Page 62 of From the Edge

“Six so far, but many of the newly arrived mages are interested in living in close proximity to others once they have done their ten years in the past.” He smiled. “Oh, seven. There is a baby, and now Aspen has moved to the main house.”

Her grandmother gasped. “A baby?”

“Mellwyn’s baby. She met a guy during a trying time and got pregnant, and now he’s a doting father, and she’s dealing with the new baby.”

Eleanor got excited. “How new?”

“He was born yesterday.”

Renyet chuckled. “They named him after Rowan.”

Her grandmother grabbed her hand. “Let’s go see the baby.”

She was being hauled to the house, and Rowan called out, “Grandpa, help!”

There was laughter and, “Deal with it, Rowan.”

She sighed and checked the house. “They are in the kitchen. A bunch of ladies and the baby.”

Her grandmother said, “Do you think she will let me hold him?”

“I will ask.”

“So, that gentleman. Is he courting you?”

She sighed. “Yes.”

“What is he?”

“Ask Grandpa.”

Her hand got squeezed. “Fine. He’s an orc mage. Apparently, the dark green means he’s a shaman. He’s also a doctor.”

Eleanor was suddenly distracted. “Oh, my goodness. The kitchen garden.”

“Oh, Grandma, don’t go in there without me.”

“Why?”

“It’s been watered with my blood twice. It protects me if I can get to it.” They approached the kitchen door. “Makes amazing tea, though.”

They walked into the kitchen, and the party and shower planning was underway. Mell looked relieved. “Rowan, we need you. Please.”

Rowan nodded and walked around the table toward Mell. “This is my grandmother Eleanor. I can’t remember if you met before she died or not.”

“No. We didn’t meet, but you and I went out for dinner after the funeral.”

Eleanor smiled. “I am grateful she had friends.”

Mell said, “I was less the friend than I want to be now.”

Rowan said, “May my grandmother borrow the baby? She won’t leave the room.”

Mell grinned. “Sure.”

Eleanor reached with greedy hands that Rowan washed with some mage fire. Her grandmother snorted and held the little one. “Oh, what a precious little one. His father’s ears?”

“Yeah. It was the goblin part of the split that got me pregnant, and the ears are the giveaway. Well, that and the fact that he’s greeny blue.”