Unlike his handsome sunkissed beau, Cane returned from Greece the same shade of pale as the day he’d been born. The sun couldn’t touch him the same way it did others, but their vacation left its indelible mark on him in other ways. He was more relaxed than he’d been in recent months, wearing the easiest smile and radiating a serene and friendly warmth that had nothing at all to do with his natural furnace-like state.
He came bearing gifts again, but only for the white elephant exchange this year as Lucy’s invitation had come with explicit instructions! Courtesy of his friend Skid, Cane explained, who’d so very graciously allowed him to raid one of his dragon hoard stashes upon return from their trip, his offering checked both the silly and wacky prerequisites—a trio of Jurassic dinnertime accoutrements! Known for their hard shells and spicy dispositions, these taco-toting beasts are durable and dishwasher safe! There’d been a fantastically pink unicorn taco holder, too, complete with fluorescent mane and tail, but Skid had been unwilling to part with that particular treasure. And who could blame him?
The Cajun made his social rounds between visits to the buffet tables and bar, positively electric for all the interaction with friends and unfamiliar faces alike. He could be found with Isaac as much as without, happily introducing him to anyone he did not know, and spent a good chunk of time talking the ear off the man’s sister, Josette. Mallory and Eri earned a good portion of Cane’s attention now that the former was showing, teasing them about their child’s stubborn Taurean personality and debating the finer points of fixed earth signs. At some point he cornered Koyan and Aiden to say hello and catch up, asking after the death barge and sharing a few pictures of his own boat’s progress with anyone who cared to see it. (Spoiler: there was only a keel so far and a pair of long, perfectly planed strakes hewn from axe-cut timber.)
Towards the end of the evening he disappeared into the candlelit green house with Isaac for a time, and the two may have even been spotted wandering through the garden’s darker paths, hand in hand. Before leaving, Cane was sure to thank Lucy and August for their generous hospitality and wonderful company, and had one small request for the witchy woman that he whispered in her ear on their way out, prompting her to laugh and say, “She likes everyone else better than me, she’ll probably be happy to see you.”
The Cajun’s warm smile was pleased as anything as, after saying goodbye to all and sundry, he ushered Isaac from the garden through the kitchen and beyond.
