Diana sent back a thumbs up emoji. That done, she glanced across at Calvin, who was still looking down at the riddle.
“Do you really think that’s the answer?” she asked him, peering down at it. “I mean, itisnature-related. And it seems like it fits all three parts of it, right?”
“It definitely does,” Calvin agreed, nodding. “And we don’t exactly have anything else to go on. I can’t think of what else it could be.”
“Hopefully your unfriendly sprite agrees,” Diana said, reaching over to give his arm a squeeze.
“I can’t believe the answer was something so simple all along.” Calvin shook his head. “I should have been able to think of that on the spot!”
“Hey, you’d just been cursed by a magic water spirit!” Diana laughed. “I think you can be forgiven for not having your head on straight in the moment!”
“Well, that’s a very generous way of thinking about it,” Calvin said, giving her a smile. “But really, I owe it all to Ash. I can’t believe I can finally get this stupid curse lifted. Maybe even go get my car – assuming it’s even drivable, and the curse didn’t take it out for good.”
“Well, first things first,” Diana said firmly. “We go back to that pond and tell the sprite we have the answer. Andthenwe worry about everything else.”
“Yeah. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Calvin glanced out the window, where the long summer dusk was just beginning to fall. “And unfortunately, I don’t think we should head out there tonight. It’d be totally dark by the time we got back. And there’s way too many people out and about during these warm summer evenings. Way too much chance that someone will spot a wyvern flying around.”
A thrill of excitement ran up Diana’s spine at the thought she’d get to fly Calvin all the way to the sprite’s pond – hopefully it’d be a longer journey than the one to Sieval’s, and she’d really get to savor the experience.
But even as her stomach fizzed in happiness, she was startled by the sound of a car horn honking from the drive.
“Oh, that gave me a surprise,” she said, laughing.
“You don’t say,” Calvin said, raising an eyebrow at her.
Diana laughed again, swatting him on the shoulder with her hand. “That was different! How could I resist? You weresoasleep!”
“Is that Janie’s mom?” Ash came scurrying out of his bedroom, backpack looped over one shoulder. “I gotta go!”
“Wait just one moment, young man,” Diana said, leaping to her feet. “Let me check you remembered your toothbrush!”
Quickly, she made Ash open his bag to show her what he’d packed – but as per usual for Ash, everything was completely in order. Toothbrush, the toothpaste he preferred, pajamas, socks, underpants and t-shirt for the next day all neatly tucked inside his bag.
“All right then, clever boy,” Diana said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Enjoy your sleepover.”
Katie had said she was coming from the grocery store, so Diana didn’t want to keep her with too much chatting – they caught up regularly anyway, so they’d have a good chance to talk soon enough. She just stood at the front door as Ash trotted down the steps and onto the driveway, where the car stood idling.
Diana waved to him when he turned back briefly before flinging the car door open and climbing inside, but it was clear that he was engrossed already in his conversation with the other kids Diana could see Katie had collected. Instead, Katie just gave her a quick wave before she started backing out the long driveway.
Diana sighed as the car drifted from view, behind the tall grasses and flowers she’d planted. She knew Ash was safe, but still, she couldn’t help a little apprehension every time he left her side for any long period of time. And he’d only just reached the age where sleepovers were becoming common – she was sure she’d get more used to it as time went by.
“I’m sure he’s fine – there’s no need to worry.”
Calvin had appeared by her side, his warm, solid presence definitely comforting – as was the thought that he’d apparently discerned her worries, mild though they were, as if he’d read her mind.
“I know,” she said softly. “And it’s really great that he’s made so many friends – he’s so quiet, I was a little worried he was lonely. But it seems like I didn’t need to worry at all.”
“It’s not like I can know how you feel, since I’m not a father,” Calvin said, “but it seems perfectly natural to me for you to want Ash to feel loved and be accepted for who he is. And it seems like here, he is.”
Warmth, like a healing balm, spread through Diana’s chest. Without even really meaning to, she leaned back, snuggling against Calvin’s side.
He says he’s not a father, but I think he’d be a great one for Ash,she thought, closing her eyes as she felt Calvin’s lips brush against the top of her head.And who knows, maybe, one day…
But now,shewas the one who was getting ahead of herself. First, they had to figure out if they’d gotten the solution to the riddle right, and ask the sprite to remove the curse.Thenthey could start planning out the rest of their lives together.
“So… if we’re not going to go out to where the sprite lives this evening, did you have any other things you wanted to do?” Diana asked. “I’d say let’s go out to eat, but I still feel kind of full from our breakfast… and lunch… and cake. And honestly, is it worth risking another place’s electricity?”
“Well, that’s a good point,” Calvin admitted. “But I also don’t really want to riskyours, either. One touch and it’s possible you’ll need a whole new kitchen suite.”
