Cumin: Book 1

Epilogue

"Everyone's Terrors"

A promotional epilogue for Cumin

Author's Intro/Gift:

Since it's lame to give you all an announcement without a story update, I offer you this little epilogue!

Why the announcement? Today I release the first book in a series of inexpensive Kindle books that I've started to help put food on the table LITERALLY, as in I'm having a hard time paying for food and the basics. If you can, please drop by and pick up a copy of it.

It's titled "Wendy" and you can find it on Amazon under the pen name T.S. Lowe. I've put a synopsis at the end of this chapter.

Now I'll get out of your way...

"So, why does Lin have a thing with babies crying?"

Naru just kept typing. The tea I had just placed next to his mouse curled steam across his fingers. I waited just before it got awkward before saying his name again.

"I heard you the first time," he said, picking up his tea than for no other reason than to sniff those steam trails into his nostrils. It wasn't like he could drink it at this temperature—op. I was wrong. Freak of nature.

"So?"

"Sounds like something you should be asking him," he said before taking another scalding sip.

I couldn't help myself. "How do you not have blisters on the roof of your tongue?"

"It's not that hot. You see the steam more because of the humidity today and the lower temperature I like to keep my office."

"Oh, jee, then how about blisters in your stomach?"

"Was there a point to that comment?"

"Uh, to initiate play?"

He turned his head to grace me with his favorite look to give me: you're an idiot.

You'd think that, after becoming his girlfriend, he'd actually, you know, stop doing that. Maybe treat me with a little respect.

"I treat you with plenty of respect," he said, once more showing uncanny ability to read my mind—not ever when it's important, mind you. It only works when it can be used against me.

He swerved back to the computer screen, picking up his tea again. "But we are still working. Haven't you called Ms. Jane back about her Buick?"

"I still don't see why we can't do a haunted car."

"It's not a haunted car. It's an old car that needs the junk yard. Now get."

"But you haven't told me why Lin doesn't like babies."

"Lin likes babies fine," said Naru with a sniff, putting down his tea. "And I already said you'll have to ask him."

I whined. "But Lin's intimidating."

"Can face down a ghost threatening her life, but can't ask her co-worker a simple question. Tut tut."

I guess that could be counted as a push of encouragement, as tasteless as it was. "Fine, be that way. I put hair in your tea."

"Right." He said, taking another sip as he did it, just to show he knew my threat was groundless.

I stuck my tongue out at him and backtracked out of the office. I glanced over at Lin's office, which more often than not was closed and quiet, and allowed myself a little shudder. Despite whatever 'leaps' or 'bounds' we had taken in our relationship, it was still a bit of a strain to call Lin a friend. The guy just didn't want friends, or at least, not the kind he'd find around here.