Epilogue It was the little things in life. #2
Even from the lobby, I could hear evidence of a family feud in progress somewhere deeper in the hotel. I gulped, heading to the lobby desk. “Please tell me the Quinn party isn’t destroying the hotel.”
The woman nearest to me grinned. “They aren’t destroying the hotel, Chief Quinn.
They’re doing a demonstration. It seems your family has decided to test their skills against your husband’s family, and they’re doing spars.
This has resulted in everyone having quite the good time, although it is noisy.
None of the guests are complaining, as they have been invited to watch.
This kind of entertainment can’t be bought. ”
Well, that was something. At least our families were keeping themselves amused before dinner. “And lunch and dinner preparations?”
“The lunch spreads are being prepared right now, and all is going well. Dinner plans are on schedule. The caterers are checking in with us every hour as you asked. There was one issue, but it turns out there is excess food rather than insufficient food.”
“What we don’t eat should be delivered to the nearby soup kitchens.”
“They are expecting to have so much they will overflow. It seems the estimated amount of food was accidentally tripled.”
I frowned. The regular order of food had been deliberately designed to provide meals for the homeless, with various dinners prepackaged to be taken out.
At triple the volume, we could feed the homeless in the entire city with extra to spare.
“Let me get back to you about that problem in an hour. Just instruct them to package the excess for shelters and the homeless, and I’ll worry about distribution. ”
The Devil had minions, and the heavens had its fair share of angels. Given twenty minutes, I bet I could set up a competition for who could get the most food passed around to those in need.
“Excellent. I’ll let them know. Chief Quinn was looking for you earlier. It seems he noticed you had staged an escape.”
Damn it. “I swear. He gets worse separation anxiety than Rabies the Wonder Wolf.”
“Yes, I do,” my husband said from behind me. “I see you’ve been causing mayhem again.
Busted. I turned around and wielded my best smile like a weapon. “Oh, it’s the best husband in the entire world. How are you doing?”
“I’m wondering why my wife ran away.”
“The Devil made me do it!”
“I really did not,” my uncle complained. “Why are you blaming me? I helped you because you’re holding visitation rights over my head.”
“Well, you are the Devil, and as I like my soul where it’s at, and I have what you want. I will ruthlessly use what I have to get what I want. But thank you for cooperating with minimum complaint. I had a good time.”
“You’re teaching her to be extra feisty, Sam,” the Devil muttered.
“Honestly, I’m really pleased with the results. Ah.” My husband chuckled and went to Jeffrey, holding out his hand. “I understand now. It seems my wife has hoodwinked me again.”
“She seems to be quite talented at that,” the commissioner’s uncle replied with a smile. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done.”
“I’ll take the Dowry family to one of the smaller meeting rooms, Bailey.
Some things don’t need to be public, so we’ll make the delivery and go watch your father and Anubis pick fights with each other while everybody make bets and laughs.
Your mother’s already here, though she won’t be able to manifest until later in the afternoon, so you’ll get to see both of your parents at the same time. Please try not to cry.”
I’d learned one thing: pregnancy hormones meant I was going to cry. Early, often, and without remorse. “That’s not happening, Sam.”
My husband sighed. “A man can dream.”
“Yes, you can. Go get his family gathered.”
“I’ll go with him,” Jeffrey offered. “It’s not as though anyone will recognize me anyway. Time has done its work. I can’t even recognize myself.”
“No,” my husband disagreed, giving the commissioner’s uncle a pat on the shoulder.
“Trust me on this one. They’ll see you, and they’ll know.
They’ve been waiting for this moment for years.
Stay with Bailey until I text her phone, and then we’ll send you in.
Your family needs this as much as you do. ”
I gave it ten minutes before he managed to herd everyone, as my husband had a talent for making people do what he wanted. “Excited?” I asked.
“Terrified,” he admitted.
I understood that. “Well, do your best. They’re good people, and they’ve been looking for you for a long time.”
“That’s why I’m terrified.”
