“It’s not that I don’t like it. I like it fine, but I didn’t build it. You did. I need to do this for myself.”
Gaia let out apahsound and strolled over to a nearby tree stump, then plopped down onto it. “So you won’t even let me help?”
Aaron wiped his hands on a towel and strolled over to her. “Gaia, there is helping, and there’s doing it for me. That was just a perfect example of doing it for me. I could never have built that so quickly with my own two hands.”
She pointed next to her, and another tree stump appeared. He looked at it and looked at her. She crossed her arms and stared at him.
Sinking down onto the second tree trunk, he sighed. “I appreciate your wanting to help, but—”
“But it’s taking too damn long. Do you know how long it would take you to build this whole structure, one single block at a time, by yourself? I calculate it would take several weeks.”
“Noah said he would help as soon as he’s through building his own home down the hill. He said it’s almost finished.” Aaron pointed to another concrete square structure about half a mile down the sloped road.
“Okay, so that’s only a couple of weeks with a young, strong phoenix at your side. It’s still too long,” she said.
“What’s the rush?”
Gaia dropped her head into her hands. “I…I just want to spend some time with you.” Lowering her voice, she said, “I miss you.”
Aaron smiled and bumped her with his shoulder. “You miss me?”
She frowned at him, and then her frown slowly turned into a smile. “Yes, I miss you. From what I understand, people who like each other miss each other when they’re apart. Don’t make it weird. Don’t you miss me too?”
Aaron smoothed her long, white hair over her ear. “Of course I miss you, honey, but we both have important things to do. I understand that. I can’t just sit around and watch other people working hard day in and day out to rebuild their homes and businesses, then expect you to come along and snap your fingers to create the same for me.”
She sighed, then stood abruptly. “Fine. I’ll take it all down.” With a wave of her hand, the structure she had built disappeared, returning to the short concrete wall he had started.
“Would you like to lend a hand?” Aaron asked. “I could use an extra pair of hands until you’re called away.”
Her eyebrows rose. “You want me to what? Hand you blocks? One at a time?”
“Yes. That would be very helpful. Then I could just mortar them in place…unless you get tired. They’re fairly heavy. Then I can take over and do it myself, albeit a little slower.”
Gaia reared back and laughed. “You think this will make me tired? Try grabbing a hurricane by the tail and unraveling it before it roars all the way to the North Pole. A few hours of that and I might get tired. This? This is nothing. Let me at it.”
Aaron smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that. You might need to change your clothes though. You don’t want to get mud all over your beautiful white gown.”
She looked down at her gossamer robe, which she always belted with a vine, and her silk toga beneath.Now what should I wear?She had been teased mercilessly by Karma for her out-of-date fashion choices. She took a brief look around and said, “Are there any females working in construction on the island?”
“I’m sure there are. I don’t know where though.”
“I’ll be right back.” She snapped her fingers and disappeared into the ether.
“Karma,” she called out.
Her sister showed up with her hands on her hips. She was wearing a short, sparkly red dress and black high heels with red soles. She also wore an annoyed facial expression.
“What do you want, Gaia? I was dancing at a diplomatic ball in Prague.”
“Sheesh. I was just about to ask you for a little fashion advice.”
Karma’s jaw dropped. “Really? Sure! Of course. What’s the occasion?”
“I have a construction date.”
Karma cocked her head. “A what now?”
“I’m helping Aaron build his house, and he said I needed something else to wear. He didn’t want me to ruin my clothes.” She produced a breeze to ruffle her soft, white garments.
