{"id":41188,"date":"2024-12-22T13:40:06","date_gmt":"2024-12-22T19:40:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/?p=41188"},"modified":"2024-12-22T13:40:06","modified_gmt":"2024-12-22T19:40:06","slug":"chapter-14-the-ring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/2024\/12\/22\/chapter-14-the-ring\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 14: The Ring"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tabby trailed a hoof along the top of the jewelry counter under the glaring fluorescent lights of the shop. \u201cNo… no, I don’t like any of these,\u201d she said, turning away.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d asked Thomas, who hadn\u2019t expected ring shopping to turn into such an ordeal. For not caring about jewelry in her day-to-day life, Tabby was surprisingly particular when it came to the engagement ring. She had certain standards, unbeknownst to the rest of the world, that every jewelry design in Misty Hollow or Hayton fell short of.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou haven’t seen this new arrival,\u201d interjected the harried-looking clerk, reaching for something under the counter. \u201cJust in from Vulcanopolis. A Constantine Tortellini design. Very elegant, very chic. As you can see, the band is set with nine diamonds.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Nine<\/span><\/i> diamonds?\u201d Tabby said incredulously, looking at the band that was given up for her consideration. \u201cThat seems a little excessive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt does,\u201d said Thomas, who had student loans to pay, and suspected that this luxury model was outside the budget he had in mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

The clerk looked at Tabby hopefully.<\/span><\/p>\n

She was about to turn away again, but suddenly something in her expression changed, and she peered at the ring again. \u201cWell, but maybe\u2026\u201d She twisted her head this way and that, studying it at different angles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, at this rate, Thomas was almost willing to overpay if it brought this shopping to a conclusion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHmm… no. No, I don’t think so,\u201d Tabby announced at long last, pushing the bejeweled band back toward the clerk. \u201cI think I’ll just find something of questionable manufacture online.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for your time,\u201d said Thomas with a sympathetic look at the clerk before going after Tabby, who was already out the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust what kind of ring <\/span>do<\/span><\/i> you want?\u201d Thomas asked, trying to keep the frustration out of his voice, as they walked the streets of downtown Hayton.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you know,\u201d said Tabby vaguely. \u201cNot too clunky. Sparkly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat describes half the rings we\u2019ve looked at!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no, they were all\u2026 they just weren\u2019t right. I\u2019m going to be wearing it every day for the rest of my life, and it has to be perfect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas was somewhat mollified at her appreciation of a lifelong commitment. \u201cMaybe Tamara could offer some guidance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI’m not letting Tamara influence my decision on an engagement ring!\u201d Tabby drew herself up indignantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s just, we’ve looked at a lot of rings,\u201d Thomas said carefully. \u201cSomeone with more expertise could narrow down your choices and guide you in the right direction.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I’ve been looking at this wrong. Maybe I’ve been wasting our time looking at new rings. Maybe I need something vintage,\u201d Tabby mused.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is\u2026\u201d Thomas trailed off while giving her a sidelong look.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d she demanded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, nothing, you probably wouldn’t like it,\u201d he said, hoping that being secretive would pique her interest.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sure enough, she went after the hint like a dog after a ball. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas finally relented. \u201cThere’s a ring of my mother’s that I saved from her belongings. But\u2026 I\u2019m sure it\u2019s just sentimental value.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet me see it!\u201d she said, her eyes gleaming.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an Atlantean relic,\u201d Tabby chided, turning the ring reverently in her hoof. \u201cPonies are always holding out their Atlantean relics on me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI assumed it was costume jewelry,\u201d Thomas said, who honestly hadn\u2019t thought it was anything out of the ordinary.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an oricalcum band set with aetherion–artificially created by magic to store energy and boost abilities,\u201d Tabby spoke with authority. \u201cThey\u2019re usually depleted after all this time, but this one, I can still sense something to it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo you actually like it?\u201d asked Thomas, surprised that his ploy to get them out of the shops might actually pan out in the long run.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love it,\u201d she said, eyeing it covetously. \u201cIt\u2019s perfect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not really the style of an engagement ring.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t matter. I want it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Thomas said, drawing it back away from her, \u201cperhaps I’ll just let Fr. Isaac take a look at it before you wear it. I wouldn\u2019t want to bring about another Atlantean spirit possession.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s probably wise,\u201d Tabby agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been meaning to ask you, have you told your mother about the engagement?\u201d Thomas asked, tucking the ring into a drawer in the end table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo I really have to?\u201d Tabby grimaced. \u201cI\u2019m sure she\u2019ll just make me feel stupid about the whole thing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t just <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> tell her we\u2019re getting married.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby looked at him skeptically, as if she was considering it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe can call her together. Would that help?\u201d Thomas asked cajolingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d she said, frowning. \u201cI think this is something I\u2019ll handle on my own.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Mom.\u201d It was later that evening and Tabby was alone at home making the important phone call.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, hello, dear. How are you doing? I hear so little from either of you girls!\u201d Agatha prattled. \u201cI have a few moments before this President\u2019s Reception for the NLWF and–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m getting married,\u201d Tabby cut her off.<\/span><\/p>\n

