Page 82 of The Flame Game

“Yes. Now I understand why your father was strutting around. I mean, he usually struts around, as he is very much like a peacock. I really do like birds, which is part of your father’s charms. He’s like a very warm peacock who enjoys showing off. But you must have called him your father. Now I understand his peacock ways.”

“You like animals to a compulsive degree.”

“That did not take you long to figure out.”

“Sam is convinced I get my dumpster diving habits from you.”

“I have been told I am not allowed to retrieve any animals from any dumpster. As a result, I spent all of last night checking dumpsters for abandoned animals. As soon as the moon rose, I resumed my search. I found a nest of raccoons, but I left those alone. They didn’t need to be rescued. Your father should have learned by now telling me I can’t do something is a damned good way of convincing me to do it. I’m going to find new dumpsters to explore tonight on my quest to find some pets to rescue.”

Yep, she was definitely my mother. “I think Sam is resigned to how I will insist on rescuing animals from dumpsters, but he has told me I can’t adopt all of the animals I rescue.”

“That is a smart approach. For some reason, your father thinks I’ll actually heed his various little warnings when it comes to rescuing strange animals from dumpsters. My first step is to find an appropriate animal to adopt out of a dumpster. Alas, I lack your ability to find your way with ease. That is a gift from your father, although I temper your abilities somewhat.”

I pondered that. “He’s the reason I can find my way, but you’re the reason I can find my way efficiently?”

“That’s right. Do you have any recommendations on how I might find the dumpsters with animals in them?”

“May my father forgive me, but go to Manhattan. There are many dumpsters. If you can’t find an animal in a dumpster, you’ll find plenty of them on the street. Just be careful. The rabies outbreak there is serious. My father probably snooped into how often I’ve contracted rabies from rescuing animals, so he is concerned we’ll both become rabid on him. At the same time. That’s a lot for someone to handle.”

My mother laughed. “Yes, that is a concern for him. He’s trying to figure out how to rid the Earth of rabies in an allowed fashion so you will be safe while rescuing pets from dumpsters. It will keep him amused for a while. Tomorrow night, I will be working on a project somewhere remote, so don’t fret if you can’t get a hold of me. Your father has protective tendencies, and he is not quite ready to handle all of the women in his life creating trouble at one time. We must ease him into us causing trouble together, all right?”

“I am game for causing trouble. I’m very good at causing trouble. It’s one of my best skills.”

Quinn heaved a sigh and bowed his head. “It really is.”

“Since you missed that, my husband is coming to terms with just how honest I was by making that statement. But he acknowledged I am skilled in causing trouble.”

“Poor Samuel.” My mother laughed. “Please don’t worry if you can’t get a hold of me or your father. Your father is fretting, and when he frets, he spends every one of his moments where his light shines on you trying to mitigate the fates he dislikes. I told him you are his daughter, and it would take a lot more than some stupid human to do anything truly harmful to you. Just be a good girl and go to that place in Maine tomorrow and then go to Long Lake the day after, and plan to reach Long Lake in the morning hours. That should work best for what your father is trying to arrange.”

“Okay. We can do that.”

“Bring your darling pets with you, but leave the kitten in the SUV. Your puppies will be most important.”

“And you say my father tries to meddle,” I teased.

“I am so much better at protecting things than he is. It is my purpose. I’m merely doing exactly what I should. Oh. That reminds me. Your father is quite upset over those mortals.”

I sighed. “Remind my father that my husband’s uncle has been making preparations for them, and if he wants to be involved, that’s a good way to go about it. They’re digging their own graves, so it’s all right to just leave them be. I can handle those idiots myself.”

“Yes, you can. Good girl. In case your father doesn’t remember to call you tomorrow because of his scheming ways, we both love you. Now, I have more dumpsters to explore, for surely there are more animals out this time of night. And I might even adopt one just to drive your father a little closer to the edge of his sanity.”

My mother hung up, and I giggled. “She’s seeking out dumpsters so she can rescue animals, Sam.”

“Yes, she was trying to do that yesterday, too. I’m surprised you dove right in on calling her your mother.”

“She’s nice. It was easier than I thought. Because she’s nice. I figured I’d dive right into the awkward first daughter-mother conversation, but it wasn’t awkward at all.”

The waiter came, and my husband sighed, gave me his menu, and told me to pick for him, else we’d never eat dinner. Giggling, I went with my first plan, ordering him the kind of salad he enjoyed with seared tuna while I had a shameful number of tiger shrimp, one of which I’d save for him. I ordered us a cup of lobster bisque and a bowl of clam chowder each before ordering their most elaborate seafood feast for two. I ordered a pot of tea for myself so I’d feel fancy, and with a chuckle, my husband requested the same.

Once the waiter left, I raised a brow at him. “Tea?”

“I should ask the same, Bailey. You asked for tea, and you asked for it in such a way to lead me to believe you are excited to be receiving minty grass. Should I be concerned?”

“My coffee is better, I recently had my coffee, and I’d sulk if I had to drink inferior coffee. Anyway, I didn’t order minty grass. I ordered spicy grass I plan to add sugar and cream to. It’s like a dessert to go with my sea bug feast. I’m excited. You get to try something new, and I get to eat sea bugs!”

“I’m concerned the sea bugs will rise up and try to feast on me.”

“You’ll be okay. My mother said you’re not allergic, so you can eat without fear. She thinks one of the Quinn brides, at some point, was allergic to seafood, and gorgons are obsessive compulsive.”