Hmm, now that I can see.” Momma squeezed my shoulder again before pulling away and leaning into the couch. “I wish I had some sage motherly advice, but I’m afraid the well is currently dry.”
Momma’s grin made me chuckle. “I’m sure it’ll be full again soon.” I patted Momma on her knee, and she gave me a saucy wink.
“I’ve no doubt. Now”—she purposefully sat up straighter, head twisting this way and that—“that rental car in your driveway makes me think your guests have arrived.”
I didn’t like the gleam in Momma’s eyes. “It was a long flight. Phlox and Leon are resting. Besides, it’s still daylight.”
“But I thought Leon could be out in the daytime.”
I started to answer, but evidently Phlox was awake and decided to make an appearance. “He can, but it’s draining.” Phlox fluttered his wings, scattering dust. Momma sneezed and placed a Kleenex in front of her nose. “Sorry about that.” Phlox handed Momma a charm. “That should help.”
“Thank yo—achoo!” Momma activated the charm, but not before her nose was runny and her eyes were leaking. When she had herself together, Momma’s eyes flew wide, and she shuffled off the couch as quickly as possible. “Oh my! Aren’t you just a vision?” I’d never seen Momma so excited. Her joy took at least ten years off her age. “Just look at those wings!” Momma reached out but quickly pulled her hand back, a light dusting of embarrassed pink flushing her cheeks. “I’m sorry. That was very rude.”
No more immune to Momma’s charms than any other individual, Phlox melted in the face of Momma’s childlike joy. “It’s okay. You can touch them if you’d like. Pixie wings are tougher than they look.”
Momma clapped her hands together and giggled like a teenager. Rounding the preening pixie, Mommaoohed andahhed. “Absolutely marvelous.”
I was a little perplexed by Momma’s reaction. “You’ve seen pixies before.” As a general rule, pixies craved the warmth, not the cold. More lived in the southern climes than northern, so we had our fair share.
“But never in your home, Erasmus.”
“Huh?” Completely lost as to why that would make a difference, my expression remained perplexed while Phlox just shrugged and graciously put up with Momma’s blatantly appreciative perusal. Phlox was a nature pixie. They weren’t the attention whores that social pixies were, but I’d yet to meet a pixie that didn’t appreciate being…well, appreciated.
“Besides, I don’t get to see them nearly as often as you think.” For lack of a better word, Momma pouted. “Do you remember Charlette O’Dell?”
The name rang a faint bell that grew louder as a memory came to mind. “The real estate agent?”
