Welcome to the Family Business
March 20, Year 3
It must have been merely a day after her grandfather’s evaluation when her husband received a letter from his sister. It turns out that the Gotoro Empire was also at war with another kingdom and her in-law was looking for somewhere to stay.
The Bumble Field Farm was a general farm and sold a diverse amount of products. However, Catlina specialized in produce and artisan goods while her husband chose to work with animal products and forages.
Thunder handed the paper to Catlina so she could read it herself. She used her mouth to take off her glove since she was missing half of her left arm and she didn’t want to get dirt on her prosthetic.
Thunder and Catlina,
I hope it won’t be bothersome but I’ll be moving to your farm. I understand it’s a bit last minute but the reason for this is because of a recent attack at a diplomatic meeting. Since a variety of Trecenians reside in Ferngill, I have scheduled my surgery in the city close to your valley. It’ll just be me and my children. I’m more than happy to compensate you with money.
I will send an email with the details of the situation.
- Bailey
Thunder made sure to finish collecting eggs before going back to the porch. Her husband was a brawny man and was built like a fighter. He towered over everyone at seven feet and his muscles were intimidatingly powerful. He tanned nicely despite it only being spring and his freckles collected the sun nicely over his nose. His hair was pitch black, a running trait in the family. What stood out about him were his electric blue eyes, much more prominent because of his dark features. He proudly lifted up the crate of milk bottles, leaning back and looking ahead with a sense of honor. Thunder oozed a strong energy with his regal looks but Catlina knew him as a loving father and goofy husband.
She admired her spouse’s looks for a bit before he joined her for a break. Similarly to Thunder, Catlina had a warmer skin tone, though she was more fawn than Thunder’s olive complexion. She also had dark hair, however, hers was only above her neck and in unruly clumps, unlike her husband’s short but shaggy hair that resembled fur in a way. Her freckles were more scattered across her round face, even going across her hazel eyes. She was also missing her left arm, gone from her elbow down. She was born without it but Catlina didn’t feel like she was missing much growing up.
At the moment, their kids were asleep. Catlina and Thunder had a pair of twin sons, Raoul Junior (RJ) and Ramón. They were born just before they moved to the valley.
Thunder and Catlina Greyhowl were a married couple who got into the farming business two years ago after the latter found her grandfather’s will on the Bumble Field Farm. They moved in while she was pregnant so the townsfolk knew that the two were very serious about settling into Pelican Town. However, they were very unaware of her husband’s royal descent.
“You don’t mind if they actually stay here do you?” he asked. “We have that extra house on the other side of the farm with the greenhouse, and she did say that she was willing to work despite her condition.”
“We are not putting her to work! She just survived an ambush,” Catlina pointed out. “You know how much Bailey pushes herself. It’s that stupid family pride you all inherited… If I see you even let her try to lift a feather, you’ll be sleeping outside.”
“But you know how stubborn she can be, Cat,” he groaned. “And you know how antsy she’ll get if she doesn’t have something to do. I’ll come up with a job that she can do without too much labor.”
Catlina rolled her eyes and hit her husband on the head with the letter, which he merely laughed off before standing. He lifted the crate of milk without breaking a sweat.
“I’m bringing these to Pierre’s and then I’m going to talk with Lewis about her. The boys’ breakfast is on the counter.”
Thunder went to the stables, hopped on his horse, and then went to the quaint town. He left Boudicca, their horse, at the front and pushed the door open with his hip, hands full from the cargo. Pierre looked up from the counter and then grinned once he recognized the farmer.
“Well if it isn’t Farmer Thunder,” the shop owner greeted.
The man chuckled and plopped down the crate with an easy smile. “Mornin’, Pierre. Hoping to drop this off for a direct payment.”
Thunder made small talk with Pierre, not knowing that a few of the locals were eavesdropping.
“That’s a bit different of you. Should I ask why?”
“My sister is coming over and staying for a while so I need a bit more money quickly,” Thunder replied. “She’s from one of the ally countries in the east, dealing with some war and diplomatic missions. She finished this one early and is hoping to crash here for a bit with her kids.”
