He shook hands with the Morenos, then waited for them to head out because he had a question for Keshonda. “I have a condo in Cleveland. High-end with amenities like climate-controlled parking and on-site fitness center. It’s two bedroom, two bath, hardwood floors, view of the river, walking distance to everything, and a private rooftop deck accessible from the loft.”
“It sounds gorgeous,” Keshonda said. “But why are you telling me this?”
“Because I’m looking to sell it, and I might be interested in property in or around St. Claire. I don’t expect you to help me with the first thing, but—”
“Oh, I can find you a place here,” she cut in.
He nodded. “I’ll be in touch once I get the ball rolling.”
As he turned to go, Keshonda said, “Actually, I do know somebody in Cleveland. I met her at an expo in Florida. Let me see if I can find her contact info.”
“That would be great.”
Soon, she shot him a text with a name and a link to the real estate agent’s website. “You can find everything you need to know about Maribel on there.”
“Thanks.”
Keshonda nodded briskly. “When you get time, shoot me an email with your must-haves in writing and your price point. Also whether you’re looking for single-family, condo, how much you’re willing to pay for an HOA, whether a duplex or multiple-dwelling structure might work. Some people like to buy a building, live in one unit, and rent the others. Well, provided they can afford it, but I already know you can.”
At this point, what he wanted was to move back into Violet Gables, but the next best thing was making plans to stay in St. Claire, proving to himself that he wouldn’t run away just because things got tough. He’d come a long way from the person with no close ties, inches away from retreating from society entirely.
“Understood. You’ll hear from me tomorrow, probably.”
Once I get my thoughts in order.
Ironic that he hadn’t liked St. Claire as a little kid, and he couldn’t wait to leave once he graduated from high school, but the third time was the charm, as now he couldn’t imagine himself anywhere else. It felt faintly ridiculous to be homesick for a house he’d only lived in for a couple of months, but he missed the people too. Sally had promised him a scarf for the winter, and everyone had agreed to cook together for Thanksgiving. Christmas too. He’d been looking forward to all that, dammit.
Silently, he let himself back into the rented apartment and called Gamma. “Everything’s finalized. You should have the money from the sale.”
“Yes! I’ve got the wire transfer, though all the funds won’t be available for twenty-four hours. Thanks so much, little man.” Gamma paused, and he could hear somebody talking to her in the background. “Just a minute, Jim. I’m talking to my grandson.”
“Did I call at a bad time?”
“Not bad. Breaking Bad.”
Eli laughed without quite understanding what Gamma was getting at. “What?”
“We’re going on a Breaking Bad RV tour! We’re leaving in ten minutes. I’d love to chat more, but I don’t want to be the last one on board. I’ll get stuck sitting by Mary Jo.”
“Uh, yeah, definitely try to avoid that. Have fun!”
Gamma sounded as excited as a little kid. “I’ll send pictures. Supposedly, we’re visiting a bunch of actual film sites. I can’t wait.”
He couldn’t resist teasing her a bit. “Who needs Universal Studios, right?”
“Exactly! Love you. Talk to you soon, little man.”
The conversation lightened his worries a bit. At least Gamma wasn’t regretting her decision to upend everything and move to a retirement community. It sounded like there was always something going on, new friends and new adventures. She’d carpe’d the hell out of that diem, by any standards.
Time for him to do the same. He sent the initial email at once with a subject of I’m interested in selling my condo. Next he went into his bathroom to strip.
For most people, that would mean he was taking a shower, but Eli opened the small window within the stall and shifted; then he swooped out into the waning sunlight. It had been a while since he’d flown, and the winds carried him toward Violet Gables.
No surprise there—it was where his heart and wings always led him. But today, the view was even more breathtaking.
The whole house glowed different than before, akin to the kaleidoscopic, incandescent hues that burned around Iris like a living rainbow. He circled overhead, taking in the new corona. He didn’t know what it meant, but the change likely heralded some massive shift. Feeling like a stalker, he perched on the roof, watching the street for a moment or two. Home might be where the heart was, but it didn’t mean he could stay.
So Eli soared away, wheeling toward open skies.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
“We want you to come home,” Fen said, as if that should be obvious.
“Home, as in…fairyland?” Iris felt silly calling it that, but she had no other word. In fact, up until finding out that she was fae herself, she’d never given much thought to the lore, too busy trying and failing all over the place.
“There have been many names over the years,” said Rain. “Avalon, Mag Mell, Elfhame, Annwn. But Otherworld works well enough.”
Fen nodded. “Even better in modern tongue, I should think.”
“Look, I might be willing to visit at some point, after I get to know you better, but…I have a life here,” Iris said.
“If you stay, especially if you remain in that form, you’ll age,” Rain said softly.
“And eventually…cease,” Fen added in an anguished tone.
“Okay, I really don’t want to talk about my mortality right now. I get it. If I choose to go with you, I’ll be immortal and learn how to turn into a fairy horse that lives in the sea. And admittedly, that sounds cool as hell, but…”
“You’re not ready to sever all ties to this place,” Rain said.
“I was unhappy here sometimes,” she admitted. “But I’m just starting to figure things out. I love this house.”
Fen glanced around, a faint smile creasing their extraordinarily beautiful features. “That much is clear.”
That said, she did want to get to know her…parents? Progenitors? Whatever. “Can we leave the anchor in place? And the door in the basement. That way, you can visit whenever you want. Once we get closer, I’d like to see the Otherworld too.”
“Bliss!” Rain exclaimed.
Fen took her hand and kissed both of her palms. It felt like an oddly reverent gesture, and Iris wondered if the twenty-seven years she’d been missing had felt like five minutes to them. “We have so much to show you, so much beauty that’s not to be believed.”
“No Thomas the Rhymer nonsense, okay? I don’t want to be gone for seven years.”
“We’ll do our best to keep track of mortal time,” Rain promised.
Fen knelt before her, dark eyes twinkling like a starry night. “I know you’re struggling, but may we embrace you?”
She couldn’t recall the woman who’d raised her ever asking for a hug or offering one. Tears prickled in her eyes. I’m not unwanted. I’m not a fuckup. My people were just…misplaced. For a time. Iris included everyone who lived at Violet Gables in that assessment, but she was glad to add Rain and Fen to the list of people who cared.