Page 13 of Horn in My Side
Jasmine pursed her lips, stifling the urge to snap back at the mother.She had avoided using the word “kids” or “child” as it sounded condescending.After all, she had first-hand knowledge that children could be independent and responsible too, as she had learned to depend on herself when she and her dad moved to America with no support system.But lecturing the woman or Alexios wouldn’t do anyone any good.
“I think a youngmanlike you would be up for a challenge.”Jasmine mustered a serious, non-patronizing tone.“But owning a chimera is like having three pets at once.You would have to make sure you can give each creature enough attention and prevent them from fighting each other.You also need to teach the lion to hunt, ensure the goat has plenty of space to run and graze, and create the right habitat for the snake.You’ll have to use all your extra time before and after school and weekends to take care of them.”
His eye blinked, then he glanced up at his mother.“I guess we can find something else,” he said, prompting a sigh of relief from the cyclops woman.
“All right, why don’t we check out a couple pets?Do you want to look upstairs, at the aquariums?No?”She chuckled when the boy shook his head determinedly.“No pets in tanks, then?Something you can play with, but not too messy?”This time, his mom nodded.“Let’s see what we have, then.”
She ushered mother and son toward the lower-level pens and cages, showing them different creatures, telling them about the proper care for each one, briefly catching the mom’s eye to gaugeher reaction.After two rounds of agonizing, the boy eventually settled on a carbuncle kit, a cat-like creature with long ears, blue fur that glowed in the dark, and which loved shiny objects.
After bringing them around to the pet-supply section to pick up some basic supplies and then upselling a toy and treat-box subscription, she rang them up at the counter and placed the kit in its brand-new pen, before walking with them to the door.
“Thank you,” his mother, whose name Jasmine learned was Nefeli, said.“For everything.”
“No problem.Do you need my help with the crate?”
Nefeli shook her head and gestured to the Mercedes parked in the spot outside.“We can manage.”
“Bye, Jasmine!”Alexios waved.“I’ll see you soon when I come back to buy litter and food.”
Jasmine gave mother and son a final wave as they secured their purchases inside their vehicle, then closed the door.
“Sorry about that,” she said to Mal, who had been waiting by the counter the entire time.She could have sworn he watched her while she assisted Alexios and his mother, but then again, what else was he supposed to do?“So, what was it again you came here for?”
He shoved a hand into his hair.“I wanted to talk.”
“Oh?”She focused her attention toward the display of various pet snacks on the counter, lining up the edges so they weren’t sticking out of the case.“What about?”
“The store.I mean”—he paused, as if to gather his thoughts—“about what you said last night.”
She didn’t bother to look at him, instead continuing to fuss with the display.“And?”
“I think ...that is ...I could ...”He huffed.“I suppose I could stay around for a bit.To help with the shop.”
Her fingers froze halfway as she was arranging the packets to face label out.Her heart soared, but she tamped down theexcitement, not wanting to be disappointed.“Oh?But what about that job you were waiting on?”
“Er, actually, I won’t hear back from them for a while.”
She whirled around, placing a hand on her hip.“So you really didn’t have another job lined up.”
“I have several, but this one—Look.”He took a careful step toward her.“I went through what paperwork I had and spoke with my lawyer.Because Vrig didn’t leave a will, it’s going to take some time to get his affairs in order and it would be much faster if I was close by to sign off on things and make decisions right away.So I thought maybe I’d stay until all that was sorted and prepare to put the house on the market.In the meantime, you can keep running the shop and get your loan paperwork done.”
Jasmine could only stare at him, slack-jawed.“R-really?”
“Yes.”
“Oh!”In her giddiness, she leapt forward and wrapped her arms around him.“Thank you!”When he stiffened, however, she quickly let go and took a step back.“Sorry!I was so—”
“It’s fine,” he said dismissively.
She couldn’t even feel hurt by his tone, not with this amazing turn of events.“But really, thank you.”Oh, she wanted to cry; in fact, the tears were already welling up and her throat was getting scratchy.
Oh, for the love of the Mother Goddess, Jasmine, don’t start.
She took a deep breath to clear her sinuses, and then released it.“I promise I’ll have the money and the loan ready in a couple months.”
“Six months,” he reminded her.“You said six months.”
“Yes, six months.Maybe sooner.”If she really scrimped and saved.