My husband tossed me to the wolves, chickening out on delivering Jeffrey to his family. After shooting him a glare promising retribution in some part, I decided I’d get my revenge in one simple way.
I asked Jeffrey to wait in the hall with my husband, went into the conference room, and took a piece of paper, a map of New York, a piece of chalk, and some ink with me. I left the door open behind me, as I expected the family would be following a pink, shimmering path soon enough.
Commissioner Dowry raised a brow. “When Sam said there was something we needed to see, I wasn’t expecting you with some paper. Is that chalk?”
“It’s a map, a sheet of paper, some chalk, and ink. Honestly, I don’t really need all of this stuff, but it works when I do it this way, and that’s that. Sam gave me your case.”
The entire family stilled, and I took the moment to look over the gathering, which consisted of Commissioner Dowry, his wife, six older people I could only presume were parents or grandparents, and several men and women around Dowry’s age, likely siblings or cousins judging from the similarities in appearance along with their wives.
All in all, twenty-three people filled the room, all waiting for what I had to show them.
“I see.”
“I’m a wayfinder, Commissioner Dowry, and this is what I need to find where you need to go.” I frowned, eyeing the paper and the rest of my supplies. “Honestly, I’m just being an ass and could tell you where you need to go, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“You know what happened to my uncle?” Dowry asked.
“Yes.”
I gave the family a chance to process my single word, and a myriad of emotions played across their faces, ranging from hope to grief.
“The wayfinders we spoke to all said the same thing. It cost more than we could afford to do what we needed,” he said, his brows furrowing. “Why are you different?”
“I wanted it bad enough, as do you. Sam seems to think my magic is directly tied to need. The more need I have for it to work, the more likely it is to work. That’s his theory, at least. Was it easy finding your uncle?
Not precisely. I had to throw a bit of a fit to make my magic work, but that’s fine. It worked. Are you ready?”
The Dowry family exchanged glances, and after a long time, the commissioner nodded.
“Severe fast onset Alzheimer’s resulted in your uncle’s disappearance. One day, he was fine. The next, he couldn’t remember anything, and because he’s an Alzheimer’s patient rather than suffering from standard amnesia, the missing person’s databases didn’t align when the NYPD searched.”
“Alzheimer’s?” the commissioner blurted.
“You would have to ask an angel what induced it. I can’t tell you that.”
“What happened to him?”
Poor Commissioner Dowry. His tone led me to believe he expected the disease had finished its wretched work.
“I established a trail, and on our way home from our honeymoon, we visited a mental hospital in Delaware, which is a long-stay facility run by the state. We identified him, and the state began treatments. He was released this morning and is waiting with Sam to see you. Sam, however, seems to be a chickenshit today, and he’s making me come in here and tell you all about this. ”
“I’m not a chickenshit, Bailey. I’m just not the one who found him, so I shouldn’t steal your thunder. You did the hard work. I just drove the rental.” My husband poked his head into the door. “Please don’t stir the ire of the tiny terrors starting a path that leads right around the corner.”
Damn. I threw my hands in the air, gathered up my supplies, and faked a sniff. “You’re mean, Samuel Quinn.”
“I’m sure I’ll find some way to make it up to you later. Your father is looking sad and lonely down the hallway. Apparently, he hasn’t gotten a hug yet today.”
For fuck’s sake. I loved my father, but sometimes, he drove me to the end of my rope and gave a few tugs to see how crazy he could make me. “I hugged him yesterday. Numerous times.”
“Yes, but that was yesterday. That’s not today. I’m siding with him, my beautiful. It’s a sad day without a hug from our cindercorn. Now that you’ve done your part, I’ll go do mine. Go enjoy some time with your family and try not to cause more trouble than you can handle.”
“I like that you’re acknowledging I’m going to cause trouble.”
“I love you, but you are the Calamity Queen. Where you go, trouble surely follows.”
That I was, and yes it did. “Whatever you say, Trouble.”