Page 82 of Fighting Shadows

“Did he-” Mrs. Miller blurts out, but Kathleen holds up her hand to stop her before she can say anything else, “Yes, Beatrice, he did, and I will show you exactly how Dominic got into liking his knives if you say another word.”

“Love you,” Dominic mutters, kissing Kathleen's cheek as he sets herThe Little Mermaidplate down in front of her.

“Why?” she asks, staring down at the plate as if it physically offends her.

“Because you collect lost things, hence why Chase gotPeter Pan, y’know, since he’s a lost boy,” he says happily, and my heart melts at his expression as he stares at Kathleen like Chase stares at me.

“Thank you,” she mouths to him teary-eyed.

“What have I got then?” Zander’s mom sighs, but the twinkle in her eye gives her away.

“You both have Shang and Mulan cause you kick ass,” I say, laughing when they both look at each other and high-five. They are both wearing their sleek black outfits again, and a part of me wonders if they ever wear anything else. Do they sleep in them in case of emergencies? Or are their pajamas also black?

Pops and Mrs. McKay appear just in time with wine and sparkling apple juice for Chase when Dominic pulls out their plates.

Both look confused, but I bark out a laugh when I see the horror on Mrs. McKays's face whenRatatouilleis revealed on her plate and cutlery. Pops was a bit more self-explanatory when he was given Doc fromSnow White.

“Demon boy! I will not eat off of this plate! You know how much I hate r-“ she gags on her words.

Horror fills Dominic’s face, his small joke firing back at him, and we all laugh as we watch him scramble to save himself from Mrs. McKay's wrath.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t think you'd puke at the sight of the cartoon one; I just thought it was the real ones that scurry around. Here, take the spare one!” he all but shoves the spareCocoone into her hands and rips the other one away before she can say anything else.

“Saved the best for last, eh?” Sebastian’s dad winks at Dominic as Dominic hands him his carefully, Mrs. Millers being left for last.

If I remember correctly, hers is Malificent as she curses the baby, and I’m equal parts excited and nauseous at the idea of what her reaction will be.

Mr. Miller lifts his plate, inspecting it closely before he lets out a booming laugh, his shoulders shaking.

“What did you get, darling?” Mrs. Miller asks, peeking around the plate to get a good look. She lets out a horrified gasp, “My husband is notHades!”

“Oh, come on! It’s nothing against him, more to do with you…” Dominic trails off, placing her plate down, then runs and ducks for cover behind Sebastian and me.

“I am notThe Queen of All Evil!” Mrs. Miller stomps her heeled foot against the concrete, slamming the plate back onto the table.

“It’s a joke, Beatrice; get a grip.” Atlas’s Ma scolds her while everyone around the tables tries to hold in their laughter at how horrified she looks, “My husband was giving theBeast,and he’s not offended.”

“Let’s eat before it gets cold!” Sebastian shouts, gaining everyone's attention, and peels the foil back from the brisket that Zander has spent all day slaving over.

“Bye, Pops,” I say, hugging him tightly as we say our goodbyes a few hours later.

We were all stuffed and ready to go into a food coma from how much we had consumed. The food was too delicious not to try eating a bit of everything.

Poor Chase had to be carried out by me to Kathleen's car, his little arms wrapped around my neck so tight I was worried he was going to choke me.

“Bye honey, I’ll be over Friday for our check-in,” he says, hugging me just as tightly as I am him.

Mrs. McKay, who is apparently sick of waiting for her turn, shoves him out of the way and pulls me into her embrace; I sink into the feeling and allow her to hold me there for a moment longer.

“I miss you,” she sniffles, drunk from the wine that they brought over.

“You could always come work for me,” I say with a laugh, only half joking.

“Pfft, no, thank you. I would never be allowed to work in that kitchen as much as it is to die for. No, you will need to come for dinner at your Dad’s house soon,” she says, hugging me again before pulling away after I nod my head in agreement with her suggestion.

The others decided to stay for a while longer, Zander setting up a fire in the back garden for us all to sit around.

I sit a bit further back than the rest, and I still don't feel comfortable around it. The phantom pain in my legs makes me feel like I’m back in that fire with Chlo.

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