“I- Erm- I don’t- I don’t do good with secrets!” Pen burst out, then, “I- I gotta go pee!” Instead of heading for the bathroom, she waddled as fast as her preggers belly could carry her to Ben and the boys. I hoped I never had to pee so bad my eyes watered. That sounded painful.
Trying to shake off my worry, her words dogged me.
When it was nearly five, I couldn’t take it any longer. Pulling out my cell, I gave his number a call.
“Hello?” He answered on the third ring.
“Hey,” I mumbled awkwardly, suddenly cowed at the idea of talking to him but not sure why.
“I’ve been meaning to call you,” he said into the silence that followed.
“Our date, yes,” I said breathlessly. I couldn't help it. I felt light headed just thinking about him.
“Coffee or tea,” he replied a bit brusquely.
“I haven’t forgotten. Been looking forward to it actually.”
“Listen, Aster, there are some things I’ve been meaning to ask you, I- You, uh…”
“The bud bloomed?” I asked, waiting with bated breath for him to answer.
“It- It bloomed and bloomed and bloomed,” he enthused, making me laugh. “Oh, wow, it’s blooming again. That is crazy. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Didn’t your parents have one?” I asked before I’d thought better of it. “Oh- I mean, my birth ones had one but, I-”
“Your birth ones?”
“My biological Mum and Dad died when I was little. I was adopted by my godmother, a dormant witch whose true mate was a human. I grew up on the other side of Mordenne with them, where there used to be many dormants and human mates and such mingling with Other,” I said in a rush. “They didn’t have a sentiments blossom but-”
“A sentiments blossom?” Greniv mumbled thoughtfully. He sounded like the word was foreign to him but-
“Both of your parents are of the Marsh?” I asked.
“Yes.” He sounded so thrown by my questions, I didn’t understand why.
“Of course they wouldn’t have one, you know, my adopted parents,” I babbled nervously, “they aren’t of the Marsh, but they were very good to me and made sure I was cared for and kept in touch with my roots, pun intended. I’d love for you to meet them.”
“Oh, I-” Greniv began to stammer.
There was a sound, like his door bell was ringing. “You sound busy. I’ll let you go and catch up with you later, okay?”
“Uhm, yeah, sure, later. Uh-huh.”
“Until later, Greniv,” I called softly, my excitement bleeding into my words, and hung up.
∞∞∞
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape this feeling all was not well. Going for broke, and because I really wanted to see him again, I grabbed a plant I thought would look good amongst his collection in his backyard, noting he favored frond type plants over flowers, on my way out. In the back office, I washed up and put on my best pair of jeans, favorite worn green high top sneakers, a clean Swamp Thing shirt, and my newish dark green cardigan, and headed over to my intended’s house.
It was going on six thirty when I got there, but the lights were still on and I figured it was worth the wait.
Plant gift under my arm, I took a few cleansing breaths and began making my way up the walk. I had my hand raised to knock when I heard laughter coming from around back.
Shrugging, I turned and headed towards the sound of Greniv’s soft chuckle. He had a lovely laugh. My limp was less visible in these shoes. The soles were thick. Momma’d had them specially made for me on Solstice. Rounding the corner, I froze in place. I could barely believe what I was seeing. Greniv sat opposite a tiny imp of a Wood Nymph. The woman was quite pretty, and the smile Greniv was giving her made my stomach knot. He never looked at me like that.
Pot roast with onions, little golden potatoes, celery, carrots, smelled heavenly, fresh bread with steam coming off of it sliced and ready to serve.
The Nymph had a bottle of unopened wine sat next to her.
