Chapter 102

Grace

I really hoped that the people on the other side weren't coming in to spit at me. The door opened, and a small group of familiar faces walked in. They didn't seem pissed off with me at the moment, and they were all dressed in comfortable-looking clothing.

Their lack of anger filled me with a sense of hope. I recognized most of them - people I'd encountered over the years in town.

Dave was among them, the kind and reliable soul who had worked at the local grocery store for as long as I could remember. Then, there was Sarah, the compassionate nurse from Mooncrest Hospital, known for her unwavering dedication to her patients. She'd helped deliver Cecil. Frank, the retired police officer with an unshakable sense of duty, was also with them. He'd given me my first ticket when I was an undergraduate and causing a drunken scene. I knew the others, though I couldn't remember their names.

I turned to them, trying to seem calm and in control. Frank scoffed and looked at Eason. "Nice speech, real tear-jerker. My wife practically hustled me out of the house because of you."

"That's high praise." Eason grinned. "Glad I'm doing my job."

My face burned as Frank looked back at me. "And I'm glad you still have such little shame. It'll serve you well."

I winced. "Hi, Frank."

"My wife was impressed you didn't flip anyone off or flash anyone."

I groaned, hiding my face as Eason snickered.

"Frank, please... I've got two children now..."

"Oh, I know. I can't wait to see what kind of hell they're going to raise."

By the goddess, I hoped neither of them would be anything like me. Let Cecil and Richard have one sneaking out to a party incident a piece. Goddess, please.

"What are you all doing here?"

"We're here to join the militia."

I gasped. I had forgotten about Mooncrest's militia. Was it still active? Would it be useful? Who else would join? Still, even if it was just these few, I was grateful. They had come here to pledge their support and protection for our city. Maybe that apology had gotten through to more people, and maybe Eason was right.

Looking into their eyes, I couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you," I began, addressing the group. "I appreciate it."

One of the retirees, a former police sergeant named Michael, spoke up.

"You're a long way away from mooning officers, Grace." I groaned as Amira snickered. "It's good to see you grown up a little."

He looked at Eason. "Good to see you back in Mooncrest."

Eason nodded stiffly.

"We've lived in Mooncrest for most of our lives," Dave said, smiling. "It's our home, and we're not about to let these terrorists threaten it without putting up a fight."

"Thanks. We'll get you all registered and slot you in with patrols."

"Are they still taking the same routes?" Michael asked, looking between me and Eason.

"I expanded it," Eason said, pulling out pages as Amira sat forward with her laptop and opened the militia roster. Amira started to check people in, getting their available hours as Eason went over the expanded patrol routes with the old police officers. Listening to them, it hit me again, like another slap to the face.

Eason had met with these men before in some capacity. They knew him and respected him. He'd earned that, and he's been what? Not even twenty-one when Dad died. I'd left him in Mooncrest and went back to my program. He'd run Mooncrest on his own, not even for a year, yet they respected him. Had Eason even gotten to finish his undergraduate degree, or had he just started his company?

I didn't know, and it made my chest tight to realize that I didn't.

Eason was a practical stranger to me, and I had no one else to blame but myself.

"...Grace?"

I turned, looking up at Dave as he smiled at me. He pat my shoulder.

"Don't be so hard on yourself. All you can do is do your best."

I blinked and tried to smile as my brain continued to turn it over. I looked back over to Eason as he took notes and nodded along with whatever Michael was saying.

"I noted that. That's why I added it. Do you think we should be worried about the warehouse? We didn't have the manpower to cover it all at the frequency I wanted, but if we had at least another hundred people, it might not be so much of a stretch."

Michael and Frank hummed. "They used to be your sister's favorite hangouts; not much activity there recently, though. Maybe add it at the half-time patrols."

I winced. "Am I ever going to live it down?"

"Not even when you get this shit in order," Frank said gruffly. "Alright. I've got enough. Since your assistant is competent and Eason is here, I'll let the others know they can just call in to register."

