Free The Broken Window by Christa J. Kinde Page A

icicle before glancing his way. “Do you have a birthday?”
    Koji hesitated. “I am not aware of the true date of my beginning, but I do know what day Abner chose for the papers I needed when becoming a Graft.”
    “What day?”
    “The day I met you,” he replied quietly.
    Prissie’s eyes widened. “Summer, then? It was the end of July.”
    “Indeed.”
    “I don’t remember what the exact date was,” she admitted.
    “The twenty-fifth day of July,” he supplied.
    “I’ll remember that!” she cheerfully promised.
    “Why?”
    She rolled her eyes. “Because we’ll need to celebrate the day together …
obviously
!”
    Koji’s expression softened. “That would bring me great joy.”
    Back in the food court with Prissie’s grandmothers, she and Koji decided on pizza. They carried their tray of food back to the table where Grandma Nell and Grammie Esme were sitting with plates of Chinese takeout. As usual, the young Observer managed to fade into the background, letting the ladies visit while he contentedly chewed.
    At first, the main topic of conversation was shoes. Grammie Esme wanted to buy Prissie a new pair to go with the Christmas dress that Grandma Nell had been working on since after Halloween. While her grandmothers debated the pros and cons of suede versus patent leather, Prissie glanced over to see if Koji was enjoying his food. As usual, he ate with concentration, and a smile snuck onto her face.
    That’s when Grammie chuckled. “Speaking of pairs … you two are just so darn
cute
together! Aren’t they adorable, Nell?”
    “Are they?”
    “Look at them!” Esme gushed.
    Grandma Nell nodded but kept her tone even. “I can see them fine, beings as they’re sitting right in front of us.”
    “Oh, you know what I mean!” scoffed the other woman, whose eyes were twinkling. “They look like they’re
special
to one another!”
    Prissie couldn’t believe her own grandmother would do this to her. Then again, Grammie Esme did love to stir the pot. Still, the teasing made her uncomfortable. Grandma Nell never stood for nonsense, and to Prissie’s relief, she came to her granddaughter’s defense. “Is it so strange that these children have become friends? Honestly, Esme!”
    “But she’s at that age,” Grammie countered, waggling her brows.
    Prissie thought she might be on fire, her cheeks were burning so brightly.
    “Excuse me,” Koji spoke up, and all eyes swung his way. “Prissie
is
my friend, and I am pleased that you can tell so easily. That is as it should be.”
    Esme straightened her glasses. “You don’t say?”
    “I do say,” the young angel calmly replied. “I will gladly confirm it, for it is the truth.”
    Grammie clapped her hands and laughed. “Well said! Doesn’t he sound just like a prince, Nell? So chivalrous, coming to her defense like that!”
    “He does have manners,” Grandma Nell blandly agreed.“Now about those shoes. Don’t you think heels are too impractical this time of year? There’s snow to contend with.”
    The conversation drifted back where it belonged, and Prissie breathed a sigh of relief. Koji reached for his drink, and she followed suit since her mouth felt too dry. Then he slid his foot over until it bumped hers. Her grandmothers were deeply entrenched once more, so they paid no mind when she sent Koji a cautious glance. With a small smile, he whispered, “Fear not.”
    Somehow, that was all Prissie needed to hear. She smiled back.

7
THE
SKATING
PARTY
    A n hour before dawn, Milo rapped lightly on the front door of a log cabin set back from one of the narrow roads that wound through Sunderland State Park’s extensive grounds. Moments later, the door swung wide, allowing warmth and light to spill out onto the snowy steps. Abner peered sharply at the Messenger. “So it’s you?”
    “The lot has fallen to me,” acknowledged his teammate.
    Raising his voice, Abner called, “It’s Milo!”
    “I thought as much,” Padgett replied mildly.