“So they’re warm coats to protect you from snow and cold?”
“No. Not that kind of protection. Magical protection from evil spirits.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Protection from a cape?”
“I…uh…the cape is really more of a tradition. Our pagan ancestors had to meet in secret or risk being burned at the stake, so they wore black to blend in with the night.”
She laughed. “You realize your ancestors met in their best brown burlap because that was all they had, right?”
His face fell. At last, their waitress arrived with their sandwiches in paper bags inside another paper bag with handles.
“Oh, thank God,” he muttered under his breath.
God? Now he’s talking to one of my subordinates?This date was not going as expected, but at least they could finally get outside. Maybe he’d make more sense with some fresh air.
They took the food and walked down to the river. There was a lovely winding pathway beside it. “Have you ever been here before?” he asked.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I have.” She smirked. She wasn’t taking this very seriously anymore, so she might as well have a little fun while she could. Glancing over at him, she asked, “So what are your books about?”
“Oh, all kinds of things having to do with the craft. I have a number of thoughts on spells, spirit guides, herbs, crystal and candle magic…”
“I’ll bet you do. So you must be pretty powerful?”
“My magic is always spot-on, but it’s actually the Goddess who has all the power. I just ask her for what I need.”
“How do you know what’s needed?”
He glanced over at her and frowned. “Well, I know what Iwant. That’s usually all any of us know. The Goddess knows what we need.”
She nodded. “I think I understand.” That seemed like a pretty good answer.
Suddenly, as they were passing a copse of bushes, a familiar figure emerged.
Bruce gasped and froze in place.
Gaia stuck one hand on her hip. “Pan? Really? You’re crashing my date?”
Bruce just stayed frozen in one spot, staring directly at the young god with hairy goat legs, hoofs, and horns, who was laughing. His long goatee bobbed with his chin.
“I’ll bet he doesn’t know who you really are, does he?” Pan asked.
“And I’ll bet I wasn’t ready to tell him. I might never have, since I don’t think it’s a good idea anymore.”
Bruce finally recovered from his shock and stared at Gaia. “What does he mean ‘who you really are’? Wait a minute. Your name is Gaia…”
Mother Nature rolled her eyes. “Yes, it’s me. The Goddess.” She watched his expression as it changed from incredulous to starstruck.
“But…wait, you…I mean…how…”
Pan laughed again. “What’s the matter, priest? Cat got your tongue?” A black cat appeared in Pan’s arms, bit him, and ran away. “Fickle feline. So, mortal, did you think she wasn’t real? Have you been pretending all this time?”
“I…I…”
Pan crossed arms. “Oh, come on. Spit it out.”
The Goddess sighed. “Pan, now that you’ve ruined everything, I’ll have to erase his memory. In fact, get going, and I’ll do that right now.”
“Sure thing, Sugar.” Pan scampered off into the woods, and Bruce’s wide-eyed gaze followed him.
