“Kate’s going to start more classes up soon,” Laura said. “I’m setting up an email list. You’re on it.”
“Great. I can’t wait. And speaking of anticipation, Elena is so excited about Saturday.”
“Timmy is too. I think the kids will have fun.” Yesterday, we’d looked at all his party decorations and he’d practically vibrated with energy.
“That’s why I came here, actually. The alley, I mean,” Fran told me. “I was in the toy store and saw you through the window. I wanted to ask about Timmy’s present. I saw the cutest little box with stuffed monsters and monster coloring books. I thought it was adorable, but wanted to make sure that was okay. Some kids don’t even like the cute monsters. Too scary.”
“No,” I said. “That sounds great.”
After all, as far as I was concerned, the more he knew about monsters, the better.
“What did she mean by no obstacles?” Laura asked, once Fran had returned to the toy store and we were hurrying to the park, foregoing the ice cream so I could make certain that SourBitch didn’t show up to give Jared and Allie a hard time.
“I have no idea,” I admitted. “Something to do with Allie?” That was where my mind went, of course, but only because as far as I was concerned, everything in the demon world these days had to do with my daughter.
Still, I had to acknowledge that my thinking was probably a little bit narrow. I was worried about her, yes. I didn’t understand what had happened to her, true. But that did not mean that everything happening in the supernatural realm revolved around my daughter.
“I guess we need to do research.”
Laura actually smiled.
“What?”
She shrugged. “I’m a complete klutz where fighting is concerned, but with research, I’m a whiz.”
“You are,” I agreed. “Not a lot to start with, though, is there?”
She shrugged. “Well, I’ll poke around. Who knows, maybe we’ll get lucky.”
As far as luck went, we managed to find Allie and Jared without needing to look at the tracking app again. They were exactly where they’d been before, near the little duck pond in the center of the park. An excellent location for two reasons. First, there were hardly any people there today. Just a few random joggers on the path that ran by the pond, but most people were over on the soccer field or at the playscape. And second, because the pond stood near a cluster of trees and flowering plants that made for excellent camouflage.
I felt a little bit like a parent out of a comedy movie as Laura and I tried to hide behind those tree trunks. But Jared and Allie seemed so intent on talking to each other, that neither even looked in our direction.
I made a mental note to talk to Allie about that. She needed to be more aware of her surroundings. Right now though, her lackadaisical attitude towards her safety worked in my favor.
Laura and I each put in our headphones, and then I aimed the device, feeling a bit like James Bond. Moments later, I had it set properly and Laura and I could hear their conversation.
“—so embarrassed. I know, it’s stupid, but I thought that you were really in high school and you liked me. I can’t believe I’m telling you that,” Allie said. “Except I guess you should know why I was so bitchy before.”
“I get it. And I’m flattered. And, honestly...”
“What?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Is it weird? Looking seventeen but being, like,somuch older?”
“Yeah. Some. I don’t know.” Jared shrugged. “I’m just me. I’ve lived a long time—well, notlived—and seen a hell of a lot, but at the end of the day I am who I am. Do people really change that much over the years?”
“I don’t know,” Allie said. “I only have fifteen to judge by. You’re the only one who’s been around long enough to ask.”
Even from this distance, I could see their shared smile. I could also see that the age difference hadn’t dimmed Allie’s crush at all. Which meant that I needed to add Talk With Daughter About Older Men to my very long To Do list.
“Listen,” he said. “I’m flattered that you think of me that way. If I didn’t think your mom would stake me?—”
He was cut off by the sharp sound of Allie’s squeal as a passing jogger veered off the path and leaped toward Allie. I started to race that way, but Laura pulled me back, and I watched as Allie expertly dodged the jogger even as Jared caught the demon by the shoulder and spun her around.
Two more joined the fray, and I held my breath, mesmerized, as Jared and Allie worked in tandem in a violent ballet of fighting skills that made me proud.
