Zera and the Green Man by Sandra Knauf Page A

Nonny’s elderly black Labrador retriever, accompanied her with a matching stiff-legged walk. Within seconds they were at Zera’s side. Cato trembled with excitement at the sight of Zera, even while staying protectively next to Nonny.
    “Hi, Cato!” Zera said. Nonny’s hair, now completely white, shone in the sun. Although Zera had seen her a half-dozen times since she’d been living with The Toad, and through v-phone and v-mail many times, she still hadn’t gotten used to the dramatic change of Nonny’s now pure white hair and deeply-lined skin.
    Nonny took Zera’s heart-shaped face in her hands. She kissed both cheeks and then her forehead. “Zera Katherine . . . my angel. How I have missed you! Look at this, you’re now taller than I am. And your hair has grown so long.” Nonny brushed a strand from Zera’s face.
    “Nonny,” said Zera. The word was muffled in a bear hug and Nonny’s scent, a rich mixture of honey, sandalwood, and rose.
    Nonny turned her attention to her son. The Toad gave his mother an awkward hug. As she squeezed him tight with one arm, she placed a generous smack of a kiss on his cheek. “It’s so good to see you, Ted. You too, Tiffany. Goodness,” she said, two fingers gently probing one of his biceps, “your arm is as big and hard as a tree branch. Have you been working out?”
    The Toad looked embarrassed. “Yeah, actually I have.”
    Nonny raised her eyebrows. “It’s certainly paying off.” She took Zera’s hand and began to lead her up the stairs. “Let’s go in, honey.” Over her shoulder she said to Theodore and Tiffany. “You two come on in. And, Tiffany, I’m so sorry. I do hope Alice hasn’t left any nasty claw marks on your upholstery. Ted, maybe you should check the back seat, sometimes when Alice gets excited she tinkles just a bit . . .”
    “Hummph.” Tiffany straightened her black skirt. “Dogs!”
    Nonny led Zera and Tiffany to the kitchen and offered them lemonade.
    “No thanks,” said Tiffany, as she eyed with distaste the big kitchen’s glass-fronted cabinets crammed with dishes and the slightly-beat-up refrigerator. “We’ve only got a few minutes. We’ve got a plane to catch in Piker.”
    “I have a couple of questio ns, Tiffany,” said Nonny. “Sit.

Chapter Nine
     
     
     
    After searching the back seat for traces of dog pee, Theodore unloaded Zera’s belongings. What if I don’t see her again for a long time? He’d grown used to having Zera in his life. Yes, she could be a brat, yes, she didn’t like Tiffany, but he knew that underneath the acting up she was a good kid. Pangs of regret surged through him. I see a lot of myself in her . The way she loves botany. The way I used to. He picked up her suitcase, the box of plants. Got to stay on task . I need to focus on what’s happening today — with my career, with my future. This could be the biggest day in my life.
    He joined the women in the kitchen. “Your car’s fine, Tiffany. No damage done.”
    Tiffany looked up from the table. “Good.” 
    Nonny poured her son a glass of lemonade and motioned for him to sit next to her. Theodore sat down, took a big drink.
    “Well, Ted,” said Nonny, “I am just absolutely thrilled to have this child back, no matter what the circumstances. But I am a bit confused about your change of heart.”
    Theodore wiped lemonade off his mouth with the back of his hand. “I’ve been thinking of letting Zera come for a visit, a longer visit, for some time, Mom. We’ve certainly spoken about it before.” Theodore looked around the room, avoiding her eyes. “It’s just that circumstances haven’t permitted it. Work . . . you know.”
    Nonny smiled pleasantly. “What you know is that I can smell b.s. a mile away.” 
    Theodore squirmed inwardly and cast his eyes down. Not a good idea. The sight of his mother’s prosthesis, visible below her skirt, made him queasy. The artificial but surprisingly lifelike limb ended in a sandaled foot, the