When they got home Will reminded Joan, who nodded and said she'd tell Ash.
"Ash who?" asked Kevin.
"Ash Nightraven, Joan's boyfriend." Helen said, coming in the door.
Kevin raised an eyebrow and asked Joan, "Is he nice?"
"Yes."
"Does he treat you good?"
"Yes."
"Do I have to kick his ass?"
"No Kevin."
"Damn." Kevin hit his hand on the arm of his chair. "I was looking forward to that. Okay, now I have to meet the guy, see if he's good enough for you."
Later that night Joan was in her room writing in her journal when her cell phone rang. Picking it up, she glanced at the faceplate and saw who it was.
"Hi Ash."
"Hello Joan. Come out to the backyard, we gotta talk."
"Okay." Joan hung up and came out. "God has a cell phone?" she asked, walking up and nicking the phone to get a look at it.
"Yeah, I do."
"Text messaging, e-mail, net access… man, you got all the cool toys."
"I know." God took back the phone "You guys come up with the most fun things."
"Thanks. Anyway, you wanted to talk?"
God nodded, putting the phone away.
"What about? Oh! And before I forget, my dad wants to talk to you. I think he thinks that you're gonna whisk me away and ravish me, or something."
"I don't ravish Joan; that would be cruel."
Joan stared at him for a moment and laughed. "Very funny, but now onto what you wanted to talk about?"
"Actually we didn't need to talk; it was just an excuse to see you."
"I thought as much."
"And to give you this." God gently brushed Joan's lips with his.
The contact was so soft that Joan almost missed it. This kiss was different from the one they had shared earlier; it was soft and gentle, like a pair of butterfly wings were settling on her mouth. Joan smiled as they broke apart and God pulled her close, his arms loose around her waist, her head on his shoulder.
"When should I come by?"
"Hmm? Oh, that. Um, does Saturday afternoon around 3:00 work?"
"Time is a human invention Joan."
"I know but just answer me."
"Saturday at three is fine."
The two talked for a little bit before Joan decided it was time for her to go back in. She watched God walk out of the backyard from the back porch, giving his signature wave and down the street before going in.
That Saturday afternoon God rang the doorbell and Helen answered the door. "Hello Ash, I'm Joan's mother, Helen." She said, letting him in.
God smiled. "Hi Mrs.Girardi." God replied as he took off his coat and let her take it."
"Call me Helen."
"Alright, Helen."
They came over to the kitchen where Will and Joan were. Will was at the sink rinsing a large knife, Joan at the table, gutting a pumpkin. She smiled at him and said hi. "I'd come and give you a hug, but" she pulled out a handful of seeds and pulp. "I'm up to my elbows in pumpkin." She plopped it onto the mass of newspaper that was already holding a lot of pulp and seeds already on the table.
"Well that's okay Joan, didn't want you around me anyway." God smirked, teasing her.
Joan snorted, "Fine, love you too." She said, sticking out her tongue.
"Hello Ash." Will said, turning around, knife still in hand.
"Hello Mr. Girardi."
Joan came over to wash her hands. "Be nice please." She whispered to Will.
"I will."
They all sat down and Will looked at God, his face a blend of cop and big scary "You hurt my daughter and you die" dad. God congratulated himself on not laughing.
"Joan says you've been seeing each other for around two months."
"Yes sir, we met at the bookstore."
Joan mentally breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed a little, maybe this would be alight after all. Helen asked if anyone wanted a drink and brought glasses of water, a mug of hot tea and one of chocolate with whipped cream for Joan. She sat down next to her and they began to sort the seeds from the pulp into a bowl to be roasted later.
Will was very pleased with God. He was nice, polite, did not ogle his daughter in his sight and made Joan happy. So maybe he was good enough to date her.
"So what are you intentions with my daughter Ash?"
God and Joan both choked on their drinks, even though they both knew that question was coming.
"Honey, are you alright?" Helen asked. Joan nodded and wiped off her chin. "Ash?"
"Fine Helen." God put down his glass and refocused on Will after cleaning off his chin. "My ah, intentions with your daughter?" he asked trying to swallow his laughter.
"Oh God, don't screw up now." Joan groaned mentally.
Will nodded, his face nothing but big scary dad.
"I care for your daughter very much Mr. Girardi, there's nothing I wouldn't do for her and no way could I hurt her."
"Good." Will smiled. "You're a dead man if you do."
Joan winced. "Gee thanks dad, scare him off why don't you…"
"It's okay Joan, I understand where he's coming from." God replied. He then asked if there was anything else and if not, if Joan wanted to go for a walk. She said yes and after getting their coats the two left the house.