Page 93 of Seer

He nodded. “I agree.”

“What are your feelings about pets?” I was fairly sure he was more open to them than that asshole, but I needed to make sure.

He smiled. “Unlike Brantleigh, I think pets are great.”

I chuckled and he grinned.

“Steve has a couple of rabbits, and I’m sure you’ve met Felix and Malcolm’s ancient cat. I work so much it never seemed fair to have a pet. But maybe one day.”

We were back in Bent Oak, and I let Cal know when we entered my new neighborhood.

I pointed to the left. “That’s Craig and Foster’s house. And Silvia’s house is over here on the right. That’s Lloyd’s car.”

I slowed as we approached. “Actually, would you mind if we stopped and said hi? If they’re not busy, I need to connect with Lloyd, especially with everything going on with the fog monsters.”

He shrugged. “Sure. You’re right; it’s a good idea.”

I parked at the curb in front of Silvia’s house. “Maybe I should call them, in case....”

Cal chuckled. “In case they’re naked?”

I shuddered. “Yeah. I do not want to see or think about that.” I disconnected my phone from Bluetooth so it wouldn’t broadcast in the car and called Lloyd. He said they’d just finished dinner and we were welcome to join them for dessert.

Silvia opened the front door and waited for us. She hugged me, then she hugged Cal, her tiny body almost disappearing against his much larger frame.

“Come sit,” she urged. “I madecarlota de limón—lime icebox cake. You’ll love it.”

“Sounds delicious,” Cal said, allowing her to pull him through her living room.

I hadn’t been in Silvia’s home since before she’d renovated the kitchen, but the living room showed some changes as well. One corner seemed dedicated to the great-grandbaby, with a folded up playpen and a bouncy seat. I recognized a painting of a wolf that used to hang in Lloyd’s cabin at TWIST. Now it was proudly displayed above Silvia’s couch.

Lloyd called a greeting from the kitchen and invited us to see the new countertops and appliances.

After we admired everything, Cal and I sat on one side of Silvia’s round wooden kitchen table. Lloyd brought over coffee cups, and Silvia followed with plates of a creamy green-tinged layer cake.

Lloyd urged Silvia to sit down and returned to the kitchen to bring out cups and cake for the two of them.

“This looks fantastic, Silvia,” I told her.

“Thank you, Greg. I was teaching Lloyd how to make it.”

“It’s really easy,” Lloyd said as he sat down.

The cake was slightly sweet and tart, perfectly offset by the cinnamon and cocoa in the Mexican-style coffee.

“Damn, Silvia,” Cal said. “I’m coming to your house instead of visiting Greg in his new place.”

Lloyd put his coffee cup down and fixed Cal with a deadly stare. “As long as you call first.”

Cal laughed. “Understood.”

I cleared my throat. “I was taking Cal to see the house, but I wanted to stop in and ask if you were willing to connect with me, Lloyd. I don’t feel comfortable having you unconnected in case something happens.”

Lloyd nodded. “I agree.” He turned to Silvia. “Remember I told you how all the District Monitors like Greg form connections with the Wonders who live in their Districts?”

“Sí, I do.” She looked at me. “What about me?”

I blinked. “What do you mean?”