“I will, however, provide you with another service,” her eyes drifted to Claudia momentarily then back to me, “free of charge, because I like you. I will keep an eye on this Sjofn. And if I have concerns, I will get a message to you.”
I smiled brightly. “That sounds cool to me.”
Valentine’s lips tipped up about a half a centimeter at the ends.
“Oh boy,” Claudia muttered but Valentine again ignored her and continued.
“You understand what I have explained about this world? That it is parallel to ours. That most of the same people here are there –”
I interrupted her, “Yes, I understand.”
And I understood. I totally understood. That was why I was forking over a million dollars for this in the first place.
She studied me then she said softly, “And you understand the people there who look like us, sound like us, are not…” her eyes narrowed slightly, “us.”
I nodded. “I get it.”
“Finnie –” Claudia whispered and I turned to her.
“It’s going to be okay, Claudia,” I assured my friend.
“Right.” Claudia, as usual, sounded far from assured.
“It’s going to be,” I shook her hand, “all right.”
Claudia studied me. I let her. Then I smiled, big and bright.
Her gaze moved over my face, her eyes warmed as it did so, she shook her head and whispered, “Just for the record, I do. I totally think you’re nuts.”
“I know,” I whispered back, still smiling.
“But I love you, mostly because you are nuts,” she told me something else I knew and my smile got bigger.
“This is, mes petites filles, touching however we had not much time when you arrived and our window of opportunity as to when Sjofn can make this switch is quickly closing,” Valentine warned.
“That’s another thing I don’t get,” Claudia muttered.
“Well, you will have to ask her when she’s here in five minutes,” Valentine returned coldly.
Claudia glared at her. Valentine accepted her glare, completely unperturbed. Then Claudia gave up, looked at me and rolled her eyes.
I smiled at the eye roll but I wanted to get on with it.
I was ready for my next adventure.
So I looked at Valentine and declared, “Valentine, I’m ready.”
She looked at me.
Then she smiled an actual smile.
Then she whispered, “Lovely. Then shall we begin?”
Chapter Two
Winter Wonderland
I didn’t close my eyes. I didn’t want to miss a thing.