Chapter 19 Cherry

　　As Bert and I broke apart, my friend’s easy-going grin triggered a matching one on my face. “What?” I asked. 　　“Sooo, Fern’s a fire-cracker, ain’t she?” 　　I chuckled but reminded myself I still needed to tread carefully. I gestured to the sofa, inviting Bert to sit down and using the moment to get a grip on my anxiety. I thanked my lucky stars that I’d taken the precaution to conceal Fern’s shifter scent. I’d gone to a witch in Berlin’s Mitte district, who’d given me medicine to block my daughter’s scent to others with unnatural abilities. But I knew I mustn’t reveal any nervousness before my friend about my daughter, or he’d get suspicious. 　　“She certainly keeps me on my toes,” I started. 　　Bert’s keen blue eyes took me in, and he didn’t ask, but the silence filled with the unasked question about where Fern’s father was. Knowing it was important for me to broach the subject first before my friend could ask whether she was Dylan’s, I leaped into the topic. 　　“I met Fern’s dad, a hum