They finished all but about a quart of the soup and two egg rolls.She was happy with that as it would be perfect for her grandda.Cleaning up the mess they’d made in the dining room, he got to see the kitchen and wasn’t surprised that she’d been right.It did need a great deal of work.He would start on it tomorrow if she’d let him.
They talked about the things that needed to be done to the house, and he made notes.He’d, like his family had always been a note taker and now was no different.As they toured the house, looking at all the bedrooms too, he was amazed that someone hadn’t done anything to it before now.But then she explained that her grandda had been on a limited budget and didn’t have it to make sure that it was in working order.
“The kitchen is going to be the most expensive to bring up to code or even date.It needs to have the walls redone as well as all new appliances.With that, there will probably need to be some wiring done so that nothing catches on fire while we renovate.”He said that he knew that the foundation had its own construction team that he could maybe use, and thought they’d do a good job.“Plus, it will need the bathrooms redone.There are six of them in the house, plus three half baths.”
“Has it been in your family for very long?”She said that her grandfather had been born in the house, and it had been added onto over the years.“I’m excited about getting started.What do you say we start on it tomorrow after you’re gone and I can make sure that things are done the way that we want?”
“I’d like that.But keep track of all the money you put into it.I have a bonus check coming for mustering out of the service that will be nice to add to it.Plus, I’ve never really spent all that much money when I was overseas, so I’ve managed to save a great deal that way.”He told her that he’d been able to save too, and he had accumulated a great deal of money just by investing in things that he found interesting.“Good.The land around the house is worth some money, and we can borrow against that should we need more money.The house has been paid off for a decade or two, and all the taxes have been paid yearly.I made sure of that for my grandda.”
She had an idea about what she wanted in the kitchen.He wanted a large enough space that they could eat in it if they wished.Of course, with them both working, they’d need staff, but that wasn’t something they had to do right now.He did ask her about the outbuildings and whether or not he could use one of them for his practice.
“One of them was an office of sorts before I left for the service.You should have a look at them in the morning before I leave.We should also go to the bank so that we can have your name on the deed, so that there won’t be any trouble with you doing the renovations.I’d hate for you to get started only to have to stop almost as soon as the first nail was taken out of the walls.”They still had time tonight, and that’s where they headed.And just like that, he had a house in his name and a mate all in one setting.“I feel like I’m settled.Like with you right here, I can function like I’ve never been able to before.”
“I feel the same way.Like you’ve taken a burden off my shoulders that I didn’t know was there.I feel good about what we’ve accomplished so far.”She nodded as they drove to the bank.With thedeed in hand, she was ready to do what was necessary, and so was he.This was the strangest mate finding that he’d ever heard of.In less than twenty-four hours, she’d be gone, and he’d be redoing their home.He wondered what his family would say if they knew right now.
~*~
Molly gathered her gear and made her way to the registration office.She was to fly out in the morning on a transport plane and wasn’t looking forward to returning.Everything had started to come together just as she was leaving, and she didn’t want to leave behind the two people who had made it happen.Pop-pop and Kayce.
Pop-pop was in good hands.The nursing home/assisted living place was top-rated, and she liked that he had his own rooms.There were other things that he could take advantage of as well.There was an in-house doctor that he could go see.A barber, someone to take care of his feet when he needed.And best of all, that she could see, was that he’d be safe, as they had a system installed where only certain people on a list could come in and see the guests there.Her pop-pop had put not just her on the list, but Kayce, too, as his doctor friend.
“Sergeant Toby, you have a note here with your name on it.See that you read it before you leave.”She said that she would and was handed an official-looking envelope with her name typed across the front.Also on it was written the word ‘Urgent’.“That came in about an hour ago, and I’m to wait for an answer.”
“Yes, sir.”Going to the little row of chairs, she put her stuff down in favor of opening the envelope.It was just one sheet of paper, and it was typewritten.Opening up the message, she had to frown.It was from her boss.“It says here that I’m to report for duty at the White House ASAP.Do you know what sort of answer I was supposed to give you?This just says report, no question.”
“I would imagine that it’s making sure you’re going to report.”Why the hell wouldn’t she?I mean, it wasn’t like it was an invitation to a ball or something.“Are you going to report to the W.H.?”
“Of course I am.Sir.”She nearly forgot where she was for a moment and had to retrain herself in speaking to others.She was already in Washington after a long flight and was ready for some downtime.But she was going to have to make her way to the White House now for god only knew what reason.“Is there a transport going there?”
