“Why not?” he said. “It’s as good an explanation as any.”

Marina nodded. Maybe he was right. Maybe he wasn’t. But none of that mattered. The only important thing was that Zeus had won the war and earth was safe. With luck and a set of good doctors, Marina could live to play with her grandchildren. Or maybe grand-animals if Avery stuck to her newfound all-people-suck stance.

Alexios gave her a hug and kiss. “I have to run.”

“Another assignment?” she asked.

“No. A much-needed vacation. There’s this cute barista that I met in a neighboring star system.”

“Will we ever see you again?” Marina asked.

“I don’t know,” Alexios said. “But I wouldn’t count it out.”

He gave Halcyon a kiss and headed out the door, then disappeared.

Marina stared out the glass storefront, then sucked in a breath. “I just realized something.”

“What?” Halcyon asked.

“That woman—the pretty lady who bought me the princess set—it was Dottie’s mother.”

“You’re sure?”

Marina nodded. “There was a picture on Dottie’s fireplace when I went over to sign the papers. I kept thinking she looked familiar but it just clicked.”

“That’s so cool. And it makes total sense. First the mother, then the daughter. It’s a fairy godmother family.”

“It kinda is. Do you ever wonder if some things are fate?”

“You mean that we’re destined to do or become whatever due to some preassigned set of parameters?”

Marina nodded.

“I don’t think so. I think things are put in front of us and our life becomes what we make of those things. Some people turn dust into gold. Other people sprinkle water on it and roll around in the mud.”

“So you’re a believer in free will.”

Halcyon grinned. “Of course. So what are you going to do with all that money? Pay for the building, right? And get it decorated to the nines. What about a trip to Italy? No! Bora-Bora.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I can’t just fling money everywhere or someone will tell Harold, or worse, the IRS.”

“But you have paperwork for everything.”

“And would still have to put up with a bunch of auditors crawling up my butt, which could also result in freezing the funds until they’re satisfied.”

Halcyon sighed. “I hate it when you being right spoils my fun.”

“But some of it will go into the shop for sure. And I’ll keep plenty set aside for Avery’s schooling and expenses.”

“And a new house.”

“I don’t think so. Not yet anyway. I like the cabin.”

“You have mice living in the attic.”

“Adelaide is giving me one of her cats.”

Halcyon stared. “Wow. She must really like you. But what is Snooze going to think?”

“I suppose he’ll think I’ll stop harping on him to catch the mice.”

“At least get some new furniture.”

“I will definitely do that,” Marina said. “And I really need to fund my retirement. I’m not getting any younger.”

“So true.”

“Neither are you. In fact, you’re getting older before I do. By six months anyway.”