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  “You’re family,” Noelle said. “That’s how it should be.”

  Ivy began to cry. The other girls comforted her. By the time Wanda’s parents had returned, Ivy’s storm had passed. The girls were excitedly looking on the Dumb Friend’s League website on their phones to see what was available for adoption.

  “Ready, girls?” Edith asked.

  The girls cheered. Laughing, Erik started the car.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Friday afternoon — 6:55 p.m.

  “Did you finish the floor?” a small dark-haired man said in a heavy Northern Ireland accent. “We could lose everything if even a piece of the floor isn’t clean and perfect.”

  “God, Cian, really?” Colin Hargreaves said to the small man.

  “That Health Department is no joke,” Cian said. “If we lose our license, we’ll have to close. Then we’ll go broke, and Johnny will go broke and Eoin’s family will be on the streets and . . .”

  “We scrubbed the floor,” Nash said.

  “It’s ready for tomorrow,” Teddy said.

  “Thank you, boys,” Colin said.

  He glared at Cian. Over the boys’ heads, Colin and Cian had a silent pantomime of glares and shaking of heads.

  “We’ll see,” Cian said.

  “You have to forgive him,” Colin said. “He’s seen the worst of what people can dish out, particularly the government.”

  “They don’t call her ‘Bloody Maggie’ for nothin’” Cian said.

  “No one calls her ‘Bloody Maggie’ but you and your mates,” Colin said with a roll of his eyes.

  “Bloody Maggie?” Nash asked.

  “Something from a long time ago,” Colin said. “Our friend here is worried about his daughter, Ooljee, because she’s not here right now. She has a special gift which can make things hard for her. She and Cian are very close. He helps her stay even.”

  “How do we know she’s safe?” Cian asked.

  “And safe,” Colin said. Turning to Cian, he said, “You could go see her. You were specifically invited.”

  “I don’t want to interrupt the magic,” Cian said with a shake of his head.

  “He is also suspicious of shamanic power,” Colin said. He put his hand on Cian’s shoulder. “You’re bat-shit crazy, man.”

  “And proud of it,” Cian said with a laugh. “Now that our work is done, shall we head home for dinner? Or go upstairs and bother Eoin?”

  Cian’s face lit up at the last suggestion.

  “Upstairs!” Teddy and Nash said on cue.

  “You boys,” Cian said. “So demanding.”

  Cian winked at Colin and headed toward the back stairway.

  “Are you coming, Colin?” Cian asked. “You’ll miss the fun!”

  Colin scowled after Cian.

  “Fun?” Teddy asked. “What fun?”

  “You’ll find out,” Cian sang as he went up the stairs, “soooon.”

  The boys grinned at each other before following him up. Teddy’s dad, Zack Jakkman, was standing at the top of the stairs.

  “Dad!” Teddy stepped into his tight embrace. “What are you . . .?”

  Zack was an active duty US Air Force pilot. He was usually on assignment this time of year.

  “Happy birthday, Teddy,” Zack said. He kissed Teddy’s cheek and hugged him again. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “Love you, Dad.” Teddy’s muffled voice came from Zack’s chest.

  Teddy backed up and looked at Nash.

  “Can you believe . . .?” Teddy started. He read Nash’s smile. “You mean you set this up?”

  “I just did the reminding,” Nash said. “Noelle was really sad that she couldn’t come. I told her it was boys only. And you know like how they’re on a girls-only trip.”

  Teddy nodded.

  “She said to tell you ‘Happy Birthday’ and that there’s a Sandy cake waiting for you on Sunday.”

  “A Sandy cake?” Teddy asked with a nod and a grin.

  “Lucky boy!” Zack said.

  “I know,” Nash said. “I can’t wait.”

  Teddy and Zack laughed.

  “Come on, boys,” Zack said. “The party’s in there.”

  Zack put his arm around his eldest son, and they went into Eoin’s apartment for Teddy’s birthday celebration.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Friday afternoon — 7:55 p.m.

  Jeraine returned from the kitchen with a bowl of chili in each hand. He went to the fire pit nearest the fence where the other men had congregated. He gave the bowl in his right hand to Fin before taking a seat nearby.

