There could be a world of things happening. But I had to remember why I was doing what I was doing. Building a home. Building back a man who could be her father. Building a place where she could be safe and loved.
The world had dealt me horrible wounds.
It was up to me to make them right again.
For her.
Maybe even for me.
It took me a couple of tries to say, “Well. If it will get you off my back.”
“That’s more like it.” He rumbled out a chuckle and called out, “Bear! Quit beating them and let them eat!”
The Valkyrie laughed and came over to be first in line for the food. Bear ate and drank like the crew of a Viking longship, and filled up the first of what would be two or three plates with enthusiasm. The men who’d been learning from her came off the mats in high spirits, talking and laughing, to collect food and bottles of ale of their own.
For a minute, I just…opened myself to it. To the camaraderie. The friendly talk and laughter. Will was deep in a conversation with Fitz, explaining how he’d defeated him. They smelled of sweat and sawdust and propellant and gun-cleaning solvent. For a moment, I set aside all the things that had happened to me, all the bad things I felt in my body, all the terrible memories, and just felt the vibe.
Pleasant exhaustion. High spirits. Hunger. Good food. Excellent beer. Some bruises and scrapes and no hard feelings about them.
I felt as much as heard the footsteps coming up behind me.
I turned to find a middle-aged Latino man, stocky and unremarkable, with silver streaks at his temples and a smile on his face. “Mister Dresden,” he said.
I recognized him—the father of one of the families who was staying with me. “Oh, uh. Mister Jiminez, right?”
“Matias,” he said easily. “Do you have a moment?”
“Sure,” I said.
“My daughter, Elena,” he said. His accent was pretty thick, but there was no hesitation to his speech. “She was sick. You got her a doctor.”
“Oh,” I said. “Yes.”
“I have come to thank you,” he said. “There are many people in this city who struggle. They cannot take care of anyone else. You have opened your home to us. This is a very big thing. I wanted you to know that we are grateful. We will do whatever we can to return your kindness.”
“Oh,” I said. “Sure.”
“Okay,” he said, nodding at me. “It took time for me to get the words. But thank you. You did not have to do this.”
“Yes,” I said. “I did.”
He tilted his head and studied me for a moment and then smiled. He looked at Michael and nodded toward me. “Good man there.”
Michael passed Matias a bottle. “Yes. He is.”
Something loosened in my stomach.
“You know what?” I said. “I’m hungry.”
Michael made me a burger. We didn’t have much to go on them—just the buns we’d thawed along with the frozen patties and dogs. Some ketchup. Some mustard.
But I decided I could take a brief time-out from all the bad things around me.
And the food was delicious.
Bear gave Michael a look of decided approval as she chewed.
“Will,” I said, licking my fingers.
