Epilogue
Jayce and Kristine snuggled on their couch, gazing out at the sunrise colors reflected in the river. The still-twinkling lights and flow of the water mesmerized them. They wore matching white bathrobes, sipping their morning coffee. No words, television, or other entertainment was needed. They just enjoyed cuddling and being surrounded by their love for their condo and each other.
Startled by the sudden appearance of a platinum-haired woman wearing a flowing Grecian robe, Kristine recovered first.
“Gaia! What can I do for you?”
“The question is, my little dragon, what can I do for you?” The goddess folded her arms and waited.
Confused, Kristine sat up on the edge of the sofa and asked, “What do you mean?”
Mother Nature rolled her eyes. “You haven’t heard? Whenever a modern muse offers her services to me and appears to be serious about performing her job well, I give that person a reward. So, what would you like? A new car? A house? A money tree?”
Jayce returned her puzzled stare. “Don’t ask me. It’s your reward.”
Kristine pondered the question. At last she said, “I don’t know what I want. I have everything I need. The man I love. A job I love. Enough money to live on. I really don’t need another thing. Unless… No. Never mind. That would be impossible.”
Gaia smiled. “Let me be the one to decide what’s possible. I know what you want. You want knowledge and a little bend in the rules.”
“Yeah, well… You can’t do that.”
Mother Nature glared at her. “What makes you think I can’t? I can do pretty much anything I want. And I want to do something that will make you so grateful you won’t renege on your commitment to me.”
Oh, so that’s what this is about. It’s more of a bribe than a reward.
“I know what you really think, little dragon. Don’t forget that. It’s not a bribe. Try looking at it as a signing bonus.”
“Okaaay.” Kristine racked her brain for anything nice that she would like as a bonus but really couldn’t come up with anything special.
Mother Nature jammed her hands on her hips. “Seriously? You really aren’t going to ask for what you want? I already told you it’s not impossible.”
Kristine’s eyes rounded. “You mean to tell me I don’t have to go back to the bottom of the ladder and I can be a Boston firefighter?”
“Not only that, you can be promoted if you want.”
Jayce pulled himself up next to her and draped an arm around her shoulder. “Think about it. You can do the job you’ve always loved without losing a thing.” Then he gazed up at the deity and asked, “You can plant the knowledge she needs into her brain? The policies she needs to know for the BFD?”
Mother Nature folded her arms, tipped her chin up, and looked smug. “Not only that, I can make her your equal. A captain.”
Jayce smiled at Kristine. “She has always been my equal.”
“Well, equal but different,” she said.
“That’s for sure. I don’t wear granny panties.”
Kristine pulled her robe to the side a bit. “When I’m with you, I hardly wear panties at all.”
“And I always remember to floss.” He chuckled, and they shared a knowing grin.
The goddess shook her head. “I don’t pretend to know what that means, and I don’t want to. I’m getting impatient. Do you want this reward, or don’t you?” She began tapping her foot.
“Yes.Yes!” Kristine cried. “I didn’t know you could do that.”
Mother Nature threw her hands in the air and snorted. “What have I been telling you? Never underestimate me. At least I finally know what you want.” She strode over to Kristine, placed her hands on top of her head, and gave them a push. “There!”
The deity disappeared. Suddenly Kristine realized she knew things she hadn’t known before. Excitedly, she spouted some of these facts to Jayce.
He laughed. “Yup, only an officer in the BFD would know any of that.”
