She shrugged. “Never mind how I’m dressed. Where is your mascot?”
“You mean the goat?”
“Yes. The goat.”
“Someone left the pen open, and he ran away. Which is fine with us, because he wasn’t a ram. Our name is the Rams.”
“What do you mean ‘he ran away’? Where did he go?”
The player shook his head. “If we knew that, he wouldn’t be missing. He’d be here on the sidelines, wouldn’t he?”
Gaia was getting frustrated with this young man. If he couldn’t tell her anything about where Pan might be, she should begin scouring the city. “Forget it. I’ll look for him. If I find him, I’ll bring him back.”
“Don’t bother. Coach is looking for a ram. An actual ram. Why do you want to know about the damn goat anyway? He was a complete pest.”
She shrugged. “What does it matter? He isn’t here anyway.”
The kid just shook his head and walked away. She thought she better do the same thing, so she strode around to the back of the bleachers. As soon as she was sure everyone’s attention was diverted by the game, she stepped into the ether.
Now what?If Pan was on the loose, he could still ruin her date. She’d about had it with his truth spells. But what could she do? He was a god and, as such, hard to manage. If she had been able to control her gods, there would be a lot less trouble around the globe. Especially with the horned ones.
She returned to her rain forest and hoped that some idea would come to her. Pacing, she racked her brain.How can I keep him from ruining my date if he comes out with another truth spell? I really want this one to go well.She snapped her fingers.I was going to talk to Gabriella Fierro anyway. Maybe she can help me figure out what to do.
As she neared the Fierro home, Gaia zeroed in on Gabriella’s energy. She saw her in a nursery holding a beautiful newborn baby.Oh yes, I remember. Aaron’s daughter gave birth to his first granddaughter.Gaia would love to see the child and congratulate the family. Since there was nobody in the house who didn’t know of her existence—nobody awake anyway—she stepped out of the ether and into the room.
Gabriella jumped. “Oh, Mother Nature, you startled me.”
“Don’t be startled when I show up, just pleased. If you’re going to be my muse, you’d better get used to it. I drop in from time to time. How are things going with this mother and infant?”
Smiling, Gabriella looked down at the tiny baby in her arms as Ruth was sleeping. “I can’t wait to be the muse of modern parenting. I think I’m going to love the job.”
“Has Misty told you how to perform your duties?”
“We were just getting started when Ruth went into labor. She went off to find Aaron, and I went with Ruth and Kizzy to the clinic. I was one of the first to hold this little bundle of joy.”
Gaia smoothed the baby’s dark hair back from her forehead. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
“She absolutely is.” Gabriella looked up at Gaia and grinned. “Some of your finest work. Naturally, my sons were your best.”
Gaia melted inside. At last, someone who respected her creativity. “I worked hard to create the propagation of the species. I knew human infants would come with unique challenges. They’re one of the few species that are completely helpless for a year or more. Occasionally, the parents are overwhelmed and underprepared. I just know that you will work hard to help them.”
“I’m looking forward to helping in whatever way I can,” Gabriella said.
“I’m glad. I had to make sure that love would often lead to sex and made sex pleasurable. Otherwise, humans would never do it. And then the love had to extend to the children…”
At that moment, Ruth stirred out of a sound sleep. When her eyes fluttered open, she looked over to Gabriella and then Gaia. “Mother Nature! How good of you to come.”
“You know who I am?”
“Yes, my father explained you weren’t a neighbor, that you were indeed Mother Nature. Is that true?”
Gaia smiled and nodded. “It is true. I’m glad your father told you. Eventually, I would have if he hadn’t. There are times you might see me around.” She cleared her throat. “Speaking of which, I’d like to talk to Gabriella, alone. Would you be willing to hold your baby?”
Ruth laughed. “More than willing.” She reached for Mary Ann, and Gabriella placed the sleeping infant in her arms.
“How can I help you, Gaia?”
“I’d like to ask you something…if you don’t mind.” She was trying to be more considerate since her sisters said she could be selfish, rude, demanding, and whateverblah blah blahcame out of their mouths. She was unwilling to hear most of it and tuned out.
