The after-lunch drowsiness that was normal for me was amplified by the wine and the word “nap” was flashing across the screen of my mind.
I told myself that I’d read at least one more brief before giving into the desire to curl up under the faux fur blanket and check out.
Sitting down at my study table I lifted the next file on top of the stack and opened it at the same time my bum connected with the chair. There was a handwritten Post-it note from Lochlan on the inside cover. It seemed there was a second case that had the potential to make groundbreaking precedent.
The Valkyrie, Sigrid, had petitioned the Council of Asgard with her desire to retire. They’d said no. But rather than drop the matter, she did what no one else had ever done. She filed a lawsuit. The Norse gods were not subject to the fae justice system, but as the result of a brilliant argument made by the Bureau of Behavioral Oversight, they’d agreed to participate and abide by my ruling.
Oh, my gods.
In deference to the old ones from whom all power originated and their shared origins with fae, they’d allow Sigrid to make her case and would send someone to represent the Council.
Oh, my gods!
I’d been falling asleep when I began reading the brief but was wide awake by the time I finished. There was to be an actual god in my courtroom submitting to my judgment? It was too much. Was I hyperventilating or just experiencing palpitations? Or was that both at the same time?
I looked down to see both dogs at my side staring at me with what I imagined was a canine expression of concern. By twisting my body into a pretzel shape, I was able to reach out and pet them both at the same time.
“No worries my little loves,” I murmured. “I’ve just been tossed into the deep end and it’s one of those only-way-out-is-through things.”
Keir appeared at the door. “Talking to the kids?”
He called them that sometimes.
“Maybe I need to get one of those cuff contraptions to take my own blood pressure.”
“Rita. There’s nothing wrong with you. What’s the problem?”
I told him about the case of the Valkyrie and the fact that an actual Norse god might be making an appearance before me, as Asgard’s defence.
Keir shrugged. “He puts his pants on one leg at a time.”
I gave him a look. “Do you know that to be true?”
“Not in the least. I was trying to say something helpful.” I groaned. “We’re in for an interesting Solstice Court, aren’t we?”
“Interesting could be one of your bigger understatements. We’re going to have somebody at court meet who can’t be enforced.” My eyes flew to Keir. “Can he?”
“If you mean would I be eager to confront a Norse god, the answer is definitely not. For one thing, they’re capable of appearing and disappearing at will. How do you fight somebody like that? Supposedly, my power on the grounds of Tregeagle is absolute, but I wouldn’t want to test it.”
“Wonder who they’ll send?”
“Just as long as it’s not Loki. If there’s truth in the tales of his character and exploits, he’ll probably ask for the job. His history leaves the impression that he’s an attention-hog. He’d probably cause so many problems for us that we’d never dare meddle in their affairs again. That approach would be close to genius, wouldn’t it? They could say they cooperated fully while at the same time insuring it’s a one off.”
“Great. Just what I need in my court. A god who likes to act out.”
“Confer with Lochlan. See if you can open some diplomatic channels and set some ground rules for conduct ahead of time.”
“Keir!” I jumped up to rush him and pepper his face with kisses of reward. “That is positively brilliant. I’m going to go right over and discuss it with Lochlan.” I nodded. “Just as soon as I get up from my nap.”
I’d set the alarm on my phone to alert me at 5:15. I’d made a chart of times I’d be most likely to catch Evie taking into account her class days and times and the time difference. When I heard the pleasant little chime, I stopped and called.
“Mom!”
I loved that she sounded glad to hear from me.
“Yes, precious.”
“I can’t believe you got me a first-class ticket! This is going to be so amazing. Can we afford that?”
I chuckled at her choice of pronoun. “Yeah. We can. You’re going to love traveling in style.”
“I was born to be rich. I’ve always known that it was an accident that I was delivered to a middleclass family, but fate finally recognized the mistake and got busy correcting it.” Oddly enough, she wasn’t completely wrong. “Seriously. Any packing suggestions?”
“It snows here every day so that it’s perpetually pristine and looks like a storybook.” She hummed dreamily in response. “So warm stuff. Waterproof boots. What do you want from Santa?”
“Wow. What I’d like most is to believe in Santa again.”
“Don’t get me started. It’s one of those parental conflicts that I’m still agonizing over. Still not sure if it was the best choice to lie to my kid about a jolly elf, miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer. It breeds mistrust and cynicism.”
She laughed. “You agonize over that? Wow, Mom, you should take parenting less seriously. Millions of people have survived learning that Santa is a lovely figment of imagination. Annnnnnd, I’m not a cynic.”
“Well, in any case, I can’t give you belief in Santa. What else do you want?”
“A new boyfriend.”
“You’re making me long for the days when the answer was Easy Bake oven or ten-speed bike. What happened to Harrison?”
“You are way behind. Harrison was two jerks ago.”
“Well, I can’t know that if you don’t tell me.”
“I didn’t tell you? Well, I’m in between men and my love life sucks.”
Men?
“You worry about schoolwork. Men can wait.”
“Schoolwork is the one thing I don’t have to worry about. I’m, um, good at it.”
“I know you are.”
“As a matter of fact, I have news.”
“What?”
“I’ve scored a spot at Oxford! Starting next summer. If the money really isn’t an obstacle? Like you said?”
“Oxford?” Pause. “Oxford, England?”
“No. Oxford, Mississippi.” She chuckled. “Of course, Oxford, England. I looked it up. I’d be just like an hour’s drive away.”
“Ah…”
“Wouldn’t it be great to be so close?”
“Ah. An hour. Away. Is really close.” Was this what deer felt like when headlights are coming straight at them? “That would be…”
“Unbelievable!”
“Just the word I was looking for.”
“Yeah. And just think how good that’s gonna look on my rap sheet.”
“Your rap sheet?”
“You know. My resume. Someday I’m gonna wanna teach.”
I tried to get an image of Evie teaching and failed, but wouldn’t want to undermine my kid’s aspirations. So, I decided on a complete noncommittal, “Right.”