But Landry’s expression behind her wall of hair softened. “We both know you came here to make sure I’m okay.”
Caden bit his lower lip. “You wouldn’t take the day off and come to the castle so…” He shrugged. “I came to you. Your name isn’t on that list, Landry. You know that, right?”
“Of course! You make sure of that. As did King Valerius and Chione, though I wonder if it should have been.” She hunched over on the seat.
“You should be here. Landry, you more than made up for what you did,” Caden assured her. “I’m just sorry about Ross and Harvey. They repented, but--”
“They did a lot of terrible things that let Jasper get away with it for ages longer than he should have.” Landry sighed. “The boys understand. Their sentences are far lighter than they would have been if you hadn’t spoken on their behalf.”
“Yeah, well, I was glad I could help,” Caden muttered and scuffed a foot.
“You’ve done more than that!” Landry practically shouted. When people looked over, she quickly lowered her voice and said, “Practical lifers in Humans First recognize that you’re trying to address the inequality between Shifters and humans. More and more will have to open their eyes the more you do.”
“Even if they don’t, if the reasons for their anger are assuaged, I hope that will stop people like Jasper Hawes from preying upon them,” Caden said.
“People are people, Caden. Some of them are idiots no matter what. But you’re definitely making it better for everyone,” she said.
“And how are you doing now that you’re owner and operator of Wally Nutt’s Emporium?” he asked her.
After Wally had officially become his Councillor it was determined that running a Shifter-based merchandising operation might be a little bit of a conflict of interest.
“Not to mention that I won’t have time to operate the shop effectively!” Wally had said, all quivering mustaches. “So, I’m going to give the shop to Landry.”
“What?! To me?!” Landry had been shocked to her core.
It had just been a few weeks since the Behemoth was defeated. She, Wally, Rose and Caden had been eating breakfast--with lots of bacon--on one of the balconies. There was cream cheese on her upper lip when Wally had made his announcement.
“Yes, you. There’s no one else I would trust with the Emporium, Landry. And when your brothers get out, you’ll have jobs to offer them if they want them.” Wally shrugged.
“Wally… I don’t know what to say,” Landry mumbled. “I don’t deserve this.”
“Of course, you do, and you’re going to say yes!” Rose insisted as she cut up strawberries on her plate. “Landry, take it from someone who's done worse and somehow has been given a second chance. Take it. Do good with it. Make a difference.”
“Now I remember a girl who looked just like you who didn’t think anything could ever change,” Wally winked at Rose, “so who are you, missy?”
Rose threw a bit of croissant to him, which Wally managed to catch in his mouth and eat like the Rat Shifter he was.
“You have to admit, Wally, that you, Caden and all of the Bryces are pretty different,” Rose said as she chewed a croissant laden with clotted cream and fresh strawberries. “They give chances to people that others wouldn’t dare to.”
“You’re pretty extraordinary yourself, Rose,” Caden said. “You were open to believing us and reaching back.”
“Yeah, you guys are all extraordinary. Unlike me,” Landry said with a sigh.
“Landry, changing one’s mind is the most extraordinary thing to do and you did it,” Caden told her. “When everyone was telling you that red was blue and blue was red, you held firm against them, even though you were alone.”
“I only felt alone. You guys were always there with me,” Landry said with a smile. “My parents are still in the Humans First camp and can’t forgive the fact that my brothers are going to jail.”
“I’m sorry, Landry. If you need a place to stay…”
But Landry shook her head. “If I’m going to own the Emporium, I can afford a place to stay. Don’t worry, Caden, though I might camp out here until I find a good lease.”
“Of course, you can stay here as long as you want,” Caden assured her.
“Thanks.” Landry beamed as he crunched a piece of bacon. “I better not stay here too long or I’ll grow too big to leave.”
Rose patted her stomach happily. “I say my stomach is full of bacon and love.”
“Bacon and love?” Caden snorted.