  “Hey! What about mine?” Mike asked with a laugh.

  “Your bowl was full when I left,” Jeraine said.

  “We should bring the pot out here,” Aden said.

  “I can have it here with a snap of my fingers,” Fin said.

  “No,” MJ said. “If you use some cockamamie fairy crap to get it out here, we’ll turn into circus animals for your amusement. I’m enlisted military. I don’t need any one else telling me what to do.”

  The men laughed. Mike got up to get the chili. Aden followed close behind. MJ grunted at Fin one last time before heading into the new bathroom off the garage. Fin snapped his fingers and a metal grill appeared over the fireplace.

  “Have you decided to get over your anger with me?” Fin asked in an exaggerated princely voice.

  Mouthful of chili, Jeraine snorted at Fin.

  “This is delicious,” Fin said about the chili. “What is it?”

  “It’s called ‘chili,’” Jeraine said. “I made it with buffalo . . .”

  “Bison?”

  “Bison meat,” Jeraine said.

  He grinned at Fin’s need to be superior. Catching Jeraine’s grin, Fin gave a slight shake of his head.

  “I was merely making sure your mind was working correctly,” Fin said. “I was . . . helping.”

  “You were being a dick,” Jeraine said.

  Fin grinned and looked away from Jeraine.

  “There are few who speak to me in this way,” Fin said.

  “In the last couple months, I realized that by doing what I do, being as popular as I am, I’m kind of a prince myself,” Jeraine said. “You might be a fairy prince, but you’ve got nothing on me.”

  “If you say so,” Fin said.

  “You really are a dick,” Jeraine said.

  “And you are an insecure, egotistical child,” Fin said. “My Tanesha loves you, and you waste your time and talent on all of this worry about who might be better than you. It’s ridiculous.”

  Fin’s words caught Jeraine’s full attention.

  “What?” Jeraine asked. He leaned forward and squinted.

  “I know that you heard me,” Fin said. “What are you asking?”

  “You said something about wasting my talent,” Jeraine said.

  “You are extremely talented,” Fin said. “You have power of music — the very sound of our universe itself — and you waste it on worry, jealousy, addiction, women, and all of this ridiculousness. If my granddaughter hadn’t grabbed you by the testicles, you would have wasted a real chance to ease the suffering on this planet.”

  “She didn’t . . .” Jeraine started.

  He looked down at the chili and took a bite. He glared at Fin while he chewed. Fin glared back.

  “I was blamed for a murder . . .” Jeraine started.

  “And why were you with this disturbed woman in the first place?” Fin asked. “Did I miss something? Modern culture can be so confusing. I was under the impression that you felt that Tanesha had stolen your manhood. Weren’t you attempting to retrieve your testicles by sleeping with a stranger?”

  Still chewing, Jeraine looked at Fin and blinked.

  “Wake up,” Fin said, with a dismissive wave of his hand. “You are human. You only have a tiny bit of time before old age and infirmity take you. And yet, you misuse a power so immense that your father was too terrified to wield even a fraction of the power you are capab
le of.”

  “My father?” Jeraine scowled.

  Fin rolled his eyes and ate his chili. They ate in silence. Seeing Mike returning with the pot of chili, Jeraine cleared his throat.

  “I hear what you’re saying,” Jeraine said.

  “And?” Fin asked.

  “You’re right,” Jeraine said. His voice lowered as the other men came near. “I don’t know how . . .”

  “Of course, you don’t,” Fin said with a roll of his eyes and a dismissive shrug.

  “I could use your help,” Jeraine said.

  Fin turned his full and intimidating attention to Jeraine.

  “You’ll never believe it!” Mike said as he approached.

  “We will address this later,” Fin said in a voice so soft Jeraine wasn’t sure how he’d heard it.

  “Delphie was ready to fight to the death for the chili,” Mike said.

  Jeraine grinned at Mike.

  “I told you that I could easily get it here,” Fin said with a laugh.

  “I should have listened,” Mike said with a nod. He set the pot of chili on the grill over the fire pit. “I was able to get it away from her because Sandy’s pies are ready.”

  “Sandy’s pies?” Jeraine pretended to get up.

