Epilogue

Jayce and Kristine snuggled on their couch, gazing out at the sunrise colors reflected in the river. The still-twinkling lights and flow of the water mesmerized them. They wore matching white bathrobes, sipping their morning coffee. No words, television, or other entertainment was needed. They just enjoyed cuddling and being surrounded by their love for their condo and each other.

Startled by the sudden appearance of a platinum-haired woman wearing a flowing Grecian robe, Kristine recovered first.

“Gaia! What can I do for you?”

“The question is, my little dragon, what can I do for you?” The goddess folded her arms and waited.

Confused, Kristine sat up on the edge of the sofa and asked, “What do you mean?”

Mother Nature rolled her eyes. “You haven’t heard? Whenever a modern muse offers her services to me and appears to be serious about performing her job well, I give that person a reward. So, what would you like? A new car? A house? A money tree?”

Jayce returned her puzzled stare. “Don’t ask me. It’s your reward.”

Kristine pondered the question. At last she said, “I don’t know what I want. I have everything I need. The man I love. A job I love. Enough money to live on. I really don’t need another thing. Unless… No. Never mind. That would be impossible.”

Gaia smiled. “Let me be the one to decide what’s possible. I know what you want. You want knowledge and a little bend in the rules.”

“Yeah, well… You can’t do that.”

Mother Nature glared at her. “What makes you think I can’t? I can do pretty much anything I want. And I want to do something that will make you so grateful you won’t renege on your commitment to me.”

Oh, so that’s what this is about. It’s more of a bribe than a reward.

“I know what you really think, little dragon. Don’t forget that. It’s not a bribe. Try looking at it as a signing bonus.”

“Okaaay.” Kristine racked her brain for anything nice that she would like as a bonus but really couldn’t come up with anything special.

Mother Nature jammed her hands on her hips. “Seriously? You really aren’t going to ask for what you want? I already told you it’s not impossible.”

Kristine’s eyes rounded. “You mean to tell me I don’t have to go back to the bottom of the ladder and I can be a Boston firefighter?”

“Not only that, you can be promoted if you want.”

Jayce pulled himself up next to her and draped an arm around her shoulder. “Think about it. You can do the job you’ve always loved without losing a thing.” Then he gazed up at the deity and asked, “You can plant the knowledge she needs into her brain? The policies she needs to know for the BFD?”

Mother Nature folded her arms, tipped her chin up, and looked smug. “Not only that, I can make her your equal. A captain.”

Jayce smiled at Kristine. “She has always been my equal.”

“Well, equal but different,” she said.

“That’s for sure. I don’t wear granny panties.”

Kristine pulled her robe to the side a bit. “When I’m with you, I hardly wear panties at all.”

“And I always remember to floss.” He chuckled, and they shared a knowing grin.

The goddess shook her head. “I don’t pretend to know what that means, and I don’t want to. I’m getting impatient. Do you want this reward, or don’t you?” She began tapping her foot.

“Yes. Yes!” Kristine cried. “I didn’t know you could do that.”

Mother Nature threw her hands in the air and snorted. “What have I been telling you? Never underestimate me. At least I finally know what you want.” She strode over to Kristine, placed her hands on top of her head, and gave them a push. “There!”

The deity disappeared. Suddenly Kristine realized she knew things she hadn’t known before. Excitedly, she spouted some of these facts to Jayce.

He laughed. “Yup, only an officer in the BFD would know any of that.”

The phone rang.

“I’ll get it,” Kristine said. She reached over to the end table and picked up the cordless phone. The irony of having a landline when she was the muse of wireless communication didn’t escape her.

“Hello?” she said.

“Scotty. This is Chief O’Brian. I have what I think will be good news for you.”

She had never met him, yet the chief sounded as if he knew her.

“That’s great, sir. I’m anxious to hear what you have to say.”

“We can use a new captain in District 2. Your name came up, and I couldn’t think of a better candidate. With your experience, both in New York and Boston, we feel you’d be a perfect fit.”

Kristine wondered if he really knew what he was saying, but it seemed as if Mother Nature had performed her magic. I’d better just go with it. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

“Anyway, the job is yours if you’ll accept it.”

“I’d be honored to serve in the capacity of captain in any Boston firehouse, and I’ll do my very best to make you proud, sir.”

“I know you will. After all, you’re going to be a Fierro.”

“Wait. Did I get this job because I’m related to Jayce? Or rather, I will be after Christmas.”

“Not at all. You got it on your own merit. It’s just nice to know there’s another Fierro officer who we can count on. After your honeymoon, of course. By the way, will I be invited to the wedding?”

Kristine almost groaned. The guest list was already huge and still growing. But why not? She would be part of a large, noisy, sometimes rowdy family. Back when she was a little girl, she never dreamed her wedding would be such a well-attended event.

“Of course, sir. We haven’t sent out invitations yet, but you can expect yours when we do.”

They exchanged pleasant good-byes, and she hung up. She stared at Jayce. His eyes were twinkling, and he wore that sexy smile that she had fallen in love with.

“That’s one hell of a signing bonus,” Jayce said.

“It certainly is. And it seems as if we’d better hurry up and order invitations. A whole crapload of them.”

Jayce laughed. “Yeah. Between your friends at FDNY, my friends at BFD, our families, our extended families, and our parents’ long-time friends, we’ll have to find a bigger venue too. If it weren’t a winter wedding, maybe we could rent out Fenway Park.”

“Well, I don’t want to push off the honeymoon until spring. I’m looking forward to St. Kitts in late December and early January.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll cram everyone into Emmanuel Church somehow. But you’re right about needing to get on those invitations. Do you want anything special?” Jayce asked.

“I don’t really care what the invitations look like. Just as long as you’re standing beside me on our wedding day. It’s you I want.”

“You have me. And I’m thankful that I have you.”

They shared a tender kiss and the promise of a bright future full of fun, laughter, and love.

For more Boston Dragons
check out book 1 in the series

I Dream of Dragons

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