Nash chuckled as he leaned against the dresser.“I got that.Pretty cool for sure.”
Charlie nodded.“How did you come up with Norissamin?And the brucans.Lots of people know about dragons, but you came up with brucans.Did you know that there are people online who draw their versions of brucans and your dragons?I like how they get along and each species helps the other.And that the humans aren’t in charge.That each species rules its world.”
“Breathe, buddy.”
Charlie laughed and shook his head.“This is too cool.I’ve never met a real author before.And you write my all-time favorite books.”
Nash figured he needed to chime in because of what he knew about Olivia’s background.“Just remember that authors use pen names to keep their identities secret.”
Charlie frowned.“Like Superman and Clark Kent?”
Olivia laughed, and Nash nodded.“Just the same.You can’t be going around telling people the secret.”
Charlie nodded.“Okay.I won’t tell anyone.But it’s so cool.”
Olivia smiled.“Along with my agent, you’re the only people in the world who know my secret.”
Charlie’s jaw dropped open.“Wow.That’s even cooler.We’re part of a secret club.Way cool.Right, Dad?”
Nash chuckled.“Way cool.That explains why Ella’s favorite toy is a dragon.”
Charlie held up one of his dragons.“Ella, do you think this blue one could be Arminson?”
Ella clapped her hands and then reached for the dragon.Charlie passed it over and took another one.The two were soon flying the toys around on the floor.
Nash made eye contact with Olivia.He raised his eyebrows and kept his voice soft.“Okay?”
She smiled and nodded.He hoped she was right.He didn’t want her secret outed because his son was such a big fan.Charlie was good at keeping secrets, but Nash would impress the importance of keeping this one, without letting his son know there was potential danger surrounding their new friends.
For the next hour, the kids played while he and Olivia joined in.Charlie didn’t pester her with questions, but he figured his son was only biding his time and storing them up for later.
When the dinner bell rang a while later, Olivia’s eyebrows shot up.“What was that?”
Charlie grinned.“That’s the dinner bell.Everyone here tries to eat together every night.It’s to keep everyone updated with what’s happening on the farm and to make everyone feel like part of the team.”
“That’s so nice.”
Charlie tossed the toys into the tub.“It is.All the adults take turns cooking, so no one is always stuck doing it.Dad and I are going to make hamburgers and turkey burgers when it’s our night.Do you like those?”
Olivia grinned.“Of course.”
“Me too.Are you ready for supper time, Ella?Do you want to eat?”
Ella clapped and reached for Olivia to pick her up.She clearly understood more than she spoke.He wondered more about their background and history.The girl had experienced a lot of loss in her time, and he wanted to ensure she didn’t have any more.
Downstairs, they found the table set for ten: Knox and Thea, Jolie and Ford, Gray and Amber, him and Charlie, and Olivia and Ella.
Their family.
A jolt of rightness hit him.He’d made the right choice for Charlie.The right choice for him.
Could it be the right choice for Olivia and Ella?He hoped so.
When Charlie took his first bite, his face lit up.“This is better than anything I’ve ever eaten in a restaurant.Are you a chef, Gray?”
His buddy laughed.“Not even a little bit.But I had an Italian mamma, and I learned to make a good red sauce when I was younger than you.”
“Seriously?That’s so cool.Can you teach me how to make it one day?”
