Chapter Twenty-nine

 

Doc exhaled deeply, sweat-slicked and tired as he looked up at the ceiling. “That was… amazing.”

 

Fiala giggled and snuggled up to his side. “I approve of her plan.”

 

Sonya collapsed beside Doc, just as spent as he was. “Thank you, Fiala. I told him we should wait until after your child was born, but thank you for saying this morning would be better.”

 

“May I clean you up now?” Rosa whimpered. She was kneeling beside the bed, stuck in the spot where she’d been forced to stay.

 

“Yes, Weed, but no diving for more. She needs to keep everything we gave her.”

 

“Yes, Voice,” Rosa moaned as she quickly climbed into bed with them.

 

Sonya whimpered in pleasure as Rosa went after her first. “Slowly and softly, Rosa, please. I’m too sensitive for more.”

 

“Sorry, Sonya,” Rosa apologized before switching to what she’d been told to do.

 

Doc watched them until Fiala nibbled his neck, getting him to look her way. “Yes, my dearest wife?”

 

“Thank you for coming home,” Fiala whispered. “I know you’ll head out again after our daughter is born, but… thank you for coming home for this.”

 

“I always wanted to,” Doc murmured, stroking her hair. “I never wanted to leave, but I can’t have you in danger with our child. The inquisitor proved that the church is looking for me. They’re actively hunting me by now, no doubt. We have a couple more territories to visit, and then we head to Pale River. We’ll likely get stuck there over winter. I’ll do my best to come back for Sonya’s due date, but if there’s an inquisitor here, I can’t risk it.”

 

“I know. We understand, Doc. We do. The heart wants what it wants, but the brain knows what must be. I’m inviting our friends over for dinner. I’ve done it before, so it won’t be too strange to do it now.”

 

“I’d like to see them. Since the railroad goes to Deep Gulch now, I’m going to head down to visit Posy.” He swallowed the lump that filled his throat. “And those I left behind.”

 

Fiala squeezed his chest. “Our friends and their children… they’re all married now, besides Jesamin, so I know you won’t have more children with them. You should see all of them. The children won’t remember it, but our friends will.”

 

“I love you,” Doc whispered, then pulled her gently to him, kissing her with all the love he had. He moaned into the kiss, as Rosa had switched from Sonya to him.

 

Fiala giggled, knowing what was happening. Breaking the kiss, she eased him onto his back. “Just relax and let our excited Weed clean you, husband. We need to get to breakfast, as it is.”

 

“Yes, my love,” Doc shivered. He laid contentedly between his wives while Rosa got some of what she craved.

 

~*~*~

 

Everyone congratulated Sonya, positive that she was pregnant because Doc had cleansed her of the birth control, then improved her fertility. Doc had no plans for the day besides staying home, but as breakfast went on, he decided to visit with the staff. They all knew he was back, so speaking to them would be fine.

 

“Bernard,” Doc greeted the butler when he found him in the study, “how have you been?”

 

“Very good, sir. Is there anything you need?”

 

“Nope. I just wanted to check in with everyone today, see how things have been since I left.”

 

“Mistress Fiala has been exemplary in keeping everything running smoothly, sir. I don’t think a single person is less than thrilled to be working for your family.”

 

“Ease back on the formality a little,” Doc chuckled. “How have you been?”

 

Bernard relaxed his posture. “Wonderful, Doc. I’ve had no problems at all.”

 

“That’s great to hear. Anything I should know about?”

 

“No, sir. I was speaking truthfully when I said that everyone is thrilled to be here.”

 

“Great. I’m going to check in with Mizzi next.”

 

“Be prepared for tears of joy, then,” Bernard smiled.

 

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Doc said, wishing Bernard a good day.

 

Bernard was right, as it turned out. Mizzi wept into a handkerchief as she sat in the chair Doc helped her to. The fact that he’d come to her to ask about her and her child had overwhelmed her with happiness. “Sorry, sir…”

 

“No need for sorry,” Doc said softly. “Are you okay with working? Your child is only a couple of months old.”

