Searching for Thanksgiving (Dragonlings of Valdier)

Epilogue

S everal weeks later:

“What do you think she is telling him?” Paul asked.

Morian chuckled. “I think she is giving him advice on how to court Crystal.”

“That sounds like our Morah,” he replied with a low laugh.

He wrapped his arm around Morian’s shoulders, and leaned back against the seat of the swing. He couldn’t help but think about how much he loved this world as he relaxed back and enjoyed the early afternoon sunshine. The garden was filled with laughter. Men and women alike were placing platters and dishes on several long tables for Valdier’s first ‘Thanksgiving’ celebration.

The kids had come up with the celebration idea, and Zoran had declared it as yet another holiday. Vox and Ha’ven were so impressed by it that they were already planning on introducing it on their planets as well when they returned. Vox said it was a great excuse to get everyone together—plus, he loved the feast.

Paul smiled when Shelly and Jack strolled up to them. He had been impressed with the other man’s shrewd defense of Devon, especially considering the short amount of time he had to put together his defense case. Jack returned his smile and looked around the garden.

“How are you and Shelly settling in?” Paul asked.

“Good. We are building a house near Christoff and Edna. It should be done in another month or so,” Jack replied.

“You know we could have one constructed within a few days,” Morian replied.

Jack nodded. “Yes. Zoran offered to have one created. Shelly and I talked about it. Before I became an attorney, I worked in construction for a few years. We decided it would be nice to build it together… with a little help from Christoff. I’m a bit rusty, but it is coming back pretty quickly.” Jack paused and watched Devon walk over to Crystal and Trisha. “You know, if you would’ve asked me a year ago if I thought I would be starting over on an alien planet, I would have laughed you out of the courtroom, but now… I can’t imagine being anywhere else,” Jack confessed.

“I agree,” Shelly said, leaning into her husband.

“Crystal appears to be settling in as well,” Morian observed with a pleased smile.

Shelly nodded and lifted a hand to the corner of her eye. “She has. She loves her little cottage.”

“And Devon,” Paul added.

Shelly laughed and nodded. “Yes, and Devon. He has been helping us with our house. They are taking it slow. They are both working through a lot of emotional baggage, but they are doing it together. I’ve seen a huge change in Crystal. I can’t tell you how much it means to Jack and me what your daughter has given us. She is truly a remarkable little girl.”

“Thank you. She’s a lot like her mother,” Paul said, lowering his arm to thread his fingers through Morian’s.

“He says that, but I never would have taken off on an adventure like Morah did at her age!” Morian replied with a shudder.

“She did it wearing a princess gown,” Paul chuckled.

“From the tidbits that I’ve heard, this isn’t the first time the kids have gone on an unexpected adventure. Christoff was telling me about the older kids coming to visit him one Christmas,” Jack said.

Paul nodded. “Let’s just say life can get a bit interesting when the dragonlings hear a story that captures their imagination, and they take it to heart.”

“Something tells me it might not be the last time either,” Shelly laughed.

“Goddesses help the adults when that happens!” Morian jokingly retorted.

“I think they might be just as bad about helping them,” Paul chuckled.

He looked around when his dragon snorted with amusement. Lifting his gaze, he swore for a split second when he saw a shimmer of gold and a pair of dainty matching slippers hovering above a branch in the tree above them. When he blinked, only the faintest of light laughter danced on the wind.

“Hey, Spring,” Roam called.

Spring turned from where she was gathering a basket of fresh paw-paw fruit from a tree to add to the table. The fruit was sweet, juicy, and meaty. She had hoped there would be enough ripe ones for their feast. So far, she had half a basket.

“Hi,” she shyly replied.

She held the basket in front of her and waited. A rosy blush rose into her cheeks when she noticed how handsome Roam looked with his almost white hair tousled by the wind. He was wearing a white shirt and dark khaki pants with a pair of dark brown boots.

“Whatcha’ doing?” he asked.

She held up the basket. “I thought everyone might like some paw-paw fruit. It ripened a little early.”

He frowned and looked at the round, purple fruit with an expression of uncertainty. “It looks… weird. What’s it taste like?” he asked.

“You’ve never had paw-paw fruit before?” she asked with surprise.

He scuffed his boot against the ground and shook his head. “Naw. I don’t think we have that on my planet.”

She lifted a piece of the fruit, checked to make sure it was clean, and lifted it to his lips. He opened his mouth in surprise. She popped it inside when he did.

His eyes widened with surprise when he bit down on the sweet, delicious fruit. He grinned at her, showing off a taint of purple on his teeth and tongue. She giggled. Fortunately, the color would fade fast.

