“Thank you for that.” She looked around the room, and Roxanna knew that she was somehow related to the man and woman in the corner. “They’ll need things to do, things that will occupy their minds as well as bodies. A great many of the living vets are wasting away because they’re bored. They think that they don’t have anything to give to society or to themselves.”
“Are you saying that they need jobs?” Nodding yes at Connor, she told him what they could do. “I’m sure that we can get those sorts of supplies for them. I might even know a few people that could come in and give lessons on crafts. If you think they’d enjoy selling their things to the general public, that can be arranged too. It would give them a sense of pride. I know it would me.”
By the time they were finished and heading back to work with the others, Connor and she had a list of crafts, supplies, as well as a group of faeries that were going to do all the changes that might be necessary to make the nursing home a place that could be used again. Connor had even given permission for Ivy, a very old and wise faerie, to work directly with the female to make sure things were just the way that they needed to be. The best part of this was, they could make changes happen in seconds rather than the days it would take others.
Chapter 13
Connor loved flying. After the day he’d had, he thought that he might just gather up Roxanna and fly away to never return. He liked working with the dead—what he didn’t care for was trying to get them to understand life as they knew it was no longer around. As he was flying over his home, thinking about returning, Spencer joined him.
“Were you about finished for the night?” Connor was, but he told his brother-in-law that he wasn’t. “I would like to speak to you about a few things. I didn’t want Connie to hear. It’s about Christmas.”
“Are you asking me what to get her? Then I’d have to tell you that you’re on your own. I thankfully am not married to her, and I wouldn’t even know where to start.” Spencer laughed and said that wasn’t it. “Then tell me how I can help you.”
“I have a job now, one that I can work from anywhere—you knew that. Thank you for setting that up for me.” He told him it was his pleasure. “I don’t want to leave here after the holidays.”
“Then don’t.” Spencer and he landed on the soft snow and shifted back to humans. “You’re more than welcome to stay in the rental for as long as you want. Anna owns the house. I’m sure that she doesn’t care if you extend your stay. I know that I won’t mind it. I think the kids are having a good time getting to know the rest of us too.”
“They are. As a matter of fact, that’s another thing that I wanted to talk to you about. They’ve been going to the pack school for the last few days. Hammy was doing poorly at his other school. They were close to kicking him out because they thought him trouble. After a few days of him going to the school with the other kids here, we found out that he has a learning disability. He’s dyslexic. One of the pack teachers is working with him every day, and he’s excelling so quickly now. It’s like a new world has opened up for him.” Connor thought it great that everyone was now calling him Hammy. “I want to buy a home here. I want to raise them in a place that finds out why he’s not learning rather than giving him a label and not even trying to help him.”
“What about Harry? How does he like the school?” Spencer laughed, telling him that he’d never seen his son so happy. “He likes it that much?”
“You have no idea. It was our fault, I guess. When Hammy started having trouble, we of course believed what the teachers were telling us. Hammy tried to tell us the words were all wrong for him, and that just compounded our reason for believing them. What the hell does all wrong mean? To him, it was the world. Because of Hammy’s label, Harry was also given the same thing because they were related.”
“I can see that. It’s what happened to Connie when we were going to school. I was trouble, however. And of course, they figured that Connie was as well.” Spencer said that he had heard that from her. “What is it you need from me, Spencer? You’re my family, and I’ll do whatever it is you want.”
“Connie wants to be a part of the women here.” Connor had no idea what he was talking about, and asked him to explain. “The women, your wife included, are successful business women. Connie isn’t. I don’t know why she’s not, but she would like to be able to fit in with the rest of them.”
“And you want me to pave the way? Oh, hell no.” Spencer looked so crestfallen that Connor laughed. “I know that she can do this, but she has to just tell them that she wants to help out on whatever it is they’re doing. Push her way in if need be.”
“I don’t know if she’ll do that.” Connor told him then she’d be shit out of luck. “Do you think they’ll turn her down? I’d hate to tell her to do that only to have it backfire.”
“You and Connie have two children. None of the others do. You’re established as a married couple. Most of us have only been married for a few months. Me? I’ve only been with Roxanna for about six weeks. I think that they’re slightly intimidated by you both. No, that’s not the word, but I think you understand.” Spencer said that he thought that he did. “Look. Roxanna and I are working with the veterans that have been injured. Have her go and talk to Roxanna, and see what she might need help on. When I left her earlier, she was cursing, which she does a great deal, at a catalog that she was trying to order from. Something about information on vendor’s licenses.”
“Connie could help with that. She did all that kind of stuff when she was working for the Women’s League that she belonged to several years go.” Connor said that was good. “I’ll send her over right away.”
“There’s something else, Spencer.” He nodded and asked what it was he could do. “Stop wearing a suit. Connie needs to find her a pair of jeans or a pair of soft jogging pants to play around in. You’re both just too stiff. I think if you stopped acting like our parents and started acting like one of us, then you’ll be asked to do more things with us. The way you’re dressed now, it looks like you’re going to turn your nose up at getting dirty. Don’t you have anything casual?”
