Page 74 of Dancing for the Minotaur

“Oh, yes–the flowers change according to the wearer’s emotions. Pink for happiness, blue for calm, purple when she’s feeling affectionate, yellow when she’s excited.”

“What happens when she’s angry?” Taurex wanted to know.

“Bright red,” the woman said, nodding solemnly.

Terra laughed.

“I might be seeing a lot of red.”

“She sounds spirited,” the Panther Monstrum purred, smiling.

“Oh, she is.” Terra smiled fondly. “She’s a little mini-me.”

She chose a bracelet small enough for Lisa’s wrist, but before she could reach for her purse, Taurex had already paid for it.

“Hey!” she exclaimed. “You didn’t have to do that.”

He smiled.

“Can’t the ‘Bull-man’ buy a bracelet for your daughter?”

His words were joking, but they touched something in Terra.

Jackson barely remembered Lisa’s birthday unless Terra reminded him, and she often had to put his name on Christmas presents she had bought herself in order to make the kids think he had remembered to get them anything. Every bit of money her ex made went directly to himself–he didn’t give a damn about his kids’ happiness or comfort.

Taurex had met her daughter once and he wanted to buy her something because he thought she would like it.

“Well…” Terra said, swallowing around the sudden lump in her throat. “Okay. Thank you.”

He smiled.

“You are welcome but let’s keep shopping–you have more souvenirs to buy, I’m sure.”

At the next stall they found something for Cody—a small silver seed the size of Terra’s thumbnail that expanded into a floating geometric puzzle when squeezed. The pieces rearranged themselves every time it was solved, forming increasingly complicated shapes.

“He’ll go crazy for this,” Terra said.

Taurex nodded.

“He asked many questions when we met. I thought he might enjoy something that challenges his mind.”

And again, before Terra could pay, he did.

She gave him a look.

“You’re spoiling my kids.”

“I bought each of them one object,” Taurex protested.

Terra put a hand on her hip.

“That's how it starts.”

Taurex frowned.

“How what starts?”

“Spoiling.”