Chapter 3
Beth sprawled across her bed, legs raised toward the ceiling as she wiggled her bare toes.
The pale pink polish from last week had started chipping, and she'd been contemplating trying out the nail art kit Naomi had given her.
Little silver stars and moons waited in their plastic case, promising a bit of whimsy for her toenails.
Her phone chimed from its spot on her pillow. Beth grabbed it, expecting another text from Naomi about dinner plans. Instead, she found herself added to a group chat with Jacinth and Layla.
?Let's take Molly and Yousuf to Nathan's for a play date and picnic!? Jacinth's message bubbled with her usual enthusiasm. ?Molly's kindergarten class is only half day and she's been asking to see Yousuf?
?Yes! Yousuf will be very excited? Layla responded.
Another message popped up from Jacinth: ?Beth, you should join us! I'm bringing my special hummus and pita bread?
Beth's fingers flew across her phone screen. ?I'd love to! I can bring a fruit salad? She bounced off her bed, already mentally cataloging the fresh berries and melon in her fridge.
An hour later, Beth pulled her green Prius up to Nathan's house, a large bowl of mixed fruit on the passenger seat. The sweet scent of strawberries, citrus, and melon filled the car.
Jacinth materialized beside Beth's car door in a shimmer of magic, making her jump slightly. The Djinn's long black hair cascaded over her shoulders as she leaned down with a bright smile.
"Come around to the side gate," Jacinth said, gesturing toward a wooden fence. "Nathan and Harper are in the city for some concert thing, but they said we're welcome to use the yard."
Beth followed Jacinth through the gate, her sandals crunching on the gravel path. As they rounded the corner into the backyard, she stopped dead in her tracks, nearly dropping her fruit salad.
A massive wooden play structure dominated the space - three stories of interconnected platforms, bridges, and towers that would put most park playgrounds to shame.
Swings of every variety hung from thick beams - traditional seats, a tire swing, even a rope swing that looked straight out of a Tarzan movie.
A twisting slide curved down one side while a rope climbing net covered another.
"Whoa! This wasn't here when I came last month!"
"Impressive, right?" Jacinth grinned at Beth's stunned expression. "The construction crew came over and built it all in one weekend. With so many kids visiting the jackalopes these days, Nathan mentioned needing a play area. Next thing he knew, the whole crew showed up with lumber and tools."
"It's incredible," Beth breathed, watching Molly and Yousuf scramble up the rope net. "They really outdid themselves this time."
"The crew said something about every kid deserving a cool fort." Jacinth eyed the structure with satisfaction.
Beth set her fruit salad on a nearby picnic table as Jacinth laughed. "I think there might have been some wish fulfillment involved. The guys kept arguing about what they'd wanted in their dream fort as kids. Next thing I knew, they were adding a second level. Then a third."
The late morning sun warmed Beth's shoulders as she took in the scene. A patchwork quilt spread beneath a maple tree created a cozy picnic spot where Layla reclined, her dark red hair gleaming in the dappled sunlight.
A movement from the large enclosure caught Beth's eye. Through the mesh fencing, she spotted a small form hopping toward the gate. The latch clicked as tiny paws pushed it open with practiced ease.
Beth's heart melted as Jill emerged, the jackalope's antlers barely more than fuzzy nubs sprouting from her head. The American Sable's rich brown coat gleamed in the sunlight as she bounded across the grass, her long ears swiveling to catch every sound.
Jill paused near their picnic blanket, rising onto her hind legs.
Her pink nose twitched rapidly as she scented the air, probably catching whiffs of Jacinth's hummus and Beth's fruit salad.
The jackalope's presence felt completely natural now, though Beth remembered the shock that had gone through the supernatural community when the baby jackalope had first shown up on Nathan's doorstep a few months ago.
"Hello, beautiful girl," Layla cooed softly. She'd fallen in love with Jill during her first visit to Nathan's, spending hours watching the magical creature explore her enclosure.
She held out a crisp lettuce leaf to Jill, who nibbled delicately with tiny bites. The jackalope's soft brown fur ruffled in the breeze coming through the open gate of her enclosure.
"Again! Again!" Molly's excited voice rang out as she zoomed down the twisting slide, her dark curls flying. Yousuf waited at the top, bouncing on his toes until she cleared the bottom. His previous shyness seemed forgotten as he launched himself down after her, squealing with delight.
