“I don’t mind at all.” Gabriella took Mother Nature’s hand and led her outside the home. “There’s a lovely tree over here. We can sit beneath it on the grass.”
“Yes, it’s beautiful. But it needs one thing.” Gaia snapped her fingers, and a wooden bench circled the tree.
“Oh, how wonderful! Now we can sit on a dry surface in the shade and chat anytime. Oh, provided we can keep it.”
“Yes, of course you can keep the bench. You may need it sometime to talk to those you help. It’s nice and private. Congratulations on your first client, by the way.”
Gabriella looked surprised. “Client? Who, Ruthie?”
“Who else?” Gaia chuckled.
“Oh, I don’t think she’ll need much help. She’s a natural. And she loves this child like you wouldn’t believe.”
“It’s good to start with a comfortable situation. They won’t all be easy.”
Gabriella nodded sagely. “I know. Unfortunately, some parents just don’t understand what they can and cannot expect of children, and when they get frustrated, they don’t know what to do. Sometimes, they do the wrong thing and make it worse.”
“Exactly. And you will whisper in their ear to calm down, find someone else to watch the baby so they can get a break. Or if they’re alone, you’ll suggest other healthy ways to cope. Even if they can only find another place in the house to go and get a grip, it’s better to leave the child in a safe spot like a crib or playpen and get away from the situation rather than harm the child.”
“I understand. But what if they don’t listen to me?”
Gaia shrugged. “You won’t speak to them directly. You’ll stay in the ether and whisper in their ears. They’ll think it’s the small voice inside their own minds and hearts. A conscience can do wonders to prevent abuse.”
“But what if—”
“Misty will instruct you further. What I really wanted to talk to you about is my date with Aaron Samuels.”
Gabriella sat up, and her eyes sparkled. “Date? With Aaron? How exciting!”
“Yes, I guess I’m excited too. I don’t really understand what this feeling is. Sometimes, my stomach feels it’s tied in knots and other times like my beautiful butterflies are flitting around inside. At least I’m not nauseated.”
Gabriella chuckled. “That’s exactly how you should feel when you’re attracted to someone. So that’s a good sign. It means you care about Aaron. I’m glad. He’s a nice man.”
“Yes. I think so too. But I have a little problem.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“There’s this troublesome god who has ruined my dates with other people. I really want this one to go well.”
Gabriella took her hand and squeezed it. “Aaron won’t let anyone ruin your date, if he’s half the man I think he is.”
“You don’t understand. This troublemaker is a god. And he doesn’t need me to cast spells. He has the power to extract the truth from anyone. On one date, he cast a truth spell on the man. He wound up telling me all kinds of wayward behavior he’d participated in. It wouldn’t have been unforgivable except that he admitted he intended to continue on the same path.
“On my next date, the pathological god extracted the truth from me! The poor astronomer fainted when he learned I was Gaia, the goddess of everyone and everything in the universe. At least Aaron knows me, and my identity won’t come as a shock.”
Gabriella smiled and said, “There’s one way you can outsmart this god.”
“There is?” Gaia asked. “What is it?”
“Simply beat him to the punch. Tell Aaron the truth and reveal any secrets you have. The god won’t be able to blindside you, and Aaron will be prepared for whatever you might be tempted to hide from him.”
Gaia tipped her head and thought about it for a moment. If Pan showed up and she had already told Aaron everything she might want himnotto know, would that be better or worse for them? It would be fun to see Pan’s face when he was cheated out of his rival’s reaction. But would Aaron have a negative reaction, even if he heard the truth from her first?
“It’s better if he hears it from you,” Gabriella reiterated as if she could read Gaia’s mind—which, of course, she couldn’t.
What sort of truths would she hide from a man on a first date? Ugh. There were too many things she wouldn’t wantanyoneto know. She’d made many mistakes, especially when one added them up over the millennia.
As she ruminated, Gabriella placed a hand on her arm. “Don’t be afraid to tell the truth. Lies take a lot more work.”