  “Don’t worry,” Mike said. “I left Aden there to make sure we get some.”

  “You know how easily manipulated he is by Sandy,” Fin said. “His woman simply bats her eyes, and Aden is on his knees.”

  “That’s the beauty of it! She’s not there,” Mike said. “She’s with her girls upstairs. They left Delphie to manage the baking of the pies.”

  “Delphie?” Jeraine scowled. “Are we sure . . .”

  “Your mom and Maresol and Yvonne are there, too,” Mike said. “They’re hanging out in the living room. Delphie’s supervising the baking and the wine drinking.”

  Fin and Jeraine gave an approving nod.

  “Are you two done with your lovefest?” MJ asked, with a nod to Jeraine and Fin.

  “Lovefest?” Mike asked.

  “Prince Fin and Prince Jeraine,” MJ said. “I came out of the bathroom, and these two were having a moment.”

  “The black man is always put down,” Jeraine said with mock anger.

  MJ knocked Jeraine forward as he came into the circle, and the men laughed. Jeraine got up to fill his chili bowl from the pot. A few minutes later, Aden arrived with two pies — berry and lemon meringue.

  The men fell silent as they ate. The crickets chirped on the warm night. The fire crackled with delight. In the distance, the Native Americans drummed and sang. Delphie and her friends’ laughter came from the main Castle living room. A minute from now or maybe an hour, someone would say something funny, and the men would laugh.

