by H. M. Gooden
"Pshaw. I was totally fine. But I probably would've eaten out a lot more. That's true. So how long do you think until you come back?"
Mai shrugged. "I'm not sure. For now, it's all I can do to keep the kids located in the village. I'm just lucky it's a small town and that everyone's keeping an eye out for them. I found Freya trapped between the baker's and the florist's shop the other day. Thankfully, they were able to get her out and bring her home. I think I've developed three white hairs this week alone. I'm not sure when I'll feel safe bringing them anywhere and I don't think I'll ever be able to travel without them. They're my heart now. I feel actual physical pain when I'm not close to them."
Vanessa looked at her wistfully. "You look good as a mom. And Jake is amazing as a dad. You're where you guys belong. I'm so happy you found each other. I hope that I find someone as good for me as you two are for each other. And hey, maybe I'll have kids one day too." Vanessa paused. "But not too soon. I want to do a little living first. Luckily, I think my kids will come out one at a time when they do. And maybe just one in total."
Vanessa looked up to the right thoughtfully, before nodding decisively. "Of course first, I need to find the right person. And that's not anytime soon, I don't think. I'm not ready yet."
Mai impulsively hugged her. "You just never know. I never thought I'd be here, and yet life has a funny way of working out when you least expect it. Make sure that you visit soon. I'll be missing you. And make sure you call often. I want to hear about your crazy Hollywood hijinks."
"You got it. Take care of the little ones."
Vanessa hugged her back and they walked over to join the others. After another round of hugs and tearful goodbyes and chasing the kids out of the Summerland gate, Mai and Jake said a last goodbye and waited until their friends had faded out of sight.
"That was short and sweet, but it was so nice to see them. Are you okay?"
Jake put down a wriggling Peter and Gaia, who promptly changed into dragons and zoomed away. Freya was still content to be held in Mai's motherly grip, but when she saw her siblings escape, she fought for release as well.
Mai shrugged and let her daughter go, watching as the three children ran off together.
"It's always sad to watch them leave, but this is our life now. Honestly, it was a little weird to see them here. I think that this is the start of a new chapter for us. San Francisco feels like a lifetime ago. I'll miss them, but I have everything I need here. How about you? You never got to say goodbye to your friends."
Jake smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
"My guys are fine to see me now and then. We'll visit soon. And I can pick up the phone and talk to them whenever. No big."
Mai shook her head. Guys were so weird sometimes.
"Well, should we head home? It's almost time for them to eat again. And I'm really hoping they take a nap because I'm completely done with today."
"Sure, let's go. Come here, wifey."
Jake held out an arm for her to take and she did. They walked arm in arm, following behind their youngsters with a sense of contentment. They didn't know what the future would bring, but for now, they had everything.
CHAPTER 22 VANESSA
Vanessa looked out over the San Francisco Bay. It was shrouded with fog, as it so often was. She'd enjoyed her visit with Mai, but mourned the change in their relationship. She still felt close to her emotionally, but knew that things would never be the same, considering the physical distance that was now between them. Mai was married and Jake was now her most important confidant and compatriot, not to mention the kids, who would keep them both busy for a long time to come. She thought back to their conversation about the future, wistfully considering the possibility of children of her own. She'd never seen herself as a maternal type, but damn, Mai's kids had made her wonder what it would be like.
She was glad that Cat had taken over Mai's room when she'd left. It would have been harder to be alone after having a roommate. They got along well most of the time, for sisters, anyway. And she had other friends, but none she was as close to as Mai. No one who understood the other side of life that most people couldn't see or understand. She stood up, turning away from the view and walking back the path to home.
It felt weird to be so sad when everything was going well, and she hoped that the feeling would soon pass. It was hard for Vanessa, with her emotional and sometimes impulsive nature, to stay calm when she felt adrift. She felt a breeze start to pick up and forced herself to stay even. It had become easier to make herself relax with practice, but sometimes her emotions still could make the weather around her unpredictable.
A sudden prickling on her neck caused her to shiver and she stopped walking. Looking around, she couldn't see anything on the path ahead, so she turned her neck to look behind her. The light from the park lamp was muted, but bright enough to see that there was nothing there. Uneasy, she turned around and called her power to her, ready in case of a fight, and picked up the pace.
Seeing the edge of the park appear in front of her, she felt her heart rate begin to return to normal until a figure stepped into her path, causing it to speed up again. Cursing her inability to read people the way Cat or Evelyn could, she kept walking, giving the person ahead room to get by on the path in the hope that they'd continue walking past her.
"Vanessa?"
A throaty voice as rich as caramel came from a figure that was still obscured by fog and the night, but Vanessa could see the person was wearing dark glasses and had a white cane tapping on the path in front of them.
A blind person? Vanessa felt calm wash over her as the prickling settled, as though it had been smoothed down by a warm hand.
"Yes? Who are you?" Vanessa asked the now visible person, who stood only a few feet away.
Vanessa watched as the woman stopped and tilted her head slightly to the side. Shiny dark brown hair fell in a sheet over one shoulder down the length of her arm and a small smile curved deep red lips. The dark glasses hid her eyes. Vanessa found herself curious regarding what colour they were underneath.
"A mutual friend told me where to find you. We have much to discuss and we must talk soon. You are not safe."
Vanessa scowled, irritated by the idea of more danger. "Says who? Which friend are you talking about? And you still haven't told me your name."
The woman bowed her head in acknowledgement. "My apologies. Names have power, you see, and I prefer not to speak mine in the open, in case unfriendly ears are nearby. Evelyn sent me and said we'd be able to help each other. She's had a dream, you see."
Vanessa felt her misgivings fade slightly. It felt like the truth. She also knew that Cat was waiting at home, so the safest place to talk would be there, even with taking the chance of inviting a stranger into their apartment.
"Well, I guess you should come with me then. We can talk inside, where it's safer."
The woman smiled, and tipped her head slightly in acknowledgement.
"I shall follow you there."
Vanessa sighed, and continued walking along the path with the feeling that big things were about to change in her life, but not yet knowing what that change would entail.
@2018 by H. M. Gooden
Cover design by Femigraphix Studio
Edits by Simon Rose @ simon-rose.com
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, business establishments, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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Did you love Dragons are Forever? Then you should read The Stone Dragon by H. M. Gooden!
Cat has finally settled into her new town and is happy with life just the way it is. Until the day that her friend Evelyn shows up on her front step, with a recurring nightmare that began after they defeated Declan.
A dark stranger surrounded by fire and destruction tortures her every night, and in order to help her, Cat must discover the truth about the dark man and his origins.
This time, they must face a much older evil on new ground. With the addition of a new ally, the girls will stand against darkness together.
Will they be victorious, or will they fall to his power the same way so many others have?
Read more at H. M. Gooden’s site.
Also by H. M. Gooden
The Dragons of the North
Dragons are Forever
The Rise of the Light
The Stone Dragon
The Phoenix and the Witch
Watch for more at H. M. Gooden’s site.
About the Author
H. M. Gooden has always loved the world of books, but over the last few years a new story has begged to be told, and as a result, this series was born.
In between dealing with children and work, the majority of the actual writing happens between four and six am and involves multiple cups of coffee for inspiration.
You can always find me @HMGoodenauthor on twitter, where I'm likely spending more time than I should, or on my facebook page, or at HMGoodenauthor.com.
I always love to hear from readers!
Read more at H. M. Gooden’s site.
