Chapter Twenty-six
HARMONY got off King’s lap and put Jake there. “His little feet are cold,” she said. “I’ll get some socks.”
When she got back, she put her socks on the boy and cuffed them at his knees, then she covered him with a blanket. “Your grampa will take good care of you.” She kissed both heads. “Night night, you two.”
Harmony leaned on the wall by the sitting room door to eavesdrop on Brass Ass Paxton, the most unlikely grandfather in the world.
“Sing me a song, Grampa,” Jake said with a sleepy voice, and King stumbled his way into an amazing rendition of “Puff, the Magic Dragon.”
A raging case of the warm fuzzies overcame her as she made her way to bed, and she realized that several new motives had been added to her psychic mandate. She definitely needed to send Gussie on her peaceful way. Now more than ever, she needed to encourage King to keep the castle, which would help him keep his family. Never mind that she wanted to belong to that family.
But how was she supposed to do all that? What else did she have to accomplish here? There was more, she knew, and where did the ring fit in? Unless the ring had already fulfilled its purpose by getting her in the door. King said it made him see her in a new light. Harmony got into bed, and Regina sat up and called Jake.
“He’s okay, Reggie. Your father’s singing him to sleep in the next room. They need some one-on-one time. They’re enjoying it.” Harmony figured that only selflessness would make a girl as responsible Reggie relax, and sure enough, she went back to sleep.
Overwhelmed by her known and unknown goals, Harmony guessed it was time to call for help. Telepathically, she called her sisters.
 
“Now, sisters mine, it’s time to make our
magick shine.
Come into the search, I’m in the lurch.
The power of three is all that I see.
Making a home, never to roam,
A place of peace, shelter, and love.
Keeping it, saving it, setting it free.
Come to my aid, oh power of three.
Harm it none; this is my will; so mote it be.”
 
Harmony woke to a cheerful, “Good morning, Tiger,” but King wasn’t talking to her. He was trying to keep his grandson from stepping on her face in his rush to get to his grandfather.
“Get up, Sunshine,” he said looking down at her. “Breakfast in the kitchen in half an hour. Regina’s already showered and helping Gilda cook.”
“Reggie,” Harmony said. “She wants you to call her Reggie.”
“Right. I gave her another of your shirts and shorts. She fell in love with Will Work for Shoes.”
“Hey, your daughter’s got good taste. That’s one of my faves.”
King rolled his eyes. “Do you have one for Sleepy here? Something that won’t haunt him in his teenage years?”
Harmony went to her drawer and pulled out her Boys R Us shirt. “How’s this?” They pulled it over Jake’s head as the boy stood on her bed. “Perfect, hey? I have red socks to go with it. Give me those cute toes,” she coaxed as she put her socks on him. She nudged King. “When are you gonna get them some clothes?”
King caught Jake in his arms. “I got their sizes from Regina last night. Aiden and Morgan hadn’t left. They’re shopping on the way here.”
“Do you have any idea how much a kid this size needs?”
“I need Mama,” Jake said.
“No putting one over on you, my boy. Let’s go find Mama, then.”
“Hey,” Harmony called. “I missed my morning snuggle.”
King stopped. “I thought about that when I woke up.”
“Hard to ignore, was it?”
“After yesterday? Do you doubt it?”
When Harmony sat down to breakfast, she had a feeling of déjà vu, as if she’d done it a hundred times, but that was wishful—not psychic—thinking.
Reggie hooted when she saw Harmony’s shirt. “Will Work for Vintage Clothes! They’re the best. I love vintage.”
“Then you’re in the right place.” Harmony turned to King. “Can she help me search?”
“Sure, but you have to let her keep whatever she wants.”
“That’s fair, though I’m thinking she’ll want vintage 1900s not 1800s.”
Reggie looked from one to the other. “What are you talking about?”
Harmony accepted a plate of ham and eggs from Gilda. “I’m the buyer for my family’s vintage clothing shop, here harvesting vintage clothes. Your dad says you get first choice. I’ve found some ancient stuff.”
“Yuck. No, I want old stuff from when you were young, Dad.”
“Ouch!” he said, throwing his napkin in his plate.
Tears filled Reggie’s eyes. “I didn’t mean to make you mad.”
“Cupcake,” he said squeezing her shoulder. “I was kidding. If you did upset me, I’d still love you. You’d still have a home with me.”
Reggie looked up at him. “Really?”
“That wasn’t how it worked in your world, was it Regina?” he asked.
“Okay, Dad, you love me no matter what, so here’s the litmus test. My name is Reggie. I hate the name Regina. Please call me Reggie.”
“Done.” He kissed her, bent to kiss Harmony, realized his mistake, and swept awkwardly by her to kiss Jake. “I’m seeing my lawyer. Be back later.”
“Is he the most reasonable man on earth or what?”
“What!” Gilda and Harmony said together.
Harmony laughed. “He’s the most unreasonable.”
Gilda laughed. “You got that right.”
“Come on, Reggie.” Harmony washed Jake’s face. “Let’s go find some seventies vintage.”
Harmony took Reggie to a newer wing. “I think the closet in this room might have what you’re looking for. It was decorated around the time your father was born here.”
“Daddy was born here? Cool. Now I love it even more.”
Harmony could practically feel the winds of change. “He’ll be real happy to hear that.”
Twin beds wore flowered orange, yellow, and lime coverlets. A white walk-in closet took up one wall, clothes racks sharing space with drawers and shelves. They found everything their retro hearts could desire. Punk and flower child outfits, micros, minis, and maxis, bell bottoms, caftans, jumpsuits, and pantsuits, some in psychedelic colors.
Open shelves above the clothes held shoes of every style, height, and color. Seeing them, Reggie did a retro disco happy dance that made Harmony and Jake laugh. She grabbed the ladder.
“Wait!” Harmony said. “Let’s make sure it’s safe first.”
Reggie backed away as if she’d been slapped.
“Regg. I know you became a woman in the ninth grade, but you missed some life lessons. I didn’t want you to get hurt. You didn’t do anything wrong. If you did, your dad might dislike what you did, but he’d never dislike you.”
“Thanks,” Reggie said, lunging in for a hug but pulling back.
“Oh come here,” Harmony said. “I want the hug.” It was a strong hug. Warm. Friendly. “I’ll check the ladder, then you can go up.”
Harmony moved the ladder along its rail, and hung from every rung. “Okay, go for it.”
Reggie climbed to the top and started pulling out shoes.
Harmony went to play with Jake on the floor. When a chill hit the room, she threw a blanket around Jake. When she turned to Reggie, the ladder was trembling.
It started tipping away from the wall, and Reggie dropped a pair of shoes so she could hold on. “Push it forward with your body,” Harmony shouted.
If the ladder kept falling away from the wall, Reggie was gonna hit the floor and break her back.