Chapter Twenty-One
Nico, leaning casually against a wall, arms crossed, watched on fascinated as Gigi worked.
Fussing over the arrangement of her chocolate and cookie trays.
They were at the Haven Bay Library, a massive gothic place where the locals could borrow books, research, gather, gossip, read, and just sit in the central light filled atrium room and drink coffee whilst reading the newspaper.
The atrium was all archways, columns, overhead stained glass, and dark wood panelling. From this central space you had easy access to all the library specialist areas such the Mystical and Magic Wing, or the Scientific and Medical Wing.
Today’s morning tea was better known as Story-Time Hour. A regular weekly session held so that parents could gather and discuss baby rearing challenges whilst their progeny were kept occupied nearby by trained professionals.
The proceedings supervised by Great-Uncle Nestor, a former educator, now retired, who’d happily volunteered to take on the responsibility of monitoring the recent additions to the Sanctuary.
Not just recording the babies’ developmental magical and mundane milestones, but perhaps more importantly, identifying any support the parents might require, as the babies’ magic and powers evolved over time.
Today was an auspicious occasion. Sunny Montgomery’s first outing. Accompanied not just by her mother, Nell, but her father, Drum, a permanent scowl affixed to his face as he searched constantly for any potential threats to his beloved nine day old daughter.
“Well?”
Gigi stood before Nico in her work uniform of white boat collared blouse, fitted to the knee grey skirt and large purple belt, matching her high heeled shoes, looking expectantly his way. Damn, she was gorgeous.
“Nico? What do you think?” She gestured at the large square table. “Is the room I left going to be enough for your trays?”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” He fought the urge to slip his arm around her waist and haul her in close.
“Are you sure the food’s on its way?” Checking her watch, toe tapping impatiently. Gigi did love her schedules, and Saint Medard, he loved her.
“I just had a text from Riordan. She’s five minutes away.”
“Good.” Gigi studied the setup, trying not to grit her teeth at the sight of those empty white spaces. It would be fine, besides, this event was running behind schedule anyway. All because of one stubborn, over protective Maat Warrior, who refused to leave his newborn baby’s side.
Glancing inside the Children’s Wing, Gigi had to bite her lip to stop from laughing.
Currently Nell, Hadleigh and Aunt Patricia, their assigned storyteller for the day, were all trying to coerce, cajole and convince Drum that Sunny would be perfectly safe if he joined the other parents at the morning tea on offer in the atrium.
“They’re never going to get him out of there.” Nico observed. And quite frankly he didn’t blame Drum one little bit. If he had such a precious charge to protect, he doubted he’d be able to trust anyone else with her safety either.
And everyone who saw Sunny Montgomery agreed, she was beyond precious.
And it wasn’t just that she was a beautiful baby, with a dusting of black hair, big deep blue eyes, and cupid bow lips.
It was her demeanour. Calm. Placid. But also watchful and assessing.
Her gaze seeming to drink in details of her surroundings and the people she met with much more maturity than should have been possible.
“They appear to be having just as much trouble with Gaia.” Gigi noted, amused, watching as her cousin knelt beside her son, Theo, and under the pretext of straightening his clothes or blankie, was actually stealing three corner jacks and assorted spiky thorny things from his grasp, and stuffing them into her increasingly bulging pockets.
Acting like this was completely normal and there was nothing unusual what so ever about the fact her son was able to produce a never ending stream of prickly things from thin air.
Gigi had heard on the grapevine that several times Great-Uncle Nestor had tried to broach the subject of Theo’s magic with Gaia, but that she deflected, either by changing the subject abruptly or bursting into tears, seemingly determined to live in denial of her son’s abilities.
Of course Hadleigh didn’t have that luxury with her escape artist son, Asher, and his ability to combine objects into potentially deadly weapons.
The issue further exacerbated now that he was crawling.
Not that anyone had actually witnessed him do so, but there was no other explanation for how he managed to turn up in places he shouldn’t have access to.
His mobility skills perhaps not so surprising, given Asher’s height already, and that his father was a Maat Warrior and his mother was a descendant of Odin.
