by Erin Evans
Epilogue
So we did it. Sarah’s test of her abilities was way easier than mine. She didn’t almost die. From the big sister standpoint I was happy about that. From the “why me?” standpoint I was a little annoyed.
The werewolves and the Seelie Fae kept their word and voted “yes” for us. The UnSeelie Fae voted “no,” not a surprise. The vampires also voted “no,” a slight surprise, and Deerhurst, the Naga, voted “yes,” big surprise. I guess we had a connection, what with my almost dying and him saving my life and all.
Like any governmental institution, we were informed of our “tax requirement” before the ink was even dry on our membership papers. That caused a bit of a ruckus as the UnSeelie thought we should be taxed for all of mankind, and I pointed out that Midas himself didn’t have that much money, and was then informed that he did, he was just in retirement.
They eventually had to settle on being able to call on us for odd jobs. Our two skill sets could be very handy in covering up any magical faux pas. There was no way I would be able to, (or want to, for that matter) sneak money out of Mark’s and my bank account without him noticing, and Sarah was underage and jobless, so no great income source there.
Working for the USB was not an ideal situation, but it beat a lot of the alternatives. I knew it would mean more lying. The lying part didn’t bother Sarah at all, but it made me feel horrible. I think it was the difference in ages. She was still young enough to believe herself invincible. She would never die, get hurt, lose someone she loved, or get caught. I, on the other hand, was far more pessimistic in my old age. I’d been seriously hurt, almost died, and knew that one day Mark would find out. It wasn’t a question of “if,” it was a question of “when.” And when he did, would I lose him?
Fortunately for me, I am completely human. I can rationalize, justify, excuse, ignore, and, when push comes to shove, forget, any little fact that bothers me. I decided, along with Scarlett, to think about it tomorrow.
Later that night, after the girls were in bed, I tried to make it all up to Mark. As we lay there afterwards, snuggling under the covers, I realized that there was no point in worrying. The world could end tomorrow, but for right now, I was totally and completely happy. Of course that’s when my phone rang.
“Piper?” it was Cecily.
“Yeah,” I yawned. I threw on a robe and tiptoed into the living room so as not to wake Mark.
“Umm, I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“It’s about that statue you retrieved.”
“Yeah?” I yawned again.
“Umm, how can I put this?”
“I don’t know,” I said, “why don’t you quit beating around the bush, tell me whatever it is you think is important enough to call me in the middle of the night about, and let me go back to bed.”
“Well, it’s like this,” she paused, “umm, you haven’t, you know, with Mark, have you?”
“What?” I was confused, “Told him? No, I haven’t told him anything.”
“No, not told him. It’s just, umm, well, it was a fertility statue.”
“Yeah, I know. That’s why the weres and Fae wanted it. What’s your point?”
“Well, I was talking to Jonathan and it seems that it can have a sort of proximity effect.”
“Proximity effect?” I was totally awake now.
“Yes.”
“As in, just by being around it?”
“Yes.”
“As in, just by holding it, maybe?”
“Yes.”
“Cecily!” I almost yelled.
“I know, I know. That’s why I called you. I thought you should know.”
“I already have two kids, Cecily!”
“I know. Don’t worry. They don’t know how long the effect lasts. You could be fine!”
I groaned and hung up on her, then smacked my forehead a couple of times with the phone. Then, I crept quietly into my daughters’ room and watched them sleeping.
Megan had both arms thrown wide and was softly snoring. Cassidy was tucked up in a ball with her butt up in the air and her thumb in her mouth. They looked like little angels.
I almost yelped when Mark slid an arm around me from behind.
“They’re wonderful aren’t they?” he whispered.
“Yeah.”
“We’re so lucky,” he kissed the back of my neck.
“Mark?”
“MmmHmm?” he was nibbling my ear lobe.
“Do you want more?”
“More what?”
“Kids.”
“Do you?”
I thought about it, “I don’t know. I just get scared sometimes, not knowing what’s going to happen in the future.”
He kissed me again. “Piper, life is an adventure, and kids are the greatest adventure of all. So, I say, bring it on!”
The End
The Rhine Maiden Series:
Don’t Rhine on My Parade
It Never Rhines But It Pours
A Little Rhine Must Fall
Rhine, Rhine, Go Away
and
Rhinebows and Unicorns (Summer 2013)
Other Books by Erin Evans:
Food for Love: A Magical Romance
Connect with Erin Evans
Follow The Rhine Maiden Series on Facebook
Don’t Rhine on My Parade:
Piper Cavanaugh is The Rhine Maiden, a descendent of the sirens who lured sailors to their deaths with beautiful singing. After vowing never to use her supernatural power of command, she is more than happy to stay at home with her two little girls, but one tiny slip-up and her secret has come back to bite her – literally. Now she must win permission to join the United Supernatural Beings, or it’s open hunting season on all of humanity. While juggling toddlers, keeping her husband in the dark, and babysitting her rebellious kid sister, Piper finds herself befriending a vampire, stealing from murderous witches, and doing battle with Satan, otherwise known as her mother-in-law. And she thought grocery shopping with her kids was hard!
It Never Rhines But It Pours:
Rhine maiden, Piper Cavanaugh, is on the job as a Guardian hit-man, but can she execute an innocent witch? When she discovers her target has been framed, Piper must find the true killer or risk losing her job – and her life. As she sorts through a dwindling number of suspects, Piper tries to keep her trigger-happy vampire friend in line, fix a back-fired spell, deal with some unwanted house guests, and still find time to mother her two toddlers. With every use of her power of command bringing her closer to immortality, Piper soon realizes, it never “rhines” but it pours!
Cordelia’s Cookie Recipe
1 frozen package - Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough Bar
1 jar of peanut butter, crunchy or smooth
Preheat oven to 325°F
Open package and break off pre-scored square. Spread liberally with peanut butter. Enjoy. Repeat as desired. Remember to turn off oven when finished.
