Page 32 of Beginning at the End
Eudora was blushing, and they left the gym.
Delia sighed and went back to her workout.
She was on the bench and pressing her own weight when a face loomed.“Need a spotter?”
Even upside down, she recognized the features.She froze with her arms extended.“Sure, Den.”
He blinked and smiled.“Sern said he spoke with you.”
She resumed her third set.“It was Dori who spoke highly of you and your seriousness in understanding that ladies need to eat now and then.That speaks that your mother raised you right.”
He chuckled.“That was my father, actually.”
“Wow.Enlightened.”
“He respected my mother and what she had studied and trained for and spent his life making it up to her.And the five kids didn’t hurt.”
She laughed and asked, “What did she train for?”
“She’s a warrior poet who was an adviser of the old emperor until he hit a surprise rut, and she walked away with Sern.After that, she was married off to one of his generals in a distant colony, and that is where our family began.”
“Why was she sent away?”
“Because Sern is a polarizing figure.Those who like the old imperial bloodline wanted him to take the throne.But he was here with the rest of us, and therefore, Vaayu fought and won it.”
She finished her set, and he helped her rack it.“And you followed him here?”
“You would think so, and that is what we tell people, but Sern followed me here.He was worried about me and thought that if he took himself out of the empire, things would calm down.Apparently, they did.”
She leaned on her knees and looked at him.He crouched next to her.“So, he was worried you would get into trouble?”
“I may or may not have been in a few scrapes in training.Having Sern around calms that right down.So now I get to pursue my passions.Electronics, wiring, programming.I enjoy it all.The camera work is new, but I also enjoy it.”
“Interesting.I am a trust-fund baby who somehow learned how to give hope to those who need it, if they cross my path.”She smiled.“I spend my days having luncheons with the wealthy wives of the city and getting things funded.”
“Giving hope.”
She blushed.“Yes, I suppose so.”
“I don’t suppose I could interest you in pancakes.”
“Well, I could go for pancakes.Have you talked to your mother since you arrived here?”
“No.I can feel she is still alive, but no.We have no way to reach through.”
Delia smiled and got to her feet.She headed for the change room, and when she came back, he was waiting for her.She had her phone in her hand.
There was a chime from a text.
“What is that?”Den asked softly.
She looked down.“Hope.”
They left the gym and headed for the diner down the street.Pancakes waited for no one, and Communication had just made contact.Hope was always worth pursuing.
* * * *
Eudora whispered, “Thisdoesn’t seem like the kind of place that is open that late, and I am not dressed for it.”
