Page 21 of A Seer and Present Danger

“Any fellas in your future?”

Him, leaning toward me, hand on my cheek, as if to kiss me…

“No, I don’t think so. Which is fine. I don’t even have enough time for my cat. There’s no room in my schedule for more.”

“Well, maybe there’s room for a little more.” Jules winked.

I shrugged, smiling. “Like I don’t have enough going on with work, the Rookery, and helping Bertie with the festivals.”

“Boast of the Coast this week, yes?” Dusi asked.

“Yep. The charity drive is going strong. We should have plenty of boxes full of toys, books, clothes and coupons by the end of the weekend.”

“Ordinary’s kids are so lucky to have a competitive Valkyrie on their side,” Jules said.

We lifted another table.

“It’s more than just Ordinary’s kids now,” I said. “Bertie talked Tillamook and Waldport into doing their own drives.”

Jules shook her head, but she was smiling. “So now Bertie’s competing with her sister and two other towns?”

“Yes!” I would have clapped but my hands were full of table. “And there is so much to get done. We start sorting donations today.”

We settled this table near the other.

“Why do you volunteer so much?” Dusi had already placed another table on her own. We all walked together toward the last two tables.

“Uh-oh,” Jules said. “You don’t have to tell her.”

Dusi threw an interested look my way (behind her sunglasses so I didn’t turn to stone).

I laughed. “No, it’s fine. I came to town a couple years ago. When I first arrived, I thought I owed a god a favor, and I took something that he told me was rightfully his.”

“Gods are jerks and not to be trusted,” Dusi said. “What did you take?”

“Um, all the god powers in Ordinary?”

Dusi let out a delighted laugh. It was high and musical and absolutely lovely. I’d never heard her laugh so loud.

“Good for you. Serves them right,” she said. “They are far too confident in their superiority and think they’re invincible.”

“Well, I broke the law. But because the god lied to me and because it was Mithra, who has a grudge against Ordinary, Delaney let me off with a warning and community service. A lot of community service.”

“Ah. It all makes sense now.”

“But guess what? Turns out I like it! I get to meet more people and help with all sorts of good causes.”

A knock on the door echoed through the space as if announcing our doom.

“That can’t be Bertie,” Jules said. “We still have at least a half hour, right?”

Futures flashed. All of them pointed to the same thing.

“Welp,” I said, “I guess Bertie decided she wants an even earlier tour of the Rookery.”

“Free will,” Jules sighed.

“Free Valkyrie will,” I agreed with a smile. “Maybe it’s extra strong.”