 

“We have a wet nurse and a nanny,” Mizzi sniffled. “Fiala hired them. This way, all of us can take care of what needs to be done while the children are cared for.”

 

“Probably for the best. She’ll likely want the help, too.”

 

“Undoubtedly. Are you going to meet them?”

 

“I’m making the rounds, so I’m sure I will. Are they in the servant quarters?”

 

“Yes, sir. I can—”

 

“I’ll get there. I’m going to chat with everyone in the manor before heading outside and out back.”

 

“Yes, sir. Thank you so much. Radley and I are thrilled to finally have a child.”

 

“I’m happy for you,” Doc said as he patted her shoulder. “Have a good day, Mizzi, and thank you for taking care of my family.”

 

Mizzi sniffled as she rose, dabbing at her eyes. “It’s my pleasure, sir.”

 

~*~*~

 

Doc met with everyone in the home, visiting Charles and Olka last; the pair were busy preparing for dinner later that evening. “I don’t want to interrupt you, but I did want to check in with you both.”

 

Charles set down his knife, wiping his hands clean on a towel. “Welcome home, sir. I know we’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: I’ve had nothing but joyful days since working here, and since my assistant came along, it has been even better. She’s like the daughter I never had.”

 

Olka flushed, setting aside her own task to wipe her hands clean. “Thank you, Doc, so much. I… I love it here.” She didn’t stutter exactly, but her words caught as she sniffled. Eyes watering, she smiled brightly. “I found a new family, joy, and acceptance. After years of being called t-trash.” That word did stutter slightly, but she was far better than she had been before.

 

“Charles, the meals since you took the position have been the best of my life. You edged out my favorite previous cook— Posy’s mother, Daf— by a notable margin… Though I’ll never tell Daf that.”

 

Charles chuckled. “Understandable, sir.”

 

“Olka, I’m thrilled you found joy again,” Doc said softly. “I hope the rest of your life is as wonderful as today is for you. Helping people is what I was sent to do, but seeing the happiness in you helps keep me going.”

 

Olka cried silently, tears streaming down her face.

 

“I should go. That way, she can compose herself and you two can get back to work,” Doc smiled. “I’m looking forward to the feast later.”

 

“We’ll make it amazing,” Olka cried.

 

Charles stepped back to rub Olka’s back. “We will. Take a few minutes to compose yourself, then come back, okay?”

 

“Yes, sir,” Olka said, heading farther into the kitchen where the sink was.

 

Doc slipped out. Seeing the smile on Olka’s face and hearing the stutter all but gone, he knew he’d truly saved at least one person since he came to Furden originally.

 

~*~*~

 

“Radley,” Doc called out to the ram bestial gardener, “got a minute?”

 

The head gardener looked up from pruning a berry bush. “Sir, what can I do for you?” Radley walked over, started to remove his hat, but then remembered that Doc had told him before he didn’t need to remove it when talking to him.

 

“How is everything? I talked with Mizzi. Congratulations, by the way.”

 

Radley beamed with pride. “It’s all because of you, sir. May Luck bless you for eternity. We’re very happy, as I’m sure she told you.”

 

“I’m about to find out what it feels like to be a father,” Doc said, but his smile faltered.

 

“We’ll make sure your child has a wonderful place to grow up, Doc. If it’s okay, we’d offer our own to be a friend to yours.”

 

“Perfectly fine, especially with Harrid’s child on the way soon, too. Childhood friends should be special,” Doc said slowly. “Never knew what that was like, myself.”

 

“Could be good or bad,” Radley said. “Aran, come on over, lad.”

 

The assistant groundskeeper hurried over to them. Smiling brightly, he doffed his hat. “Thank you for the job, sir.”

 

“Keep the hat on,” Doc told Aran. “I don’t want you two getting ill from being out in the sun. The job has been good for both of you?”

 

Radley nodded, but Aran blurted out, “It’s hard work, sir, but not nearly as hard as it could’ve been. Rosa did so much to make caring for the land easier for us before you left.”