  But for now, they had everything they yearned for — great food, trusted company, silence, and a peaceful night.

  ~~~~~~~~

  “Oh, you can’t be serious,” Sandy said with a laugh.

  Tanesha and Heather nodded while Jill, Sandy, and Honey laughed. They were moving toward the sitting area of the loft. Sandy set down a plate of chocolate chip cookies.

  “It’s true!” Tanesha said. She adjusted Jabari, who was sleeping in her arms, as she sat down. “Remember how he was all, ‘You’d better study hard ’cuz you’re competing against me!’”

  “And he didn’t even have the grades to take the final?” Jill laughed. She set down a quiche and a stack of plates. She left to get the utensils.

  “So who is the grade leader?” Honey asked. She set the wine bottles she had in her lap onto the low table. Heather grabbed one of the red blends to open it.

  “Fin,” Tanesha and Heather said in unison.

  The women laughed.

  “But wait,” Honey started, “wasn’t he out for a long time?”

  “Not according to the school,” Tanesha said.

  “How . . .?” Honey started.

  “I have no idea,” Tanesha said.

  The women looked at Heather. She shrugged and shook her head before setting the wine bottle down on the table and reaching for a chilled bottle of chardonnay.

  “Not even a guess?” Jill asked.

  “He can’t bend time,” Heather said. “If that’s what you’re asking.”

  “That would make the most sense,” Sandy said.

  “Then what?” Honey asked. “Surely, you’ve asked him.”

  “He says he didn’t miss any school,” Tanesha said with a shrug. “And he was there for all of the tests.”

  “But . . .” Honey started.

  “He’s a man of mystery,” Jill said in such a voice that the women laughed.

  “Do you think it’s posted yet?” Heather asked.

  “I can’t look,” Tanesha said. She winced and looked at Jill. “Will you?”

  With a nod, Jill hopped up and went to her office. She returned with her tablet computer. Standing next to Tanesha, she clicked her way into Tanesha’s account. In the way of Jill, she became very, very still as she read the results of Tanesha’s final. When she was done, she looked at Tanesha and then the other women.

  “I failed,” Tanesha said.

  “Just tell us!” Sandy said. “I’m dying here!”

  “Lift your glasses for our dear friend, Tanesha, who has completed her first year of medical school!” Jill said with a cheer.

  The women burst into cheers. The women clinked glasses and took a sip. Everyone, but Tanesha, that is.

  “I finished last?” Tanesha looked up at Jill.

  “You finished second,” Jill said. Together, the women said, “to Fin!”

  Tanesha felt like her face was going to break open with a smile. She positively glowed. She shifted Jabari and lifted her glass.

  “To the best friends a girl could ever ask for!” Tanesha said.

  “Hear! Hear!” they cheered.

  Noticing Honey looked uncomfortable, Jill raised her glass and gestured to Honey.

  “To our new sister in arms,” Jill said.

  The women cheered for Honey. Sandy kissed Tanesha’s cheek and then Honey’s. She beamed at everyone.

  “I want to say something profound, but all I can come up with is ‘God, bless us, every one,’” Sandy said.

  The women laughed. Sandy sat down, and the women settled in to talking and laughing.

  After a while, Jill paused and looked at her friends. Tonight could have been awful. Friday nights were family nights at the Castle. Usually, Jacob and Jill either made dinner or ordered pizza. They spent time with the kids until they were ready for bed. Then they spent rare time alone together until he left for midnight hockey.

  This Friday night could have been awful. Instead, it was really great. With any luck, next Friday everything would be back to normal.

  “What are you thinking?” Sandy interrupted Jill’s thoughts.

  “God, bless us, every one,” Jill said with a grin.

  The women laughed.

  Chapter Four Hundred and Seventeen

  S-h-i-t happens

  Moving as fast as possible, Blane pushed the raft along the coastline until he was wet with sweat. When he looked up, the raft was only a few feet from the dead tree where the Boreal owl lived. Blane turned to ask Valerie if that was right, but she was staring at the sky. He touched her arm.

  “Val?” Blane asked.

  Valerie didn’t respond. Her eyes never wavered from the sky. Blane turned to Sam.

  “Sam?” Blane asked. He gestured to Valerie. When Sam didn’t respond, he asked again, “Sam?

  Sam and Valerie seemed to be in some kind of trance. Blane looked at the dead tree. The owl was hiding in the hole.

  Somehow, the Sea of Amber had managed to bring to them the worst hell a human being can experience — the sense of being completely and totally alone. Blane scowled. Why hadn’t this curse affected him?

  Or had it? Maybe Valerie and Sam felt like he was the one in a trance. He looked around for someone to ask what to do. Finding no one, he
sighed. He hated being isolated, but at least he was used to it. He was trying to decide what to do when his rabbit hopped over to him and bit his ankle.

  “Ow!” Blane said. Glaring at the rabbit, he grabbed his ankle and hopped around. “Why’d you do that?”

  “I may not seem like much,” the rabbit said in an accent that rivaled Mr. French’s from the 1970s television show Family Affair, a guilty pleasure Blane had shared with Tink every day after school. “But I am your spirit animal.”

  “I’m not sure what that even means,” Blane said.

  “You are to rely on me for assistance,” the rabbit said. “I am wise and helpful, not to mention cuddly for those moments of sorrow and hardship.”

  “Uh . . .” Blane looked at the rabbit. “Like these?”

  “Yes, hardships such as these,” the rabbit said.

  Blane dropped to a crouch to be nearer to the rabbit. He petted the rabbit’s head and was surprised he felt better.

  “You may ask me your questions,” the rabbit said.

  “Are Sam and Valerie in a trance?” Blane asked.

  “That they are,” the rabbit said.

  “Am I in a trance?” Blane asked.

  “You are speaking with a bunny,” the rabbit said.

  Blane scowled at the rabbit and stood up. He made a few more efforts to move the raft along the coast.

  “Ahem,” the rabbit said.

  “What?” Blane asked.

  “I was joking,” the rabbit said.

  “You can make jokes?” Blane asked. He crouched down to the rabbit again. “I thought the very wise were too busy being wise to make jokes.”

  “Dear boy, the very wise only make jokes,” the rabbit said.

  Blane bit the inside of his lip while he thought about it.

  “Okay,” Blane said evenly. “Val and Sam are in a trance.”

  “That they are,” the rabbit repeated.

  “Am I in a trance?” Blane asked.

  “You are not,” the rabbit said. “Before you ask ‘why,’ that is because the Goddess Hedone coated you with her love.”

  “That’s still working?” Blane asked. He rubbed his arm and held it out for the rabbit to see. “I’m not gold anymore.”

  “All that glitters is not gold,” the rabbit said.

  “And that means?” Blane asked. “Please do explain, oh wise one, to one who is not quite so wise.”