“I’d not if I were you.” Don asked him if he thought he was stupid. “No. But then men in love can do strange things when they find their other half. And you are in love with her, aren’t you?”
“Yes. She has a spirit about her that draws me in. Makes me want to be a better person. She is also smart and funny, even when she’s not trying to be.” Fergus envied the man for just a moment. Then he thought of his own daughter and his love for her. “But we should be working. The building has been sitting for some time now. There was at one time a greenhouse on the land. The workings of it are still there, but the greenhouse itself is long since gone. I had an idea that, in addition to the plants and such, I could make up different settings for different types of plants. Also, classes on how to make sure a garden is healthy. This isn’t my idea just so you know. It’s brilliant, but Melisandre wants us to put something in that will keep the faeries busy all the time. CJ came up with the rest of it. Also a training ground for new faeries. Sometimes in working in the spring, she told us, training isn’t possible. But with this and the greenhouse, it will be a good time to show them, and also to make it so that people plant more flowers in their yards. Something that we both know is needed.”
“I can do that.” Don told him he’d have a crew working with him. “Faeries, I’m assuming.”
“They’ll work in the evenings after the regular crew is gone. Mostly to plant the items that will sell. Also, they’ll work on large planters and the like. Putting them together so they will look good, as well as last much longer than ones a human would be able to put together at home. CJ told me they can do the clean-up as well but will stay hidden during the day in the event there might need a special project needed.” Fergus was excited about this job. It sounded like something that would keep him busy for a long time. “Some of the little people will be living in the greenhouse—again, out of sight. The greenhouse will be open to the public as well. The rooms in the building, as I said, will be used for different types of plants. Also offices, as well as storage.”
“It sounds like you have this all worked out. What happens if the building isn’t worth it? I’m sure you have a backup plan.” He nodded but didn’t seem to like plan two. “It can’t be all that bad, is it?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve been told all my life that faeries can do the work of a thousand men if given the chance. In this project, they want to go in and redo the entire building from basement to roof. I am against the idea. Not because of the faeries, but there are a great many men and women out of work right now. This would put a few more meals on the table that might not happen if there is no work for them.” Fergus’s respect for this young man doubled just then. Thinking of the people they were hoping to sell to and making sure they were all right as well. “I want to be able to help Melisandre, but not at the cost of putting people out of a job. Does that make sense?”
“Shifters would be able to do it as well and quickly. What if they worked together on this project? I know from speaking to some of the pack that roams the land hereabouts that they’re not working as much as they’d like to. I’m sure something can be worked out for all the people involved.” Don seemed to like that idea. “Put them in the same working area. Shifter with faerie. I know there are a great many other projects going on right now that can fulfill the needs of some of the humans without them being aware of the faeries.”
“I like that idea. And the school is far enough out that no one would notice it being taken care of too quickly.” He said that would work for him. “It will put more people to work, too. Thank you. That was really bothering me.”
“It’s all right. I know just how you feel when it comes to working with the humans as much as we can.” They agreed on a wage for Fergus. Not that he needed the money, but he could and would donate it back to the projects that were going on, as he’d been doing. “I need to find me a place to live. I know you’re working on that as well. So if you’d not mind finding me a home that I can live in, close to my daughter’s home, I’d appreciate that.”
“Yes, I will.” Don grinned, and he had to smile back at him. “I can tell CJ that I’m looking for you and ask her what she thinks of the house while we’re at it. She’s working today, setting up the system to help with the inventory at the pantry. The donations are going a long way in getting food to shut-ins, as well as anyone that just needs a boost. And the car service is going so much better than we thought it would. It looks as if people are making a lot of friends with it too.”
“Lizzy was telling me that the high school kids are getting involved with that part of it. They’re getting to use a car that