 

“She’s special that way,” Doc grinned, then looked out at the parts of his property that weren’t in use yet. “Radley, would you like to expand?”

 

“If we had another helper or two, and an expanded quarters for them,” Radley said.

 

“I’ll talk with Fiala about seeing if Simpson can arrange for an expansion to the servants’ quarters. I’m sure it’ll get done. But for now, why don’t we walk, and you can explain what you would do if you had the time and staff to assist?”

 

“Yes, sir,” Radley said, heading away from the river first. “If we go this way, I was thinking…”

 

~*~*~

 

Doc sat in the front room of the servants’ quarters. He spent hours meeting everyone, including the staff he’d never met before. The wet nurse was a talkative woman who thanked him many times for the job. On the opposite side of that was the nanny, who was sitting with Mizzi’s child with her. She was quiet and spoke softly, but Doc had the feeling she would be strict with the children to ensure they grew up knowing right from wrong.

 

His second longest visit was with Vic Runn, the deer bestial who took care of the horses and carriages. Vic had gotten married while Doc was away, and his wife now lived with him. The pair were very thankful to Doc, as he’d helped Vic recover from a terrible accident. That, in turn, let Vic have the courage to ask her to court, and now, they were married with a child on the way.

 

The longest visit he had was with the Driver brothers. William and Darren, both half-dwarves, were the ones who’d been Fiala’s drivers and guards while Doc was away. When Clyde had come back, he’d taken over the position again as head driver, giving the brothers an extra day off now and again. Both men had been sad that Petal, Fiala’s dryad, hadn’t taken them up on their offer of making sure she was always in the best condition, but they never pressed it.

 

In time, Doc stepped away, thanking the brothers one more time. When he went outside, he found Clyde handing the reins of a horse to Vic. “Clyde, how have you been?”

 

“Busy today,” Clyde laughed. “I got agreements from everyone to come over tonight for dinner. Just got back, so I need to let Charles know.”

 

“In a minute, please,” Doc said. “Walk with me?”

 

Clyde fell into step with Doc. “What can I do for you, Doc?”

 

“How has it been since you came back?”

 

“Good. Nothing out of the ordinary. No troubles from anyone, either. Honestly, it’s been peaceful, sir. Even when I take Fiala into the city, no one accosts us.”

 

Doc exhaled in relief. “Good. It’ll be a couple of months before we finish with the west and head north. I’m going to ask you to stay here even then.”

 

“If that’s what you want, Doc.”

 

“I trust you to keep Fiala and Sonya safe while I’m gone,” Doc said.

 

“Sonya’s staying?” Clyde asked.

 

“She’s having a child of her own now.”

 

“Ahh. Congratulations, sir.”

 

“Thank you. Harrid will be staying behind, too.”

 

Clyde’s head jerked slightly. “What? Why?”

 

“He’s the Grand Master Templar of the Order of Luck’s Bastion,” Doc chuckled. “He’s got his work cut out for him here, and he’ll be here for his wife and child this way. Mine, too.”

 

“I see… You want me to be his backup, especially when he’s busy?”

 

“Pretty much.”

 

“I’ll handle it, sir.”

 

“I knew I could count on you, Clyde. If you want to talk to Harrid about the templars, go ahead. We know you can handle yourself in a fight.”

 

“Thank you, sir. I was thinking of doing just that. The Drivers will probably do the same.”

 

“I thought they might,” Doc said, stopping outside the homes attached to the stables. “I have to visit the last of the staff. Thank you, Clyde.”

 

“My pleasure, Doc,” Clyde said, shaking hands with him before heading for the manor.

 

Doc’s visit with the elephant bestials was pleasant. The adults were overjoyed with their lives— Jason had even found a woman interested in courting him, so the bachelor might be leaving those ranks in due time. Lance, Orville and Velma’s son, thanked Doc himself for the opportunities he’d had since his family signed on to work for the Holyday family.

 

When he finally headed back to the manor, Doc was happy. He’d done good for everyone who worked for them. Tonight, he’d see most of his friends he’d left in the city, too. Life was good, and he hoped it would stay that way for a long time.