“How did you make so many of these?”
“I only sleep a few hours a day right now. There is a task to do, and I am doing it. I am sure that I will crash now that I am here.”
Mickey collapsed the empty boxes and put them in the back of the shop, near the stock and office area. “Okay. We are done. Come on, I want to buy you something to eat.”
“Were we meeting the others? I forget.”
“Grab your bag. We will go to your grandmother’s house, and you can get changed for your first night on the island.”
Moira looked around at the silent figures wearing omega-soft gowns. “Alohi is going to want something.”
Mickey linked arms with her and hauled her out the door, letting her lock up, and then they walked toward the coast, where Moira’s grandmother’s family home was. “Wow. You had it cleaned up.”
“I did. I knew I was coming, so I hired some cleaners to go over it.” She walked up the low steps and inhaled. It smelled like home. Part of her soul unclenched as she unlocked the front door and crossed the threshold.
“Your gran left it to you?”
“She did. She said I would need a place to call home when I came back.” She smiled as she walked into the empty space with the polished wood furniture. She took her bag and was nearly to the room she had used when she visited, then sighed and went to her grandmother’s room. The bedding was white cotton, not the flowered pattern that her grandmother favoured. It was a blank slate for her.
She put her bag down and pulled out a gown that had sleeves that had a gold bead at the shoulder and another at the wrist. Her arms were open to the breezes. It, also, wasn’t deeply cut. It was lovely but modest.
Her sandals were pretty and strappy, but the cross-lacing was visible with the high-low skirt.
She twisted her hair up into a loose, messy bun and put a hair spike from her first time at Ahheel’s shop through it.
Swallowing, she walked down to meet Mickey, and her friend stopped and grinned. “Oh, wow. Mimi, all grown up.”
“Thanks. I always feel better with some kind of sleeves.”
“Well, you look stunning.”
“Thanks. Are you ever going to look your age again?”
“Not until I am nice and settled out here. This much youth freaks out the dark Elite.” She waved at her face. “Come on. Do you want to do the food carts or the restaurant?”
“Duh, food carts.”
“Let’s go wake up your pay chip.” Mickey laughed and linked arms with her.
Moira laughed, and they left her family home and walked out to where the sunlight was just starting to turn pink.
As they walked into the central area, Moira remembered, “Aren’t we supposed to go to the palace for dinner?”
“They will send someone for you. We can snack. I know you have favourites.”
“This is true. I only had half of them yesterday.”
“Well, then, you need to catch up.”
They laughed and walked into the commercial area of the island using shortcuts through thick jungle and coming out into the riot of tourists and locals getting ready for the evening events.
Moira got her favourite deep-fried dumplings with herbed vinegar drizzled over them. She sat on a nearby bench and waited for the wilding to grab her own food.
A deep voice spoke from her left. “You are still getting used to your new form?”
“I am stuck in it. Yes.” She used a small bamboo stick to eat a dumpling.
“You aren’t even going to look at me?”