“A limo will pick you up.Don’t get used to this kind of treatment all the time.But I was to send for one to pick you up and then later take you back here.Do you have everything you need?”How the hell would she know, but she answered yes, sir, to the man in uniform so that she could get on her way.“It will arrive within the hour, so be ready.”
Good, she thought to herself, a whole hour to wonder why she was headed to the White House to see her boss.The boss of all bosses, as it turned out.The President of the United States.Sitting down in one of the many chairs in the big office, she watched the front doors.Who knew when the limo was going to come and get her and why?As far as she was concerned, she’d done nothing wrong while in the service but do her job to the best of her abilities.
“Hello?”She looked around for someone speaking to her and found that she was all alone in the room.“I’ll be there in a jiffy.”
A woman appeared sitting next to her, and she looked around to see if anyone else could see her.Leaning back in her chair, she asked the woman who she was and how she got here.
“I’m Parker, grand witch of all witches.Please tell me that you believe in witches.There are a lot of us around.None like me, I’m happy to say, but there are plenty of lesser witches around.I think you might know one or two of them.”She looked thoughtful and smiled.“I think I answered both your questions, didn’t I?If not, I got here because I’m magical.A lot magical.And I’m a relative of the Fosters.You have heard of them, haven’t you?”
“A grand witch.All right.And yes, I’ve heard of the Fosters.You’d have to be a fool not to have heard of the richest people in the world.But what does that have to do with you popping here right now?I’m assuming that you’re here because of the note I received.”She nodded.“Oh, good.I thought perhaps I was going before a firing squad or something.I’m not, am I?”
“Good heaven no.You’re visiting a friend of the family, the president.How did I miss that you were going to be a part of the family, I wonder.Not to mention such a huge part.Did you know that…well, of course you didn’t know.I would have been the only one to tell you.”She asked her if she was off her meds.“That’s a funny question, you’d think so, wouldn’t you.But I’m trying to get it into my head that you’re Kayce’s mate.I didn’t see that one coming.”
“How could you?Unless you can see the future?”She nodded, and that was when the limo pulled up.“Are you riding with me or am I on my own for a while?”
“I’ll come with you.Jeb is a friend of mine, too.”They both were handed into the long, sleek limo with presidential flags on the front of it.There was an escort, too, but she didn’t pay them any mind.She was still trying to work out why the witch was with her.“I’ll get to that.We have about thirty minutes.”
The ride was smooth as they pulled out of the parking lot to the large airport.As soon as they were on the road, Molly turned to the witch and stared at her.She was quite beautiful and seemed to glow.She figured that was her magic, if she was to believe her lore about grand witches.
“I’m truly the grand witch.My husband is the grand warlock.We have a lot of magic, and believe it or not, we get more stuff daily.I’m to help you along today, but I think I’ll wait.And by the way, the glow is my white magic.I’m extremely powerful.”She nodded and asked her why she was seeing the president.“You’re going to be mustered out.Today.We can’t have you working all the way across the United States from Kayce when he might need you.And he will if for no other reason than to get your house in order.It will need to be put into order before anything else.”
“Do people understand you?I mean, so far all you’ve given me is bits and pieces of conversation, and I have no idea what you’re talking about.”She grinned at her, and Molly shook her head.“You’re not the least bit funny or charming.I have asked you several times now as to why I’m seeing the president, and you’ve gone on about how I must have slipped under your radar or something along those lines.”
“That’s just what you did.You see, I knew about the other mates before they came along.I knew what day they’d fall in love with the Tucker men.They’re about the best there is.I didn’t see you coming along at all.I actually thought that poor Kayce wouldn’t have a mate at all, you’d been so hidden from me.”She asked her why it’s important that she’s here now.“Because you and Kayce will make all the difference in the world to…well, to the world.You two will have children who will go on in the foundation more than any other child who comes to the others.”
“We haven’t talked about children yet.We’ve talked about a lot of things, but not whether or not we’re going to have kids.”She said that they’d have enough to fill the bedrooms in their new home.“Eight kids is a lot of kids.”
“Six.You must have a playroom for them and also one for you and Kayce.That’s where you’ll find it.The money to work on the house.”She asked her what she was talking about.“I can’t tell you everything.Just the things that you’ll need to know to get you started in the right direction.You’ll see when you get the bedroom cleaned up.Your grannie was a smart woman, and she knew how to save some money.There, is that enough for you to be satisfied?”
