Page 69 of Moonlight Hearts

Thaeros’sschedulefortheThanksgiving party they weren’t invited to was solid.I looked it over while the computer in Dwayne’s office booted and couldn’t find any fault with how he’d put it together.I attached a copy to an email to Dwayne and Soyer, but I didn’t send it right off.Instead, I stared at the screen and wondered what to do about the creeping guilt of leaving Thaeros with what was actually Rae’s and my shift.I typed,

PS.: Do you think we could do something nice for Thaeros and Levi since they’re covering for Rae and me?I didn’t think to clear it with either of them ahead of time, so this is on me.

I hit send and moved on to my next task: the order sheet.That meant I had to take a trip to the kitchen, where Kasey was cooking away, his snakes all wiggly.The reptiles spotted me, and Kasey turned.

“Hey, boss!Just for your information, I very nearly fell off the couch I was lounging on when Lord Hawthorne called.”

I fumbled with my apron.“Uh, sorry.I didn’t really think this through, I guess.”

Kasey gave me a toothy grin.“No backsies.”

“Yeah, I wasn’t going to.We’re going to have fun.And good food.”

Kasey’s snakes moved in a wave pattern.“I can’t wait!Honestly, this is my first time ever doing Thanksgiving human style.I’d usually work, especially when there were humans who wanted that day off instead.What dishes are you guys making?”

I scratched my head.“Despite my newly acquired onion dicing skills, I’m not making anything.Soyer said something about roasting an entire pumpkin in the oven and about making sure the pumpkin fit first.He also got a new citrus press.”

“Intriguing.”

“Is lemon pumpkin a thing?”

“Not that I know of.Sounds like a surprise menu.Can’t say I hate the idea.”

“I second that, although I don’t really think the citrus press has anything to do with the dinner, if I’m being honest.”

“Don’t underestimate citrus.You can do a lot with it.You here for the order sheet?”

I nodded and grabbed the list he pointed me to, then went back to do admin.Doing all of that had been daunting at first, but it was actually quite easy now.I still always sent everything to Dwayne and Soyer to double-check, but Dwayne hadn’t corrected anything in a few weeks now, and Soyer barely reacted to work emails.

I was on my final check before sending things off when there was a knock on the door.

“Yes?”

Rae poked their head in.“Hey, Amory.Had to come tell you in person how proud I am of you for being late.Uh, also, I made you a dirty chai latte.”

“Very funny.I’m almost done here.I’ll be out in a sec.”

“Could we talk first?”

“Sure.”

Rae came in, closed the door behind them, and put the drink on my desk.We didn’t have anything like it on the menu.As they grabbed one of the folding chairs to sit on the opposite side of the desk from me, I noticed that they weren’t as easygoing, as bouncy as normal.

“I’m not really sure where to start,” they began.

“Is this about Thanksgiving?”

They sighed.“Kind of.Not really.I’m bringing my sister, Ella.I didn’t tell you I have a sister.I take care of her, she’s human, and I… When all this started, when the Black Shuck hired me, I thought it might be better for her…” They stopped, crossed their arms.“It might have been easier for me, come to think of it.I don’t know.I just wanted to keep work and her separate.”

Rae had a sister.I was reminded of Florence all over again, and that sucked, but Rae wasn’t anything like that.

I tried to ignore my own family baggage and listen to Rae instead.“How old is Ella?”

Rae snorted.“Fifteen.She’s trying to be rebellious, I think, but she’s a really good kid.Came out to me the other day.She’s bringing her girlfriend.”

“Wow.That’s what Elias meant.You told Elias?”

They scratched their head.“Nope.But Ella goes to school here.St.Auguste, that fancy school?The Black Shuck made sure she got enrolled.”