That stopped Agatha short. \u201c<\/span>You<\/span><\/i>? Getting married?\u201d she asked incredulously. \u201cSo Dr. Collins\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It <\/span>had<\/span><\/i> been awhile since Tabby had been in touch with her parent. \u201cUh\u2026 no, not Toby; we broke up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat would seem to be the opposite of getting married,\u201d Agatha stated the obvious.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby paused. \u201cIt\u2019s Thomas,\u201d she said at length.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Oh<\/span><\/i>.\u201d The word was poignant with meaning. \u201cHave you really thought this through, dear?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby sighed. \u201cAre you really going to hang on to this grudge over a dessert order?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s a bit more complex than that,\u201d Agatha said defensively. \u201cI’ve tried to protect you all these years. We thought it would be better that way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby\u2019s ears perked up. \u201c<\/span>We<\/span><\/i>?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour father and I, naturally. Our family heritage comes with, well, <\/span>expectations<\/span><\/i> from certain parties.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs it the Krulotin?\u201d Tabby demanded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know them?\u201d Agatha asked quietly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe’ve crossed paths,\u201d said Tabby guardedly. \u201cAnd there was a journal of Dad’s that filled in some details.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey were supposed to stay out of your lives. It’s what they agreed,\u201d said Agatha, perturbed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, exactly, are our families doing with the Krulotin?\u201d This wasn\u2019t the direction Tabby had anticipated the conversation going, assuming her mother would be caught up on all the trivial planning details that Tamara was obsessing over–if Agatha could be swayed to give her blessing, of course.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey are guarding us, guarding our great magic, in their own fashion.\u201d Agatha sighed deeply. \u201cFor generations they have dictated how we live, what we do, who we marry… for our own good, of course. That’s what they tell us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby\u2019s brow creased. \u201cBut why does that make it so you don\u2019t want me to marry Thomas?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTabitha, my dear\u2026 don\u2019t you see?\u201d Agatha\u2019s voice softened. \u201cYou’re not really in love with each other; the Krulotin have just maneuvered things to make it seem that way. This is all going according to their plan.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat! No, it\u2019s not like that,\u201d Tabby protested.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey’re very clever. You may think it’s your idea, your emotion, but it’s not,\u201d said Agatha, a warning edge to her voice. \u201cThis is what they do. They are masters at manipulation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby was silent for a moment. \u201cThey might have brought him here,\u201d she finally said, \u201cbut the falling in love part isn’t from manipulation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLook at this objectively!\u201d Agatha argued. \u201cThink of all the mares in Thomas’s past, and how do you measure against them? I mean no offense, but you’re clearly not his type.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I’m the only one he’s proposed to, aren’t I?\u201d Tabby said, miffed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Agatha sighed. \u201cWhen the haze of new love is past, you’ll see that neither of you has what you wanted.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy should I listen to you?\u201d Tabby demanded. \u201cI don’t have a history of taking your advice, you know. How does this marriage benefit the Krulotin, anyway?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey want to restore the kingdom of Atlantis,\u201d Agatha said, \u201cand they need a powerful individual to take the throne.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo we\u2019re all Atlantean royalty, is that the story?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, that’s your heritage, both of you!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not buying it,\u201d said Tabby skeptically. \u201cI thoroughly researched it. The closest we come to the royal family is the housekeeper of King Melakos–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, well, the Krulotin have vast vaults of scrolls and tomes and that sort of thing,\u201d Agatha interjected. \u201cUndoubtedly there’s a connection you missed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo offense, but there\u2019s not much left of the kingdom of Atlantis to rule.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd they seek to change that! That\u2019s what I\u2019ve been trying to tell you,\u201d Agatha burst out. \u201cAtlantean magic has been diluted over the years. The Krulotin have a long-term plan, starting with your father and I, and Thomas\u2019 parents.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour marriages were arranged?\u201d That was a detail Tabby had never been privy to.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey were–it didn\u2019t go exactly as planned,\u201d Agatha admitted, \u201cbut they got what they wanted in the end. They seek to condense as much Atlantean magic as possible into one individual.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWait, wait,\u201d Tabby spluttered. \u201cSo I\u2019m to be a broodmare? <\/span>That\u2019s<\/span><\/i> my purpose in all of this?