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I raced toward the crate.
“Here, we’ll move it inside for you,” JayJay said. With ease, he and Tuga carried the crate into the living room.
From out of nowhere, a pry bar landed in my hand, and I did a little shimmy. I smiled as if I’d just turned ten, and it was my turn to whack the piñata. The boards splintered and cracked under the pressure. “Oh. My. God. GEEEOOO! My stuff!”
My eyes grew glassy as I reached in and pulled my favorite things out. Various sewing machines, shears, scissors, needles and pins, thread of all colors, bolts of fabric, markers and tape and just everything. Beneath my office contents, stacked in color-coordinated piles, was my neatly folded wardrobe. I wiped tears from my eyes.
“Sweet mother of God,” I squealed, reaching for a tiny box before crushing it to my heart.
JayJay’s eyes widened with alarm. “Ginger, are you okay?”
I nodded like a madman. “Best day ever.”
JayJay’s eyes narrowed as he eyed the linnea leaves encircling our wrists.
“Well, besides the day we bonded. And when you defeated the hellsna and rescued me from a kidnapping. Oh, and that time you saved us from the landslide…”
He cupped his big hand over my nape. “I get it, Ginger. Breathe.”
I launched myself at Geo. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
Geo staggered back. “Why do I get the impression that of all your things, you’re really thanking me for a little box of hair dye?”
My laugh may have been on the manic side. “Because have you seen this?” I shook my hair at him and ran toward the bathroom with my rose body wash, favorite green dress, and low-heeled brown leather ankle boots, calling over my shoulder, “You guys are in charge of dinner. Make sure there’s enough for Sisip. I’ll be a while.”
Heavenly rose-scented water cascaded over my skin as I rinsed the hair dye off. I shaved my legs, turned off the shower and smoothed on lotion before toweling off. My green wrap dress hugged me like a second skin, exposing just the right amount of cleavage. Copper bangles jangled as I blew out my hair until itfell stick-straight and silvery white over my shoulders. Freshly sharpened black bangs framed my face, and I smacked lips saturated a deep red. Matching copper earrings dangled from my ears as I wiggled my feet into well-worn boots.
With a new home, a man to spend the rest of my life with and custom orders coming in every day, I’d never been more excited to see what the future held. My latest check-up with Dr. Ten had shown that my red blood cells were well within the normal range, and my white blood cell count, for the first time in forever, had come back normal.
“Sayonara, idiopathic blood degeneration.” I blew myself a kiss in the mirror. We didn’t know for certain whether I was cured, but for now I was living the dream.
Mantu sizzled on the grill outside, alongside a long clay pot filled with herbed vegetables. My mouth watered as I inhaled the aromatic air. JayJay and Tuga stood over the smoking grill while Sisip chatted with Makir, and Geo tossed a ball to Charz and Pika. The dorats pranced around the dogs with their tails twined together, noses in the air.
I moved into JayJay’s line of sight with an extra sashay to my hips, loving the way his jaw dropped and the tongs fell onto the grill.
“Well, well, well.” Geo smirked. “It’s my old college roommate, live and in person.”
Tuga gulped. “Will your friends be visiting from Earth now that you’ve moved here?”
“You look lovely, Ginger,” Sisip said.
“Aww, this old thing?” I smoothed my skirt and smiled.
Makir passed me a glass of hiscus wine. “She’s dressed for good news.”
All eyes turned to Sisip except for JayJay’s. He was busy clambering to my side.
“Well.” Sisip cleared her throat. “Fill your containers, everyone—” She held her glass high to the sky. “—because JayJay’s been cleared of all charges!”
I turned to congratulate JayJay, frowning when I found his nostrils flared and his forehead ridge jutting.
“Blant, Ginger, what’s that terrible odor? And where has your lovely stripe gone?” He peered at the top of my scalp.
“Um…hair dye.”
“Your skin stinks, too.” His nose glided along my neck, sending shivers down my spine despite his words.
“Probably my rose body wash.”
