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It looked like the shop was owned by him and his brother. I didn’t know why he was so kind to us, but I wasn’t getting a creepy vibe off him, so that was a plus. I smiled my thanks and placed the card in my wallet.
“Thank you. We’ll keep you in mind,” I stated.
Sierra was nearly bouncing on the balls of her feet as she quivered in excitement. I could tell she was just as happy giving Gavin something he would enjoy, just as much as he would love receiving it.
“Thank you,” she called before linking her arms in mine with a rare showing of affection.
I was about to leave the store, when I remembered I had one of Jace’s business cards. If Ronnie’s son really was talented, I wanted to help him out like I’d been helped. I went back over to the counter and handed Ronnie the business card. Knightstown was written in bold letters on it along with Jace’s number at the school and his email address.
“When your son thinks he’s ready, have him send an audition video to this email address. If he’s as talented as my…well, my boyfriend could help him out. He can get him an audition. But I can’t make any promises that it would give him a guaranteed in. Maybe an open door,” I stated honestly.
He smiled and slid the card into his pocket. “Thank you. I think you gave me the best Christmas gift I could have given him. Hope!”
I smiled back at him. “Sometimes that’s all someone needs to continue driving them.”
He laughed and nodded at me. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” I stated as I went to catch up with Sierra, with Jace’s Christmas gift in my hands.
Chapter 3
“How was shopping?” Noah asked as he closely scrutinized me.
I refrained from yelling in frustration. “Successful and complete,” I stated as I dipped my roll in the gravy on my plate.
“Are you sore? Tired?” he asked in concern.
Megan sighed loudly, drawing our attention to her. Today we allowed the kids to sit a few tables down with their friends, so it was just my connections, Pops, and Megan. We tried to integrate with the people we worked with, even though most of us preferred the comfort of our apartments once our duty day was over. Not that we currently had a duty day.
We were all given a break for Christmas. It couldn’t have come at a better time. Some people volunteered to remain on call here on base, while others had gone home to spend time with their families. Even Paul had felt comfortable leaving the facility in Will’s more than capable hands to go back to be with his family.
Paul was the owner of the company we now worked for, contracted out by the government. We were a particular case. We weren’t under a contract to work for him, but he still paid us. Will’s influences and experience, he had already helped Paul out immensely. They had butted heads a lot in the beginning, but now they had a friendship, of sorts.
“Can’t you see that you’re being…overbearing?” Megan finally said when all eyes were on her. “I think Blake now understands that she needs to listen to her body. She will tell you when she doesn’t feel right. She’s been doing that just fine since she got out of the hospital. She doesn’t need you guys smothering her.”
I gave her a grateful smile while Will huffed out, “It’s their job to look after her. They have every right to be concerned about her. After all, she is their nucleus.”
“True, but she doesn’t need someone waiting outside her door while she uses the bathroom. It’s a fine line, Pops,” Drake spoke up firmly as he gave Remy and Jaxson a pointed look.
I stifled the inappropriate laugh. It was true; apart from Jace, Troy, and Drake, they all treated me like fragile glass. I hadn’t done any laundry, tied my own shoes, used the bathroom, or gotten dressed without one of them insisting on helping me. Admittedly, on my sick days, I needed the extra help at times, but Jaxson and Remy wouldn’t leave my side unless they knew I was with one of them, even on my good days.
“She needs our help,” Jaxson protested.
I held up my hand. “She, Blake, is right here. I really do appreciate how all of you have been, but Drake and Megan are right. There are days I have needed you, but days like today I’m fine. I’ve realized the error of my ways. The moment I don’t feel well or feel my limitations, I’ll let you know. Believe it or not, I don’t want to end up in the hospital wing again. I hate needles. So, please stop treating me like fragile glass and looking at me like I’ve been diagnosed with some incurable disease. I’ll get better. We’ll get better.”
“Had any luck finding your other connection yet?” Jaxson asked bitterly.
I was surprised by his tone and words. He usually avoided confrontations like the plague, but I also knew he was struggling with his own fear and insecurities. He was often the one to joke, pull a prank, or create an illusion in times of stress, but without his gift, he had lost some of his fire.
He was one of the ones who had jumped at my idea to ignore my final connection and allow our gifts to fade. He didn’t want to share me any more than he already did, especially with a stranger. With the combination of not having his standard crutch and his fear, he was irrationally striking out.
I knew if I coddled him right now he would probably continue his downward spiral. I couldn’t ignore his behavior or allow him to believe he could continue down the dark path he was going down.
“Jaxson James,” I said sharply. “This isn’t you, so please stop acting this way. This isn’t easy on any of us. We’re all feeling the same way. We don’t need the added stress of snapping at each other or lashing out. Now more than ever we—” my voice trailed off as my eyes widened at the women now entering the DFAC. “…need to stick together,” I finished quietly.
Hazel, my biological grandmother and probably the person most responsible for my current predicament, was coming into the DFAC with Beth, and beside her was Cora.
Beth and Cora had lost their nucleus almost two months ago, right after they adopted Patrick. Beth and Cora had lost some of the strength of their gifts, but it wasn’t completely lost. Cora had become nearly despondent after his death. She ate enough to survive in the cage of her own making and spent most of her days sleeping in her apartment. Will, Megan, and Beth had tried to draw her out on numerous times, but she had staidly refused.