Pierre hummed as he raised a brow, still calculating the goods and payment. “Now that I think about it, you never talked about your family since you and the missus moved here.”
The man laughed at the subtle implication and shrugged with his hands. “No harm done there. Nobody really asks. My sister and her kids are staying with us because of an ambush during her meeting. Since this country is the closest, she has to stay with us in case the empire decides to attack the kingdom. She’s been trying to cool down tensions for a bit now but this ambush was real bad. Lost a leg and now she can’t take care of the house on her own.”
Thunder continued to explain the situation to Pierre, avoiding certain details, before taking his check and leaving, needing to talk with Mayor Lewis about the upcoming event. The simple exchange that they had quickly became the talk of the town, spreading the news like wildfire. Caroline gossiped with Jodi and Olivia about the possible foreigner that’ll soon be staying in Pelican Town. Abigail told her friend group, so Sebastian’s sister overheard and decided to tell Penny. It turned to a point where everyone asked the farming family what this newcomer was like.
Thank the heavens they never noticed how nervous Thunder was when he talked about them.
March 25, Year 3
At the end of the first week, Thunder was waiting at the bus stop for his relatives. RJ sat on his father’s shoulders. The toddler had a headful of curly black hair, hiding away his blue eyes. He was on the paler side and often stayed inside, too shy to step into town. Pam stepped off the bus to let the passengers get down.
The first two kids that stepped off first were siblings. The older one had white hair reaching down to their mid-back. Luciel’s skin was a healthy tan, but their round face was decorated with various light scars. Their features were soft, still maturing as a preteen, but despite this, their azure eyes held a caution as they stepped off the bus. Their younger sister came down with them.
Lyra was only two years younger than them and was possibly the youngest of her family at the moment. She also had white hair. However, it was closer to a natural snowy white and was cut above her neck. Her red eyes held a youthful and innocent gleam. She had a lighter complexion compared to her sibling. Unlike Luciel, and possibly the rest of her family, she didn’t have any markings of a fight.
They both carried a suitcase and a backpack.
“Does your mom need help with anything?” the farmer asked.
“We got it,” his niece replied. “We didn’t bring much stuff but that’s because we need to go back to pick up the rest. Just in case we end up staying longer. Esteban is helping Mom with her leg.”
Bailey climbed down the steps with a grunt and a limp, forced to rely on a crutch due to a missing left foot. Similarly to her brother, she had choppy black hair that was short and olive skin. However, unlike him, she was on the shorter side and her round face was carved with years’ worth of scars. Her most unique trait was her golden hues, sharp but calm. To a stranger, they hid away an inner spirit. Bailey’s eyes told a story that only those close to her could understand. It was different from her usual diplomatic front but much has happened to her during the past two weeks.
She wore much more casual clothes to blend in. However, she still seemed dignified in a way that could only be felt rather than seen. It was as if there was a heaviness to her aura or perhaps it was merely because of royal blood. Either way, it was something that the townsfolk will notice.
Beside her was an older teen, making sure that Bailey could handle herself before grabbing his things from the bus. He was much taller than the diplomat, standing half a foot taller than her, and his dusty brown hair was styled with a combed-back fade. His hairline was hidden by a leather sweatband. Unlike the family’s light eye color, Esteban had ocean-blue eyes. His light skin was decorated with various freckles and sunspots as well as piercings. He seemed to be growing a slight stubble, though it wasn’t obvious because of how light the hair was on his skin.
All of her children were adopted, but there was one more addition to their mixed-up family. Knowing she could never properly conceive, Bailey decided to test her country’s magical prowess and was successful. The youngest family member was currently in Esteban’s arms.
In the form of an egg.
“Thunder, could you help my son with Eggy?” Bailey asked.
The eldest sibling did as requested, keeping the towel wrapped around the fragile thing. Thunder had one arm around it as he leaned back up, putting another arm up to keep RJ on his shoulders.
“We can go the quiet way so you don’t get bothered.”
