Secondhand Garagyre

Chapter 29

Chapter Twenty-Nine

PAISLEY

The town of Taggart , Texas , is bursting with holiday cheer. Everywhere you look, Christmas decorations and festive décor abound. The courthouse lawn boasts a massive Christmas tree covered in ornaments that catches the light the sun cast over it.

Hmmmm .

I wonder if Laithog would be interested in going to the annual lighting of the tree next week? Christmas is my favorite time of year, but this year it’s been hard for me to find joy in the season due to Patrick’s death. Glancing over, I see him peering at the tree in question with a curious look on his face.

Well , that decides that. I’ll surprise him with a trip to town to watch the city officially light the tree. Technically , the tree has had lights on it since right after Thanksgiving , but City Hall does a special ceremony the day before Christmas Eve to bring the whole town together in celebration.

I explained to Laithog earlier, after we finally got off the couch, that I haven’t been to my jewelry shop in a week. Not since my…altercation with Bradley behind said shop. It was imperative that I go to town today to check on it and make sure nothing happened to it during my forced absence. I chose not to tell my parents about the beating I suffered. There wasn’t anything they could do and it would just cause them more worry.

Which also means, that they didn’t run by the shop and check on it for me. I’m sure someone in town told them about me being closed all week but a few texts messaged to my mom had resolved that issue.

I told them I needed a small break from work because I wasn’t dealing well with my first Christmas without Patrick . After that, they left me alone for the most part. Mom couldn’t help herself so she checked on me a couple times a day all week.

Thanks to Laithog , I wouldn’t have to come up with excuses not to see them until the bruising faded enough to cover with cosmetics. My plan is to check on the shop, call my parents while I’m there, and invite them to lunch to meet Laithog …aka “ Lance .”

The sooner I get that ball rolling the better.

Convincing Laithog to go to town was easier than I expected it to be. He had just looked at me and says, “ I go wherever you go, little flame.”

With that thought in mind, he donned his glamour, I loaded myself, the dogs, and Laithog in my pick-up and off to town we headed.

He didn’t say much on our way here as he appeared to be content observing his surroundings and taking it all in over asking me questions. Out of the corner of my eye I can see Laithog craning his head this way and that way as we make the square and pull into a parking spot in front of my jewelry shop. I wonder how he’s processing the changes in our world that have occurred since the last time he was awake?

Is he overwhelmed?

Tentatively , I follow the tendrils connecting my soul to his, delicately touching the strands to get a read on my mate. I heave a silent sigh of relief when I find curiosity and inquisitiveness rather than any negative emotion like I feared. Thankfully , he appears to be taking his introduction in to modern society rather well.

Refocusing on the road, I smile when my shop comes into view.

Looking at the street entrance to my jewelry shop never fails to fill me with pride. It was a heck of a blessing to land a commercial spot on the town square. The business is much better here than it was in my original location several blocks away. More foot traffic and ease of access means more business.

“ Well , here we are!” I announce, pride clear in my tone.

Opening my door, I get out while the sound of the passenger door closing echoes that of my door. I shiver a bit as the crisp Texas winter air hits my exposed face. I’m glad I decided on a comfy turquoise colored sweater to go with my purple skirt with turquoise paisley designs on it. I added leggings under my skirt, too.

Cold air hitting one’s ass is not pleasant.

At .

All .

“ Wait ,” I command Merry and Pippin , before opening the back door. They know not to barrel out of the backseat before they have their leashes on, but it never hurts to make sure they’re listening. I would be devastated if one of my precious little loafs got hit by a car, especially if it was my fault for not being a top tier pet parent.

Leashes fully secure, I lift both of my boys out of the truck and set them on the ground before stepping up onto the sidewalk and walking up to the front door, Laithog trailing protectively behind me. My eyes flit over the front of my shop, checking for any disturbances. Relief fills me when I don’t see anything out of the ordinary.

Pausing , I dig my keys out of my purse and go to unlock the door when Laithog’s words stop me. “ Paisley , has the one you call Bradley ever been inside your place of trade?” he asks, interest heavy in his tone.

