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“Just don’t spray that tablet,” Ethel said, eyes on the knitting project she had whipped out of her bag. “The devil will be the least of the evil you have seen if you unleash that beast upon the world.”
“She’s always been attached to her devices,” Rupert said mournfully. “I promise she wasn’t a tablet baby! We limited her! But she always found a way around it. She even stole from her friends at school. I’ve never seen her share before though…”
They all watched in fascination as Riley willingly chatted with Conrad, even cracking a smile or two at what he was saying as they watched videos together.
Rowan’s mother burst out crying. “This is the best dinner ever. My babies!”
Rupert patted her on the back.
“Milo’s brought so much happiness to this family.” She kept sniffling, and Milo balked because…as far as he was aware he mostly brought chaos and endless questions wherever he went. Happiness? That was a new one.
“Rowan finally found his real calling.” She kept going, tears streaming down her face. They were drawing attention from other people in the restaurant now. Milo wasn’t sure he liked it. “Troy and Raina are taking the company to new heights, Riley is…well she’s doing her own thing as usual, and even Ruben is falling in love.”
“Whoa there,” Ruben said. “What the hell?”
“What?” his mother asked.
“Who said anything about love?” Ruben asked.
“Don’t push him,” Ray said. “He’s fragile.”
“I’m not fragile!”
“No, you’re strong and capable and powerful,” Ray said gently.
“See?” Raina smacked Troy on the shoulder. “Gentle parenting. That’s what it is! I told you we should have tried it! We’ll have to do it for these new ones.”
“You have never done anything gently in your entire life!” Troy said.
“I had a wife!” Conrad said.
“Was it me?” Glenn asked.
“I don’t think you were someone’s wife, Glenn,” Shelly said.
“I think I would have made a wonderful wife,” Glenn said.
“You absolutely would.” Rowan’s mother smiled softly.
“And Rowan has brought a lot of joy to us as well,” Ethel said, speaking for all the oldies. “We’ve made new friends. We have a home without having to worry. And Milo has never been happier.”
“That is true!” Milo said, his heart warming as he looked around the table at this odd collection of people. “I love all of you! AND I’m a dragon now. And, like…I’m a good dragon. The peeps at the center said they’ve never seen anyone fly like me!”
“I don’t think they meant that as a compliment,” Ethel said.
“Yes, they did!”
“You crashed and got stuck in a tree,” Ruben said.
“How do you know?” Milo asked.
“Ray told me.” Ruben smiled.
“RAY!” Milo screeched.
“What is it with you and trees?” Raina asked.
“We have a bond!”
