Page 28 of Alder Woodacre and the Acorns of Affection (Amaranthine Interludes #3)

Joe spent the rest of the day giving Jarrah the tour he’d missed.

Although it was probably more accurate to say that the Woodacre Kith guided the tour, because Jarrah mostly saw the farm from rooftops and treetops.

But he circled back to Joe at regular intervals, full of news and questions and amazement over every little thing.

They were still in the oak glen, with Biddie offering the play-by-play for the crossers’ game of chase through the treetops, when Kip finished up with whatever arrangements he’d been making with Ash, Kurloo, and the rest. He ambled into the hollow, light on his paws, tail flourishing.

Suddenly, Jarrah tumbled into Joe’s lap.

“Oh, Mister Joe,” the boy whispered. “That’s not a trick, is it?”

“He’s a trickster, but he isn’t using any illusions right now. That’s how Kip really looks.”

“Harrison-sensei talks about Kip. Kip, the janitor with red hair.”

“And red fur.” Joe was a little worried, the boy’s breath was hitching on the edge of hyperventilation. “That’s the same Kip. He lives here. He’s my bondmate.”

“He’s yours?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Will you share? Because … oh, Mister Joe.” Jarrah pressed his hands over his heart, then his belly, then back again. “He looks like me.”

Joe could see how that’d be important to a young crosser. “I’ll share.”

Jarrah whispered, “I love him.”

“I’m sure he’ll love you, too.”

Planting a hasty kiss on Joe’s jawline, Jarrah promised, “I’ll love you best and always, but I need to sniffen him. Like … right away, next.”

“Go get him,” Joe urged.

His gray tail gave three shakes, the same way Kip’s did whenever he was really glad about something. Then he charged away.

Kip broke into a huge grin and called, “Look who it is! Hey, little cousin. How do you like the place so far. Pretty great, right?”

Lifting off the ground, he caught the hurtling crosser and pretended that the impact sent them somersaulting backward in a lazy midair tumble. Joe kind of wished he carried a phone. To capture this moment, full as it was with laughter and alikeness and love at first sight for one little boy.

Jarrah was giving Kip a serious case of the feels. He could remember being just as energetic, just as excitable, and wanting so much to be included, even though he didn’t quite fit in. But for him, there’d been Ash, who’d made things so much easier because they could be different together.

Stately House had to be the greatest, giving rare kids all kinds of stuff in common. But Jarrah was making Kip wonder how much would’ve changed if there’d been someone, anyone who’d been exactly Kip’s kind of different. Because Jarrah was going all in.

Trust like it was simple.

Enthusiasm for days.

A bundle of happy, totally willing to share.

Everyone was smiling, and it was totally understandable. The way Jarrah zoomed between him and Jiro was pretty funny, but only if you didn’t know squirrels. Had Argent realized what it would mean, triggering the greed in one needy young soul?

Kip was a little bit angry and a whole lot worried, but he decided to let his bondmate’s actions guide his own.

And Jiro wasn’t holding back anything. He was the same as always, quiet in his kindness, generous to a fault, and probably as unaware as Jarrah that squirrely instincts were at play. The kind that led to consequences.

He’d talk it over with Jiro later. Maybe bring in Harrison. Argent, too. Somehow, they’d make sure Jarrah was good to go when the time came to leave.