“That’s really good!” he mumbled around the last bit before he swallowed.

“It is. Have you ever tried Sweet Meadow?” she asked.

He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

She reached down and cupped his hand in hers. She stopped in surprise when he didn’t move with her. Instead, his hand tightened around hers, and he held her still.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you want to try some?” she asked.

“I-I—,” he stuttered before his face flushed, and he leaned into her.

Spring’s lips puckered in surprise when Roam pressed his lips against hers in her first kiss. The sweet tang of paw-paw juice clung to his lips. She stood frozen, unsure of what to do. She slowly closed her eyes and leaned into him.

“Spring, where are you?”

Roam pulled back, stared at her for a brief second, before he muttered something unintelligible under his breath and bolted. Spring stood staring after him as her mother rounded the garden path. A slow, silly smile curved her lips, and she lifted a hand to touch her lips.

He kissed us! her dragon muttered with a grunt.

Yes… yes, he did.

“There you are! We are about to eat,” Carmen said.

“Okay,” she replied, still grinning as she clutched her basket of precious paw-paws to her chest.

“I just saw Roam run by. Is everything okay? You two haven’t been fighting again, have you?” her mom asked.

“No, we weren’t fighting. He must have known the food was ready. He is always hungry,” she said, blushing at the small fib.

She paused when her mom lifted her hand and pressed the back of it to her flushed cheek. Her mom frowned and studied her face. Spring could feel her cheeks growing warmer as her lips tingled.

“You look a bit flushed. Are you feeling alright?”

Spring grinned at her mom. “I’m fine. In fact, I think this is going to be one of those days you and Dad say you never forget,” she confessed with a deep sigh.

“Good afternoon, Lady Trisha.”

“Hi Devon. How are you doing?” Trisha replied.

“I am well, thank you.”

“Hey, Mom, watch this!” Leo called out.

“Wahoo!” James shouted.

“James Trelon Reykill, don’t you dare!” Cara shouted just before James followed Leo in a magnificent dive off a very tall branch in the tree near the tables of food.

Trisha, Devon, and Crystal turned to watch with dismay as Leo, then James, hurtled toward the ground. Viper’s loud curses mingled with Tina’s as they watched their son ‘test’ James’s new invention. A split second before Leo would have hit the hard ground, and a bubble appeared around him. He bounced across the ground before rolling down the garden path like a bowling ball out of control.

“Sorry, I’d better help before the boys reach the end of the path and end up in the ocean,” Trisha mumbled, taking off after the group of parents.

Devon watched the mass of yelling parents with an expression of dismay. Crystal laughed. She remembered some of the crazy and stupid things that she and Stacy used to do without their parents knowing. For the first time, she realized the memories weren’t accompanied by pain, but by a melancholy mixture of joy and sadness.

“Crystal, there is something I would like to ask you,” Devon said, clearing his throat.

“Yes?”

“I would like… Would you care…?” he stumbled.

“Yes.”

He paused and frowned. “But… I haven’t asked you anything yet?” he muttered, running a hand along his jaw in frustration.

“Devon, would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night? At my place?” she asked.

His expression cleared, and he nodded. “I would like that very much. I know it is ridiculous, but Morah has been giving me courting lessons. They are very confusing.”

Crystal laughed. “Coming from a seven-or-so-year-old, I imagine they are! Why don’t we fill up our plates before the others get back and find a spot where we can talk?” she suggested.

“I would like that. I would like that very much,” he said.

High above, Arilla sighed with contentment just as her sister appeared. Arosa stared down at the parents, rolling two clear, round balls containing Leo and James back up the path. Laughter filtered up from the garden.

“What have I missed? Has anything exciting happened?” Arosa asked.

Arilla chuckled. “Just another dragonling adventure,” she teased.

“Oh! What were they looking for this time?” Arosa asked.

“They were searching for Thanksgiving,” Arilla replied.

“Thanksgiving? Did they find it?”

Arilla looked down on the young couple, settling onto a blanket under one of the large trees. They were both so young and had been through so much, yet they had discovered the magic that can happen when they were surrounded by love, family, and friends. Their journey was just beginning—the future was not set in stone, but if their bond was strong, they would be alright.

She turned to study Morah. The little girl was in deep conversation with the group of symbiots that surrounded her. Morah would make a true and wonderful Priestess one day. Morah tilted her head and waved to Arilla.

Arilla blew Morah a kiss in return. Yes, she will make a powerful Priestess one day—after a few more adventures.

“Yes, sister. I think they discovered the magic of Thanksgiving,” she murmured with a smile.