Eggy, a temporary name, was Bailey’s first and possibly only biological offspring. Her physical body could not hold another life form despite being fertile, which is why she preferred adopting. However, recent advancements in her kingdom, both in science and magic, led to her using one of her eggs and an anonymous donor. It was obvious that the father was only partially draconic because the egg grew large quickly after mutating from a fetus into a shelled infant. Eggy was healthy enough to live outside of the lab, so she wasn’t too worried about their condition.
By the time they came back to the farm, Catlina had finished the chores and they were ready to be put in the crates. RJ softly tapped his dad’s head, asking to be put down. Thunder knelt down and then stood back up once his son ran to the porch.
“Want me to take everyone to their rooms?”
“That’d be helpful,” his sister muttered. “Esteban has my things, and you can leave my youngest near the fireplace. Dragon eggs must be kept warm at all times.”
Thunder nodded and took them to their spare farmhouse, leaving Bailey and Catlina with the twins. The shorter woman hobbled with her crutch up the porch to follow her in-law.
It had been two weeks since the ambush. Recalling the bomb had surged a minor ache in the missing limb, feeling like something was there despite it being absent. The memory slowly filled her senses and increased the shockwave, overwhelming her head. Bailey stopped walking, closing her eyes to calm herself. For what felt like hours, the ambassador could only hear her heartbeat drumming against her ears.
She strained herself to open her eyes again, reminding herself that she was safe. The ache in her leg muddled her nerves, temporarily subsiding. Bailey told herself that this was only a passing stage in her life. Her friend will soon contact her about the prosthetic, then everything will be fine. Besides, it’s why she refused to get a wheelchair.
Once the family settled in for the day, Catlina wanted to take her in-law to the clinic to meet with a doctor. Bailey raised a brow at the suggestion.
“Uhm… Cat, you are aware that I’m not human, right? I thought this town was populated by only humans.”
Catlina stared at Bailey with a challenging glare. “I’m not an idiot, Goldie. I married into the family knowing full well what your brother is. Harvey is the only doctor in town that knows about Thunder, so he doesn’t mind. ’Sides, I already sent him the medical records you’ve emailed, so he’s expecting you when you’re available.”
Although reluctantly, Bailey went with her to the clinic. The man was… nicer than she thought. Dr. Nelson treated her like a normal patient and performed the standard check-up. Temperature, blood pressure, and other vitals.
“Everything on your records is surprisingly up to date,” he commented as he went through the paper. “Surprisingly because your brother was behind on everything since he graduated high school.”
Harvey closed the packet and looked back at Bailey, who was sitting on the table with her coat off after he checked her breathing. He had just examined some old scars. Catlina was in the waiting room.
“I was visiting my doctor a lot before the move. I figured it’d be helpful to update the records once I returned. Anything else I should tell you about?”
He shook his head. “For a werewolf hybrid, your blood pressure is very good and you have all of your vaccines. Especially your bite strength.”
He glanced down at the broken pieces of metal on that floor, making a mental note to buy a new pressure test… and to also avoid angering Bailey. “I understand that it might be difficult to go out more with your condition,” he said. “However, I still recommend getting regular exercise to maintain your strength. Oh, and do you have an ointment or cream for those scars? I noticed that one of them is cracked.”
He was very thorough with the inspection and made sure she was healthy. Bailey made a note to rely on him while she stayed.
After a few more questions, she was allowed to leave. Despite it being spring, Bailey wore a long coat and a bandana around her neck to cover her scars. It wasn’t straining to wear heavy clothing. She was used to it.
Once they left, the farmer turned to her in-law.
“That wasn’t too bad now was it?”
Bailey shrugged. “I guess,” she answered. “At least he already knew about my issues. Could you imagine the trauma- dump if he didn’t?”
Cat couldn’t help but lightly chuckle at that scenario. Harvey may be a doctor, but even she knew that he was a bit sensitive to the Greyhowl’s childhood trauma.
