“But we’ll still be friends?” Anthony asked.
“You’ll get postcards from all over the world.”
Claudia smiled. “That sounds good to me. Does it work for you?”
He returned her smile. “Yes, it does.”
Brandee placed the Back in five minutes sign in the glass front door of her photography gallery and lifted her adorable baby girl from her playpen. “Ready.”
Gaia folded her arms. “I know you don’t like to close in the middle of the day, but this is going to take more than five minutes.”
“Like how much longer?”
“At least fifteen.”
Brandee chuckled. “It’s a ballpark figure. No one will hold me to it.”
Smug minor goddess. “You like being your own boss, don’t you?”
Brandee grinned. “You know it.”
“As my muse, you are technically in my employ, and you know how I don’t like to micromanage.”
“Yes. I’m grateful for that.”
The powerful goddess waved her hand at the sign and suddenly it read, Back in fifteen minutes. “On the other hand, sometimes I do.”
Brandee grimaced. “Message received.”
“Good. Now gather up all the regulars and meet me at Boston Uncommon.”
“But it’s Tuesday. It’s closed today.”
“Exactly. We need to meet without the human staff. Is that a problem?”
Brandee shrugged. “No. I guess not. As long as they don’t suddenly decide to show up.”
“I’ve taken care of that. The bosses are sleeping in today, and there’s no way the employees will come in on their day off.”
“That’s for sure. Well, I guess you’ve thought of everything. I’ll get the group together and we’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Good.”
The goddess disappeared and reappeared in the tea room. Her muse did as she was told and gathered the owner and manager’s wide circle of paranormal friends and sympathizers. In a matter of seconds the room began filling up.
First to arrive was Nick who lovingly took their baby girl in his arms. Then Brandee disappeared again and returned with her brother-in-law, Konrad, and his wife, Roz. Next, Sadie the psychic. After that, Tory, Kurt, and Ruxandra. Drake and Bliss. Eventually, Sly and Morgaine.
“Is that it?” Gaia asked.
“Other than friends of friends, I believe so. If we think of anyone else, we can fill them in,” Brandee said.
“Fine. Now here’s the deal, folks.” Mother Nature paced in front of the group with her hands clasped behind her back. “I’m rewarding Anthony and distracting him at the same time.”
The guests glanced at each other.
“He needs to give up the crazy idea that paranormals can meet in a public place like this and all get along. Eventually this foolish plan will backfire.”
“You don’t want us meeting in a safe place?” Nick asked. “We never would have been able to take down that lab if not for our ability to work together.”
“It’s too risky,” she said. “There are humans working here. You know damn well how I feel about humans learning that paranormals exist. It’s the biggest mistake you can make.” She eyed the whole group. “As you all know.”
Most of the members nodded their heads.
“Do you want another lab popping up, doing experiments on you?”
They all shook their heads.
“Right. I understand a merman outed you. He’s been dealt with. I don’t think he’ll find much water in the Sahara Desert. Am I making myself clear, people?”
Everyone nodded.
“Exposing your kind makes me very angry, and you don’t want to make me angry.” She glared at each and every one of them in turn.
Kurt raised his hand. “We get it. But why isn’t Anthony here?”
Mother Nature folded her arms. “I’m getting to that. Anthony’s fondest wish is to become human again. That means he’ll be mortal. He’ll eat regular food, he’ll poop, and he won’t go into a death sleep at sunrise. As a result, he and Claudia will have to have every memory of paranormals erased.”
Bliss gasped. “Are you saying Drake and I can’t be friends with Claudia and Anthony anymore? She’s my best friend.”
“Of course not, but you’d better not slip up.” Gaia pointed a long, unmanicured fingernail at each one of them. “That goes for all of you who befriend them or any other human.”
“We won’t. Don’t worry,” Nick said.
“You’d better not. There are still active volcanoes, and I can drop any of you into one if you really piss me off. Any more questions?”
“Um…I read tea leaves here. Can I still work?” Sadie asked. “I’ve never revealed a peep about the paranormal element to humans.”
“That’s true,” Kurt said, “In fact, the one time we had a breach, it was Sadie who convinced everyone they were being ridiculous.”
Mother Nature tapped her lips. “All right, but be extra careful.”
“I will. I promise,” Sadie said, and crossed her heart.
It was the first time Gaia had met the human psychic, and she couldn’t help being impressed by how relaxed she was in such exceptional company.
“How did you wind up in this peculiar band, human?”
“Anthony’s my seventh great-uncle and was best friends with my beloved until he met his true death.”
Mother Nature smirked. “Well, you’ve got the lingo down. You’ve never divulged the existence of paranormals to anyone?”
“No, Goddess.”
“Not even a priest?”
“No, Goddess. Never. Anthony calls me Aunt Sadie, so people know we’re related, but we shifted our relationship to make it look natural.”
Satisfied, Gaia said, “Good.”
“What if we want to meet here just to have tea and talk about the weather? Is that okay?” Ruxandra asked.
“I’d rather you stay away from this place. You’re skating on thin ice as it is. But if for some inexplicable reason—one that I can’t even imagine right now—you absolutely have to be here, remember…no hints, no whispers, not even a conspiratorial wink to each other. That goes for everybody. You’re just friends. Got it?”
“Yes, Goddess,” she said. The others nodded or murmured in agreement.
“Excuse me, Goddess. I have a question,” Tory said. “There may be occasions when we should talk to each other paranormal to paranormal. If we meet somewhere else, is that all right?”
“Did you have a particular place in mind?”
“I have a large home on the hill.”
Gaia narrowed her eyes. “Your girlfriend is human.”
“Yes.”
“And you’re going to keep all paranormal discussion from her?”
“Absolutely.”
“The answer is still no.”
“What? But if she’s not there…”
“She will be.”
A slow smile crept across Tory’s face. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Yes. Find another place, because soon it’ll be her home too.”
“Hallelujah!”
Kurt slapped Tory on the back. “Congrats, man.”
Mother Nature purposely used her bored voice so they wouldn’t get carried away. “Yeah, yeah. Many happy returns. So does anyone else have a place?”
Sly and Morgaine glanced at each other. A moment later they said in unison, “We do.”
“Ah, yes.” Gaia chuckled. “The brownstone on Beacon Street. That place was a hotbed of upheaval a few years ago. Are there any unknowing humans living there now?”
“No. I’m the building’s super, and my daughter owns the place,” Sly said. “Her husband is one of us, and every tenant has some paranormal secret to keep. We even have an empty apartment we could use.”