"If I donate a portion of my gishi fruit allotment, will I get ice cream out of it?" Glendes leaned down to whisper.
"Of course," I laughed. "As much as you want."
"We will invite you to Grey House very soon, to a family dinner. As our guest," he added.
"That sounds nice," I replied.
* * *
"Some updating needed," Adam inspected the Crorver estate with a practiced and critical eye. The house needed enlarging as well, especially the kitchen and baths. I think Adam was planning a larger pool area, too, when all was said and done. With the power the Saa Thalarr held, it would probably be done within an eight-day.
"Reah, you and Edward need to tell us what the groves require," Merrill stood at my elbow, a drink in his hand. "This one is yours, mine will contain alcohol when it comes," he grinned and handed the glass of fruit juice to me.
"Let's go look now," I said. "And we'll have to interview employees. I have a feeling we'll be forced to send a few packing."
We did. Almost half from both groves. Adam and Merrill, both former vampires, laid compulsion on the exiting employees, telling them there would be no retaliation of any kind. They nodded, gathered their things and loaded onto buses bound for Adrixx.
"We'll be hiring more employees, and both groves will be combined," Merrill said as we examined sprinkler systems, talked with supervisors about harvests, pruning, fertilizing and insect control. Edward offered very good advice, in addition to the services of one or more of his supervisors, just to make sure the transitions went smoothly. Lissa went with us, as did Shadow Grey, who pulled her against him as they walked through the spaces between trees.
"You'll make your money back in three years," Edward predicted. "We've gotten rid of the fruit thieves and the incompetent workers. The next harvest will come in four moon-turns. There is much to do within that time. We'll need at least six more supervisors. We'll either hire or train."
"In four months, Reah will be out to here," Drake and Drew appeared. Drew, the scoundrel, made that observation, holding arms far out from his stomach. I swatted at him. He answered by lifting me for a careful hug. "That's our great-nephew, you know," he laughed and rubbed my belly. "We'll be happy to teach him bladework."
"Hah. In less than a year, your own will be driving you crazy," I snapped before thinking. And then blinked at Drake and Drew in embarrassment. "Uh, Lissa," I said, "where's Karzac right now?"
"I don't know. Do you need him?" she smiled at me.
"I don't. Except to check on something for me."
Karzac and Kevis were there in seconds. "What is it, Reah?" Kevis came right to me, his green-gold eyes displaying concern.
"It's not me. I think Lissa's pregnant. With Drake and Drew's babies. Don't ask me how I know. I can't answer that."
Karzac put his hands on Lissa's belly while she stood there, staring at her healer-mate. "It's true," Karzac grinned. "Young Falchani, I hope you are ready for fatherhood. Both of you." Drake whooped and slapped his palm against Drew's.
"I don't know what to do with twins," Lissa grumbled. "Tory and Ry were bad enough together."
"Come on, baby. We have plans to make," Drake and Drew now flanked Lissa, who was vainly attempting to fend both of them off.
"I'll laugh if it's girls," Kevis whispered in my ear. I snickered.
* * *
During the next moon-turn, I had more than enough to keep me busy. Kevis took up my mornings, at least two or three clicks, followed by lunch, a click or so in the ice-cream plant, mostly to make sure things were going smoothly and the employees were doing what they should, and then it was off to the newly-acquired groves. Many new names were kicked around, but eventually it was decided to call them NorthStar Groves. They were slightly to the north and west of EastStar, after all.
* * *
"Come on, Reah needs baby things. We'll need baby things," Drake and Drew were coaxing Lissa away to go shopping. The entourage that went with us was enormous. I saw people staring, openmouthed when the stores were invaded. Dragon and Devin, about to be grandparents, were there, as were Crane, Grace, Kiarra and half the Saa Thalarr, I think. All of my mates had come, including Nefrigar, who'd shortened himself but retained his blue skin. Teeg held me against him as we looked at cribs.
"Reah, money is no object," Lendill handed over a comp-vid. I stared at the information on the screen. It showed funds. In my name. In the trillions. I almost dropped to the floor. Teeg held me up. "This is what Ildevar and the others said should come to you, breah-mul. Half of what was hidden in accounts for the pirates. The rest went to pay restitution to the victims and provide new equipment to the ASD. This is yours, Reah. All of it. You shouldn't have to worry about money for a while."
"Yeah," I whispered hoarsely.
Furniture was purchased. A crib each for Teeg's palace, the reptanoids' plantation and EastStar's manor. Garwin Wyatt would have a bed no matter where he slept. Lissa was having a friendly debate with Drake and Drew over what to buy for their children. I think Karzac already knew the sex, he just wasn't telling. And Lissa, hands on hips, was telling her twin Falchani they were getting ahead of themselves since she was only three months pregnant. I snickered, thinking about how it was that she was pregnant by both at the same time.
"What are you laughing at?" Lissa stared at me.
"Nothing," I burst out laughing. I couldn't help it. Teeg had to hold me up; I laughed so hard tears came. And these were going to be his half-brothers. I wiped more tears away.
"Are you all right?" Kevis asked, his concerned face in front of mine.
"I am," I said. "Teeg's going to be a brother."
"True," Kevis agreed. "Come along, I think we're done for the evening."
"Hey, honey," I said to Astralan, who'd appeared inside the kitchen while I drank a protein fruit jumble that Kevis shoved at me.
"Reah, my love, are you well?" He looked worried.
"I am."
"What was that laughing fit about?" Kevis was almost tapping a foot.
"Well, since they're not here," I snickered. "I was just thinking about how it was that Lissa is pregnant by both her Falchani at the same time."
"Ah," Kevis gave an exaggerated nod. Astralan laughed, sat next to me and laughed again.
"See, even you're smiling now," I poked at Kevis. His smile widened. "How about some ice cream?" I asked both of them. We ended up sharing a small tub of gishi fruit ice cream. I even fed Astralan and Kevis the last few bites. Astralan leaned in to kiss me afterward.