Not wanting to return, the two had a tour around the small town. It was a bit slow since she was on a crutch but it was peaceful to take in the new environment. The town was very serene compared to the city the amputee used to live in. The first group Bailey was introduced to was the local mom group. Perhaps ‘gossip group’ is better labeled? She had heard them talking about rumors and parenthood despite being far away.
“Afternoon.” The farmer nudged her in-law to encourage Bailey to introduce herself. “I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”
“Oh. Uhm. Hello. I’m Thunder’s sister, Bailey,” she mumbled. “I’m staying with his side of the family for a bit. I hope to get along with the others in this town.”
Bailey kept herself plain. She was not used to being casual. How on earth was she supposed to be comfortable when she needed to constantly be assisted?
The lady in the red dress merely grinned at her introduction, finding a strange sweetness in the foreigner’s nervousness. “Aren’t you a sweetheart! Welcome to the valley, dear. I hope you enjoy your stay. My name is Olivia.”
“I’m Caroline,” one of them said. “Is that an accent? I can’t quite tell but your voice sounds different. Not as heavy as your brother’s but it’s also different from what I’m used to hearing.”
Bailey nodded politely. “Yeah. I lived in the southwest for a bit before coming here. I’ve traveled a lot so my dialect is a bit… what you can call, wishy-washy.”
After making a bit more light talk, Bailey reminded them of the time, hoping to get away. They were polite, but she really wasn’t hoping to make any attachments. However, Cat was insistent to keep her outside, having none of her in-law’s unsociableness.
“There are still two others I want you to meet.”
“So this was all just a ploy to get me to make friends?” Bailey joked.
“Obviously. You need someone other than your colleagues and kids to talk with. Besides, you’ll be staying for the next two seasons. You better not be cooped up all day.” Cat led her to a bench outside of the saloon. “There they are now. Maru, Penny, hey.”
Bailey sat down on the bench, leaving her wooden crutch to lean next to her and looking over at the two. Both were young women, not older than their early twenties. Most likely the same age as Bailey, if not then younger.
“Hi, Cat. Is this the one you’ve mentioned the other day?” the one with bright red hair asked.
“Yup. Bailey, this is Maru and Penny. They’re close friends of mine.”
Once again, Bailey was awkward introducing herself a second time. She was starting to regret moving here. She wasn’t going to be used to being feeble even for a few weeks.
“Uhm. Bailey Greyhowl, Thunder’s younger sister,” she mumbled. “Sorry. I’m not used to small towns like this place. My home country is a lot more… hectic. Always loud and crowded whenever you walk the streets. It will take a bit to adapt to the quietness. My apologies if I’m distant.”
Penny was pleasantly surprised. She wasn’t expecting Bailey to be timid but at least she seemed aware of her flaws. It was a nice change in pace compared to the other townsfolk. Most were straightforward and often said the first thing on their mind. However, what Penny certainly wasn’t expecting was how small the foreigner would be. Previous talks with Maru, Thunder, and Cat made Bailey sound like a dramatic warmonger, capable of crushing anything.
In front of her was the embodiment of a kicked puppy.
Bailey constantly kept staring down at the ground as if she were guilty of something. Her black hair was purposely styled to hide her eyes, resembling the matted fur of a poor dog. Her mannerism tugged Penny’s heartstrings in a strange way.
“You’re very different from how your brother described you,” Maru bluntly stated as if she read Penny’s mind.
The bookworm panicked and was about to apologize on behalf of her friend, but the two were taken aback to hear Bailey laugh at this instead. The low yet light tone of her snickers had an unusual charm that felt weightless.
“I’m not surprised,” she jested. “My eldest brother has always been known to stretch the truth. I can only imagine what he’s said about me based on my current background. It most likely doesn’t help that I’m missing a foot and have my face scarred. Don’t worry about them. I’ve had them for years. These days, I am but a mere mortal, and these marks display the flaws I have held before.”
The three were relieved by her carefree mood and modesty, comfortably making small talk and letting Cat relax on one side of the bench. Maru was impressed with her poetic choice of words and chose to ask her about her home while Penny seemed more interested in listening rather than actually talking. She was never one for conversation but she wasn’t disinterested in the diplomat’s stories. When they needed to leave, Penny got up to help Bailey with her crutch, only to be declined.
