Page 24 of Pulled By the Tail
Georgia looked down at her bare hands and shoved them in the jacket pocket. “Fair enough.”
“Foolish kit,” the woman said, pulling Georgia into the now-warm kitchen. The layout and appliances were older, but they gleamed from care and pride. A skillet sizzled on the stove and smelled delicious. The sensation of being at home settled over her like a warm blanket.
“Let me see what you’ve done.” The woman grabbed Georgia’s hands and turned them over, inspecting her. “Are you supposed to be this color?”
“Um, yes. I’m pale.”
“But this is pink. And here, too.” The woman grabbed her by the cheek and squeezed, just like she was a child.
“From the cold. Let go.” Georgia rubbed her tender face. “I’m fine. I’m wearing a coat.”
The older woman sneezed lightly; her ears pressed back against her head. “This is not a proper coat. If I hadn’t found you standing on the lawn, you’d be frozen to death by now. Sit down and let me get you some tea. That will warm you up.” The woman continued to mutter about high-maintenance humans as she filled a kettle and set it to boil.
“I don’t think I caught your name,” Georgia said.
“Bright.” A plate of eggs and what appeared to be bacon arrived at the table, along with toast and a bowl of sugar. A box of tea and a mug of hot water soon joined. “I suppose you’ll be here from now on. We’ll need to get you proper clothes for the winter.”
Georgia packed her winter clothes but knew her Southern California wardrobe wouldn’t suffice. “I need gloves, a hat, and a scarf, I guess.” She wiggled her damp toes. “And boots.”
“Shameful,” Bright muttered, bringing over another serving of bacon. The meal was delicious, and she ate with an appetite that surprised her. This seemed to please Bright, who poured herself a cup of tea.
“This is marvelous. Thank you.”
“Guests normally eat in the dining room, but I think you must be family now,” Bright said.
A clank and loud bang rang out, sounding very much like hammering. Bright’s ears twitched but said nothing as she stirred her tea.
The hammering continued. She pulled out her tablet reader and checked the time. Most sensible people would still be asleep. She’d rather be asleep. “Bit early for that,” Georgia said.
“The kits like to get an early start on the day.”
A bell added to the noise.
“That’d be guests at the front desk,” Bright said, unconcerned.
“Shouldn’t we see what they want?”
“I’ve never troubled myself.”
Georgia followed the bell to a counter in the foyer. Fiona spoke with two Corravian men and a woman. Georgia remembered something from the informational packet the agency sent, that Corravian biology required two males to fertilize a female, so marriages were trios. The repeating trinity design in the house’s architecture fell into context.
The trio appeared disgruntled and disheveled, like they hurried out of bed. “The noise is unacceptable.”
“You want hot water this morning? You’re going to have to put up with the noise,” Fiona said.
“What I want,” the man said, “is a refund from this farce of an inn.”
A dark look settled on Fiona and she opened her mouth to speak. Whatever she was about to say, it wouldn’t be good for business. Georgia might not know much about the situation she landed in, but she understood customer service.
“Good morning,” she said with breezy cheer. “I see you found our guest robes. They’re lush, aren’t they? So soft and cuddly.”
The Corravian woman stroked the sleeve of her robe. “I suppose.”
“I apologize for the noise this morning. We’re in the middle of our soft opening and, obviously, we’re still working out the kinks. These historic homes always require a little bit more and the hot water never goes out at a good time. How about I take 50% off your bill for the inconvenience of our growing pains? Would that be acceptable?” She nodded and the trio nodded along with her, forgetting their complaint, given the significant discount.
“Well, nothing is perfect. It’s a lovely house,” the woman said.
“It snowed overnight and the view is amazing. How about breakfast? The kitchen is open and I’m sure we can whip up whatever you like,” Georgia said, leading the trio to the dining room. Or what she hoped was the dining room. The room had a long table, chairs, and a pot of tea already waiting.
