“Thank you,” I said. I placed the copper coin into her hand, and she chuckled.
“I wondered if you would understand the ways of the coin,” she said.
“We made it too easy,” Atropos grumbled. “There’s too much information out there that the Crossroads could find.”
Lachesis shook her head. “Very little information exists on the nature of the coins. It has always been that way, and it always will be. I am curious, though, how you knew.”
“I had allies,” I said, because she had told me I would, even though I hadn’t wanted to listen to her. “Some of whom I do not like. But I let my journey take me forward instead of dwelling on the past.”
“And did you find gifts?” she asked.
Card’s fingers on my skin, his laughter as he walked a tree, his singing in my kitchen.
“Yes.”
“Good then,” Lachesis said. “Thank you, Crossroads.”
She turned to Card. “I assume this will be the end of our paths crossing?”
He swallowed hard. “Yes.” The word was barely a whisper. He sounded like he was light headed. As a matter of fact, he looked a little unsteady on his feet. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank us,” Atropos snapped. “We weren’t pleased with you. Stealing from us.”
“Thank the Crossroads,” Lachesis said.
“Yes,” Clotho added, her voice light. “Isn’t this just amazing how it all worked out? We got our coins. You and the Crossroads found time to talk, to maybe find understanding. And I see there is a new connection between you. That’s so nice. Isn’t that nice, Atropos?”
“Fine,” the eldest growled. “You won the bet. You don’t have to rub it in.”
She turned and stomped back to the grill, grumbling about twisted threads and the dewy-eyed optimism of youth.
Clotho laughed, a high, happy burble.
Lachesis just shook her head. “Well, then. Now that this is done,” she put both hands on Clotho’s shoulders and nudged her toward Atropos, “you can help with the food.”
Clotho gave a wave over her shoulder and did as Lachesis suggested.
“Thank you,” I said. “For honoring your word.”
The matron Fate raised her eyebrows. “It is as it shall be, as it always should have been,” she said cryptically. “Good-bye, Crossroads. Until it may be hello again.”
I inclined my head and managed not to ask her why gods had to be so damned cryptic too. “Good-bye, Fate.”
I took a step backward, then realized Card was still standing there, frozen and wobbly.
“Card,” I said. When he didn’t answer, I tugged on his sleeve. “Let’s leave the generous god to her cookout. You and I can return home.”
He snapped out of whatever trance he’d been in and gave a very passable bow before turning on his heel and walking beside me.
His hand reached out for mine, and my fingers locked with his. Our palms squeezed together like a tether in a wild wind as we made our way down the road to the house. Neither of us let go.
ChapterFifteen
The lemonade was cold,and the day was hot. I shaded my eyes and looked over at Card, who sat cross-legged at the bottom of the damn pecan tree.
We hadn’t talked about the tattoos we shared yet. Hadn’t talked any more about his sister.
After our encounter with Fate this morning, I thought we both needed to do something that felt normal. So I’d made lemonade and babbled about the shop I needed to get back to building.
