Page 11 of Perfectly Matching Again

Why did all of that feel so completely wrong in the light streaming through the windows of Demeter’s plane cruising at a high altitude on their way to Greece?

But wrong it seemed anyway.

She opened her computer, the empty page of unfinished work glaring at her, and then skimmed her calendar. Freelance or not, some obligations she’d not be able to forgo, even ifAphrodite had freed her from most duties and the Academy was not in session.

Five minutes later, distracted and unable to focus, Erato sneaked a glance at Demeter over the lid of the laptop. The Goddess was deep in some spreadsheets, her pencil marking notes on the margins and her fingers flying over the tablet where more spreadsheets were opened.

When Erato had looked at the paperwork questioningly the first time, Demeter simply murmured “grain stocks” and went back to her paperwork.

Erato could respect that. Not that she had been aware that Demeter didn’t just wave a magic wand and whisper some trite incantation to begin and end spring and thus the agricultural cycle. Watching the Goddess work now, jot notes, call brokers and vendors, warn some guy at some UN Food organisation or other about the drought in Eastern Europe, Erato was forced to reevaluate her opinion about both Demeter and Goddesses.

As if reading her thoughts, Demeter lowered her horn-rimmed glasses and reached for her surely now cold coffee, previously forgotten in favor of the aforementioned spreadsheets.

“Aphrodite works hard, Muse. Is it surprising someone else would too?”

“I didn’t mean to doubt?—”

“I’ve been doubted my entire life.”

Well, that sure stopped Erato in her tracks. Demeter, one of the Twelve Olympians, daughter of Chronos, doubted?

“You’re one of the most important Goddesses. Hearth and Marriage aside, who else is literally responsible for billions of lives?”

Demeter’s smile was fleeting.

“You did not just disrespect Hestia and Hera, Muse.”

Erato huffed out a breath.

“Oh, screw Hestia and Hera.”

Demeter’s smile bloomed wider.

“I’d rather you didn’t, especially with me not six feet away from said screwing.”

Erato leaned back against the luxurious cream leather of her seat. Demeter’s eyes went impossibly wide with something akin to horror at Erato’s possible liaisons with her sisters.

“You DID not!”

This time, Erato couldn’t keep a straight face and burst into laughter. It felt good. Goading Demeter into these kinds of outbursts was proving to be a new secret pleasure of hers.

“I can’t even begin to imagine what you think of me. It’s actually very flattering, and my ego is growing exponentially.” Erato let her voice drop to a lower octave. Then she flipped her hair back theatrically and Demeter shook her head.

“Your ego can barely fit on the plane, Muse.”

But there was no malice in the tone, and Erato shrugged good-naturedly.

“What can I say? Women love me. Not Hera and Hestia though, so you can rest assured that I have not defiled your sisters. Now, if we could go back to all this UN Food Program and World Trade whatever, stocks and bonds and whatsits?”

Demeter glanced at the spreadsheets on the table in front of her.

“The world doesn’t run itself, Muse. And while it’s not spring yet, there are other ways to ensure life goes on, crops are planted and trade continues.”

Erato chewed on her lower lip. Demeter’s eyes definitely followed the movement. Erato chewed harder. Demeter rolled her eyes. Busted.

“Okay, but all of this begs a question, several actually, but mostly why is spring not here yet?”

Demeter got up and splashed some of that fancy brandy Hades must’ve been stocking just for her at Purgatory.

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