My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 187

Chapter 187

“Aldric is –complicated.“Tooked at Cas. “Would you say Aldric is our friend?”

“I would say Aldric is an eleven hundred year old vampire who’s been reconsidering his positions for nearly five years by corresponding with a ten–year–old about art and governance and horse parliamentary systems “Cas set down his tablet. Whether that constitutes friendship is debatable. ”

SP

“Grace thinks he’s our friend,” Nate said with four year old certainty: “She says anyone who writes that many letters about horses is probably nice.”

“Grace has a point,” I admitted.

The truth was, Aldric had become something in our lives over the past four years. Not quite friend, not quite ally, but something significant. He’d continued corresponding with Grace—letters that started about horses and evolved into discussions about art, philosophy, governance, ethics. She treated him like a pen pal. He treated her like I wasn’t entirely sure. A project, maybe. Or a window into something he’d been missing for eleven centuries.

“Can we invite Aldric to my birthday?” Nate asked. “I want everyone to come.”

“Aldric lives very far away, buddy. And he’s–busy with important vampire business.”

“But he writes to Grace about horses. Maybe he writes about dinosaurs too.”

“I don’t think Aldric is particularly interested in dinosaurs.”

“Everyone’s interested in dinosaurs. Dinosaurs are the best.” Nate’s logic was flawless. “Daddy, can you ask? Please?”

I looked at Cas helplessly. “Can we ask?”

“You want to invite a Council member to your son’s fourth birthday party during the observation period before their final vote on integration frameworks.” Cas raised an eyebrow. “That’s actually quite strategic. Or completely insane. Possibly both.”

“Grace would want it. She’d say if Aldric is reconsidering his positions, seeing Nate’s birthday would help him understand what he’s actually voting about.”

“Grace is terrifyingly insightful for a ten–year–old.”

“She learned from you.”

“I taught her about vampire history, not political manipulation through birthday party invitations.”

“Sometimes they’re the same thing.” I looked at Nate, who was watching our exchange with wide, hopeful eyes. “Okay, buddy. I’ll ask Uncle Cas to send a message. But Aldric is very busy, so he probably won’t come.”

“But you’ll ask?”

“I’ll ask.”

Nate hugged me–fierce, quick, already moving on to the next thought. “Daddy, for my cake, can the dinosaurs be fighting? Like two velociraptors having a discussion but with teeth?”

“A discussion with teeth?”

“Grace says important conversations can be aggressive and respectful at the same time. That’s what parliamentary discussions are. So the dinosaurs should have that but with more teeth because they’re dinosaurs.”

I looked at Cas. “Our children are creating philosophical frameworks based on conversations they overhear.” “They’ve been doing that for years. Grace’s horse parliament was based on Council meeting structures she pieced together from fragments she heard.” He stood. “I’ll message Aldric about the party. Though I’m noting for the record that this is the most

unusual diplomatic invitation I’ve ever extended.”

“Noted.”

+15 Bonus

After Cas left to compose whatever carefully worded message one sent to an ancient vampire about a four–year–old’s birthday party, I held Nate while he explained his vision for aggressive–but respectful velociraptor cake decorations.

This was my life now. Planning dinosaur parties while negotiating with Council members. Raising children who thought citing eleven–hundred–year–old vampires as primary sources was normal. Building a family that had started with a desperate phone call at 2 AM and had somehow evolved into this—my daughter discussing Impressionista with her vampire uncle while my son

wanted to invite ancient creatures to his birthday celebration.

Emma appeared in the doorway, one hand on her hip, expression amused. “Did I just hear Cas say he’s inviting Aldric to Nate’s birthday?”

“Nate’s request. I couldn’t say no.”

“You never can say no when they ask nicely.” She moved into the office, kissing the top of Nate’s head. “What are you and Daddy planning?”

“Aggressive velociraptor discussions.”

“Of course you are.” She met my eyes over Nate’s head. The look that said we’ll talk about this later but also I love our weird family. “Dinner in twenty minutes. Grace is helping me make pot roast.”

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