Nor was anyone shocked that Asher appeared to have emerged from the womb with suped up hunting and superior predator instincts.
The grapevine advising Hadleigh had recently purchased a bulk load of Zumba vacuum cleaners, as Asher had developed a fixation; stalking and by all accounts gleefully destroying the automated bots.
It also explained why Asher wasn’t just strapped into his car seat but why those straps were held together by five thief proof high grade locks.
Hadleigh appearing to have perhaps unwarranted faith in the new locking system, as all her attention was currently fixed upon watching Nell attempt to move her man mountain of a mate.
A smile teasing up the edges of Hadleigh’s lips, no doubt thinking about all the times she’d had to deal with her own stubborn ass mate, Vaughn.
And how pleasant, just once, it was not to be the one trying to reason with a mule headed Maat Warrior.
“Perhaps we could move the table and chairs closer to the babies?”
“No. I’ve asked on other occasions. Nestor wants a safe, quiet space for the parents to unload without nearby distractions.”
“Then we wait.”
Gigi huffed a sigh, resigned that the schedule was completely blown.
Unlatching Canary’s small rattan cage attached to the belt at her waist, placing him on her shoulder in readiness.
Once Nico’s savoury trays arrived she’d find a discreet spot on the table for Canary so anyone who felt the need to test her treats before eating them could do so.
Idly she studied the Children’s Wing through the massive arched doorway.
It really did look great, the renovation had been top notch.
Lush green carpets. Wide open spaces for the children to run around.
Reading nooks full of beanbags awaiting anyone who wanted to read in quiet.
And row upon row of gleaming oak handmade shelves, filled with colourful books.
And standing sentry, on top of the bookcases, were fantastical hand carved figures; knights, dragons, ogres and fairies, just to name a few.
More of those hand carved figures decorating the wood poles supporting the small stage built off to the side.
A place where small plays or shows could be performed, or in today’s case, a storyteller could comfortably sit, whilst their audience looked on from the comfort of their car seats.
“Is it just me, or is Theo going overboard on the sharp and prickly stuff today?”
Gigi eyed the bulging pockets of Gaia’s long skirt.
“I think perhaps he’s trying to impress Sunny.
” In fact, both baby boys appeared fascinated by the new addition, who’d been placed between them.
Glancing her way constantly, Theo ignoring his mother, Asher ignoring the straps securing him in place. “Oh, Aunt Patricia wants me.”
Gigi, with Nico two steps behind her, entered the Children’s Wing, approaching Patricia, who was looking hard pressed not to use her powers to blast one stubborn ass Maat Warrior off his feet and roll him out into the central atrium.
Gigi quirking an inquiring eyebrow at her cousin, wondering why she’d been summoned.
“Hey. Do me a favour and distract the babies whilst I get physical and strongarm Gaia and Drum out of here as discreetly as possible.”
“Distract how?” Gigi was puzzled. She was neither dressed appropriately or prepared to entertain three small infants.
“The bunny, darling.” Patricia waved a hand at Canary, perched on her shoulder.
“There’s nothing the littlies love more than something cute and fluffy.
Though I wouldn’t advise letting him get too close to Asher.
If that child doesn’t get a handle on his hunting instincts soon, we’ll all be waking up in the early hours to find him looming over us with a sharp weapon testing how good our security measures are. ”
Hiding a shudder, Gigi circled around Nell, who was pleading softly with Drum to relax a little, promising there would be some nice calming chamomile tea on offer out in the atrium.
Nico stood off to the side, as Gigi plucked Canary off her shoulder, placing him on the small stage.
The dark purple furry little showman waggled his long ears and twitched his nose adorably.
Hopping to the very edge of the stage and shaking his little tush.
The three babies transfixed. Oblivious to Patricia reaching down, grabbing Gaia by the elbow and practically lifting her to her feet.
And then, with arms open wide, acting like barriers, Patricia physically backed both Gaia and Hadleigh out into the atrium area.
Okay, two sets of parents down.
Now for the immoveable object. Nico didn’t like Patricia’s chances.