Mia watched, following Sariel as he fought the dragons while defending himself against the spear-throwing demons. Again and again, the spears were denied their target by the triangular shield. After one particularly grueling battle, Mia noticed something.
“Sariel, your shield is broken.”
“Where?”
“At the top, I can see a hairline crack.” Mia picked up the shield and showed him.
“It’s just large enough for the heat of the dragon to move through,” he said, examining it. “So that’s how it happened. How can you see this?”
“Angelo gave me bird sight.”
“He did us both a favor. Go and rest. We will talk soon,” he said.
Mia fell into a dreamless sleep. She felt the heat of Ted’s body as he slipped into bed alongside her. She turned and looked at the Dungeon Master and asked, “How did it go?”
“It was fun. Mike may not look the part, but he’s a super nerd.”
“I’m glad you had fun.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you when the lightning came.”
“Brian woke up. He protected me,” Mia replied.
“Your eyes look different in this light,” Ted said. “Your pupils are so large.”
“I’ve been dreaming.”
Ted pulled her to him. “I’ve been dreaming too.”
“You have?”
“Daydreaming, actually.”
“Care to tell me what about?”
“Oh, it’s not fit to speak of, Mia.”
“Care to show me?”
“Oh yes,” Ted said and kissed her long and hard.
Thoughts of flying vanished and were replaced by the inventiveness of Ted’s hands and body. Mia gave herself over to her husband and was rewarded again and again. The two fell asleep in each other’s arms, sated and exhausted.
Chapter Twenty-three
Mia and Glenda pushed the carts along the aisles of the unfamiliar store. Mia was surprised by Glenda’s insistence on going along. They had dropped off Audrey and Mark with promises of meeting up at the diner for a snack before heading back to the cottages. Cid had insisted Mia take a few coolers to keep the meat and dairy fresh while they traveled.
“So, you woke up rather late. Were you enticed into that silly game of theirs?”
“Oh, no. Ted came back late and…”
“Ah, return of the king. Lucky girl.” Glenda snorted. “Ah, to be young again. At my age, by the time my beaus get around to it, I forgot what we were doing in the first place.”
Mia’s eyes widened. She was happy that she had decided to leave Brian home with the boys. She enjoyed Glenda.
“So what’s this big secret my son won’t talk about?”
“I don’t…” Mia hedged.
“Did you or did you not sleep with him?”
“I did not.”
“Good. You’ve scrambled his brains enough without adding your loins.”
“Your son is a gentleman.”
“He is not. He must care for you, Mia.”
Mia stopped the cart and walked up to Glenda. “Mike could have taken advantage of me numerous times in our short times alone together, but he never did. I was hexed and threw myself literally at his feet. He picked me up and watched over me until I was of a right mind. He is a gentleman and a stronger man than I think he knows he is. Sure, he’s annoying and pushes my buttons, and we do fight. We’re not a good match, Glenda. We’re too much alike.”
“I could see that in Lund. But a woman can hope.”
“He’s got a girlfriend.”
“Ah, the other mystery. He has been close-lipped about her too. Have you met her?”
“I have. She isn’t the normal type I’ve seen him with. She is strong, sensible, and… Oh my god, she’s you!” Mia put her hand to her mouth. “Mike is dating you.”
“You mean he has fallen for someone like me?”
“Yes.”
“Hmmm, could do worse I suppose,” she said smiling. “So how do you feel about him dating?”
“Great. I’m not a woman that racks ’em and stacks ’em just in case my marriage falls apart.”
“How perceptive. You and the beanpole are alright now?”
“Better and stronger than before.”
“Damn.”
Mia laughed. “Can’t I just be your daughter and not your daughter-in-law?”
Glenda’s face softened. “I do think of you that way, Mia. I don’t have any right, but like Ralph, I want to be around to guide you over the bumps. Go shopping. Do lunch. See a football game together.”
“That would be nice,” Mia said. “Well, we better find this spice or Cid will have my head. He’s planning a curry.”
“Is he gay?”
“No, I don’t think so. He’s just talented in the kitchen. Ted and I call him our wife.”
“You lead an interesting life, Mia. A very interesting one.”
~
“Sit still,” Ted instructed. “And keep your eyes open.”
“I’m trying. Why don’t you change places with me?” Cid said. “I think you’ve got something wrong. All I’m getting is static.”
Mike walked over to the two nerds and asked, “What the hell are you doing?”
“Building a communication device so Mark can connect with his locked-in father,” Ted explained. “I’m trying to make the system work two ways so the patient can do more than respond to a yes or no.”
“What’s the problem?”
“I need Cid’s help, but he’s my guinea pig.”
“What does a guinea pig have to do?”
“Sit still, keep your eyes open, and not talk.”
“I can do that,” Mike said. He changed places with Cid. He blinked when the light hit his eyes. “You’re not going to blind me are you?”
“No more than I’m going to blow myself up,” Ted said.
“Touché.”
Burt looked over at the threesome. Mike had come a long way to want to bond with the techies. Hell, Burt himself had matured a lot also, in order to volunteer to watch Brian. The kid was talking nonstop, a mini-Ted with Mia’s beautiful eyes. He couldn’t help but wonder if the child he was holding could have been his if he hadn’t let his ego and the flitch ruin his budding relationship with the sensitive. He wasn’t sad about it, but he did wonder.
Audrey and Mark were on the scent. They had come across some papers in the tiny historical section of the library. Evidently, William Wayne had already published a book and another
