Page 19 of Valley of the Shadow
Dez glanced over her shoulder. “With these hosts, I don’t see that being a problem.”
“Oh.” Natalie clapped her hands. “I know what I want. Like, really want. Thanksgiving dinner.”
Dez frowned. “But we just had Thanksgiving.”
“And I was grumpy and feeling nauseous and overworked,” Natalie said. “This time, I’m going to know it’s my last one as a human. I’ll be able to stuff myself with pie. Be able to eat a bunch of turkey and fall asleep on the couch.”
“I get you.” Dez started writing. “We may be limited on food, but I’ll talk to Isabel. I’m sure we can figure out something.” She flipped the list over and showed Natalie. “Okay, this is your bucket list?”
Natalie nodded.
“Then we’d better get to work.”
Baojia lookedat the list Natalie had copied from Dez’s notebook. “Mountain climbing? Waterskiing?” He looked up with a frown. “You’ve never done either of those things.”
Leave it to Baojia to focus on the details. “I know, but I always meant to.”
He was still reading the list. “Oh, come on. Atattoo?”
“I never got one, but I always wanted one, and I think once I’m immortal, it’ll be kind of impossible, right?”
“I think your body would just push the ink out,” he muttered. “What the hell kind of tattoo do you want?” He lifted his head. “What am I saying? We’re in the middle of nowhere. You’re not going to find a tattoo place anywhere close.”
Her eyes lit up. “Gus said there’s a guy in the nearest town by the mouth of the river—he does them in his kitchen.”
His expression didn’t evoke confidence. “You want a guy who does tattoos in hiskitchento put something on your body that you’re going to have for eternity?”
“He might be really good!”
Baojia sat on the edge of the bed and stared at her list. “I’ve had over a hundred years of life. It’s been good. You killing me now would be fine except that we have two young children to take care of.”
She sat next to him and rubbed his shoulder. “It’s just a tattoo.”
“I’m not worried about the tattoo. I’m worried about the rock climbing. And the waterskiing—”
“I think we can take the waterskiing off—”
“Oh,can we?” He stood. “Natalie, this is… ridiculous.”
Oh no he didn’t. “Excuse me?”
“You havecancer. Your body is already fighting to stay well right now. And you want to…” He shook the paper in his hand. “Seriously?”
She rose to her feet. “Do you really think I’m so stupid that I’m going to risk my life? You think I’m gonna get sicker in the next week? Do you think I don’t feel what’s happening in my own body?” She pointed a finger at him. “Why do you always do this? Do you want me to just curl up and hide for the next week?”
“I want you to stay alive!”
“I’mgoingto stay alive.” She snatched the list from his hand. “You’re getting everything you wanted. You get me with you forever, in a bulletproof, fall-proof, car-proof body—”
“Not fair,” he growled.
“Withcellulite!” She waved the list in his face. “So I get to have my list.”
“Why are you talking about cellulite?” He put his hands on his hips, his eyes steely. “Justpleasedo not go mountain climbing.”
“Shove it.” She walked out the door and was relieved when he didn’t follow her.
They were staying in the guest wing of the main house, Natalie and Baojia in one room, Sarah and Jake in the connecting room. It would be their room for the next year.