“I don’t know that I do.” Connor nodded. “I don’t even think I’ve had a pair of tennis shoes since I got out of school all those years ago.”
“Yeah. I have to tell you, I think that is a good deal of the reason that the kids are having so much fun. They don’t wear suits anymore. Who the hell puts a suit on a ten year old anyway?” Spencer laughed and said that he’d never thought of that before. It had been the school uniform. “Ditch it, and try to be more relaxed in what you wear. And for Christ’s sake, don’t wear a pair of new jeans that have holes in them. That’ll make you stand out like a sore thumb. Wear them out on your own. They’ll make fun of you less if you do.”
Spencer left him a few minutes later, armed with a list of things to wear, as well as to find him a pair of tennis shoes that he thought he’d like. He could have made them in his mind to wear, they both knew that. But Spencer was on a mission, and he was going to see if he could get the help of one of the other wives to help him out. It might end up badly for the man, but Connor didn’t think so.
Are you coming home? He smiled at Roxanna when she sounded so stressed. Did you know that when you have to do shit for the government, you have to fill out shit like fifty times? The same information every fucking time. It’s annoying as hell.
You should expect Connie to show up soon. She asked him why. Apparently she knows all about that kind of stuff. She’s been in charge of buying and selling wholesale for a while now, and she has information that I think will help you.
Do you think that she’d take this and do it? Connor told her what Spencer had said. Holy fuck, yes she can help us. I didn’t know how to get past that fancy exterior she has. Christ, Connor, do they ever let their hair down and try to be normal? Have you any idea how long it took me to convince Hammy and Harry that they had to w
ear jeans to this school so that no one would pin a ‘kick me’ sign on their backs?
I know. I heard you. Spencer said that he wants to live here forever. Like buying their own home and not living with us forever. She laughed. I know that you won’t care, but Connie has a mean streak in her. Not like yours, but it’s there.
Why are you forever saying that I’m mean? I have good qualities too. He asked her to name one. I let you fuck me, don’t I?
Okay, I guess you do. And that is a wonderfully good quality. But I don’t know that I’d go so far as to say that you let me fuck you. I think you have jumped on me a few times on your own. Roxanna told him how she was training him to be better. I see. Well, I guess I need a few more lessons then. I’ll be home soon.
Connor shifted again and took another pass around the town. It was shaping up, he thought. Someday his little town would be as nice as Devon’s. He had great plans for the people here, and he hoped that they’d be just as welcoming as the ones there were. Connor was glad that he’d come home for the holiday.
Today was Thanksgiving, a holiday that he’d rarely celebrated. He couldn’t even remember the last time that he’d sat down with a group of friends or family on that holiday that was all preplanned and arranged. But today they were all going to be at Devon’s home and have a feast like none other.
As soon as he came into the house, he leaned back against the wall and took in the smells. There was a great deal of baking going on. Also, the other parts of the house were being decorated for Christmas. That was another holiday that had never had much in the way of meaning for him.
He saw Roxanna and reached out to pull her into the dark corner that he was in. Her hands were filled with small sticks. Connor asked her what she was doing with all that cinnamon.
“The faeries wanted them. They said that they can’t find them in the woods, and wondered if they could have what we did. I guess they’re making decorations with them or something.” Connor kissed her on the nose. “Not that I’m complaining, but what was that for?”
“Just because I love you. And love the way you’ve been with everyone around here. I don’t know if you’ve noticed it or not, but you don’t curse nearly as much around Hammy and Harry as you do everyone else.”
“They told me that too. Hammy said that I looked like I was having a stroke or something the way I try to hold it in. Harry told me that I should just let it go before I break my head. I love those kids.” Connor laughed with her. “I’m teaching them each a curse word to use, not in English, and not to get them in trouble, but everyone their age should have at least one that they can use when they’re hanging around a school yard.”
“If Connie or Spencer find out, you’re all on your own.” She smiled up at him. “I love you, Roxanna. With all my heart.”
“Ditto.”
When she walked away, he stood there laughing. He doubted very much that he’d ever be bored around her for the rest of his life. She was just the thing he needed to make himself get out of bed every day.
As soon as he entered the dining room, he was put to work. Nothing that was too strenuous, but it was festive. They’d been assigned to bring over some plates, as well as some things to put around the tables as decoration. Connor didn’t think that anyone had thought of what sort of decorations Roxanna might come up with. He could not wait until they saw them. He was still laughing as he loaded them into the truck to take to Devon’s.
Bringing them in to Devon’s home, Connor was glad that they were boxed up. As soon as Roxanna started to put them on each place setting, Devon started laughing. After that, it was a free for all on who could laugh the hardest about what his lovely wife had brought to decorate with.
~*~
“She really made this herself?” Nicole laughed as she picked up one of the little flower arrangements. “I think them having a skeleton in them is the funniest thing.”
“I think that she actually made us all headstones is funny. The dead flowers? That was the perfect addition. Can you imagine what she’d be doing for Halloween? I bet she’d beat even you for that.” Nicole looked at Bryce when she laughed with her and Kelly. The dinner was about ready, but all anyone could talk about was the floral arrangements that Roxanna had been in charge of. “Is she really a necromancer?”
