“So, you want the muse of fire safety to, what…help you cover up your arson? Forgive you?”
Kristine hung her head. “No. None of that. I’m afraid what’s done is done. But Jayce—”
“What about Jayce?”
“That’s what I’m hoping you can tell me. He reincarnated into phoenix form and flew off. I want to see him, but all anyone will say is “not yet.” I’m told that if anyone would know what’s going on, it would be you.”
Chloe sat down and groaned as she dropped her head into her hands.
Alarmed, Kristine sat up ramrod straight. “What is it? What’s going to happen?”
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to concern you.” Chloe composed herself and patted Kristine’s arm, which was resting on the end of the couch. “I was just remembering what it was like for me. You won’t suffer like I did. I’ll make sure of it.” Her eyes narrowed and her lips thinned. “You see, nobody told me what had happened to my love. I didn’t even knowwhathe was, other than a firefighter who met his demise in a backdraft. I truly thought he was dead.”
Kristine sympathized immediately. “That must’ve been horrible for you.”
“Feckin’ right.”
Amber chuckled and then slapped her hand over her mouth. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
Chloe took a deep breath and said, “I saw a glowing bird rise from the ashes. I thought I was hallucinatin’. We buried a coffin, but unbeknownst to me, Ryan wasn’t in it. I waited over two months withnoexplanation from his family. None. I thought he was dead forever. I went through the following two months like a zombie.”
“What? How could anyone do that to you?”
“Ryan perished in a high-rise fire. I was right there and saw him die but could do nothin’ about it. It was the most awful day of me whole long life. Because it happened on the job, there was no way to hide it. His family had to pretend to be in mourning. Naturally, I didn’t have to pretend. I mourned in earnest.”
“Oh my God. I saw you at the firehouse after the funeral! You were devastated. I hardly recognize you as the same person.” Kristine slapped herself on the forehead. “That’s when Jayce started flirting with me. When I learned he was the victim’s brother, I couldn’t believe it. I thought he was being callous, cold, and uncaring.”
“When in actuality,” Amber interjected, “he wasn’t grieving at all. He knew his brother was alive and well and in bird form for the next two or three months.”
Kristine glanced between the women. “You’ve both mentioned two or three months. What happens then, and will it be the same for Jayce?”
“Indeed,” Chloe said. “In phoenix form, he will mature at the rate of a normal bird. Something like a hawk. It takes about two months to reach maturity. If he comes back sooner, he could be a much younger human. That happened to Ryan—twice.”
“Jayce told me Ryan was actually the oldest.”
“Ryan should have known better, but he couldn’t wait and came back a bit early—more like seventy-five days. Jayce really should wait about three months, or ninety days, in order to look like he’s thirty.”
“So, you’re saying that I won’t see Jayce—as an adult man—for at least two months?”
“At least.”
“Damn,” Kristine muttered.
At that moment, the front door burst open, and laughter emanated from the front hall. It sounded like Amy and Conlan. The two giddy dragons entered the living room with their arms around each other.
“Oh! Kristine! I’m so glad you’re here. We have some wonderful news.” Amy grinned at Conlan, who was already grinning at her.
She held up her left hand, sporting a large diamond on her ring finger. “We’re engaged!”
Kristine had mixed emotions but tried not to let them show. Amy had known Conlan for a shorter time than she had known Jayce. Yet Amy seemed happier than she’d ever known her to be. Of course, that rock on her finger alone could put a grin on her face.Ginormous, ostentatious, gaudy…Yup. Just the thing to make her mother giddy.
But Kristine was more miserable than she’d ever been in her life. And it seemed to be for the same reason. Love. What a bipolar emotion!
“Congratulations!” she said and rose to hug both her mother and stepfather-to-be. “When’s the wedding?”
“I know it may seem rushed, but we want to be wed in three months,” Conlan said.
Amy leaned toward her daughter and whispered, “I’ll be fertile then.”
