Who is She? - Panther's Lair

Grace waited in the back yard, setting up the area she had already designated as Rhiana's play area.  There was a sand box, a swing set, and a slide.  She'd also finally cleared away all the leaves from the lawn to make it safe for the child to run and play.

She waited, because she had called Jamie, and had asked him to meet her back here.

He pulled into the driveway, unbuckling the child from the safety seat.

"Ready to see Granny, wee love?" he asked her as he pulled her from the child's seat.

The child giggled. "Yes!"

He sat her on the ground, let her run to the front door (and inside). She was already squealing in excitement as she made a beeline for the back yard... "Granny!"

He followed behind her, laughing and shaking his head as he closed the door behind them, then made his way out back to find Grace and Selene.

Grace turned at the sound of Rhiana'a voice as it carried around the house and through the open sliding glass doors.

"Back here, love. I have a surprise for ye!"

The child squealed, running into the back yard. Then she squealed even louder, with the giggles.

Then she was running toward the sandbox, almost diving head-first into it.

He came out to the back yard, shaking his head.

"Wha' ha' ye done now, Woman?"

Grace was watching Rhiana with a huge grin on her face.

"Oh, nothin' much. Just built our lil' one a play area here at Grandmother's house."

He laughed and shook his head.

"Child will be spoiled rotten, ye ken."

She turned to him and kissed his cheek.

"She deserves it. And later, in a year or two, I'll start her training, and ye will nay be able t' call her spoiled."

He laughed.

"She'll be spoiled. Even if ye work her like a dog, I'll spoil her. We both ken I will."

She chuckled.

"Aye, I ken tha'. But this nay be why I called ye here."

He turned to look at her, one eye still kept on the child in the sandbox.

"Aye? Wha' be on your mind, Granny?"

She tilted her head to the side slightly, looking up at him.

"Who is this Dove woman t' ye?"

His hands slid into his pockets.

"Ah, aye."

He shook his head.

"Long time ago, after Claire and Rhiana, I met her. She and I were t'gether. I thought she was dead. She disappeared. Apparently, she thought I was dead as well."

She nodded.

"An' now tha' ye both discover tha' ye're nay dead?"

He shook his head. Then he sighed.

"I ha' nay a clue."

She brushed his hair back behind his ear and smiled.

"Judgin' by her reaction t' ye, ye're goin' t' have t' figure tha' out."

He frowned and looked at her, confused.

"How d' ye mean?"

Grace shook her head.

"Boyo, a woman's eyes see much. Judgin' by th' way she acted, tha' question she didn't ask was about ye're relationship status."

He winced.

"Awkward."

Grace nodded.

"So ye can see me interest in wha' there was between ye. Right now tis just family, but ye be a Prince. I dinna want personal t' become public except under careful control."

He nodded.

"Aye, I ken tha'. Th' problem is tha' I dinna ken. If I were t' rekindle something wi' Miss Dove, tha' would be noticed by th' public, if only because o' Dalia."

He shook his head, ran a hand over his face.

"It's a mess."

She smiled.

"An' because ye be a man, an' I be ye're granny, I called ye here t' head it off an' tell ye tha' I be here t' help. I like Dalia, I dinna ken this Dove woman, an' I won't see our lil' Rhiana hurt."

He shook his head and sighed.

"Dalia ... she will nay ha' much t' do wi' th' wee one."

He shook his head.

"Dove would be her mama."

She moved to wrap her arms around his waist in a hug, her head turning so she could see the little girl building.....who knows what that thing is, but it looks like fun.

"Dalia has still nay taken t' our dearlin'?"

His arms slipped around her, hugging her tightly as he watched the child.

"Dalia will nay take t' th' youngling. She is too afraid of her t' actually bother."

He shook his head.

"An' I need t' think o' her well-bein' now."

She actually sighed.

"Aye, we have t' worry 'bout yon lassie first an' foremost. Though how any could be 'fraid o' her, I'll never ken."