Page 50 of It Varies
Vine scooted over, put her hand on Jenn’s abdomen, and smiled as the little hands and feet made themselves known.
Jenn blinked back tears.Vine’s hands were relaxed, they looked smooth, and her posture was far more supple than Jenn had seen before.The healing was working.Kazuya was getting extra ribs.Damn.Those were good ribs.
Vine patted her belly and smiled.“Have to go back to the workshop.Things to enchant, places to hide.I will be out at five to start the grills.”
Jenn laughed.“Right.The other two are out getting side dishes.”
“Let them know we are having ribs, steak, and burgers.It will help them make better choices.How is Sable holding up today?”
“She’s on a five-hour switch cycle for her charms.”
“Okay.I will make a few more.Does Xao hold the answer?”
“He’s willing to ask the question, repeatedly.”Jennika chuckled.“We might drift geographically apart, but I know where you work.All of you.”
“Oh.Right.You are probably moving in with Xiroth once the speed-courtship is over.”
Jennika took her hand.“Probably.”
“The end of the three musketeers and Merlin.”
“We are still the three musketeers, and Merlin will always be Merlin.”Jennika grinned.“I could ask Xiroth to build you a workshop in the back of his place.”
Vine smiled.“I will consider it, but with all three of you big goofs scattered to the winds, I might be able to move back in and make each of your rooms a different enchantment space.”
Jennika laughed.“But you will keep the baby’s room.”
“Of course.He and I are going to be best buds.”Vine left to return to her workspace.“Toodles.”
Jenn smiled and let the tears come and flow down her cheeks.Vine wasn’t limping.She was moving slowly, but the jerky limp was gone.She was moving like she didn’t have to think about it, and Jenn was going to hug the stuffing out of Kazuya.
Vine called out from outside, “Can I invite some people?”
Jenn wiped her cheeks.“Of course.How many?”
“Two, but they will bring pasta salad.”
Jennika laughed.“Sure.Bring them.”
“Cool.”
Jenn smiled and started making some sauces.She wanted to meet with Eudora to see if she wanted to go commercial with hers.It was really good and deserved to be shared.
She sent them a text but guessed the happy couple was still enjoying privacy.To her surprise, she got a reply halfway through the cake she was baking for a trifle.The text was an affirmative for their attendance at the back yard party.
For something they decided on a whim, this party was growing rapidly.
She sighed and sent invitations to the others living on the lane.She got several responses and sent messages to Ivy and Sable.This was going to be quite the party.As an afterthought, she sent a message to Xiroth, and he sent back a laughing emoji.His next message mentioned that he had invited a few people as well.
This casual get-together had just gotten a lot bigger.This was going to be quite the Sunday evening.It was a good thing that most of them had work in the morning.It would draw a line under the events.
How big could one little get-together get?
Jennika looked out at the yard full of tables, families, people relaxing, and chatting.Vine was at the grill with the ribs, and Eudora was at the one Sern had transported, grilling steaks.A third woman, who was older, knew Vine, and was good with a spatula, was on burgers and hot dogs.A solemn beta moved between the three women and kept everything moving to the final table, where Sable sliced the beef into strips and piled it in chafing dishes by doneness.The buffet would have done work proud.
The side dishes filled another two tables, and the dark elves looked like they were having fun being out without glamour for once.
Some of the guys brought instruments and played softly, and sang songs the other guys knew.
