by M. R. Anglin
“I couldn’t!”
“You came to Starlight.”
“Starlight listens to me.” Nicole clutched her fists. “You . . . you try to fix everything without hearing me. You are so perfect. I can’t relate to you. This is what I can’t wrap my mind around. How are you and Starlight the same person when she’s so down-to-earth and you’re . . . not?”
Margaret paused for a moment. “I thought you needed a strong, female presence in your life. I wanted to be someone you could look up to. I didn’t want you to see me falter. I tried to be the perfect role model I thought you needed.”
“All you did was frustrate me. I could never measure up to the ideals you portrayed.”
“I guess you saw right through me.” Margaret heaved a sigh. “To be honest, I was getting tired of playing the part of the perfect adult.”
“You don’t have to pretend for me.” Nicole gave her a smile. “I know how much you love my dad, and that’s enough.”
“You’re an amazing girl, Nikki.” Margaret let her eyes drop to the landscape below. Her shoulders slumped as silence blew over the balcony. With a sigh, Margaret closed her eyes. “I suppose it’s time to come clean about something.” She held her hands between her knees. “I lied to you, Nikki. It really does bother me when you talk about your mom.”
Nicole’s heart sunk in her ribcage. “Oh . . .”
“I know I shouldn’t be, but I’m jealous of her.” Margaret looked at Nicole out of the corner of her eye. “She holds a place in your heart that I’ll never be able to touch even though I wish I could.”
“I’m sorry, Margaret.” Nicole hung her head. “I guess I really was being inconsiderate.”
“No, you weren’t.” Margaret looked her straight in the eye. “You have nothing to apologize for, Nicole. This is my issue. It may be uncomfortable for me, but I never want you to stop talking to me about your mom. She is important to you, and what’s important to you is important to me. I’ll work on this. Just be patient with me.”
Nicole nodded and gave her a smile. “I will.”
“Good.” Margaret took a deep breath. “Jess must have been a wonderful person.”
“She was. Amazing.” Nicole clutched the gem around her neck. “But just because I still love her, doesn’t mean I don’t love you. Because I do . . . I love you so much, Margaret.”
Margaret threw her arms around Nicole. “Thank you, Nicole. That means the world to me.”
Nicole wrapped her arms around Margaret, closing her eyes and resting her head on her shoulder.
“So.” Margaret released Nicole. “What do you say we go get some ice-cream and have a chat? We can talk about my sick goat singing.”
Nicole buried her face in her hands. “I can’t believe I said that to your face.”
“It’s okay. I know I have a terrible voice.” Margaret jumped off the railing onto the balcony. Looking back at Nicole, she imitated Nicole’s impression of her.
Nicole burst into laughter as she followed Margaret inside. At that moment, she was certain life with Margaret would be okay . . . if a bit awkward at times.
CHAPTER 78
“THERE HE IS! THERE’S Brody!” Stephanie pointed at the television where the Cosmic Thunder stood next to a young man in a black and silver costume. The Chyron running across the bottom of the screen read, “Flashpoint orphan becomes Junior Hero, Remerge!”
“Remerge?” Nicole glanced up from her phone. “I thought your brother’s alter-ego was the TelePorter.”
“They suggested the name change to distance himself from his past,” Stephanie said. They were all sitting on the couch in Nicole’s refurbished living room. Though the construction had finished in early fall, they had to refurnish the entire space. Only now, during spring break, did the house feel somewhat normal again.
“I’m so glad they let Brody off with community service.” Nicole turned her attention back to her phone. “And that his Hero work counts toward it.”
“They had to after the stink they raised in the media. Everything ASH tried to hide about Flashpoint came out.” Justin swiped the screen of a tablet. “But I wonder what ever happened to the thief, Finch.”
“I heard she get off with apologizing to the owners of the places she robbed.” Stephanie gave Nicole a knowing smile. “She has to work part time for each of them during breaks until she pays off what she took.”
Justin turned up his nose. “Sounds like she got off easy to me.”
“I think it’s fair.” Nicole gave Stephanie one more smile before returning to her phone.
“What are you staring at?” Stephanie peeked over her shoulder.
“I can’t get over Junior Justice becoming a fully-fledged Hero.” Nicole shoved the phone in Stephanie’s face. A photo of Junior Justice wearing a blue and black uniform was plastered all over it. “Look at him. He’s got a new costume and all. And his new name: the Arcane Shield. So dreamy.”
