“No.”I laughed out loud. “Fifty-three times?”
“And counting.” Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Dad loves that movie. He cries every time.”
“You’ve actually seenThe Muppet Christmas Carolfifty-three times.”
He nodded brightly. “We watch that like, five times every holiday season. When Gonzo says, ‘And Tiny Tim, who didnotdie,’ my dad goes off like a fire sprinkler.”
“Oh shit.” I held my tumbler to my lips and tried not to laugh. “Hope you guys never watchToy Story 3together.”
He leaned his cheek on his hand. “You know what movie makes me think of my mother?”
“Tell me.” That night I'd talked more than I had in months—about the sanctuary, the animals, Hades, Persephone, and Morrigan, Ariel and Taggart and the new baby. I’d even touched on my time in the service, but Sebastian had barely opened up until now.
“Snow White,” he whispered.
“Yikes.” I had no words for how fucked up that was.
He grimaced. “You know how people say so-and-so was raised by wolves? Wolves are more direct than my mother and less driven. They’re equally dangerous.”
“Wolves are way more caring than most people think. They form lasting attachments and love and grieve and mourn.”
“And if you know their nature, you’ll be prepared for what they’ll do. People are duplicitous. Not my mom, though. She’s the Polar Star. Love her or hate her, you could navigate by her. She’s exactly what it says on the tin.”
“And what’s that?”
“Nah.” He shook his head as though to clear his thoughts. “We should talk about something else.”
“Are you tipsy?”
“Maybe.”
“It’s getting late. Dinner was delicious.” I checked the time on my phone. Eleven thirty. “You should probably head back, huh?”
“Let me help you wash up the dishes,” Sebastian offered.
I stood and started gathering things up. “I’ll get them later. There’s hardly enough room in the rig for one person.”
“All right.” He stood and stretched his compact body. “I’ll do it, then. You rest for a while.”
“I rested all day,” I reminded him. “I thought we’d leave tonight, but I had such a good time talking, and it’s late. It’s better if we wait until morning now.”
“And you were drinking.” He shook one of the two empty wine bottles and winked. “Better drink a gallon of water and take some ibuprofen, or you’ll be dragging yourself to Colorado.”
“Good idea.”
“You won’t crate Hades and Persephone all the way home, will you?”
“That’s the protocol. We’ll make good time, and they’ll be thrilled to get home where they can run around and pee all over everything again.”
“Bet you can’t wait to let them free.”
“Yeah. It’s like what you said. They have their nature, and a trip like this goes against it.”
“They’ve been amazing. I’m so honored to have spent time with all of you.”
I gestured at the food. “What do you need to take back with you?”
“Why don't you keep the leftovers for your trip home?”
