Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Gail’s eyes light up with understanding. “Because of the little ones.”
“Yeah, so they won’t mouth on them.” Not only do we have kids of all ages on the beach, but there are more every year and each toy is considered precious. I know that if I give a croquet set out, everyone is going to use it. “So a dye that makes nice colors and tastes like shit. I thought I’d see if you have any ideas.”
“These are a good size,” Gail says, picking one up. “I used to play croquet in my backyard when I was a kid. Who’s making the mallets? Do you want me to get Vaza to help?”
I shake my head. “I’rec offered to do it for me.”
Gail gives me a sharp-eyed look. “You sure do spend a lot of time with him lately.”
I’m not surprised the conversation went in that direction. I’m a single woman, he’s a single man. It’s not anything I haven’t heard before, but I’rec has made it clear that he’s waiting for Tia. “It’s not like that. We’re friends and he owes me a couple of favors. So…can you think of a dye?”
I chat with Gail for a bit longer, have a second cup of tea, and then drop my basket off at my hut and switch it out for my gathering bag. I sling the large leather satchel crosswise over my shoulder and clutch my bone staff with the sharpened end that I use for digging. Everyone’s busy, and I still haven’t seen Daisy, so I’m going to go out hunting for the tiny, curling leaves of the young sweetweed plants. Gail says that the immature ones taste terrible and they’ll make a brilliant blue when mixed with a dark yellow fat, so I’m going to give that a try.
A baby cries as I pass by Veronica’s hut, and I can’t help but stick my nose into things. I tap on the doorframe, even though it’s open. “It’s Flor. Need a hand?”
Veronica comes to the entrance with a squirming baby in her arms and a frazzled look on her face. “Oh gosh, I hate to impose…but do you have a moment?”
“That’s why I asked,” I say cheerfully. I set down my bag and pole and then take my shoes off before coming inside. “What can I help with?”
She jiggles the little one in her arms. “I need to feed this one but I’m trying to cook up lunch for his brother, who doesn’t want to wait. He just got up from a nap and is cranky.”
“Maamaaaaa,” wails Katamneas. “I’m hungry!”
“I know, baby,” Veronica calls back. “Give mama a moment.” She gives me a pleading look even as the baby in her arms whimpers.
Right. This I can help with. I wink at her and head inside. “Tita Flor is here, Kata. I’m gonna make you some lunch. You want a booger stew?”
“No!” he cries, and breaks into giggles.
“Uh oh! But that’s what Tita Flor knows how to make!” I move to his side by the fire and tickle him, then press a kiss to his crazy puffy golden hair, a sign of his dad’s strong genes. “Let’s see what mama made for you then, huh? Oh, a yummy porridge and it’s almost ready. Let’s stir it, shall we?”
I end up staying at Veronica’s through lunch as she feeds the baby and Kata firmly tells me that I should call him Katamneas because that’s his name and Kata is a “baby” name. I let the little one scold me and pretend to be chastised, biting back a smile. When the healer burps the baby in her arms and gives me a grateful look, I feel guilty that I once harbored resentment towards her. She got the healer khui and I didn’t, and it made my expertise as a registered nurse rather useless. Knowing wound care and how to handle illnesses and take care of patients is redundant when a healer can fix everything with a touch.
But I’ve come to know Veronica and she’s utterly guileless and sweet. She’s also over her head with two strong-willed baby boys and just looks frazzled at the moment. “Where’s Ashtar today?”
“Oh, he went off looking for Daisy and O’jek,” she tells me, rubbing Varukhal’s small back. “Said there looks like there might be more storms today and he wanted to make sure they didn’t get washed out to sea. He’s heading over to Croatoan tomorrow and just wants to make sure he isn’t needed for a search before he heads out.”
“Are they missing?”
Veronica shakes her head, a wry smile on her face. “Have you seen Daisy paddle that raft? I don’t think they can get far. More like Ashtar’s just being nosy and using it as an excuse.”
I laugh, because Ashtar is as much in everyone’s business as I am. “Fair enough. I don’t suppose you have any of the really young sweetweed leaves in your herbs, do you? The tiny curled ones?” When she shakes her head, I sigh. “Ok, well then I’m still heading out.”