Piper (Queen's Birds of Prey #4) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,38
not make himself sick, he ate smaller bites as he talked to the family. When Piper and Grant joined them, they told him more about what the job would involve.
“I like that. Having a cook in the home will make sure that I have plenty of time to take care of the little ones. And from what I’ve been told about the house, it’s large enough for us to be able to take on as many children as you save.” Piper told him she’d be getting some more beds in the rooms, with Abe’s permission, to house children in rooms together. “That would be nice for some of the younger ones. Children that are terrified of being left alone, or worse, afraid of the dark, or just need someone there to hear their breathing. That’s a nice thing to do for them. I’ve heard of children that were left on their own when the parent or someone watching over them had OD’d, and they were left with the bodies. Yes, I can see where having others would be a good thing.”
They spoke for another hour or so. Then they went to the Bloom house to look around. Benson couldn’t believe he was going to be living here and doing something he loved so much—taking care of children. He was also going to see Abe grow up. Not that he wanted to be his father—he thought Duncan was doing a better job of that than even Benson’s own parents had, and he had always thought they were great parents. No, Abe was in the perfect spot now, and he’d not do anything to mess that up for him.
The house was much nicer than he thought it might have been. Even from the outside, he thought the house was big. Going inside only made it seem like he was getting the better end of any deal they were making with him. Benson even thought the furniture was something he might well have picked out for his own home. He was sitting in one of the oversized chairs, enjoying the view out back when Molly, Grant’s mom, joined him.
“I’ve heard a great deal about you from Piper and Grant. They said they were going to talk to you about having the children they rescue come here to be put back together. They didn’t say that, but it’s my understanding that you’ll be doing a lot of medical work with them. Is that right?” He told her he hoped so. “I’d like to help you here. Move in with you and work from here. My son, he’s going to take the other castle that belongs to Duncan, and I’d just be in the way. They said I wouldn’t be, but I’m thinking that with them being newly together, I will be. I’m not saying we have to sleep together, but I’d love to live here because of the work you’re doing, and you and I…. Well, I’m hoping we can get to know each other.”
“I’d like that. I’ve heard a great deal about you as well. All of it glowing reports. Abe and his sister, they love you to pieces.” Her face pinked up, and he smiled. “I’d be honored if you were to live here with me. I think, between the two of us, we’d be good for the children too.”
“I thought so as well.” She leaned back on the couch as if asking him to live here had exhausted her. “You have magic. Did they tell you that? Not as much as the others do, but you have some. Fae is a little of it. I’m not sure of the rest. I’m assuming Grant is the one that kept you from dying.”
“He did. Do you know what I can do as a little fae?” She said that for the most part, he’d have to trial and error his magic. “I can understand that. Piper told me that sometimes magic mixes in a way that is different for each person. One thing I have discovered, quite by accident, is that I can change my clothes. I thought that to be the best. I’ve lost a great deal of weight of late, and I’ve not had much in the way of clothing that fits me.”
“You more than likely have things that will make it easier to be around for a long time. Talents you didn’t have before, such as cooking, and things you might have had a handle on, but nothing you were proficient