Not if she could help it.
“I hate leaving you like this,” she said to Barlow. He looked so old, so fragile sitting in the armchair. It broke her heart to know how ill he was, putting on such a brave front all of this time.
“Well, if you don’t want to be off yet, I’m sure you have enough time to get the rooms cleaned first.”
Val stood up. “Geez. This is the thanks I get for sending you back to Heaven? I’m thinking the rooms can probably wait.”
He smiled and squeezed her hand hard. She bent over to hug him close to her. “I have faith in you, Valerie,” he whispered. “I know you’ll do what’s right.”
Well, she thought. That makes one of us.
“Hey!” Reggie shouted after her as she rushed out to the motel’s courtyard. “Wait for me!”
Val stopped and turned around to see the rat bounding after her. “What?”
He was panting from his exertion. “So, where do we start?”
“We?”
He nodded his newly furry head. “I want to save the world, too. I’m morally obligated to help you out.”
“‘Morally obligated’?”
“That is correct.”
“You’re not just looking for an excuse to avoid Claire, are you?”
“Am I that transparent?”
Val sighed. “Sorry rat-boy, but you’ll just slow me down. Besides, don’t you have more important things to think about? Like getting your spell broken?”
“More important than saving the world? I think not.”
She blinked. “I’m just surprised you’re ready to believe in everything that’s been happening so easily.”
“Why wouldn’t I? My spooky girlfriend just turned me into a damn rat. What wouldn’t I believe now? So, let’s get going. Time’s a-wasting.”
The cool wind blew her hair across her face and she tucked it firmly behind her ears. “No, Reggie. It’s too dangerous. You can’t come. You need to stay here and take care of Mr.
Barlow while I’m gone.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Pleeeaaase?”
“Reggie!”
“Val, listen. Here’s the deal. You have to let me come with you. I need . . . I need to prove to
Claire that I’m not just a loser like she thinks. That I’m worthy of her love. Why else would she immediately assume the worst about me without even giving me the benefit of the doubt?
If I do this, if you let me help you, then maybe, just maybe she’ll see that I’m good enough for her. This is so important to me, you have no idea.”
“No.”
“Oh, come on!”
“Okay, I was just kidding on the last one. You can come. But try not to get in the way.”
“I promise!”
Val hurried out of the motel’s courtyard. Reggie had to run on his little rat feet to keep up with her.
Off to save the world, stop Julian, get the key, and send her and Barlow back to Heaven.
Sounded simple enough, didn’t it?
No, she didn’t think so, either.
Val didn’t have much money on her. Well, on her or in general, but she had enough to catch a cab to Seraphina’s office just off Clifton Hill. There was an airport limo idling outside the front door.
She and Reggie were getting out of the cab when Becky emerged from the building. She noticed Val and gave a nod before locking the door behind her. She was dressed in an expensive-looking business suit and her bright red hair was back in a smooth ponytail. She held a teacup Chihuahua under one arm. The Chihuahua wore a diamond studded collar that looked more expensive than Becky’s suit.
The little dog growled at Reggie who was currently in Val’s arms, and he took the opportunity to snuggle closer into her chest.
“Hey Val,” Becky greeted her with a smile. “Good to see you. What’s up?”
Val mirrored her smile, though it felt very forced. “Going somewhere?”
“Yeah, the car’s here to take us to the airport. We’re off to Disneyland at her majesty’s command. As if she hasn’t already been there twice this year. That little girl is crazy. They honestly don’t pay me enough for this job.”
Val let out a long sigh of relief. Talk about timing! Another few minutes and she would have been too late. “Listen, Becky. I need five minutes with Seraphina before you leave.”
“Sorry, no can do.”
“What?” Val’s entire body tensed up. “It’s really important or I wouldn’t ask. I know she’s very busy. I get it. But, this is a matter of life and death. To put it extremely mildly.”
“Valerie, melodrama doesn’t suit you. I should know. I get melodrama nine hours a day from her majesty and her majesty’s mother. Now I’m going to get melodrama twenty-four seven for a week while we’re at the so-called happiest place on earth. Somebody just shoot me now and put me out of my misery.”
“Just five minutes. Please Becky. I will owe you one. I’ll even go out with your brother.” Val paused, thinking about the geeky amateur wizard who seemed to drool profusely whenever he saw her. “Probably. Maybe. I’ll consider going out with your brother. To a movie. Then straight home. Separately.”
Becky smiled again and it looked tired. “I would if I could, really. I’m not just trying to be difficult. It’s just that Seraphina and her mother already left.”
Val eyed the limo. “Then what . . . what is this for?”