“I want green hair trophies, but you should have pink,” Lav tells me.
“We’ll decide when I get my appointment.”
“Oh, you don’t need an appointment,” Ginny says. “Primary dragon slayers go to the salon, but helpers can get their hair dyed at home.”
I’m too tired and sad to be irritated at knowing what they’ll do to my hair.
Gotta make memories while we can. Hopefully these will all be good memories.
“Can I help?” Lav asks.
“You have to,” Ginny tells her. “Otherwise, they’re not real trophy hairs.”
Lav rubs her hands all over my beard. “Daddy has enough hairs. He’s really hairy.”
“A lot of daddies are,” Mabel muses, which makes Ginny snort, then cover it with a cough.
“Time to go, Lav,” Ginny says. “We don’t want to be late.”
I kiss Lav on the head and hug her little body tightly, then release her to scamper off with Ginny.
Then I eye Mabel, who’s still leaning in the doorway.
“What’s up?” I ask her.
“I assume by the volume of the music that you’re feeling better?”
I grunt.
“Ah. Only mostly, then.”
Nailed it. “Thanks for the help with Lav yesterday.”
“Of course.”
“Her nails are pretty cool.”
“Dori did them.”
“She didn’t leave.”
“No, but I think Elizabeth is about to. Private investigator found a lot more dirt on her husband than she was expecting, and she has a divorce lawyer lined up, plus a solid group of empty-nester friends who’ve been through the same thing back home. We’ve been more of a holding ground for her than a recovery center. She’s in good shape.”
“Good for her.” And thank fuck.
If Elizabeth’s moving out, Cricket can move into the main house.
“I had three new orders roll in overnight,” Mabel says.
That’s unusual. Her work is pretty detailed, and she generally only takes one project at a time.
And one project typically takes over her entire workroom.
Which means?—
Goddammit.
It means I have to finish this house, if I’m reading this situation right.
