Epilogue
The sound of children laughing and hooting followed Danica inside as she carried the plate of meat through the large doors. At one time, they used to squeak and groan at being opened. Now, it opened smoothly and without complaint.
“Need help?” Stephanie asked, holding out her hands.
“I’ve got it.” Danica smiled, bumping through the large orphanage with the plates. The extra long table had been brought in shortly after she’d returned home, a gift from Phi. A family should always eat like a family, he’d said. The table was a hit, and all the children were happy to sit together for meals.
Arden and Phi came in behind her, both bearing platters heavy with food that should have been impossible to carry with one hand. Their smiles were wide as they moved behind her and set the dishes in the center of the table, the children streaming in behind them to take their place. Despite having their own duties to attend to, the vampires always showed up for Sunday dinner without fail. Sometimes, Danica went with them. Sometimes, they conducted their business from Indiana. In the end, Danica never felt as if there wasn’t enough time. They’d made it clear she was a priority.
Stephanie took a seat across from Danica and settled in. Phi and Arden took up positions on either side of Danica. Together, they all began to dig into the food, passing trays along the table until everyone had the food they wanted.
Stephanie paused and smiled around at the table. “It almost feels like we’re a family,” she murmured, and the table grew quiet, the weight of the words hovering in the air.
Phi glanced over at the young woman on the verge of adulthood. Soon, she’d be facing college and the great beyond, but she wouldn’t be facing it alone.
“You’ll always have a family with us,” Phi promised, smiling gently at her. “Anything you need, you’ll have it.”
Danica touched her hand to Phi’s and slipped her fingers into his before doing the same to Arden. Both of them had accepted all twenty-one kids as part of their family, happily going to visit each time they came. They’d both developed a fondness for them, had offered to help constantly, until the kids had grown used to their presence.
Stephanie smiled, glancing between the three and shook her head. “This,” she said, looking down the table. “This right here. This is all I need. Thank you.”
“We’re a family!” Johnathan exclaimed and the whole table cheered. “I have a family!”
And the excitement made Danica tear up. Mrs. Polly came into the room with the dish of banana pudding, her own eyes misty. The atmosphere was heavy with happiness, with family, with love, and that was all anyone needed.
“Alright, alright,” she said, wiping her eyes where they couldn’t see. “Someone pass me the ham. I’m starving.”
* * *
Danica leanedover the grill of the 1972 Chevy Camaro, tightening down the bolts on the alternator. It was a routine job, a quick fix, but it still brought in money. However, since the Race Games, the shop didn’t make the majority of its money from the normal cars. Since the entire supernatural world watched Danica win their race and learned she had a shop in Indiana, they’d been bringing their own cars for her to work on. The shop was now one of the premier shops for cars meant to drive in the Race Games. Leo had been thrilled at the change of events and itched to work on the cars. They’d lost only one of their mechanic family when he’d decided he didn’t want to be involved in the supe world, but the others all stayed, intrigued more than anything. The first time Danica showed them an engine that glowed, they’d all lost their shit.
Arden and Phi were away on royal business, but Danica wasn’t worried. They were both due to come back in a few days, and they’d left with the promise that they’d have a treat for her when they came back.
The other mechanics had gone home for the night, but something had Danica still in the shop, tinkering with the cars. She’d been spending time working on a car meant for the Games, though she wasn’t sure she’d ever be in them again. Something had her messing with the magical elements she’d quickly mastered, pushing the limits of what a car could do. With Phi and Arden’s technology, things were looking promising.
“This is a nice place you have here, Ms. Danica Dyers.”
Danica jerked out from beneath the hood and stared at the man standing in her shop. There shouldn’t have been a way for him to get in, not with the way Arden and Phi had outfitted her security. But it shouldn’t have surprised her to see the wizard.
“I was starting to wonder if you were ever going to come see me,” Danica said, grinning. “I believe a thank you is in order.”
Theo waved her words away. “I like you. It was as simple as that.”
Danica set down her ratchet. “Something tells me nothing is that simple when it comes to you.”
Theo smiled and strolled around the garage. He paused at the large trophy setting on top of the shelf catching dust. It was nestled in with the dozens of other small ones but even dusty, the large one glowed. Around the base was a crown made of tiny wrenches and gears, beautiful with the jewels that encrusted it. Theo’s smiled widened.