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It was three days before Cathy started school. I was in Valeria, standing in the practice field, staring at the rising sun. Jim was recovering well, and although I hadn’t been able to see Martin since Jim had been shot, we’d talked every day. I’d come about an hour ago and I’d stood in the field almost the whole time.
I could hear Martin approach from behind me. “I didn’t know you were here,” he said softly, standing next to me. He saw the dried tear tracks and instantly became worried. “Joan? Are you all right?”
I turned to smile at him. “I am. I’m wonderfully happy, Martin.”
His face eased. “Can I share this happiness?” he teased.
“Cathy and I are going into witness protection.”
He didn’t look like he understood. “Then I’ll come with you, of course.”
I shook my head. “No, Martin. Cathy and I are going into witness protection, here. We’re coming to Valeria. Jak’s never going to stop coming after me. I’ll never be safe living in the Flip Side. So, I’ve talked to Cathy, and we’re moving here.” I knew my eyes shone.
His eyes were tender. “I’m glad everything’s working out for you.”
“For us, Martin,” I corrected him. “You and me. Cathy’s going to be a shaman now, so she’ll be training with Joe and living in the castle with Mari. I assume once we’re married I get to move in with you.”
He wore a wicked smile. “Well, it would appear that you will no longer have a home, since you told Jim to sell it.”
“I did.”
His hands slid up to cup my face, weaving into my hair. “And I do recall you saying that you liked my home. I believe you called it ‘quaint.”
“I did.”
“And since we will be married,” he murmured. “It would only be logical to move in together. That is what married couples do after all.”
“Mmm-hmm,” I said softly. “And we’ll be married twice.”
“Then I suppose,” he whispered, face inches from mine, “that you’d better start moving your stuff into our house.” And then he kissed me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Kristin Stecklein is an Oklahoma music teacher. She spends most of her free time writing or reading. She loves traveling and lives with a cat who likes to bring in all the things he’s hunted to show off his skill. She likes working on musical and literary works with her friend and fellow novelist/composer, Angela. Kristin graduated from East Central University with a Bachelor’s in music education, but took creative writing classes for fun from ECU and Oklahoma State University. She enjoys fantasy fiction, science fiction, hero-princess-dragon-magic fiction, and fairy tales. She also likes action movies, Disney movies, and singing along with any and every song she knows.