"They've been at it for twenty minutes straight," Layla said, smiling as she watched her son. "I don't think he's ever had this much fun." Her voice held a touch of wonder, and Beth's heart squeezed, remembering what she knew of their past in the compound.
Excited shrieks echoed across the yard as they raced back up the steps for another turn. Jill's long ears perked up at their voices, but she remained contentedly munching her lettuce beside Layla.
Beth glanced around the yard, noticing the absence of Jill's mother. "Where's Sage?"
Layla's musical laugh rang out as she pointed toward the house. "I think it's mommy jackalope time out. She's been sulking by the sliding glass door since we arrived."
Following Layla's gesture, Beth spotted Sage lounging in a patch of sunlight near the glass doors.
Her rich brown fur gleamed with hints of silver, the impressive antlers casting delicate shadows on the ground.
The mother jackalope maintained a dignified pose, deliberately facing away from the play area where her daughter socialized.
Sage's ears twitched, clearly catching their conversation. The mother jackalope's nose twitched with what Beth could have sworn was indignation, but she maintained her aloof position by the door.
"Aww, who can blame her?" Beth gathered a few pieces of watermelon rind from her fruit bowl. "Every mom needs a break sometimes."
She crossed the yard, her sandals whispering through the grass. Sage's ears pivoted toward the sound of her approach, though the jackalope maintained her dignified pose facing the sliding glass doors.
"I brought you something special." Beth crouched beside Sage, holding out the pale green rind. The jackalope's nose twitched, whiskers quivering as she caught the sweet scent.
Sage finally turned her head, large dark eyes assessing Beth for a moment before delicately accepting the offering.
Her teeth made soft crunching sounds as she nibbled the juicy rind.
Beth smiled, reaching out to stroke the thick fur between Sage's impressive antlers.
The jackalope's coat felt like velvet beneath her fingers, softer than she'd expected.
"You're such a good mama," Beth murmured, scratching gently behind Sage's ears. Sage's eyes half-closed in pleasure as she continued munching her treat.
After a few more moments of petting, Beth rose and made her way back to where Jacinth and Layla lounged on the patchwork quilt. She settled onto a sunny patch of blanket, crossing her legs beneath her as children's laughter rang out from the play structure behind them.
Beth settled more comfortably on the blanket as she watched Jacinth unpack containers from a wicker basket. The rich scent of garlic and lemon wafted from an enormous bowl of creamy hummus, making her mouth water.
"This smells amazing," Beth said, reaching for a piece of warm pita bread. She dragged it through the hummus, scooping up a generous portion. The first bite melted on her tongue, drawing an appreciative moan. "Oh my god, Jacinth. What do you put in this?"
Layla pulled out a stack of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches wrapped in wax paper, along with two bags of potato chips. "I brought these for the children," she said, arranging the food on paper plates. "And of course they'll want some of the fruit. Oh! And I made deviled eggs."
"Speaking of hungry..." Jacinth's eyes sparkled with mischief as she produced a bottle of champagne from her basket.
With practiced ease, she poured the champagne into three plastic cups, the bubbles fizzing merrily in the sunlight, then pulled out a bottle of orange juice and tipped some into each cup.
"Mimosas? At a playdate?" Beth accepted her cup with a laugh, the cool plastic smooth against her fingers.
"It's never too early for a little celebration," Jacinth declared, passing the second cup to Layla. "Here's to your first week at your new jobs!"
"Here, here!" Layla raised her cup, the bubbles catching the sunlight.
Beth echoed the toast, taking a sip of the crisp, citrusy drink. The fizz tickled her nose as the sweet-tart flavor spread across her tongue.
"So how is it going?" Jacinth leaned back on one elbow, her long dark hair spilling over her shoulder. "The new jobs, I mean."
"Wonderfully!" Layla's face lit up. "I'll be starting working the evening shift with Beth on Monday. They've been so accommodating about my schedule with Yousuf. I'll work from four until eight, so I can get home in time for his bedtime. The other staff will stay later to close up."
Beth nodded, watching the children chase each other around the play structure. "I'm doing five to five. After the clinic closes at eight, I'll stay on to get everything set up for morning, and take care of the overnight patients."
Molly and Yousuf came racing across the grass, their faces flushed from playing.
"I'm starving!" Molly flopped onto the blanket beside Jacinth. "Can we have lunch now?"
"Me too!" Yousuf settled next to Layla, his dark eyes bright with excitement.