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It was for a new library, as well as reading space. An addition of some computers was also on the list. He asked them why they thought it was a bad idea. Jude answered him first, but he could tell that Tracy didn’t agree with her ideas either.
“We have a library here.” He asked Jude how long it had been since it had been updated. “That I couldn’t tell you, but I do know they’re getting books in weekly they set out for people to read.”
“I think the reading space is a good idea. But without walls. Well, we could have walls, but only in the colder months.” Duncan asked Tracy what she had in mind. “I love to read. I’m sure you guys do as well. There are enough books in this place to put any library to shame. However, I know for a fact you can buy readers, several of them, and put an infinite amount of books on them. Erase the ones you’ve read to make more downloadable. That’s what I use. As for the having no walls, there could be a lovely park to read in. Chairs set in different places around the park. Easily moved ones a person could take with them to read in their favorite spot. A place to have quiet time. A brook that might be making just enough noise so that a person could nap should they need it. A refuge, I guess you could call it.”
“I love that idea. I can see a lot of people using it.” Tracy said that children would have their own park, with animals and such to play with. “Yes, I’m loving this so far. I think it’s a brilliant idea.”
“However, no computers in the park or in the reading area. The readers are only used for reading. No online searches while out in the park. No Wi-Fi, I think. A place that can be used simply to wind down. Step back from the electrical age.” Duncan asked her what made her think of this. “The other day, I was in the little park that was made for Dante. I just realized she’s my grandmother. Anyway, I was there, just smelling the different flowers and reading about the trees. A bunch of kids, about Abe’s age, came into the little space and turned on their phones to play music. It was disheartening to know they were only there because their parents had kicked them out of the house for quiet time for them. The kids were talking about how their parents weren’t into their music. I didn’t mind the style; I did mind the volume.”
“We could put in a media room too.” Tracy nodded and thought it was a good idea. As the two of them tossed ideas back and forth, he set the library addition aside. Pulling up the next paper, he looked at it for five minutes before he realized neither of the women were speaking. They were looking at him with an odd look on their faces.
“What are you upset about?” He asked Jude how she’d come to that. “You’re talking to yourself. Actually, you’re cursing too, but it was the talk that had us looking at you. What’s going on with whatever you’re looking at?”
“Do you remember Mr. Bloom? He was here at Christmas. Remember how he and Abe connected well?” Jude mentioned how she’d taken Abe to his house a few times last week. “Yes, that’s right. Well, he passed away the day before yesterday. Abe and Tracy are mentioned in his will.”
“Me? Why me? I mean, in a will, does that mean I might owe him something? Because if it does, I’m not going. I doubt even Abe would go.” Duncan told her that all it said was they were mentioned. “Can you find out?”
“I’ll check, but I doubt you owe him anything. Usually, when someone is mentioned in a will, they’re going to get something. Not the other way around. The person has died, so I’m thinking he doesn’t believe you owe him anything.” Tracy glared at him. “And that is such a teenager thing to do, love.”
“Good. I’m not sure what he’d be leaving us. To be honest, I didn’t talk to him as much as Abe did. And the one time I was there with my brother, he offered me his library to use while they worked on a project the two of them had started.” She looked hopeful. “Do you think he might have left me some of his books? He has a—had a large collection of all sorts of books.”
“We’ll have to find out by going to the attorneys tomorrow. We’re to be there at ten in the morning. Is there anything going on that I need to know about first?” Jude told him nothing, and Tracy said she had a test for school, but it wasn’t until later in the day at three. “I’m thinking we should be done in plenty of time for you to make that class.”
After they left him to his work, he was able to finish up on two more projects. Duncan was glad for the help in getting through the paperwork. Jude had taken half of his workload and had finished most of them already. He would be glad when he was caught up. Then he’d only have one or two a day to deal with instead of the four dozen or so he’d been putting off in favor of the holidays, as well as getting the castle ready for he and Jude to live in.
Chapter 10
Jude watched the line running through the building before she had them shut it off. Something was off here, and she knew it had to do with human error rather than anything with the lines. So far, she’d been able to track five packages, and each of them had gone to the correct line to be loaded onto the right truck. She turned when Remi said her name.
