Page 39 of Gardening and Gargoyles

“You act like it’s just going to happen. Why... why would all those things fall into place?” I demand, half-laughing, half-crying in disbelief. I thought I was so lucky with Danny—and it all broke. This is too much. You don’t get this lucky twice.

Remember, a little voice inside me says, that Daniel was actually your bad luck. Duncan is the true thing, the real deal. True love. More than luck. Fate.

“Well, there’s no reason it shouldn’t. We’re a nice little town. Prices around here have always stayed low, y’ken, because we’re a bit remote, and because there are a few odd things that even the most obtuse people can’t just explain away. It helps keep prices down, too, when you’ve got a civic-minded group, and most Pine Ridge citizens are—especially the monsters of the world who want a safe place that they might not find anywhere else.”

“I’ll be right there. Are you... Would you go with me to meet Mr. McKenna and stop at the police station?”

“Farrah! I’ve got to go out and meet young Duncan’s lass. You want to come with?” I hear him bellow to his wife.

“Let me put my shoes on. Does she need anything up at the lodge?”

“No, no. Wants to go into town. Meet some people, look into a few things. We’ll get her set up a treat.”

The easy, friendly way they call back and forth makes me smile. That could be Duncan and me in thirty years. And the way they say we’ll be set up a treat? I’m already starting to feel like Pine Ridge is home.

WHEN I PULL BACK INTOthe lodge hours later, I smile and just sit in the Mercedes for a minute, letting the thunder rumble overhead. I wonder if Duncan won’t wake up? Does the moon have to actually rise and moonlight touch him? Because the clouds are like thick gray boulders up above, blocking out every star or glimpse of clear sky.

I guess I’ll find out one day. I look up the sunset time and remember—it’s June 21st. The Solstice. There was a lot of running and giggling, shopping and hugging in Pine Ridge tonight, the longest day of the year. Mrs. Fenclan mentioned that the solstices and equinoxes are some sort of powerful, naturalenergy, and that’s good for the local magic users and some paranormal creatures, like the satyrs and nymphs.

“They would have mentioned that you wouldn’t wake up if it were raining, I’m pretty sure. Anyway, I guess we’ll find out soon,” I tell Duncan, even though he can’t hear me. “It’s almost eight, and the sun should set just a little after eight-thirty.”

I hurry in, shrieking at the cold drops of rain that dot my shoulders after being in the cozy car. There’s a stiff chill in the mountain air, even if it is summer.

In the kitchen, I pull back my hair, running my fingers through the damp curls, and then I lean on the counter. I keep making dinner-type food because Duncan wakes up at night, but maybe gargoyles like to start with breakfast? I know I had some bacon in the groceries I originally ordered, and eggs. There were some basics in the pantry, like salt, flour, sugar, baking soda, and the like. Maybe I’ll make pancakes, eggs, and bacon. I wonder if he’s ever had syrup?

As I putter through the kitchen, I think about nice little Mr. McKenna, who had dark teak skin, and when I looked closely, I saw some faint leafiness at the ends of his hair. He smelled like pine, but the whole town smells like pine when it rains. He wasn’t keen to sell his shop and that empty flat above it—but to rent it out while he finally takes his world tour with the sweet old selkie he’s been courting? Heck, yes. And the preschool? So nice, with such cute kids, and so many bright, colorful spaces and toys. I used to hate the idea of working in a preschool or daycare, but this one? Heck, I think my fifteen-year-old students would rather go to this awesome place with hands-on activities, a mini science lab, a garden, a culinary area, and music playing all the time rather than sit in the sterile gray rooms with workbook packets. And the police officer? Practically falling over himself to help get Duncan’s stuff set up for a meeting tomorrow evening.

“Too good to be true,” I mutter to myself, pulling out the flour and baking soda.

And then I sneeze.

Damn it. The suspicious sneeze!

I’m learning to trust it. My senses are instantly on alert. I run to the door of the lodge just in time to see a little black car pulling into the driveway.

Nigel and Ian have big trucks. Genesis flies, and he’s asleep. Could it be the police officer? One of the girls from the preschool?

“Hello, Junie Pie,” Daniel says cheerfully, opening the door and stepping out, immaculate in a tan trenchcoat under a sleek black umbrella.

“Daniel?” I gasp, blinking.

“Don’t worry, I’m not stopping. I’ve just come to get my car.”

“Oh. Okay,” I stay still, torn between running to the garden and locking myself in the house, or maybe getting one of the nice cast iron pans the Fenclans have in the kitchen. I don’t think he’d hurt me or anything.

But I don’t trust him anymore.

“You’re being reasonable for a chance. About bloody time. How nice.”

“I’m not an unreasonable person just because I have expectations and boundaries,” I say, definitely thinking about the frying pan meeting Danny’s posh, polished face.

“Whatever you say, love. Keys?”

“Don’t call me love. You can’t love someone if you’re betraying their trust,” I reach into my pocket and toss them to him. “Is that a loaner?”

Daniel pulls a few things from the rental to the rear of the Mercedes, still speaking as if we’re old friends. “Yes, rented from the Binghamton Airport. I’ll leave it here for you, if you couldpop it back there for me sometime this week? Keys are in the ignition.”

“Uh. Yes. I guess I could do that.” I shrug. He’s not asking me to leave the lodge, and he’s not demanding I pay for it, so I guess I can drive his rental back to Binghamton, which is one of the closest good-sized cities to Pine Ridge.