Stephanie raised her eyebrow. “Dreamy isn’t the word I’d use.”
“You have got to stop crushing on him so hard.” Justin faked a wretch. “It’s gross.”
Nicole eyed him. “As soon as you stop crushing on Refraction.”
“I can’t help it!” Justin held up his tablet. Refraction and Starlight were plastered on the screen. “Not only did she single-handedly defeat Maximus when he had Heroes’ stolen powers, but now she’s developing all new ones. She is so cool.”
“You’re creeping me out, man,” Nicole said.
Justin jostled her. “You know you love it.”
“No, I don’t.”
Bee appeared beside her. “Nicole, Margaret sent you a message. She says she’s almost here.”
“Right.” Nicole jumped up.
“Guess that’s my cue.” Justin hefted himself off of the couch. “I’ll drop you off before I leave to go to work, Steph.”
“I’m surprised you’re around, Bee.” Stephanie rested her hand on the back of the couch. “I thought you’d be too busy dealing with the government.”
“I’m Nicole’s BT-X. I’d never leave her. Besides, they’re focused on Beatrix. They want to make sure she can be integrated into the justice system. Brody’s story and his hearing in Congress opened their eyes to the fact that Heroes need someone to answer to.”
“Aren’t they afraid she’ll go rogue again?” Justin stuffed his tablet in his backpack.
“Which is why they’re being extra careful,” Bee said.
“They’re working with Dad to help create safeguards to prevent it from happening again.” Nicole slipped on her shoes. “And to keep unauthorized personnel from taking her over.”
“Beatrix is being cooperative.” Bee floated above the couch. “She doesn’t want to do anything to harm Jess again.”
“But . . . Jess is dead, right?” Justin said.
“Beatrix compiled her interactions with Jess, and . . . well, she sort of runs simulations based on what she knows of Jess to see how she’d react.” Bee lowered her eyes. “It’s keeping her sane—it’s how she described it to me.”
Justin turned up his nose. “Doesn’t seem right to me.”
The doorbell rang.
“There’s Margaret.” Nicole grabbed her purse. “We’re going to fit her wedding dress and hunt for bridesmaid’s dresses. You guys what to come with?”
“No thanks.” Justin stood. “I’ve got to get to work. Thank goodness.”
“I’ll come. It sounds like fun! I’ve got time before my part-time work.” Stephanie jumped up. “I take it you and Margaret worked out your kinks?”
Nicole nodded sheepishly. “Margaret’s cool. She even turned down a job in Quenton so I could stay here.”
“I didn’t even know she got offered a new job,” Justin said.
“Me neither until they told me she turned it down.” Nicole held her arms behind her back. “You are coming to the wedding, right?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Stephanie put her arm around her.
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“Neither would I.” Justin put his other arm around her.
“Thanks, guys,” Nicole hugged both of them. “You’re the best friends anyone could have.”
“You deserve it.” Stephanie squeezed her. “A true Hero should have a happy ending.” Speaking lower so only she could hear she said, “I owe my whole life to you . . . and Junior Justice.”
“I’m so glad you feel this way, Stephanie.” Nicole opened the door for Margaret. “I’ll always be there for you.”
“A true Hero always is,” Stephanie whispered with a smile.
Nicole smiled back. Some days she really did feel like a true Hero.
Just like her mom was.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
M.R. ANGLIN DOES NOT have a secret Super Hero identity, but she does have the power to craft intriguing and interesting stories . . . at least she hopes she does.
Don’t be afraid to contact her with any questions or comments. She loves e-mails ([email protected]), notes and comments on deviantart (deviantart.com/michelay), and visits on her Facebook page (facebook.com/authoranglin). Unfortunately, she does not usually look at her twitter account (@authoranglin). You can, however, see her occasional sketchings on Instagram (@silverfoxesseries).
OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR
SILVER FOXES SERIES
Silver Foxes
Winds of Change
Prelude to War
Into Expermia
Interlude: A Series of Shorts
Celebrity Dish
Six Weeks
Aftermath
Exposed
RULERS OF THE GALAXY
Prince of the Sun, Princess of the Moon
Light of Alandri
OTHER BOOKS
Lucas, Guardian of Truth