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Now<\/span><\/i> do you see why we were trying to shield you from their reach?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s all for a foal to be born\u2026\u201d Tabby grappled with this concept. \u201cWhat are they planning to do?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey control the foal, they control great power, maybe bring about a revolution, a new world order!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat seems like a bit of a leap.\u201d Tabby wasn\u2019t sure what to do with all this new information. \u201cWouldn\u2019t this have been easier if you had just told me from the beginning?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you never do what I tell you, and I thought you were stubborn and hard-headed enough to thwart their plans!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo you’re saying this is <\/span>my<\/span><\/i> fault for capitulating so easily,\u201d said Tabby, frowning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I know you\u2019ll do just what you want in the end anyway,\u201d said Agatha. \u201cBut tell me, where are you at in your cycle?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Mom<\/span><\/i>!\u201d Tabby groaned at the invasiveness of the question.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important! It could affect the course of everything!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby exhaled forcefully. \u201cFine. It\u2019ll be two, three years before any of that comes into play.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, maybe the Krulotin will disband by then,\u201d Agatha said, but she didn\u2019t sound very sure of herself.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re an ancient secret society,\u201d Tabby snapped. \u201cYou think they\u2019ll just go away?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have any better ideas at this time,\u201d said Agatha sharply.<\/span><\/p>\n

Author\u2019s note: I decided that, as magical beings, unicorns have very long fertility cycles, because of the high cost of magic and reasons of that sort. So\u2026 now you know.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c… and remember to sign up for the marriage prep retreat,\u201d Fr. Isaac said, walking with Thomas to the door of the rectory. \u201cThey\u2019re held in Hayton twice a year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll talk to Tabby about scheduling that,\u201d Thomas said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere will also be a series of meetings with me,\u201d continued the priest, \u201cand you can call Chicory to set those up. There will also be a meeting with a volunteer couple to go over some of the aspects of married life you might not have considered.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds great,\u201d Thomas said, smiling tightly, knowing that Tabby would love these activities. He was likely going to have to drag her kicking and screaming. \u201cThanks for taking care of the ring for me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAny time,\u201d said Fr. Isaac. \u201cAnd try to keep Tabby away from dealing with spirits.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do what I can,\u201d said Thomas.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI called my mom,\u201d Tabby announced, flopping down on the couch in Thomas\u2019 apartment. Her expression hinted at weariness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou did?\u201d Thomas blinked, genuinely surprised. He hadn\u2019t expected her to handle that so quickly. \u201cYou told her?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2026\u201d she said, distractedly twirling a strand of hair around her hoof.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow did she take it?\u201d he asked, leaning forward slightly, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in his voice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAbout as expected,\u201d Tabby replied, her tone detached as she stared at the rug.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas frowned. \u201cWhat did she say?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby inhaled sharply before speaking. \u201cShe confirmed that the Krulotin are connected to our families. And that they’ve been managing our lives and manipulating our emotions and that… that\u2026 they want us to marry to continue the bloodline.\u201d Her voice cracked ever so slightly at the end.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas sat back. There was a lot to unpack in that statement. \u201cNo one has forced me into this,\u201d he said at length, keeping his voice steady.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut she’s planted the seed of doubt, don’t you see!\u201d Tabby\u2019s hooves twisted together anxiously. Her wide eyes darted toward him. \u201cNow I won’t be able to put it out of my mind. They <\/span>are<\/span><\/i> responsible for bringing you here–we know that.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMoving across the country is one thing, but falling in love\u2014no one artificially constructed that!\u201d Thomas protested, leaning toward her, trying to catch her gaze.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“This is what she’s like, always tearing down what I’ve built up, ruining it!\u201d Tabby\u2019s voice was sharp, but her eyes showed vulnerability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t want you doubting us,\u201d Thomas said firmly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby fell silent for a moment, her eyes darting to the window. \u201cDo you want them? Foals, I mean?\u201d she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The question caught Thomas off guard, and he hesitated. \u201cI mean… someday, sure. It doesn\u2019t have to be right away. But eventually. Do you?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby\u2019s breath hitched. She didn\u2019t answer directly. \u201cI don\u2019t think my mom ever loved me,\u201d she said suddenly, the words tumbling out in a rush. \u201cAnd I think–I think I\u2019m too much like her! I don\u2019t like foals, and I think I\u2019d be just as bad a mother as she is.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s necessarily true,\u201d Thomas said gently. \u201cYour father was a good parent, wasn\u2019t he?\u201d He couldn\u2019t quite bring himself to defend Agatha\u2019s parenting, on the other hoof.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2026\u201d Tabby\u2019s voice wavered, her hooves falling still in her lap.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnyway, you\u2019re more than just the sum total of your biology.