The Final Redemption by Michael Manning (little red riding hood ebook free .txt) 📕

union with Gareth could createchildren who would have them. Without one, any offspring would bestillborn.

“While I wish you the best of luck, Ithink I’d prefer it if these were unable to breed, to eliminateunanticipated possibilities,” I said honestly.

Gareth grunted, “I haven’t decided ifI could handle children anyway. I’m a little old for that sort ofchaos.” Gesturing at the empty boxes he added, “When do you want meto start?”

“We should have the last of them readyby next week. How long will it take you to do each one?”

“A full day for the first one maybe,after that it will be quicker, possibly as little as a few hourseach,” he responded after a moment.

I nodded. “So you’ll need at least aweek then. You should plan a long visit here with Moira,” I toldhim.

“That wouldn’t be wise.”

“You really are worried about heropinion aren’t you? Frankly, I’m surprised you’re willing toparticipate. When I first brought it up, I anticipated a longlecture before you would agree, but you gave only a tokenresistance to the idea.”

“I still think you’re mad. This willprobably fail outright, and you’ll have a nasty mess to clean up.If it doesn’t, then things may just go wrong, which means an evenbigger cleanup,” he said truthfully.

“Then why go along withme?”

“I can’t help it. This idea plays tomy most coveted inner dream. If you succeed, it will change theworld. The risks are worth it to be a part of that,” he explainedwith a hint of passion in his voice. Gareth rarely got excited, hewas famously taciturn, but I could tell that this project had hisfull attention.

Chapter 56

It was almost three weeks after Garethleft before I was ready. I sent him a message via message box whenI was close to done, and then I took up the subject of their visitwith Penny.

I hadn’t expected any trouble from herquarter, but once again I had underestimated herperceptiveness.

“It would be nice to have them bothfor a week,” she answered when I brought the subject up, butsomething in her tone begged the question.

“But, what?” I asked. I should haveknown better.

She gave me a look that spoke volumes;I just wasn’t sure what language they were written in. Why couldn’twomen be simpler?

“But, what?” I repeated, havingexhausted my list of clever responses already.

“Nothing,” she said in the specialtone she used that quite obviously meant the exactopposite.

Unsure what to do, I growled at herinstead. It was a special technique I had learned over the years.When in doubt don’t try to get ‘smart’ with them. They just makeyou suffer more if you try to be rational. Forget the verbosity,and find your inner savage. They’ll often take pity and explainthemselves if you do.

“If you don’t want to tell me, I won’task,” she said, giving me enough information to finally realizewhat she was getting at.

Early in our marriage I might haveplayed dumb, replying with something like, ‘Tell you what?’ I hadlearned that lesson already, though. Instead I took the bull by thehorns, “You’re referring to my special project?”

She nodded. “I’m sure you’ve drawnGareth into whatever it is, as well as embroiling our children init. I just wish you’d be more open with me.”

Given the events of the last year, Iknew she deserved better, so I explained my idea in its entirety. Igave her the entire thing, hoping that she wouldn’t find somethingto object to in my scheme. When I had finished I added one caveat,“Please, don’t tell Moira.”

“Our Moira or Gareth’s?”

“Gareth’s,” I clarified.

“So you want to induct me into yoursecret and then exclude his wife? Is that really fair?” sheasked.

“Gareth is uncertain how to approachher on the topic, so I offered to take her aside and explain,” Isaid.

She frowned, “Why not let me broachthe subject?”

“She’s going to have some validobjections,” I explained, “but I think I can persuadeher.”

“Alright,” she said without furtherargument.

I couldn’t quite believe in her easyacceptance, so I waited quietly for a minute or two.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”she asked eventually.

“You aren’t going to try and talk meout of this?” I said narrowing my eyes in suspicion.

“No.”

“This could be dangerous,” Iadded.

“Mmm hmm,” she murmured, absentlypolishing some of our dishware. That was a clear sign that she feltthe conversation was over, or at the very minimum, it no longerdeserved the sort of attention that would slow her progress on hercleaning schedule any further.

“Even if I succeed, there could be farreaching consequences, not just for us, but for futuregenerations,” I told her seriously.

“Very true.”

At that point I was certain she hadn’treally been listening, so I went for the preposterous, “I’m goingto sacrifice our children and use their blood to fuel terrible darkmagics.”

She raised one eyebrow,“Are you trying to get me to object?”

“Well, it’s what you do,” I admitted.“I don’t feel comfortable going forward if you don’t at least putup a token resistance.”

Penny gave me a long sigh, the kindshe reserved for special moments of stupidity. Rolling her eyesupward, she spoke in a monotone, “Oh please, Mort, please don’t dothis. For the sake of our children, don’t do this.” Switching backto her normal tone she added, “There, is that what you wanted? MayI get back to what I was doing?”

“You didn’t mean that,” I notifiedher. “Not only that, but you’re undermining the foundations of ourrelationship. You’ve set me adrift in uncharted waters.”

“I’m sure you’ll manage somehow,” shereplied acerbically.

I was agog at the way she dismissed myemotional distress. I let my mouth fall open dramatically toemphasize the feeling, since she clearly wasn’t gettingit.

She graced me with another sigh. “If Iargue with you, will it change anything?” she asked.

“Probably not,” I conceded.

“But if I just accept your plan,you’ll be riddled by self-doubt and second guessyourself?”

I nodded emphatically.

“Then it’s obviously the best thing Ican do. If I argue you’ll do what you want and never look back, butif I don’t, you’ll rethink the whole thing. You might even considerdeeper consequences, possibly improve your plan or reduce therisks. At the very least, you’ll be more prudent and less stupid,”she explained.

She had really thought this onethrough.

“We’ve been married foryears now Mort, and one thing I’ve finally learned, is