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did,” Everett guessed, giving his older brother a hug.
    The boy huffed again.
    “Of course he did,” Celeste replied. “Bran thinks you’re a regular Casanova.” She set the spoon down she had been using to feed him and carefully wiped his chin.
    “Bran, Annie, this is Adrielle,” Everett introduced them.
    Annie waved again. Bran closed his eyes twice.
    “That means hello,” Celeste explained. “He’s happy to meet you.”
    Everett watched Adrielle, wondering how she would react. It wasn’t often they brought newcomers to meet their oldest siblings, but Everett knew it would mean a lot to Annie and Bran. His chest was tight in trepidation while he waited for the werewolf’s reaction.
    “I’m happy to meet you, too,” Adrielle replied with a warm smile.
    Everett couldn’t help smiling at her in gratitude. “Thank you,” he whispered.
    She smiled back at him before giving both Bran and Annie a hug. “This is a beautiful room you have back here,” she said, looking up at the stars they could see through the glass ceiling.
    “It’s Mom’s favorite,” Celeste explained. “She loves the moon.”
    Adrielle raised her eyebrows at Everett.
    He gestured toward the telescope in the corner. “She’s a selenographer.”
    “She studies the surface of the moon?” Adrielle replied in surprise.
    A smile spread across Annie and Celeste’s faces. Bran made a happy little sound.
    “You know about selenography?” Celeste asked.
    Adrielle gave a little shrug, embarrassment clear on her face. “I just have a fascination with the moon myself.”
    Celeste nodded. “Both Mom and Dad feel the moon’s connection to the fallout dispersion and the lasting effects of the chemical warfare is deeper than anyone thinks. One of these days, I know they’re going to prove it.”
    “I hope so,” Adrielle replied.
    At Celeste’s questioning look, the werewolf explained, “I know the monsters affected by the chemicals would like to figure out why the moon impacts them. Maybe if we found out why, we could make a cure.”
    All eyes shifted to Everett. He looked out the closest window at the darkness beyond and pretended not to notice.
    “Rett, have you shown Adrielle Dad’s greenhouse?” Celeste asked.
    Grateful for the distraction, Everett shook his head. “Not yet.”
    “Don’t forget; you know Dad loves the chance to show it off,” Celeste pressed.
    Everett met Adrielle’s questioning look. “Would you like to see it?” he offered.
    Adrielle nodded. “I’d love to.” She smiled at Bran and Annie. “It was wonderful to meet you.”
    Annie gave her little wave and Bran grinned at her.
    “Thank you for being so kind,” Everett said quietly, leading the way back up the hallway. “I know all of this can be a bit overwhelming.” He turned near the kitchen and through the mudroom to the back door.
    “They’re wonderful,” Adrielle replied. “They’re the ones who were being kind. I’m the stranger, remember?”
    He pushed open the door and led the way to the greenhouse nestled in the corner where his father studied his bee hybrid creations. The greenhouse had cost a fortune because seeds and plants cultivated from the fallout were scarce. His father’s efforts to improve the quality of the resulting naturally-grown fruits and vegetables were priceless since only genetically manufactured produce was available in the markets.
    Adrielle stepped inside with an expression of awe. “This is beautiful!”
    “It’s my dad’s life work,” Everett explained. “There are vitamins in naturally grown plants they haven’t been able to duplicate in the biotech crops created after the Ending War. There are self-pollinating plants, but problems with hand-pollination for certain fruits and vegetables have caused them to die off dramatically.”
    He fought back a smile at the fact that he was repeating things his father had told them over and over again. He thought he hadn’t been listening, but apparently it had