Page 33 of From the Edge

Keres was swaying with the boy in her arms. “I am excited that I get to keep mine this time.”

Mell smiled. “There’s a story.”

“Oh, yes. I should arrange a play date with this little bruiser and some of my nieces. I have four of the little darlings. An orc-goblin-mage hybrid will make all their papas nervous.”

The proud father grinned. “You spotted the goblin?”

“Yeah, well, I heard all about the blue psycho who tried to get at the cursed lady before she could be freed. Elves are gossipy.” She was tickling the baby’s cheek with her fingertip.

Mell smiled. “I am thinking of opening a daycare, Rowan.”

“Am I going to need a different contract?”

“Yes.”

“Which room?”

“Small ballroom?”

“Okay, I will create a direct entrance. Work hours?”

“Seven to seven?”

“Weekends?”

“No. Weekdays only.”

Rowan paused. “Are you up for a walk?”

Mell smiled. “Sure. Keres, Norec can take the baby if you need a break. He’s a heavy little dude.”

“Rowan or Norec?” Rowan asked.

“Both.” Mell giggled, and Keres snorted gently.

They walked, and Keres murmured to the baby in her arms. “It seems your auntie is doing something. Can you feel that power? That’s magic, little one.”

Rowan smiled and kept walking down the stairs and out the front door.

She looked left and right and then smiled and pointed to a spot, and a building began to take shape. She hummed and added rooms for different ages, bathrooms, a kitchen, a practice kitchen for the kids, and an office near the front door. Other things would need to be added. Security would need to be created.

She walked toward the building and looked at Mell. “How about this? That way, we don’t have to record everyone living in the big house for security scans. I think some might come to me early in their time here, or when they come back to town. Some may not have people to keep their credentials current. That would bar them from my home, and hospitality is my choice, not the licensing bureau.”

Mell blushed. “I didn’t think about that.”

“I did. I am a boring bureaucrat like that.” She gestured. “Open it. It should be fully accessible.”

Mell grinned and walked quickly to the building, opening the wide door and moving into the building.

Keres smiled. “What are you going to do about zoning?”

“This building was grandfathered in. It’s always been here. You haven’t been here before. You probably didn’t see it.”

Keres said, “They also need an outdoor spot to play in.”

“Oh, you mean that fenced-in area there off the side of the building?”

Keres laughed. “You are quick. But you really have the zoning?”