We went for a hearty breakfast before starting day three of the theater. The restaurant was across the street, so all we had to do was walk over, but man, I did not want to.
Mack got called over by Eli—why, hello, nerves. It was never good when she grinned like that—which left me and Gwyn standing on the sidewalk. I asked her, “Want to walk to the store and get some more water bottles?”
“Yeah, we’re low.” She wrinkled her nose. “And I already kinda feel dehydrated.”
“I hear ya.”
I poked Mack real quick, told him where we were going, and he put in a request for a Coke as a pick-me-up. Gwyn and I walked along the sidewalk to the little market on the corner. It was a nice morning, at least, not hot yet. Barely a cloud in the sky. Damn shame I was spending today indoors.
“Hey, Brandon?” Gwyn sounded thoughtful more than anything. “Will I be doing online school?”
“Probably. We have to move without much warning for basically any job, so trying to keep you in a public schoolandworking cases all over the US would be a bit much. That okay?”
“Sure. I was just wondering how things would work. Really, school is only sorta helpful for my future. I’ll learn more from Mack.”
“Mack and I agree with you.”
A light frown pulled at her mouth. “But I guess I won’t be able to make friends.”
“I wouldn’t say that. You’re not going to have school friends, true. But you’re going to meet alotof people in the next several years, and I’ll bet you’ll make friends with some of them.”
She did seem heartened by my words. “I’ve never been able to really keep friends before. I was always too weird for most people.”
“You’re now surrounded by equally weird people.”
Now she was grinning, almost mischievous. “Weirdos, unite! Sounds great, being able to vibe with people who get it. Will I get to meet all the people you’ve talked about?”
I’d spoken casually of Abby and Skye, my family, the other colleagues we’d worked with, and Sylvia of course. “Sure, you’ll meet everyone at some point or another. We live pretty close to most of my family.”
I wasn’t surprised she was trying to feel her way forward. A lot about her life had already changed, and would continue to change, so naturally she had questions.
“Was his childhood really that bad?”
I blinked, the question out of left field. She was thinking all sorts of things over there, wasn’t she? “Mack’s, you mean?”
“Yeah.”
How to answer her? Naw, brutal truth sufficed. “It was bad. I don’t know if he ever broke a bone because of a ghost, you might have him beat there, but he was chased, hounded, bruised, and sleep deprived for almost twenty years before his mom finally confessed Beau could train him. He refuses to return homebecause of his childhood. I think, when he looks at you, he sees himself in a way.”
Her eyes came up to meet mine, and those eyes held understanding. “It’s why he’s so protective and sweet to me.”
“Yeah. I mean, I think he would be anyway, ’cause he likes kids. Mack believes the best investment you can put into the future is to take care of the rising generation. But with you—yeah, I think he sees a lot of his younger self.” It was why I hoped when Gwyn was safely all grown up and trained, some part of his trauma would heal a little.
She accepted what I said with another nod. “Yeah. Makes sense. But what about you?”
“Oh, my childhood was amazing. My parents are wonderful, loving people. My siblings are awesome. If you’re wondering why I’m so naturally protective, seems to be in the genes? All of my family are pretty protective of our loved ones. Hell, my professor bookworm cousin is still an anchor and protector of his psychic.”
“Alan, you mean?”
“Yup.” She really did pay attention, this kid.
“But all anchors are super protective, right?”
“Comes with the job territory. I mean, look at Booker and Quinn. Or Hannah, how she protects Beau.”
Another pensive look, like she was slotting this in.
Her future was all possibilities at this stage, which must be as nerve-racking as it was exhilarating. I knew she had to be nervous about getting an anchor—everyone was. Hell, Mack had flatly refused to anchor up until he met me. But all I could do was reassure her; we’d help her find the right person.
