Page 27 of Dragon's Midlife Secret Baby
He gave her a solemn bow of his head. It made his pendant move again, and this time, when it caught the light, it almost seemed to be glowing from the inside. “I’ll do that.”
Neither one of them spoke when they got back in the car. Chelsea waited until they were a few minutes down the road. “Do you think he’ll actually find a way to help us?”
“I think we convinced him well enough,” Maeve said from the passenger seat.
It was all Chelsea could do to keep the car in its lane. She wanted so desperately to fix this for Beck, for them. “He didn’t seem like he was willing to do jack shit at first.”
Leaning back into the seat, Maevesighed. “That’s just how he is, and it doesn’t seem like he’s changed at all. Some smart people want to share their knowledge and help people. Sol is smart but just wonders why everyone else can’t keep up. It’s no way to live, really.”
“Well, I’m glad he at least changed his mind long enough to see if he can help us find this person. I guess he at least has a little humility.”
Maeve held up one finger. “Only after I reminded him of it. If I’m really honest, I think he only relented because he realized that someone who could do this might be powerful enough to take him on, as well. Sol is watching out for his own ass, just as he always has.”
Chelsea slowed down as someone turned off the highway. “It’s really hard to imagine you dating a grumpy old fart like him.”
Her mother laughed. “He wasn’t that much of a codger back then! Well, maybe in his attitude. But believe it or not, he actually did have some charisma, some mystery. He was a man who wanted to unlock the secrets of the universe. What young woman on a spiritual journey wouldn’t fall for that?”
“If you were into that, you could’ve just as easily landed yourself in a cult,” Chelsea commented.
“Hush, you!” Maeve laughed. “It’s not like I reallyever could’ve stayed with him, not in the long run. My mate was out there waiting for me. Your father and I belonged together in a way that meant much more to me than anything I ever had with Sol.”
“I can understand that.” Her mate was waiting for her, too. He just didn’t know how hard she was working to make sure they could be together again.
12
“Welcome to The Crystal Cauldron!Oh. Hi, Chelsea.” Colette gave Chelsea a smile and a wave from behind the counter.
“Hey, there.” Chelsea stepped up to the counter to greet Tina’s newest employee and squinted at the numerous little gold hoops in her ears. “Did you get a new piercing?”
“Yeah, this one.” She pointed to a curved bar hanging through the fold of her ear.
“Ooh, did it hurt?”
“No, not really. My mom takes me to a really good piercer, though.” Colette’s glittery eyeshadow sparkled as she continued arranging the jewelry display on the counter. She always had full makeupon, usually with some dramatic eyeliner or bold colors.
“Tell your mom I said she’s very cool for letting you do that. I think my mom is cool, but I don’t think she would’ve ever let me do that when I was your age.” Chelsea knew Colette was still in high school.
The girl shrugged. “Her mom never let her, either, but I think that’s why she lets me. She says this is the one time in my life that I’ll be able to express myself without having to worry about what everyone else thinks.”
“She’s right, and fortunately, your boss is pretty cool, too.”
“I heard that!”
Chelsea laughed. “Nope! I didn’t say it! I never said it!”
With a grunt, Tina got up off her knees and came out of one of the aisles. “I’m always happy when inventory comes in until I remember I have to actually put it out. My knees aren’t happy with me.”
“I’d call you old, but then I’d be calling myself old. I’ve already done that recently.”
Tina adjusted her ebony-framed glasses and brushed back the neat curls of her dark auburn hair. “I’m surprised to see you, consideringeverything you have going on. I’ve had quite a few customers asking about your services, though.” She bobbed her head toward the curtained-off area toward the back of the store where Chelsea did her astrology work. There was another one next to it where Kristy read tarot cards, but she was home at the moment with Corbin.
“They’ll have to wait,” Chelsea sighed. “I need to work, but I don’t think I could concentrate on it right now if I wanted to.”
“Come stock shelves with me, and we can talk about it,” Tina offered, leading the way back into the aisle she’d come out of.
Following her past incense, candles, and wall tapestries, they reached a display of essential oils. “I’m not even sure what to say.”
“Whatever’s on your mind.” Tina grunted again as she returned to the floor with the box. She handed Chelsea a little dropper bottle of lavender. “That one goes up there, if you wouldn’t mind saving me from hearing that gross grinding sound in my knees again.”
