Chapter 7: Friends

"Of course," Colleen said. "I cannot wait to hear all about Ireland."

"It's a beautiful country."

They carried some platters into the living room. With the food settled onto the coffee table and their wine glasses filled, Meg sat on her loveseat. Colleen chose her usual spot on an antique rocking chair. Meg's grandfather had made it when she'd been adopted by her parents.

"I bet. Do you at least have pictures?"

Meg pulled out her phone. She found her Irish Trip folder before handing the phone to Colleen. Her friend swiped to look at each picture while Meg sipped her wine.

"It is beautiful. I am so going there this year."

"You haven't taken a vacation in five years."

Colleen laughed. "I know, but I plan on one this year. My boss has insisted. I have too much accumulated."

"I'd go back in a minute." Meg settled back in the cushions. "It felt like home."

"Mm. I've never been anywhere that felt like that besides home, of course."

Colleen brushed her reddish-blonde hair out of her eyes. Meg knew she wore it in a bun at work, but the hair came down when she took off her suit. Literally and figuratively.

The doorbell rang again and Fiona breezed in, a bottle of wine in her hand. She wore a flowered skirt and a tank top. Sparkly Birkenstocks completed her outfit.

"Ola, gals," Fiona said.

Her red hair in ringlets flopped around her face as she bounced into the room.

"Of course Fi brings a bottle of wine," Colleen said.

"The hostess always gets a gift," Fiona said, kissing Colleen's cheek.

She kissed Meg then sat.

"I'm hardly a hostess," Meg said.

Fiona shrugged. "Sorry, it isn't that creative. I was knee-deep in clay when I realized what time it was."

Meg reached over and pulled some gray matter out of Fiona's hair. "You're still knee-deep in it."

Fiona laughed. "Sorry. I have some figurines I have to make for a client."

"Speaking of figurines," Colleen said. "Show us this gargoyle."

Meg's eyes twinkled. "Let me get it."

She headed into the bedroom while Meg and Colleen caught up on the news of the day. Meg looked at her nightstand. The gargoyle wasn't there. She'd been so busy this morning and when she arrived home that she hadn't notice. Odd. She searched under the bed.

"Something wrong?" Colleen said from the doorway.

Fiona stood beside her.

"I can't find the gargoyle."

Fiona waltzed into the room as she took control. "How big was it? Did you put it in your drawer?"

"Too big for the drawer," Meg said as she stared at where it had been sitting.

Something niggled at her memory. Something she'd dreamt about last night.

Fiona looked under the bed. Colleen peered into the bathroom.

"You have the strangest look on your face," Fiona said when she straightened.

"I had this odd dream. I thought someone was in my bedroom," Meg said

She hadn't been afraid. Instead, she had a sense the person was there to protect her. From what she had no idea.

"And they stole the gargoyle?" Colleen said.

She let out a little laugh. Meg knew it sounded odd, but it was just as weird that her statue was gone. "I kind of liked that thing."

"Oh? Tell me more about the dream?" Fiona said.

"It was a man and he had wings. I assumed that talking to the gargoyle before bed made me think of wings. I didn't think anything of it besides that," Meg said.

"You're jetlagged," Fiona said. "I think you need more wine."

"What about my gargoyle?"

"Are you sure you didn't dream of bringing it home?" Fiona said.

Colleen shook her head. "She sent me a pic of it."

"Ah," Fiona said. "You didn't move it somewhere?"

"No. I didn't even look at it. I was late this morning," Meg said.

Fiona locked arms with her. "You need more wine. I'm sure it will turn up. You did something with it in your sleep."

Meg laughed. "That would be the only explanation that could make sense."

Fiona dragged her back to the living room. Colleen handed Fiona Meg's phone. "Check out the photos."

Fiona flopped on the couch Meg's phone in her hand. "Wow. I think I could truly be inspired in such a beautiful country."

"As if you need anything to be creative," Colleen said.

Fiona's art had been in many galleries in the city. People from other countries commissioned pieces for their homes. She was that well known.

Fiona shrugged. "I've been doing fine when someone knows that they want, but I've had little inspiration for creating my stuff."

Meg turned to Fiona. "Really?"

Fiona frowned. "I'm sure it's temporary."

"I have a new boss," Meg said.

"Colleen said that. Wasn't that job your next step?" Fiona said.

"Yeah and I don't know where it leaves me now. I may have to look outside the company for an advancement," Meg said.

"But you love that company."

Meg shrugged. "It's changing and I think some of the higher-ups who like me will be retiring soon."

"Well, for tonight you don't have to think about it," Fiona said, handing the phone back to Meg.

"Nope. Tonight it is all about us," Colleen said.

They toasted, smiling at each other. They were right. Meg didn't have to think about it now, but she hoped she'd find the statue. She'd gotten used to talking out her problems with just such a gargoyle in Ireland.

She could use his quiet confidence right about now.

***

Donal perched on the edge of the roof, listening to the murmur of the conversation of Meg and her friends. He couldn't make out the exact words because the windows were closed, but he could tell from the tone that they were friends.

Good. If she were going to be in danger, she would need people around her. Not just him, though she wasn't going to defeat whoever was after her without him.

He wasn't sure about the sounds of the city. There were just so many people here. Living as a stone statue on a church facing the North Atlantic had been boring. There had been no cities when he'd been animated last time. The fay and gargoyles lived in the country. Fairies preferred being underground while gargoyles liked high places to see if anyone was coming. Goblins traveled at night.

Donal dutifully surveyed the city. If a goblin was here, this would be when it would attack.