“Yes, she is.” They all looked at Connor when he answered. “As you can imagine, she’s not the least bit thrilled about it either. I’m not going to tell you to go easy on her, but it might be better if for tonight, you did.”
“Something happened.” Connor nodded at her. Nicole was almost afraid to ask, but had to. “Was Roxanna hurt in any way? I mean, whatever happened, it didn’t harm her, did it?”
“Just her heart. She helped close a decade old case today to help out the police. It’s coming up on the anniversary of that little girl that came up missing while her parents were on vacation here. Neither the earth nor the faeries could figure out where she was, but they sort of figured that she was dead, Roxanna called for her.”
“Oh no.” Connor nodded at her. “Was she able to find her by calling her from her resting place? I’ve been reading up on what she is. There aren’t a great many stories that are complimentary to her kind. Most people think that necromancers are all gone.”
“Yes, she found her. She’d been put in a glory hole near one of the larger lakes.” Nicole didn’t know what that was, so Connor said that he’d explain. “When a river is flooded, the water rising much too fast for the banks to keep it, there is a hole that takes on the water and reroutes it to another part of the river. It’s fast moving water, and so deep, it’s no wonder that her body was never located. Not to mention, she was beaten up very badly when she was dumped.”
“Her parents did it, didn’t they?” Connor said not this time. “Who then? Who would kill a baby like that? What was she, five or six?”
“No, she was only nine months old. Her babysitter did it.” That shocked Nicole, for a sitter to take such a chance like that. “I guess this sitter smacked the baby and left a good sized mark on her. Panicky, she tied the little girl to her car seat and tossed her, with her diaper bag, into the hole. She got caught up in some of the debris, and that was why no one found her body.”
“I remember that. They found her diaper bag and things down the river. They searched there for weeks after that. That was why they were not able to find her.” Connor nodded again. “Is the sitter still alive?”
“No.” Connor walked away and Nicole looked at Kelly, who only shook her head and moved too. That just left her and Bryce.
“What do you think Roxanna did to her?” Bryce said whatever it was, it wasn’t enough. “Not for her either, I’m betting. Did you know that she and Connor are going to have a baby? It’s a little girl.”
Bryce looked so sad that Nicole wished that she’d not told her about the baby. It would have hurt her too, Nicole thought. To know that she was carrying a child that would live to be older than the one she had to hunt for today. Going to find her, Nicole simply wrapped her arms around the other woman, and felt her sobbing as she held her back.
“She was so battered.” Roxanna kept telling her things that had happened to the child, what sort of wounds and broken bones she’d had. “The earth couldn’t locate her because she was on concrete. The water didn’t know where she was either because of the fast moving water.”
“What did you do for her?” Roxanna looked up at her, her face swollen with her sadness, tears still streaming down her face. “You did something for the child. What did you do so that I can tell you how jealous I am for not being able to do it first?”
“Her parents are both gone. The police thought that they’d done it, so they blamed each other. When they were together the last time, the murder suicide was labeled as them not being able to live with themselves any longer for killing their child.” Nicole knew what she’d done even before she told her
. “I brought them together. They’re together now, as they should have been all this time.”
“Oh, Roxanna, you have the biggest heart. I’m not even going to ask you what you did to that fucking cunt. Whatever it was, I’m sure you feel, as I would, that it wasn’t nearly enough.” Roxanna told her that it hadn’t been enough for her. “You sent her to The Field, didn’t you?”
“No. Worse. Did you know that as a necromancer, I can call to demons and beg them to take a being that is so far from being good that they have to be with them?” Nicole smiled, and said that she’d not known that. “Neither did I, but now that I do, I’m going to be able to bargain for any soul I see fit to.”
“The couple—he killed his wife. You bargained for his soul back so that you could reunite them.” Roxanna smiled. “Why, you turd you. That’s the best news that I’ve heard all week. Thank you for telling me that. Now I know not to piss you off too much. Is there a limit I can go beyond before you make plans for me?”
After a tight hug, Roxanna told her never. When she walked away, Nicole thought about how powerful she was. Bryce was too, but Roxanna had an in with demons. That was more than Bryce could do. Nicole had also heard that Roxanna and Connor were working with Bryce on some things. She wanted to see how she could help out too.
As soon as they were all called to dinner, Devon stood up. He had a glass in his hand that he held up until everyone picked up their own. Nicole noticed that Roxanna had a glass of tea. Good for her, she thought. Start the baby out right.
“There are several things that I’d like to say, but I won’t touch on all of them today. The one thing that I have to tell you all is that I’ve never been happier than I am right now. Friends and family, children coming to us all. A man could not have asked for a better ending to the year than to celebrate with all of you.” Cole, who had returned just an hour ago, reminded Devon that there was still a month to go. “Yes, and what kind of trouble do you think we can all get into before then?”
Connor: House of Wilkshire ― Paranormal Dragon Shifter Romance Page 16