\u201d He leaned closer, his eyes soft. \u201cYou are perfectly yourself.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her voice quivered as she asked, \u201cWould it change your mind about marrying me?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter where life leads, I want to be with you,\u201d Thomas assured her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if we do–well–it would just be following someone else\u2019s plan, and I\u2019m not sure I like that,\u201d Tabby said, her tone laced with frustration and doubt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe never know for sure what\u2019s going to happen,\u201d Thomas countered, his voice calm but resolute. \u201cBut if and when we have foals, we\u2019ll do it for building a family, not to fulfill any ancient prophecies.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI never said there were prophecies,\u201d she said, a hint of a smile breaking through.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what I mean.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tabby let out a small, dry laugh. \u201cI have a few years to come around to the idea.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas smiled, his shoulders relaxing. \u201cSo it\u2019s okay. We don\u2019t have to plan around it just yet. And for what it\u2019s worth, I really don\u2019t see you turning out like your mother.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her posture softened, and she leaned back into the couch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, there\u2019s something I want to give you,\u201d Thomas said, reaching into a nearby drawer and withdrawing the ring.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh!\u201d Tabby\u2019s eyes lit up with the usual excitement she showed around Atlantean relics, her earlier gloom momentarily forgotten.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne hundred percent free of spirits,\u201d Thomas teased, his lips quirking into a grin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s good.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He slid the ring onto her foreleg, his heart swelling as their eyes met and held for a long moment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI guess you could kiss me now, if you wanted,\u201d Tabby finally said, breaking the silence with a small, wry smile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Which he did.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas could understand that Agatha had certain concerns. But taking away her daughter\u2019s joy at her engagement by insinuating there was no romance involved, was a low blow. And Thomas intended to let her know that it was not appreciated.<\/span><\/p>\n

There was only one way to get close to Agatha, and that was by obtaining the sympathy of her personal assistant, Gwen. Thomas needed to get that mare on his side. That evening, he dialed her number.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHello,\u201d came the crisp voice over the phone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHi, Gw–Ms. Floribunda,\u201d Thomas quickly corrected, recalling that they were no longer on a first name basis. \u201cIt’s Dr. Fairfax.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh… how do you do,\u201d said the mare coolly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLook, can we drop the attitude? I agree I acted unconscionably at that reception. But I’d like to think we\u2019re mature enough to move past it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,\u201d Gwen said, with a calculated lack of emotion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026\u201d Thomas searched his head for how to regain her trust. His experience with the mare largely consisted of sharing spreadsheets, but he recalled she often fell back on telling anecdotes about her two daughters. \u201cHow’s your family?\u201d He was willing to engage in small talk if it would get Gwen back on his side.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey’re good.\u201d Gwen\u2019s voice brightened. \u201cBriar fell and broke her collarbone playing tennis at the beginning of the year, but she’s fine.\u201d Thomas recalled that her children seemed to have remarkably poor self-preservation skills and were always getting into scrapes. \u201cMcKenzie’s a senior in high school, can you believe it! She wants to go back to Mestruna for college–she\u2019s been looking at UNP and Folkhaven.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThose are both excellent schools,\u201d Thomas said in a carefully measured voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, well–er–what can I help you with today?\u201d Gwen asked, coming back to a business-like tone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI need to talk to Agatha,\u201d Thomas explained. \u201cWe have some business to discuss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gwen <\/span>tsked<\/span><\/i>. \u201cYes, well, she’s not very happy with you,\u201d she warned. \u201cYou did go against her wishes when she explicitly told you that Tabitha was <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> an option for your philandering!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s why I’d like to talk to her,\u201d Thomas said in a wheedling tone. \u201cI don\u2019t think she has an accurate picture of me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, she’s at a luncheon right now with <\/span>Mr. Casale<\/span><\/i>,\u201d said Gwen with a barely discernible huff. \u201cI can tell her you called, but I can’t make any promises past that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d appreciate that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood day, Dr. Fairfax.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tabby trailed a hoof along the top of the jewelry counter under the glaring fluorescent lights of the shop. \u201cNo… no, I don’t…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1071],"tags":[1161,1163,1162,1165,1114,1119,1164,1072,1076],"class_list":["post-41188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-writing","tag-agatha","tag-atlantis","tag-engagement","tag-family-dynamics","tag-gwen","tag-krulotin","tag-relationship","tag-tabby","tag-thomas"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41188"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41188\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41189,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41188\/revisions\/41189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fakiespaceman.com\/toyblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}