Frank clapped Eason on the shoulder, and soon they left. I heard Frank get on the phone.

"Yeah, Hank. I was right. You owe me a beer and get your gear. Call City Hall. I expect you and that son of yours to be on rotation soon..."

My eyes burned, and I looked at Eason, who was typing away again.

"Eason... one day... We have to talk."

"Talk?"

"About that year."

Eason went still for a moment. He didn't look at me, but he nodded stiffly and went back to work. I looked over Amira's shoulder as the phone started to ring. She picked it up and nodded, smiling as she pulled up another profile.

"Yes, I can... You and your son? Of course, Officer Patton. Just a moment."

We might just make it, maybe. I bit my lip and looked over at Eason. "Anything I can help with? My laptops... back at Wolfe Medical."

Eason jerked his head. "Call your hubby and get an update on the border."

I scowled at him and pulled out my phone to call Charles. I got up and left the conference room to pace the hallway as I waited.

"How are you holding up?" Charles asked. The sound of wind rushed around his words.

"I'm seated and embarrassed. The militia is starting up again. I had completely forgotten about it."

"Sounds like there's a story there. I suppose you're calling for an update?"

"I've been ordered to."

"Best to listen to him," Charles said. "We're patrolling the southern border right now. It's been quiet so far. Nothing from the other units inside the city yet, either. How's reception going?"

"Eason says it's good. More people want to transfer in, so they must know something I don't, but I have a business question."

"Shoot."

"Fenris sent me another message." I read it to him. "What do you think?"

"That he's enjoying this a lot, but he won't be enjoying it soon." Charles chuckled softly. "But if you're asking me how you should reply. What do you think?"

I scowled. "You sound like Eason."

"What a compliment."

"I just want an answer."

"And if I just give you the answer, you'll never learn to stand on your own." My eyes widened. "Isn't that what you want?"

"I..."

"The woman who was willing to walk out of the meeting with me not too long ago--"

"Was desperate and an idiot."

"Your words, not mine."

"Charles!"

He laughed. "You're too hard on yourself. You can't be afraid of making decisions because of a handful of bad decisions."

"A handful? It feels like they've all been wrong..."

I shuddered at the admission.

"Only the ones you make without thinking."

"You're saying I don't think?"

"You gave Devin control over the entirety of your family's legacy because he was your husband and majored in business."

My face heated. "I was twenty-five and vulnerable, Charles."

"I'm not arguing against that. I'm saying it was an ill-considered decision. Had you even checked his transcript?"

My face heated. "He said he was... on the Dean's list."

Charles snorted. "Sure."

"He was a transfer!"

"An exchange student. A diplomatic exchange student at that." Charles paused. "Did you even ask to see his degree?"

"You can't blame me for trusting him--"

"I'm not blaming you for trusting him. I'm pointing out that it was a rash, ill-considered, willful decision, even being twenty-five and vulnerable." Charles sighed. "You have to learn to think about something more than science with a critical mind. Hard, emotionally strenuous, and annoying as it may be."

Eason's voice rang in the back of my mind.

You ran.

I pursed my lips. "I feel like you're lecturing me."

"I think you'd like that too much," Charles said. "We can play naughty student sometimes if you'd like... Probably more up your alley than Enforcer and alpha, hm?"

The thought sent heat straight through me, almost painfully.

"One day, it's not going to be so taxing. You're going to make mistakes, Grace, but you can't learn from them if you choose to ignore them."

"Yeah, yeah. Head buried in the sand. I was asking about Fenris."

"And I--"

He cut out for a second. The world on the other end of the call changed dramatically. The wind was broken by the sharp, loud sound of gunshots. My heart raced as my eyes widened in alarm. Fear gripped me like a vice.

"Charles? What's happening?"

"I'll call you back."

Before I could reply, the line went dead, leaving me with a gnawing sense of unease.