Norma blushed and swatted his shoulder with her hand. She squealed as he lifted her in the air and carried her to the kitchen. “Feed me, woman.”
Leeman and Aspen laughed as they watched the pair leave the room. She was so happy. This day was so unexpected and absolutely incredible—it was almost too good to be true.
Now that her dad was home, she could show him the house in Lanta. Would he like the changes she’d made, and would he be able to take her mom to see the place too?
If only Dylan could be here to share her happiness. She wondered if he’d be in Lanta when she went to sleep later that night, and if he’d be as happy as she was about the fantastic news. But mostly, she wondered where he was.
Leeman watched his niece thoughtfully. “He won’t be visiting today.”
Chapter 24
Revelation
“Huh?” Aspen turned to look at her uncle.
“I’ve sent him on an errand. He’ll be back soon.”
“Who?” she asked, feigning ignorance.
“Dylan. He went to get something important for me. Don’t wait up, he’ll be gone for a few days.”
A lump formed in her throat. “Okay,” she mumbled, and stood up to join her parents in the kitchen.
For the next few days, Aspen basked in her father’s attention and laughed at her parents’ antics. They were so obviously in love; their faces glowed with happiness. She’d never seen her mother so youthful and radiant, and her dad had said that her mother wouldn’t age so quickly because her essence was tied to his again.
She’d gone to Lanta with her father every day after school and they’d worked on the house. Soon the house looked like new, and every room was painted and cleaned. The furniture in the living room was polished, and the curtains and linens smelled like newly washed laundry. Roman had worked hard to transform the front yard, and the outside of the house was neat and freshly painted.
“I wish your mother could see the house now.” Roman sighed and held his daughter’s hand as they stood back to admire their handiwork.
“Demothi is busy with the spell. It shouldn’t take much longer.”
“You’re right. I guess I’ll have to be patient. Let’s get back to your mom, she’s making fried chicken tonight.”
Aspen’s face lit up with delight. “Race you back!” She chuckled and grabbed her dream catcher.
Within seconds the two had reappeared in Leeman’s house, and Norma shooed them out of the kitchen.
“Wash up, both of you. I don’t know what you were up to at the house today, but you need to freshen up.” She pretended to wrinkle her nose.
Aspen laughed. “I’m going to have a quick shower. Keep my food warm for a bit longer, please.”
Once she’d washed her hair with green-apple shampoo and scrubbed her skin clean until it was rosy, she pulled out a baby-pink dress with a mid-length sleeve that was perfect for evening. She towel-dried her thick hair and then wrapped her hands around the long strands and concentrated. A tiny burst of electricity spread from her fingertips to envelop the long locks, and within seconds her hair was dry and hung straight down to her waist. Ginny’s tip about using her power as a hair dryer worked well, and she’d have to thank her when she saw her friend again.
Norma had made an effort with the meal tonight, and Aspen wanted to dress for the occasion. White high-heeled slip-ons looked good when paired with the dress her dad had bought for her two days ago. He’d replaced every item of clothing in her closet with brand new, fashionable clothing, and assured her she’d never have to wear thrift-shop seconds again.
She glanced at her reflection in the mirror before she left the room. The face that stared back at her was radiant—her eyes were pure silver and her skin glowed in the light. She wondered when Dylan would come back again, and if he would ever see her as anything more than a Halfling. It would be difficult to face him, knowing that she loved him, if he didn’t accept her for what she was.
Maybe things would be better once they’d had a chance to talk. He hadn’t been in touch with Ruby either, she’d heard, and she wasn’t sure what to think. The smell of fried chicken was stronger now, and she sighed and walked downstairs to the kitchen.
Someone knocked on the front door, and a thousand butterflies filled her stomach. Was he back?
“Answer the door please, Princess,” her father’s voice echoed from the kitchen.
“I’ll get it.”
As she reached the door, she placed a hand on the handle and pulled it open quickly. Her heart pounded in her chest and a deep breath caught in her throat.
Dylan stood on the step before her, looking so handsome in the light of dusk. The sun had just set behind him, painting the sky in shades of pink, lavender, and blue, with the bright evening star above his shoulder.
A slow smile teased his lips as his gaze roamed over Aspen from her hair to her feet, and then back up to her mouth.