“Oh sure,” Emilia said. “That’s half the fun. Plus, I’m convinced plants like people. They’ll grow better for us if we’re involved. And we’ll notice little things the bot won’t.”
“Okay,” Dyrk said, shrugging. “Sounds good.”
At the checkout kiosk, there was a shelf with cells of worms in soil.
“What are those?” Mimi asked, wiggling her little body as near to the shelf as possible and eyeing the worms rapturously, so close to them her eyes were practically crossed.
“Those are worms. They help to aerate the soil and make it nice for plants,” Emilia told her, unable to keep the smile off her face. “Should we get some?”
“We aren’t allowed to have pets,” Dyrk said quickly.
“You’re not?” Emilia asked in horror.
What was the point of that massive house and all those grounds if you couldn’t fill them up with people and animals?
“Dad doesn’t want the responsibility,” he said. It sounded like a direct quote.
Emilia made a note to herself to talk with Ra’as. If he couldn’t make more time with the kids, he could at least make sure they had all the love they could get. Pets were a wonderful chance for children to learn empathy and feel love.
“Well, these aren’t pets,” Emilia declared. “They’ll be living outside. And honestly, you already have thousands of worms living on the property. These will just get settled in a good spot to help the garden.”
Dyrk seemed to take this in stride and Mimi sang out with delight.
Emilia used Ra’as’s credits to pay for their purchases, and soon they were back in the gadabout, headed home with everything in the trunk except the worms.
“I’ll name you after Ayrann,” Mimi told one of the worms as they headed home. “And you’ll be called Pyxx.”
“They all look the same,” Dyrk pointed out. “How are you going to know which one is which?”
“Stop, Dyrk,” Mimi whispered to him loudly. “You’re going to hurt their feelings.”
Suddenly, Dyrk was laughing, and then Mimi was laughing, too.
Emilia smiled to herself, feeling warmth spread through her chest like she had just downed a mug of hot chocolate.
Everything was coming together. And as soon as Ra’as let his hair down a little, they were all going to be so happy. Despite all her fears about taking the position, she was doing a good job.
That’s not the only reason you want him to let his hair down, the little voice in the back of her head teased.
But she chose to ignore it, and coast happily on her victory.