Page 21 of The Wedding Toast
“Just that this should be fun.”
Jacob glanced over at the Suburban.“You’ve talked to her already?What do you think?Is she not our kind of person?”
Slade laughed.“She seems great.The daughter’s a trip.But honestly, I don’t know what you’ll make of them.I guess as long as she can build this arch for you, it doesn’t matter.”
“I guess not,” said Jacob.“I should go and introduce myself.”
Slade laughed again.“Yeah—and I think I have to come with you.I can’t wait to see this.”
“See what?”Jacob gave him a puzzled smile, wondering what exactly was going on.But Slade simply gestured toward the Suburban.“I’ll let you see for yourself.”
As they approached, the rear passenger door flung open and there was a flurry of movement.A little girl spilled out – long dress, tangled curls, a backpack shaped like a fox.
She stood her ground as Jacob and Slade approached.When they reached her, she blinked up at them, then down at her sneakers.When she looked back up again, she tilted her head to the side and met Jacob’s gaze.
“You are very tall,” she announced.
Jacob exchanged a smile with Slade.“Thanks,” he replied solemnly.“I work on it every day.”
The girl examined him more closely.“You must be the one who likes blue flowers.”
She pointed at Slade.“He’s the Growly Dragon.”
Jacob barked a laugh.“I certainly am the one who likes the blue flowers – cornflowers, to be precise.”He turned to Slade.“But… growly dragon?”
Slade chuckled, and the child stepped forward, reclaiming Jacob’s attention.
“He lays in wait in there.”She pointed at the gatehouse.“Guarding the Empire.And growling.”
Jacob couldn’t help but ask, “Growling?”
The child shrugged nonchalantly.“He doesn’t growl all the time.He’s a friendly dragon, mostly.”
She studied Slade again carefully.“But he’s a powerful dragon underneath the smiles.You can tell.Your kingdom is in no danger while he guards you.”
“Zia.”
Jacob had almost forgotten that the child’s mother was with her.Zia was such an entertaining little character.
The woman approached wearing an apologetic smile.She was pretty – her curly, warm brown hair half-pinned up in an unruly twist.Unlike her daughter, she wore jean shorts and a T-shirt bearing the sloganBloom Alchemist.
She approached slowly, much more cautious than her daughter, slipping sunglasses onto her head, her bag slung crossbody, her arms already apologizing.
Jacob greeted her with a smile, wanting to put her at ease.“Hi.Thank you for coming.I’m Jacob.”He held out his hand.
She nodded without speaking.
The child pointed at her.“Her name’s Alara.She’s my mom.She’s awesome.She makes flowers do things they weren’t meant to do.”
Jacob heard Slade let out a strangled laugh beside him but managed to keep a straight face.
Alara shook hands with him.“That’s me, and this is Zia,” she said with a wry smile.“I think the two of you may already understand a little better now why I wasn’t sure about taking the job.”
Jacob looked down at the child, who stared back at him, her arms hanging loosely by her sides, her wild curls framing her face.
“As I told you, my daughter’s a free spirit,” Alara explained.
The child, Zia, apparently – Jacob had never heard the name before – smiled at him reassuringly.“Most people think that means I’m bad, but I’m not.”