“No need to help. I can get up by myself. But thank you.” Bailey nodded politely as she stood.
“O-Oh. You’re welcome.” Although she was saddened by being pushed back, the small grin on the diplomat’s face eased the slight pinch.
They made it back in time to start dinner and unpack.
Her first day wasn’t bad. However, Bailey was still feeling homesick being away from her home. She made many memories in Trecen and she also liked her job. To lead a revolt against the imperial empire was no small feat, but it was something that Bailey didn’t mind boasting about.
The longing to return still lingered in her gut and the lines between logic and emotions blurred. On one hand, she needed to be safe in order to help lead the revolution. On the other, Bailey preferred to stay in a place that she was comfortable with. But Pelican Town felt too quiet, and although it was homely, she was still recovering from the messiness of the war.
Taking in a deep breath, she managed to sleep at a reasonable time, temporarily suppressing her feelings for until she woke up.
The crashing waves.
The crumpled sands.
The chill of the cold tides washing up on the coast.
The sky was grey as the sun continued to hide behind the clouds, making the beach feel spiteful rather than warm with welcome. An odd unfriendliness loomed over her, but there was also a calling coming from the water. It was as if the ripples of the waves were gesturing for her. At first, Bailey stayed there because she was still cautious but she listened to its beckoning in the end.
The coolness of the water sent a shiver over her skin, raising goosebumps. She stayed put, letting the tide pull the wet sand and bury her feet under muddy lumps. It was natural for Bailey to relish in the slight touch of nature but then she continued to walk forward.
However, something moved in the water. A shadowy figure that swam so fast that she thought that she imagined it. The hybrid would have forward to catch a second glimpse, but something else had caught her eye.
Despite the sun being absent, it glittered brightly as it drifted closer.
It floated above the water as if the waves were carrying it, gifting her with something.
However, what was this gift?
March 26, Year 3
A vision.
Although she wasn’t the designated oracle of her family, Bailey would still receive a glimpse of something significant. Sometimes they were prophetic and sometimes they were merely ideas. No matter how many books she read, the ambassador could never tell the difference between meaningful visions and nonsensical dreams.
She brushed it off for a bit and began to process her surroundings, taking in the undecorated bedroom and the plain comforter.
If Bailey was being honest, it was a bit difficult to look forward to the day. She has felt like a husk of her past self ever since the ambush. At least in the morning. It was hard to comprehend the emotions and although she understood the factors, it still overwhelmed her, and this only made her angry, contributing to her feelings and enforcing the cycle. Frustration, anger, guilt, shame…
She stayed in bed, dwelling on her feelings.
It was an accident! She knew that. There was no way she could’ve stopped it. And no one died! It should all be fine! In fact, why the fuck wasn’t she happy? Or at the least relieved that she managed to escape the war? She finished a mission and it might’ve been a failure, but she was with her family now.
“Bailey?”
Her thoughts stopped to a sudden halt when she heard someone behind her door, knocking before stepping in.
It was Esteban.
“I heard your heartbeat slowly picking up,” Esteban mentioned as he approached. “What were you thinking of?”
Bailey stayed silent, making him frown, but he didn’t push it. She turned her head away to avoid his stare.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized.
“Don’t be.” He moved to sit at the end of the bed. “I get it. It’s weird to be in a quiet place after seeing the war. You don’t wanna talk about the ambush, but you’re only hurting yourself if you don’t, Bailey. You need to talk with someone. We… need to talk to someone,” he corrected. “It scared me too… I was there when I heard the bomb. I saw them bring you back to the tents and I had to hold you back as they were cleaning what was left of you.”
Esteban was her apprentice, but she adopted him after learning about his background. She glanced at him for a split second before guiltily averting her eyes back to the ceiling.
“I know. Just… give me some time.” She only noticed the tears after she tried wiping her face with her blanket. “I’m still processing it. I’ll talk with Dr. Nelson about finding someone.”
