Chapter 3

chapter

three

I ’m still flustered after my surprise encounter with Declan as I knock on Isla’s front door. Moments later, the door whips open and the wind is knocked out of me as Isla’s daughter Kaida flies into me.

“Hannah!” she gleefully shouts. Her tiny dragon wings flutter behind her.

“Kaida Firestone! What have I told you about throwing yourself at people? It isn’t polite and could hurt someone.” Appearing around the corner is Isla, her breathtaking opalescent skin shimmering in the light. Her shoulder length teal hair is twisted up into a messy bun. She again reminds me how much it sucks being a boring human sometimes, without any magical powers or nifty appearance.

Kaida bashfully slides off of me, giving me an apologetic look. “Sorry, Hannah. Mama told me that we had to wait for you to make cookies. It was a cookie emergency.”

I can’t help but cackle at her blunt honesty. Isla playfully rolls her eyes at me, but is unable to hide her grin.

“A cookie emergency sounds serious,” I say, giving Kaida a wink. “We should definitely go inside to have dinner so we can bake.” She takes my hand and drags me into the living room.

Placing my bag and sweater onto the couch, I follow the sound of laughter into the kitchen. Ada and Rue are chopping up vegetables at the counter.

The room suddenly falls into an uncomfortable silence when they spot me. Both of my friends jumping apart from each other. One moment the house is filled with their familiar loud banter and giggles and the next you could hear a pin drop.

What the hell?

“Um, is everything okay?” I ask, confused at the change in their behavior.

Ada shoots Rue a quick glance, and then turns back to face me. “Everything is fine,” she says, a wider-than-usual smile plastered across her face. Rue avoids eye contact with me but can’t hide her smug smirk. These two are up to something.

Now, the only thing to figure out is if I want to know, or if it’s safer to remain in the dark.

“Han, I heard that there was a situation at the library today. Are you alright?” Ada asks, still looking too happy for someone that’s talking about a collapsed roof.

“Yeah, everyone’s all right. The library decided to give itself a sky light. Thankfully it will be fixed in time for the party.” I walk over and sink onto one of the wooden stools along the kitchen counter. Today has been exhausting, but it will all be worth it once I see the looks on the families faces.

Isla and Kaida join us in the kitchen where we get to work on dinner and prepping cookie dough for later.

“I also heard that a certain Scottish troll has stepped in to save the day.” Ada tries to sound casual while chopping the carrots in front of her, but she fails miserably. Being subtle isn’t her strong suit.

“Oh, what’s this about a handsome troll?” Isla sets Kaida up on a stool next to me, practically bouncing on her toes.

I ignore them and sneak a piece of carrot from Ada’s chopping board, popping it into my mouth and giving Kaida a wink. She bursts into a fit of giggles as I attempt to stealthily sneak her a piece too.

“Hannah was just telling us about her harrowing experience at the library today, and how her big strong troll saved the day,” Rue explains, her voice sounding high and breathy like some damsel in distress from an old black and white movie. My eyes nearly roll into the back of my head at her dramatics.

“Who’s the big strong troll?” Kaida asks innocently.

“No one, K,” I reply, hoping that everyone will drop it.

“Not no one. Kaida, there’s a very kind troll that has a crush on Hannah,” Isla explains. “We’re all trying to get her to give him a second chance.”

“A second chance at what, Mama?”

Isla places a kiss on top of her daughter’s head. “A second chance at finding love.”

“Like what Auntie Ada and Uncle Ulgan have?” Kaisa asks thoughtfully.

“Exactly like that, sweetie. Everyone deserves to be happy.”

Okay, that does it. This moment is too sweet. I brush away the tears that I didn’t even realize dripped on the sleeve of my sweater. Glancing at Ada, it seems that she agrees since she’s also blinking back tears.

“What about you, Mama? When are you gonna get a boyfriend?” Kaida says, making everyone burst into loud boisterous laughter. Isla certainly has her hands full. Kaida’s blunt and unfiltered opinions have become one of my favorite parts of having Girls Dinner at Isla’s.

“Kaida, honey, it isn’t polite to point out the fact that your mother is single and should be out meeting someone new,” a new voice says. I turn to see Isla’s mother, Aslaug, entering the room.

The aging dragon shifter is equally as beautiful as her daughter and granddaughter. Opalescent scales are scattered across her skin, glimmering in the dim kitchen lights. Her long gray hair is intricately braided and pulled up into a crown atop her head.

Aslaug stops to pull each of us into a hug. She moved to Whispering Springs with Isla and Kaida around the same time as Ada, and our group has become closer with each passing month.

Aslaug has always had a soft spot for me. I wasn’t used to having a consistent maternal figure growing up, and she picked up on that very quickly. Since we first met, she’s treated me like a daughter, and I couldn't be more thankful. I’ve also been infinitely thankful that Isla has been okay with sharing her mom.

“Ah, there you are, my sweet Hannah.” Aslaug gives me a beaming smile and pulls me in for a tight hug.

“Hi, Aslaug,” I reply, returning her comforting squeeze.

“Mamma, would you mind tasting the lapskaus and letting me know if it tastes all right?” Isla points towards the stove where a large pot is simmering, the rich aroma of Norwegian beef and vegetable soup making my mouth water. “I followed your recipe, but it just doesn't taste like yours.”

Aslaug makes her way over to the stove, digging some stew out with a wooden spoon before lifting it to her lips. We all watch as she squints, teasingly taking her time analyzing the flavor.

After a few moments, Isla lets out an exasperated sigh. “Well, what do you think?”

“Someone’s impatient.” The elderly dragon shifter lets out a hearty laugh. “The stew tastes wonderful, dear. Perhaps a dash more black pepper, and then it’ll be perfect.”

Isla gives her mother a soft smile, crossing the kitchen to give her a side hug before adding a touch more pepper to the pot. With that, we add the remainder of the vegetables and wait a few more minutes for the stew to boil. Kaida and I cut up pieces of flatbread and place them on a platter to share.

We all take our seats at the antique oak table in the dining room as Isla ladles stew into each of our bowls. The table is decorated for Yule, with glowing white candles, fragrant bundles of pine branches wrapped in shimmering golden ribbon, pinecones, and glistening garnets. White twinkling lights are woven throughout the display making the entire room feel magical and cozy.

The night flies by as we eat way too much delicious stew and drink an obscene amount of sparkling cider that Kaida insisted upon—or “fancy juice,” as she calls it.

I pat my full stomach and recline in my chair. “Isla, that stew was incredible.” I reach a hand across the table to squeeze hers. Isla averts her eyes and fidgets in her seat, but a small smile tips the corners of her mouth. It’s difficult for her to take compliments, but she needs to hear how wonderful she truly is.

“Mamma, would you mind getting Kaida ready for bed so that the girls and I can get started on the cookies?” Isla asks her mother. I’m so glad that Isla has Aslaug to support her. Being a single mom is not for the faint of heart, and Isla deserves all of the support she can get.

“Of course! Come now, min kj?rlighet . It’s time to get ready for bed,” Aslaug prompts. “Say goodnight to everyone.”

“Goodnight, everyone. Don’t miss me too much. Oh, and save me some cookies!” Kaida partially shifts, spreading her tiny opalescent wings—a mirror to Aslaug’s— and flies across the room hugging each of us before zooming straight into her mother’s outstretched arms.

“Goodnight, Mama. I love you,” Kaida says, snuggling close to Isla.

“I love you, too,” Isla says. She gives Kaida a final squeeze. We all watch, amused, as Kaida flies across the room and up the stairs.

Aslaug laughs. “That girl is going to be the death of me.”