“ Now that you mention it, no. Bradley hasn’t ever been inside. He’s always stopped me on the sidewalk out front or ambushed me out back in the alley. Why do you ask?”

“ Mmm , I thought not. The stones you’ve displayed in the front windows are in clear view of the sky. Meaning , the moon charges them monthly, even if you sell a piece, I would hazard a guess that you fill the vacant spot as soon as possible in order to create another sale.”

Nodding my agreement to his statement, I pull the front door open and we all enter the building as he continues his explanation. “ You , however unintentionally, have protected your space from those that would do you harm. The turquoise jewelry you’ve exhibited out front is a protection stone. Since he wishes you ill will, he may not enter this place. I am sure he is not cognizant of that, though, most humans aren’t sensitive to the metaphysical. It probably never enters his conscious mind to come inside, since the stones repel negative energy.”

I’m astonished. Even though natural stone jewelry is how I make my living, I never really gave a lot of thought to the ancient uses of the crystals, as Laithog calls them. It humbles me a bit. Leaning down I unsnap Merry and Pippin’s leashes, letting them loose to muck about as they so choose, replying to Laithog as I do.

“ I have to say that I’m a bit embarrassed. Jewelry is how I support myself, but I’ve never researched the alternative uses for any of the natural stones. Humans that use rocks, stones, crystals, whatever you want to call them, are considered to be witches or wiccans in today’s world. It makes you different, not that it’s bad to be different, because it’s not. It’s just something that hasn’t ever really entered my mind or interested me…until now.”

A small smile creases his handsome visage and I have to force myself not to cringe. Laithog , observant creature that he is, notices the look on my face and wraps his tail around my waist, squeezing lightly to comfort me. “ I am still here, little flame. All is well.”

I roll my eyes at his choice of endearment for me even though his words are a comforting balm I didn’t know I needed. The tension that began coiling inside me the moment we left my house dissolves instantly with the reassuring weight of his tail.

A soft sound, reminiscent of the sexually arousing sound from earlier, begins to hum from within him. This time, instead of arousal, a sense of calming reassurance sweeps over me, eliminating my anxiety as if it had never been.

“ Do you have a sound for everything?” a slight edge to my voice as I question him.

He snickers a bit at that. “ No , little Paisley . Only the two. One to soothe and one to inflame. It is a male’s responsibility regarding the first, and a privilege earned for the second,” he responds with a playful leer.

“ Ugh ! Enough with that! There’s only so much this human woman can take. I have a few things to check on the computer, and I need to call my parents. Do you feel up to meeting them today? I haven’t seen them in a bit over a week. When I tell them I’m in town, they’re going to want to have lunch somewhere,” I say as I round the counter, walking through the doorway that leads to my office in the back, Laithog , as usual, right on my heels along with Merry and Pippin .

Shaking my head, I fight back a snicker of my own at how strange my life has become in the last twenty-four hours.

“ You wish me to meet your patriarch and matriarch?” The incredulous, yet hopeful, tone in his voice makes me stop abruptly, before I whip around to face him. I hear the snap of Laithog’s wings grabbing the doorjamb as he grinds to a halt, trying to keep from bowling me over.

“ You said we are tied together for the rest our, for me unnaturally, very long lives. Correct ?”

At his decisive nod, I go on.

“ So , yes. I want you to meet my parents. All things happen for a reason, Laithog . Yes , I’m still getting used to the different species thing, and the permanent bond that ties us together, but I’m not going to punish you for either of those things. I can feel you. Whatever magick is in this bond of ours, I can now feel your emotions, and I’m guessing you can feel mine.”

A brilliant smile pulls his lips back from his teeth and his glamour flickers for a brief second as his joy fills my chest. “ I was unsure if you would experience the full scope of a mate bond, since you are human…but it appears that you’ve bonded to me just as fully as a female Garagyre would!”

Scooping me up in his arms, he hugs me to him as a manic purr reverberates from his chest. Leaning into his hug, I wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. Letting him hold me and soaking up the happiness that’s overflowing into me from him.

It’s hard to be sad when your soul is being inundated with elation.