Sometimes she wishes that she didn’t have so much pride so she could properly accept help. Was it pride? She wasn’t sure but she just didn’t want to feel like a burden. After a few minutes of silence, the brunette got up, turning back to say one more thing.
“Your brother is taking care of us today while Cat is with the twins,” he mentioned. “They want you to take it easy. Do you want me or Lucy to care for Eggy until you get up?”
“They shouldn’t need much watching. Just keep them somewhere warm. They should hatch within a month or two.”
Esteban gave one last reply before leaving, softly closing the door behind him. After a few more minutes of thinking, and drying her eyes, she got up, hobbling a bit before limping out of the room. Bailey was going to make something in the kitchen but the pantry turned out to be empty.
“There’s nothing here. What did you guys eat?”
“We went to Uncle Thunder’s,” Luciel answered from the couch. “He offered to go grocery shopping but only if you’re awake. He said we could go without him too as long as you get out of the house. His words, not ours.”
“Right, of course.” Bailey closed the cabinet with a raspy sigh and went back to change. “Let’s head out then.”
Her kids were excited to head into town. However, Esteban chose to stay, hoping to unwind for another day before socializing with the locals. Besides, he had to make sure that Eggy was warm. Their mom slipped on her jacket at the door as she turned to the siblings.
“Watch those magic hands,” she warned as they left. “We don’t know how magic is treated in this area yet and I don’t want any accidents.”
“If we can’t practice, can we stop by the library?” Lucy asked. “After we finish I mean. Uncle said the museum was completed recently.”
Shopping at Pierre’s was nice. Luciel and Lyra eagerly came up with meal ideas for the next few days so the storeowner was quite pleased with the new business opportunity.
“You look oddly young for a mother of two and to be straight from the war. How old are you exactly?”
“I turn twenty-seven in two weeks, sir,” Bailey answered as she pulled out her wallet. “Mine are adopted, since I’ve got the funds to care for them and didn’t see why not. I’ve actually got two more kids at home. Lucy and Lyra just wanted to look around town after we restock the pantries.”
Pierre raised his brows at the answer. “Four kids? At your age?” He smiled and shook his head in disbelief. “That’s quite a feat. My wife and I decided to have one and that was it. Abigail has always been a troublemaker. She’s just a little younger than you actually.”
“You know I can hear you, right?” A girl from behind a shelf called out to them, making the four of them turn to her as she approached. “I forgot that a foreigner was going to be staying here. We don’t get new people often, let alone someone from out of the country. What’s your name?”
Bailey made sure to pay before taking the purple-haired girl’s hand with her now-free hand. “Bailey Greyhowl, Thunder’s sister. These are my kids, Lyra and Luciel.”
Abigail merely nodded and went back to the task at hand. It would be cool to ask all the questions in her head, but she was sure that Pierre would be peeved that his daughter was bothering the customers. Best hold on to them for a different date.
“Your hands look full. Do you need some help?” Pierre offered.
She declined. “I should be good, but thank you. It’s just a quick walk back and then it’s off to the library. I’ll see you both around.”
As she said, the trip was fast. However, Lyra had decided to stay back, wanting to explore the farm instead, so it was only Luciel and Bailey.
The preteen was a more recent adopted kid. They only found each other recently. A few months ago, Bailey had tracked down Lyra’s father, a Gotoro mercenary that was hired to assassinate Bailey for her pelt. After learning he had two kids, tried to take Lyra and turn Lucy into a monster like him. But to create something with cruelty rather than kindness was his flaw. Perhaps if he actually treated Lucy like his own rather than an heir, he would have been successful…
When he was arrested in the Trecen Kingdom, Lucy wanted to be with their sister and Bailey, adapting to calling her ‘Mom’ oddly quick. She welcomed it though and took on the motherly role fast.
The pair sat at a table together to enjoy their reading time, Bailey with a government book and her kid with one about birds. They were always the animal lover of the family.
They raised their head to ask their mom a question. “When are we going back to Trecen?”
“Once my grandfather says it’s okay,” she answered softly without looking. “The capital is close to the fire zone and I can’t participate in conferences yet.”
