“What in the stars was all that about?”
Mira shrugged. The orc was his only employee and had worked for him for close to a decade by then, possessing all of the necessary characteristics of a good delivery driver — she was trustworthy, friendly, and insurable. She did odd jobs around the shop, was able to ring out sales and added the greens to vases and baskets in preparation for orders, all the help he required.
“I don’t know, but I sure hope you have something for me to do today.”
Nearly two hours had passed before the bell chimed above the doorway again. By then, Ranar had most of the day’s orders complete, Mira had swept the whole store, and he was itching to turn over theopensign.
Two satyresses crossed the threshold, whispering to each other as they did so. Ranar watched as they looked around appraisingly.
“Good morning. Anything I can help you with today?”
Both of the goat women were looking at him as if he had sprouted a second head, the one shaking her head as she tsked. “We were just saying that you’ve been here forever. I remember coming into this shop when I was just a girl, and I’m quite a bit older than you.”
Ranar squinted. “Um, yeah, my grandfather opened this shop. More than fifty years ago. My parents ran it afterward. Are-are you looking for something in particular?”
By the time the satyresses had left, a prickle had begun to move down his neck. The women had continued clicking their tongues, mumbling to each other, grumbling about Jack Hemming andhypocrisy.What the fuck is going on?
“Mira, did you hear about anything strange when you drove in today?”
The orc shrugged, shaking her head. She lived in Greenbridge Glen, and it was unsurprising that she was not plugged into the nonstop gossip of Cambric Creek. He had just been about to text Grace when his phone buzzed in his hand.
We just landed!
The old lady next to me snored the entire flight, but I got extra snacks.
Ranar grinned, his pulse kicking up a few notches in excitement. She was almost here.
Extra snacks are always worth a little snoring.Untying his apron, he undulated to the back, ensuring all the orders were accounted for.
Bet.
He squinted again.Bet? Bet what? First we’re cooking, now we’re betting?He shook his head. It didn’t matter at the moment, not when she’d be disembarking soon.
Let me know when you leave the airport, and don’t forget to call mommy.
Remember — one straight shot.
I’m going to be waiting in the street to embarrass you in front of the neighbors.
Her response was immediate.
DADDY NO??
“Mira, I’m turning the computers off. The orders we have are all it’s going to be for the afternoon. Just let me finish these last two, and then you can load up for the day. I’ll be gone before you get back.”
NOODLE YES??
See you in a bit??
It happened that first night Ruma was home. An inauspicious start for what was meant to be a great summer, and he was furiousshehad tainted the time with his daughter.
His mother had ignored him entirely, spending the day in the kitchen, but she’d at least capitulated to their normal hybrid of Western foods and Tamil dishes, including gulab jamun for dessert which Ruma devoured.
“Food is how I show you I care,” she’d practically growled, whipping around with a wooden spoon and brandishing it likea weapon at Ranar’s approach, shortly after he and Ruma had arrived.
“I know, Amma. And we appreciate it. Everything smells delicious.”Tragedy avoided. Misplaced accusations of raising a Westernized child – defeated for the day.
He still wasn’t sure how he and his ex-wife had managed it — he was an awkward extrovert, while Ruma’s mother had always been serious and stoic — and yet somehow they had produced an absolute ray of sunshine, bubbly and full of chatter as she always was, the entire meal.