“Did you know when we got here today that there was over a million dollars in missing product?” Jude told her she’d foun
d it already. “How? And you should have said something, damn it. I have other shit I can be doing if I’m only here to chase your fucking tail. I’ve been looking for over two hours.”
“What’s the matter?” Remi asked her what she meant. “You’ve been snapping and biting since you got here. I can only imagine what you said to any of the employees. This isn’t like you. What’s up?”
Remi opened her mouth but closed it immediately before letting out a long breath. Remi, short for Remington, sat down on the floor. When she shifted to her other self, a vulture, Jude cocked a brow at her. Something really was off if she’d rather be a bird than to speak her mind. As soon as she changed back, Jude joined her on the floor.
“Three nights ago, I was flying over New Town. I was seeing how far my new home was going to be from the castle. It’s not far, but I saw you out in the yard talking to Tracy. Who I love, by the way.” Jude said that Tracy loved her as well. “I’m super jealous.”
“Because I have a back yard I can speak to someone in? I’m sure you can have a back yard as well.” Remi growled. “Doesn’t work on me. Not that it ever did, but tell me or go away. I don’t have time for your bullshit, nor you having a childish temper tantrum.”
“I want a child of my own. I don’t want a mate. I don’t have time to clean up after them. But I want a kid I can take out to lunch when I want to go. Someone to go shopping with. Stuff like you do with Tracy.” Jude asked her what she was talking about. “A kid I can have fun with.”
“Okay, first of all, you do know you could call up Tracy, and she’d go to the ends of the earth with you.” Remi said it wasn’t the same thing. “I guess not. But have you seen the work that Mercy is doing for her new baby? A lot more than I think you want to invest in a kid to have lunch with. Besides, I think it’ll be an exceptionally long time before the kid can eat food, much less read a menu to order from.”
“Stop being an ass and help me.” Jude told her she was. “I don’t want a baby, dumb ass. I want a kid. Like Tracy.”
“You want someone to pull out when you’re bored and need someone to go with you.” Remi started shaking her head. “Yes, that’s all you’re talking about. I’m sure if you got a kid like Tracy, you’d find out that it’s a lot of work to have them want to go anyplace with you. Tracy is driving soon, and I’m betting I don’t get to have fun with her much more. She’ll be hanging with her own friends then.”
“That kid worships you.” Jude told Remi she did her too. “But she’s not mine. I want what you have.”
“I’d like to tell you that’s sweet, but it’s not what you want. I mean, think about what you’re saying to me. You want a kid. You want to go shopping with it. You want to have fun. What about what this kid is going to want?” Remi frowned like she was confused. “Tracy trusts me not to leave her at the side of the road when we’re finished with lunch. You haven’t mentioned the child staying with you. Twenty-four seven. That’s what you get when you have a kid. Also, you neglected to mention things like shopping for her. Or buying food so that it’s in the house when you’re not with her. What do you think this kid is going to do when you’re wrapped up in your work and can’t be going out with her? Usually, kids start out as infants and grow into the children that Tracy and Abe are. Are you really that bored you want a child to rear? Or do you want to handpick someone to be your companion?”
“I don’t know now.” Jude stood up and helped Remi up. “I’m not going to be any good at raising a family, Jude. I don’t want babies around. I don’t want to even think about having one either. I love my life the way it is. I get to make food for the restaurant, then watch to see if people like it or not. From what you’re saying, this kid will also judge me.”
“Yes, they do. I am incredibly lucky in that I have Tracy now. In a couple more years, she’s going to be off to college. Maybe find a man to love her, as well as have children of her own. Not for a long time yet, but it’s in her future.” Remi nodded. “Also, what if you find your mate and you find out he hates kids? And especially the one you picked up to have lunch with you. What will you do then?”
“He will not come between me and my child.” Jude laughed when Remi shouted about that. “Okay, you’ve made your point. I need to think about what I really want in life, and understand there are consequences with my choices.”
