Page 149 of Frost and Death
“It’s a surprise, Gran.” Jerrick earns an even deeper scowl from Frida, but he tries to win her over by adding, “Besides, I trust your work. It’s going to be your best creation.”
What surprises me is Frida’s instant grin. Her face wrinkles in pure joy at Jerrick’s words, and she pats his hand, holding his cheek with her other palm.
Frida pecks both of Jerrick’s cheeks affectionately, and Jerrick returns kisses to his grandmother.
“I knew my sweet Liva raised you right,” she chides, bringing a hint of color to Jerrick’s cheeks.
I almost question her statement, still unsure of the man next to me.
The hint of pink remains on his face as he pulls away, withdrawing a large sack of coins and dropping it on top of the workstation.
Frida’s eyes bulge, and she reaches for the sack as Jerrick takes the boxed package. She wiggles it, the sound of coins smacking against each other as she smirks. It’s uncanny how similar it is to Jerrick’s.
“Always treating your Gran Gran right.”
Completely lost to the conversation, I’m surprised when Frida acknowledges me again with another once-over before adding, “You better be doing the same for your wife.”
The warning in her tone takes me by surprise, and I can’t stop myself from attempting to save Jerrick from another smack on the head.
I tell her, “Jerrick has been very kind to me, ma’am.” I maintain eye contact with Frida, Jerrick’s bewilderment burning into the side of my head.
My cheeks heat.
Frida beams in approval, and I immediately fiddle with my gown, desperate to distract myself from speaking again.
“We should be going now. Thank you again, Gran,” Jerrick says.
His footsteps turn toward the exit, creaking on each wooden panel, and I meet Frida’s gaze again. “It was a pleasure, ma’am.”
I dart off after Jerrick.
31
Cataclysm
The clink and clatter of each dish Ophelia washes is the only reminder that I am delaying the inevitable. Her tall frame hunches over the basin, scrubbing with a different amount of strength as Cordelia dries each one, placing them into a stack on the opposite workstation.
Their silent workflow and loving touches mesmerize my attention as I sit and help myself to a few of the hot rolls Cordelia pulled from the hearth.
“If you avoid it any longer, he is going to show up and drag you to the training arena himself,” Ophelia chides, accidentally dropping a clean dish into the filled sink.
Cordelia inclines her head in agreement.
Ihatebeing rushed.
“I need to eat first,” I lie while taking another bite of the fifth fresh buttery roll I’ve treated myself to this morning.
“Sure.” Cordelia faces me with a stack full of plates.
Placing them on the counter, she wipes her hands on her apron, giving me the look. “I know our cooking and company is great, but we know who you’d much rather be spending your time with.” Cordelia puckers her lips in a kissing motion, breaking into a wicked smirk.
I pause at the jab when Ophelia snorts. Without thinking, I aim two rolls at their foreheads.
Cordelia sees it coming and ducks, and shockingly, the roll strikes true and smacks Ophelia on the back of her head.
A dish falls, splattering water all over her as she turns to face me, rubbing her sore spot. “Hey!” Ophelia exclaims, but I point at them.
“I said one nice thing about him, and now the two of you are jumping to conclusions thinking that I—”
