Luca rubbed her shoulder. “You have enough to do right now, sweetheart. You’re working for Karma Cleaners, you’re helping me start my PI business, and you’re setting up our household.”
“I know. It’s just that, well, she’s the goddess of all. Mother Nature herself! How do you ignore her requests?”
“A lot of people do,” Aaron said. “Think about climate change.”
A whirlwind suddenly blew in from the corner of the yard and stopped beside where Dawn was sitting. As the wind died down, Mother Nature appeared with her hands on her hips. “Is someone talking about me? It didn’t sound like I was being summoned, so I assume I’m being discussed behind my back.”
Most of the table didn’t react unusually. Dawn may have sunk down a couple of inches, but Aaron sat up straight, his eyes wide.
Gaia glanced over at him and did a double take. “You!”
“I’m sorry,” Gabriella said. “I thought you knew everyone and everyone knew you. Let me introduce you to Dr. Samuels, Gaia.”
He cleared his throat. “We are…acquainted.”
Gaia smiled shyly. “Yes, we are. Now you know my big secret.”
“Is that why you ran away?”
“We can talk about that later, but first I need to reassure this young lady,” she said, patting Dawn on the head. “I’m not the least bit mad at you. I hope you’ll change your mind later, of course. However, if you don’t, I understand. You’re doing things that will benefit others.Allof you young people are. I’m quite proud.”
“That’s very kind of you, Gaia,” Antonio said. “Dawn should have the right to make her own choices.”
“And what do you have to do with it?” Gaia tipped her head.
“I’m the patriarch of this family…or most of it,” he said, nodding at Aaron. “What happens to my future daughter-in-law concerns me.”
“Relax, Mr. Patriarch. I won’t force anyone to be one of my treasured minor goddesses, like Chloe here, and Kristine, and Misty…”
“Um…that reminds me. I’ve been meaning to speak to you, Goddess,” Misty said.
“Oh? About what?”
Misty chewed her lip, and Gabe took her hand. “Tell her,” he said.
“I—I’m not comfortable with my job as the muse of modern parenting.”
Gaia stumbled backward. “You’re not? But you’re doing so well.”
Misty gave her a sad smile. “Thank you, but it’s really taking a toll on me. I have my own little one, and soon I’ll have two.” She patted her round abdomen. “Watching other people messing up their children, especially when they’re so young, well…sometimes I want to shake those parents and scream at them.”
Mother Nature rolled her eyes. “Welcome to my world.” After a quick glance at Aaron, she continued, “But I understand. You’re right to tell me if you can no longer handle the pressure. But who will I get to help the parents who are trying to do a good job but are simply overwhelmed? There are so many responsibilities and so little support for many of them.”
“You know who would be perfect for that position?” Gabe said. “If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion?”
“Go ahead, middle Fierro son.”
“A mother who has raised seven sons, worried about several firefighters in the family, including her husband, but remains supportive and has never lost her sense of humor or kindness.”
“Who could that be?”
Gabriella stared at her son. “Gabe? Are you talking about me? Don’t you think you should’ve mentioned that to me first?”
He shrugged. “It’s just a suggestion.”
Gaia smiled. “And a darn good one! I haven’t watched you as carefully as perhaps I should have, Gabriella. As soon as I knew you were loyal to your family beyond all else and that you could be trusted completely with their paranormal secret, I didn’t give you much thought.”
“That’s probably a good thing,” Antonio whispered to his wife.
