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She brushed some of Daisy's wild hair from her face. "I had to sign some things to make sure we can live on Stonefire."
"So, it's all done? It should be moving day soon, right? Mrs. Barlow only let me pack one suitcase, but that's not all my stuff. And I couldn't bring all my stories and books about dragons with me, either. Which I need since I think they're going to be really important."
She laughed. "We'll be moving for good in the next few days. You'll survive without the rest of your stuff until then." She looked up and smiled at Mariana and Freddie. "Thanks for looking after her, Mari."
Mariana's English was teased with her Portuguese roots. "No problem. My Emily loved having a friend around. Although I think my son is happy she's gone."
Daisy's voice prevented Dawn from replying. "It was fun, Mum. But you had fun, too, right? And now I'll have a little brother and sister? And Mr. Whitby will live with us, too?"
Right, Blake. The man was a little nervous about first living with Daisy, and here Dawn had forgotten to include him.
She really needed to remember it wasn't just her and Daisy anymore.
However, Blake spoke before Dawn could say a word. "Call me Blake, Daisy. And yes to both questions—we'll all be living together from now on, and in about nine months, you'll have a sibling."
Dawn bit back a smile at how formal Blake sounded. He may like to help out at the school, but he clearly wasn't used to talking with kids on a regular basis. Dawn jumped in. "How about we all go visit our new home together? I heard that Freddie's mum should be there with some biscuits and cake."
Her daughter jumped back and clapped her hands. "Biscuits and cake? Are they a special dragon-shifter recipe? I had some last time I was here, but I can't remember the name. Do you remember, Freddie?"
The little boy grunted. "Ginger dragon biscuits."
"Right, ginger dragon biscuits. Did she make them this time, too, Freddie? Or maybe a special type of dragon cake instead? There might even be a yummy drink I've never tried before. There are so many possibilities now that I live with a dragon clan!"
Dawn laughed and decided that if she didn't start steering them all in the right direction, Daisy could go on about treat possibilities for a good half hour. "How about we go and find out? That's much faster than if you keep guessing."
Freddie looked at Dawn. "Can I take her ahead? I promise we won't wander off."
She eyed the young dragon-shifter a second before nodding. "No wandering. Or else I hear your uncle will pay a visit to remind you of the clan rules."
Freddie sighed. "I don't want another lecture from Uncle Zain." He took Daisy's hand. "Come on, Daisy. We can pick out the best pieces for ourselves if we get there first."
Before she could say they needed to wait until everyone arrived before eating anything, Freddie and Daisy were already running down the footpath.
Blake spoke up. "Don't worry, Dawn. If there are treats involved, children usually follow the rules. Or, so it's been that way at the school events."
She smiled at Blake and desperately wanted to ask him if he was doing okay so far. However, she couldn't just let Mariana stand there by herself. So Dawn looked at the woman and said, "You're welcome to stay for tea and cake, Mari, if you like."
Mariana shook her head, her dark hair swinging about her shoulders. "No, I need to drive back to Manchester before my children get off school."
Dawn walked up to Mariana and took one of her hands. "Thank you so much, Mari. And as soon as we're all set up here, you have to come visit."
Mariana gave a small smile. Dawn couldn't recall ever seeing her fully grin. All thanks to her ex-husband and his abuse, no doubt. The lingering effects had made the woman cautious, to the point Mariana had never allowed them to be closer than parents of two children who were friends.
Maybe she could find someone for Mariana on Stonefire. Not for purely selfish reasons, either, although Dawn would love to have someone from her old life around. Not to mention Emily was friends with Freddie and Daisy, too.
Mariana replied, "Emily would love that. I'm sure they'll want to set it up soon. Call me when everything has settled down."
She nodded and wished she could hug the woman. However, Mariana was careful never to touch anyone but her children. So Dawn merely replied, "Of course."
After a few more details were sorted and Mariana was escorted away toward her car, Dawn looked up at Blake as she took his hand. "Ready to start our new life?"
"Mostly. But for you, I'd do anything."
His words rang with truth, and it made her heart squeeze a little. She really hoped he could handle Daisy because it was becoming harder to imagine spending her life with any other man. "Well, then let's go. Otherwise, I'm afraid Daisy will sweet talk Sasha and eat four pieces of cake before we get there."
He chuckled and tugged her along the path. "Then let's hurry. I know what sugar does to children, and I'd rather not have my first night as a stepfather be dealing with a sugar rush and the ensuing crash."
"It'd be a good introduction, for sure." He raised his eyebrows, and she laughed. "Okay, not even I want to deal with it." She released his hand. "So I'll race you there."
