“You’re talking about a pie like it has feelings,” Daisy says.
“Why is this pie special?” I ask.
“That’s where she found the code for the safe,” Rhett says. “Put two and two together like this—“ He snaps his fingers.
“It was just a coincidence,” Daisy says. “That’s all.”
“No such thing,” I say.
She gives me a look, a small smile on her face.
“So,” I say, clapping my hands. “Looks like we’re making pecan pie.”
“I’ll get the card,” Gus says.
“I’ll grab everything else,” Rhett adds.
“How about you let me get the card?” Daisy says.
“But you can’t reach the top shelf.” Gus sticks his tongue out at her.
Nothing changes.
Yet everything has changed.
And it doesn’t look so bad.
Epilogue
Daisy
One year later…
I put the picnic basket on the blanket and groan as I kneel to sit.
“Let me help you,” Rhett says, grabbing my elbow and helping me down.
“Thank you,” I say, putting my hand on my big, round belly.
A baby had not been in my future, like… at all. But things happen, and I’m not mad about it. In fact, I’m very happy about it.
It was chaos at first, trying to figure everything out, but when the four of us sat down and talked about it, we realized we’d do this together.
School was put on the back burner, which is fine with me. It was my priority, but I think it was for the wrong reasons. I think part of me was trying to run away from here, be independent, and prove that I could get by on my own. I wasn’t doing so great, but I did figure things out for a while.
But why go back to struggling when I don’t have to? I have plenty of time to go to school, so I can go back at any time. Right now, I want to focus on my family. On this baby.
This babyboythat we are eagerly awaiting.
This baby— that could potentially be born a chicken shifter, the same way they were.
They’d said they didn’t change until they were thirteen, so we have some time before we will know if the curse was truly put to an end, or if it’ll continue on forever.
The good thing is, if he does change into a chicken, he has three fathers who will help him figure out the mess.They won’t be like their fathers and grandfathers. They’re going to be good and treat their child with respect. But… hopefully our baby boy won’t have to worry about that at all. Only time will tell.
Rhett sits beside me, pulling the basket closer to him to open and pull things out of. He piles the sandwiches and puts the basket aside. I glance back toward the house.
“What is taking them so long?” I ask.
