Sensing me, Willow looked up right where I was hovering and pointed to the back where her office was located. Still talking on the phone, she kept pace with me as I floated to her office.
“Jina, that’s not how it works,” she said, closing the door to the office behind her. “People are irritating. That’s life.”
She went quiet for a moment, then laughed. “No, I’m not going to eat the guy who cut you off!”
It had taken Jina a few days to really come to terms with the existence of wraiths and Willow’s new abilities. In the end, Jina was Jina and went from uncomprehending to constantly asking Willow to eat annoying people.
She listened to the response as I materialized in front of her. Giving me a big smile, she interrupted Jina. “I’ve got to go. Can we talk later?”
Nodding to whatever Jina was saying, Willow said a few more things, then finally ended the call. After tossing her phone onto the desk behind me, she pressed herself to my front. I wrapped my arms around her.
“I missed you,” I murmured.
“It’s only been a few hours,” she said, but then added, “I missed you too.”
I sensed another wraith approaching and stiffened.
“It’s okay,” she murmured, going up on her toes to give my chin a quick kiss. “Visiting me gives them hope.”
“I know, but I don’t have to like it,” I grumbled. Word of her transformation had drawn my brothers to interact with her as often as they could get away with. Even Vengeance had visited the house with gifts of wine and chocolate.
I’d never seen Vengeance so talkative as he was with Willow. Even though I knew my brothers would never do anything inappropriate, I still didn’t like it when they took up Willow's attention.
She was my miracle, not theirs.
Teo took his physical form outside the office door and knocked politely, even though we could both sense his presence.
“Do you have time to talk?” he asked through the closed door.
Out of all the wraiths, Teo approached Willow’s transformation in a scientific way. He asked her questions, took detailed notes. After a few days, he’d come back with more questions.
I worried it would never end. Willow didn’t seem to mind, but I’d eventually talked her into drawing a strict line. No one could visit us at home. I wished we were there now.
Willow gave me a pat on the arm before addressing Teo. “Come on in.”
My brother entered the room with a smile on his face and a basket of bread and cheese in the other. At least he always brought Willow gifts, it made me less likely to snap and growl.
“This is for you,” Teo said unnecessarily as he held out the basket.
“Aw, thanks!” Willow said as she took the gift.
There was another knock at the door. “Willow, Jane is back and wants to haggle over the prices.”
Willow snorted and answered the employee through the door. “I give you managerial power for the rest of the day. You can kick her out or give her a discount. It’s up to you.”
There was a moment of silence. When Gabby spoke again, she sounded ecstatic. “I can kick her out?”
“And tell her never to come back,” Willow confirmed. “I’m leaving for the day. If she asks for your manager, say you're the one in charge. It’ll be the truth.”
“Willow, you’re the best boss ever!” Gabby sang, then we heard the distinct sound of her dancing back down the hall to the main store.
We all chuckled. “I think you made her day,” Teo commented.
Willow gave him a wry smile. “I hope so. She’s the best. If she’s happy, she’ll stay. That’s more important to me than a troublesome customer.”
“Anyway, what can I do for you, Teo?” she asked.
He held up the tablet he was holding in his other hand. “I have a few questions.”
