Theodore (Xavier's Hatchlings #2) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,43

huge overhaul.

Milo was working on getting some garden spaces cleaned up and ready for spring. There would be access to water, as well as a tractor to use for a small price. Hadley had someone helping him with getting some people in town to start up a new business, as Finn and Dover were working with Pem to get the hospital staff in place. The building was going up well, and there were things they could get going now, even before they had their first patient.

“I’d like to take you all to dinner.” Theo told MaryBeth she didn’t need to do that. “Of course, I don’t need to do it. I’m doing it because I want to. It will be nice. And I’m certainly in a position of being able to afford it.”

Getting into the limo, Theo kept an eye on Austin. He was doing well, he thought. His face wasn’t as tense and pinched looking as it had been. When Pem nudged him, she put out her hand, and a small little man was there. MaryBeth had gotten her faerie just a few days ago. She and Mildred seemed to be getting along just fine.

“Austin, this is Becker.” Austin stared at the tiny little man Theo had pointed to and nodded. “He’s not a faerie, but a brownie. He would like to stay with you, all the time. He’ll keep you company when you need it and can be quite helpful when you need that as well. If for some reason, the two of you don’t work out, Becker will be fine with that. He’s a little bit to get used to.”

“He only says that because it’s true.” Becker laughed and flew to Austin when he put his hand out. “Oh, but you’re hurting, aren’t you, Mr. Austin? My goodness, you need to smell the flowers. There is nothing in this world that smelling a few dozen flowers won’t heal.”

“I have been hurting, but I’m feeling better.” Becker told him, of course, he would be. “Why are you hard to get along with, Becker? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“I don’t mind nary a bit. I am hard on a body because I’m just me. I have a good time and expect you to have one too. Also, I tend to tell the stupidest jokes. I think they’re funny when I hear them, but then I mess them up something terrible when I tell them. I get around to it eventually, but by then, I’ve lost my audience.” Becker laughed once again. “Also, when I get it about right, I tend to get too excited to finish it, and that can be aggravating as well. I do try.”

“I’m not good at jokes at all. It’s been pointed out to me that I have no sense of humor.” Becket looked very upset about that. “Perhaps you can teach me a few. That way, we can be the best slapstick duo ever born.”

Becket turned to him. “I like him, Lord Theo. I think the two of us are going to be getting on just fine. Just fine indeed.” Austin laughed. It was the first time since he’d met the man that he’d heard it. Austin seemed as surprised by the noise as everyone else did.

By the time they pulled up in front of the restaurant, Theo realized how hungry he was. Glad that they were shown a table right away, he started in on the breadsticks that came with the meal. If this kept up, he was going to have to start eating a meal before he left to go get one. He didn’t want to make MaryBeth broke on their first outing as a family.

Theo liked the sound of that. Family. They were his too. Even though they’d gotten off to a bad start, they were coming together now. They just needed to take care of a couple of things, Patrick being one of them, and they’d be all right. He did remember Sandra then, but she was going to prison, despite what she told anyone that would come around. Merkle’s Mark was going to be opening soon, and he was looking forward to that. Even his parents were coming back to enjoy the grand reopening. Things were, he thought, moving right along.

Theo knew they were far from out of the woods with the things that had happened. There were still people in the hospital. The police department needed to be filled out again. Theo missed his good friend Amos,