“Thanks for helping me with another ridiculous project, Dadda.”
“Of course, boo.” Aster manages a smile through the frustration at all the circuitry in front of them. “Anything you need.”
Casper smiles and turns back to the booklet, but their brain clings more to what Dadda just said rather than the words on the page.
Casper sets the booklet down. “Can I ask about Jacinta?”
Dadda’s hands pause for so little time, Casper wouldn’t have noticed if it wasn’t for the wince that crossed his face. “…your grandmother?” He finally says.
“Y-yeah.” Being faced with that fact is jarring. I knew she was my grandmother, but for my dad to say it to my face…
“Well…” Dadda sits back. “She was your grandmother. She was your Uncle Korrah and I’s mom. She lived in San Myshuno for most of her life.”
Casper checks Dadda’s face before asking the next question. “Did she die there, too?”
Dadda sets the measuring tape aside. “Supposedly.”
“We never found out a cause of death.” Dadda fixes Casper with a curious look. “Didn’t you find my book?”
“Yeah.” Casper shrugs. “Haven’t made it all the way through it because Bee is hoarding it. And besides, I kinda want to hear it from you, not a book.”
When he has nothing to say, Casper pushes on. “Do you have any idea what happened to her?”
Aster sighs. “I had a million ideas, and they’re all written down. But I have no idea what actually happened, and speculation won’t help us here, will it?”
He’s smiling, but his eyes are so sad Casper can’t look for very long. “No, I guess you’re right,” they mumble, fiddling with the corner of the booklet.