Lucy thought for a bit before going back to reading. The pair were then approached by a young man with slicked-back hair and a dress shirt. Upon closer observation, Bailey thought that he looked similar to Olivia from the other day.
His scent was a bit similar too, carrying an odd richness of old books and fountain pen ink.
“Hello there. You’re the new guests at the Bumble Field Farm. I’m Victor,” he introduced. “Bailey, correct?”
She nodded. “Yeah. This is one of my kids, Luciel.”
“Hey,” they greeted before going back to their book.
The man politely smiled. “Afternoon. You have a charming dialect. It’s different from most Trecen folks.”
Bailey softly chuckled. “Thank you, Victor. I come directly from the capital. Perhaps that’s why. You’re very well-mannered. What are you reading?”
They talked for a bit longer. The flow of the conversation felt natural and since it was only the two of them, other than Lucy who didn’t wanna talk with the grown-ups, they weren’t disturbing anyone. She learned a few things about the young man. Victor was a freshly graduated student from an engineering school. He used to live in Zuzu City but he moved to Pelican Town with his mother. Rather than making big bucks in the city, Victor was happily an apprentice to someone in Grampleton.
“That’s a very admirable trait,” she complimented. “You chose to do something that you wanted rather than what was best for you. My father was the same. He was supposed to be the heir to my grandfather’s kingdom, but he chose to become a performer and playwright.”
“Was?” Victor questioned.
“Mhm. He passed away when I was a child. Car accident.”
“Oh, I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Don’t be. It was long ago,” she assured. “I have had plenty of time to cope and mourn.”
After a bit, she decided that it was time to leave but they exchanged numbers to keep in touch. Bailey felt at ease with him as Victor reminded her of several people she was close to. Luciel didn’t finish their book and checked it out. They returned to the farm within twenty minutes and dinner was about to start. She sat at one end of the table while her brother sat at the other. The adults and the kids were separated but Esteban sat with them since he was older.
“Are you thinking about going back after your surgery?” Thunder asked.
“Maybe,” Bailey answered. “The Gotoro Empire has their revolution. Whether they turn against their emperor or not will be entirely up to them. They’ll contact Atticus and then I’ll need to participate in their meetings once again… Most likely.”
“You’re not settling yet?” Thunder asked, a bit bewildered. “You’ve got three kids, and a fourth one on the way. Aren’t you tired of moving around? What about you, Esteban?”
“I like traveling. Bailey is my mentor so… where she goes I follow.”
“What I decide for my branch of the family is up to me, Thunder. We are in different lines of work after all.”
Despite her cold response, the eldest was not offended and carried on with a different topic. He could see how defensive his sister was when it came to growing roots but he still cared about her future.
The rest of the dinner was spent eating and catching up with one another. It felt nice to reconnect with her brother. Though the countries were close, going across the borders during the war was tough. Maybe fate wanted an excuse to get together…
Once they finished their meals, Bailey was about to return to her farmhouse. However, her eldest brother took her to the side and talk with her personally.
“Listen, I don’t know what you’ve been through when you were ambushed, but I do know that you’ll need a bit of money as you’re sheltered here.”
“What are you getting at?” Bailey urged.
“How would you like to handle some of the paperwork for the farm?” he proposed. “Nothing too big. I’m talking like small financials and maybe some trading. Things that I know are up your alley.”
She raised a brow as she looked up at him. “You’re thinking about expanding your business internationally?”
“No. Not yet, maybe small steps but I’ve got some people from the city who’ve agreed to transport some of my goods. Because of that, the workload is getting bigger and that gives me less time for my farm and the kids. Then it’s a bit hard to get outsi-”
“Shut up. You’re rambling.” She glared. “But, since I’m here anyway, I don’t see the harm in having a part-time job.”
Thunder sighed in relief and excitedly thanked her, leading them to arrange a contract. Bailey was glad to help out. Although it was a bit different to work with numbers, her experience helped greatly to finish the first few steps of trading. Besides, it wasn’t a bad distraction that kept her from thinking about her leg.