Chapter 14
Ifelt fabulous. Leo was being a typical newborn, crying and sleeping, and Theo and I were enjoying every minute of it. Even better, unlike when I had Charlene, there wasn’t a stream of leaders from every supernatural species coming to the door.
This morning it was Max. He’d brought Leo the most enormous unicorn soft toy I’d ever seen.
“I went into Hornsea because I knew you already had every Withernsea toy known to man,” he informed me, looking pleased as punch.
“We do, so it was very thoughtful for you to bring me this one to go along with them. I’ll just ask for planning permission for an extension,” I replied, laughing.
“I know. It’s huge. But, babe, what can I say, I like huge things.”
I giggled.
“Wow, Shell, having a baby looks good on you,” Max said. “I thought you were supposed to glow while pregnant, but you’re glowing now.”
“Because I’m free of my heavy load and have this gorgeous male to keep me company.” I sighed with happiness.
“Oh I thought Theo was still around, but yes, I am gorgeous,” Max quipped.
“Ha ha ha.”
“Lemme cuddle him,” he demanded, and I reluctantly passed Leo over. It wasn’t that I didn’t want others to snuggle him, I was just enjoying some post-birth bliss and wanted to soak it all up.
“Hey, little L,” Max cooed. “Oh, now I want one.”
“Brandon got you a diamond pretty damn quick, but I think you might have to be a little more patient for a baby,” I told him. They’d not been dating that long.
“I meant the unicorn. It’s been in the house a while waiting and I realised I should have bought two.”
I shook my head at him. “I know I’ve only been away from the dating agency for a day but is anything exciting happening?”
“Oh my god, yes! Boone and Zara went on a date and this morning Boone called me and requested another. I contacted Zara and she said yes. We might finally have found Boone a match.”
“Hold your horses, Max, I doubt very much Boone has told her he’s Fae yet.”
“I’ll hold Leo instead of a horse, but, I know, it could yet go wrong. However, Shelley, we need to be pleased. Boone got to a second date. It’s just like Leo, a kind of miracle.”
I couldn’t disagree with him there.
* * *
Just after lunch, I was surprised by a second visitor, Cupid himself.
“Come in,” I beckoned. “Leo’s just down in his bassinet in the living room.”
“At least you don’t have to fear Mathilde swapping him for a Fae child this time,” Cupid said, reminding me of one of the worst moments of my life, when I’d looked in Charlie’s cot to find her gone.
“Indeed.”
“Fate sends her love, but she’s busy organising other people’s lives today.”
I was secretly relieved. The more distracted Fate was with others; the more Theo and I might have some peace and quiet.
We wandered into the living room where I took a seat on the sofa and Cupid sat in the chair next to it.
“How are things with you then, Cupid? It must be nice knowing Lachlan and Jess are now remarried and madly in love.” He’d been instrumental, ie interfering, in getting his son and ex-daughter-in-law back together.
“Things are fabulous. Also, you might not want to make your maternity leave too long as Fate has things in store for my son and his wife.”
“They’re pregnant?”
“Not yet, but they will be.”
“Did you put Fate up to that?”
Cupid shook his head. “No. I got them reunited, but children are firmly down to Fate. Whether they happen or not, they’re together and happy and that’s what’s important to me.”
Jess had suffered a miscarriage in the past so I knew any future pregnancy would carry extra anxiety for my friend and colleague.
“If it happens, I’ll make sure to look out for her,” I told him.
“Thank you.”
“No. Thank you, and Fate, for the opportunity to get pregnant again myself without having to wait another hundred years. Now, would you like a drink and some cookies?”
“Is the grass green? Is the sky blue? Absolutely, I would.”
I rose from the sofa. “I’ll go fix us a drink and snack and you, Uncle Cupid, can keep an eye on Leo.”
As I left the room, I heard him say, “Uncle Cupid. I like the sound of that.”
* * *
Theo rose at four pm and was proudly strutting around the living room carrying Leo when the doorbell rang.
“That’ll be Polly and Drake,” I said unnecessarily as Theo knew my sister and her husband were coming. But as I threw open the door, they weren’t our only guests. Brishon, Drake’s father was with them. Polly shot me a look of apology.
“Hi all. Do come in,” I greeted them. “Duke Brishon, this is an unexpected surprise.”
“Thought it would be nice to come see the new little one,” he said. “After all, I met Charlene.”
“He’s come to double-check Leo isn’t fated to anything connected with the sea,” Polly whispered.
“As long as he hasn’t brought me a jar of dead flowers, live sea creatures, or pongy water,” I drawled. Under the sea, everything looked and smelled beautiful, but out of the water it all took on a look of death and a stench in order to deter thieves from stripping the sea. The last time Brishon had visited when I’d been the ruler of Withernsea, he’d coronated me in such filth.
“You’re safe. Drake checked before we left,” my sister reassured me.
In fact, Brishon continued to be the perfect guest, even offering to change Leo’s nappy and clothes when he had a ‘poonami’. Obviously, I knew it was a ruse to check him over for any clue of him being some future King or ruler of the water. Imagine my utter shock when Brishon startled and said. “A trident. Oh my god, I knew it. A trident.”
“Pardon?” I said, looking at Theo who winked at me.
“Shelley, come. I knew you wouldn’t be able to just birth a standard witch/vampire baby and would have to threaten my rule of the sea again,” Brishon huffed out. As I moved closer I saw a blue trident mark on Leo’s left bum cheek.
“It’s no good, Shelley. We’re going to have to change his name,” Theo paused dramatically. “To… Neptune.”
“Oh ye gods, he’s been reborn. The god of the sea,” Brishon exclaimed, placing a hand over his mouth and then dropping to his knees in a show of fealty. Huh, that wasn’t the greeting I’d got when we’d met.
I passed him a wipe. “You might want to use that on his little trident,” I said.
Brishon looked hesitant.
“I mean the trident mark,” I said.
Of course, it came straight off.
“Oh thank God, it was just a joke,” Brishon declared. “No disrespect, Shelley, but I could just about cope with you under the sea, and I do like Charlene, but a god! I would have had to step aside for him. Anyway, good one, Shelley. How did you know I was coming though?”
“I did it when I heard you were at the door. Grabbed the biro. Sorry, mate, but I couldn’t resist,” Theo stated.
“No apologies necessary. It’s quite amusing actually,” Brishon said.
Polly and I exchanged a look. Brishon… amused. That wasn’t something you saw every day.
Once Leo was dressed and upright, all three visitors took turns for a cuddle. Just before they left, Theo took Leo off Polly. Leo immediately screamed, moving his head as if searching for my nipple.
Theo began singing.
“Oh dear Lord, I do believe it’s time to go,” Brishon said. Polly and Drake quickly agreed, and we all left Theo in the living room singing, while I escorted our guests to the door.
“You have my sympathies, dear,” Brishon told me. “I should want him underwater.”
“Would he sound beautiful under there?” I queried.
“I meant holding his head under,” Brishon emphasised. “Only joking,” he added. “Yes, he would sound very musical under the sea. Unfortunately, I can’t do anything about when he’s out of it.”
I showed him my earplugs.
Brishon patted my arm. “Good idea. I’ll remember in case I visit again,” he told me. “I’ve enjoyed myself today. Being on land isn’t so bad after all.”
I exchanged another look with Polly and I mouthed, ‘visit again?’
‘He wants to start dating’, she mouthed back.
Oh God. I’d thought Boone was difficult to find a match for… but Brishon… he might be from the sea, but I wasn’t sure he was anyone’s perfect catch.