“You can,” I said, motioning for them to join us. “I have two large tables for you to work at, or there is a small seating area in front of the windows at which you can sit. All I ask is that you not bring messy food in here and only bring water to drink. Mr. Nichols spent lots of money setting up the store, and I don’t want to ruin anything so soon after opening.”
“He told us,” the girl said, finally settling her gaze on me once I had reached them.
“What are your names?” I asked them, leading them over to the table at which Azure sat.
“I’m Ezra Knolls,” the boy said.
“And I’m Allison Knolls,” the girl said.
“Siblings?” I asked.
“Yes, Ma’am. I’m older by seventeen months,” the girl said.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ezra and Allison. I’m Valerie Stutts. You can call me Valerie or Ms. Stutts, whichever name you’re comfortable using.”
They nodded and settled down at the table.
“I think I should go,” Mrs. Rose said, handing me a handful of coins. “This should cover the books.”
“Thank you.” I didn’t count the money. “And please come back to see me.”
“Oh, I will,” she said with a mischievous smirk.
I followed Mrs. Rose to the front of the store while the kids settled in at the table. I was sad to see that Azure didn’t look up to greet them, nor did they acknowledge her. For the first time, I wondered if the reason the other kids stayed away from her had more to do with her relationship with Mrs. Rose, and what the older woman had said about Azure becoming her replacement than it had to do with anything else. If they saw Azure as a future leader of their world, she probably intimidated them, whether they would admit it or not. I guessed that was probably better than befriending her just so they could use her status later, as I thought some humans would have done.
I went over to the register to pull up the books and ring up the sale. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jackson enter and stop to talk to Mrs. Rose. They looked comfortable with each other. Like maybe they were family. Again, that voice in the back of my head said of course they were. He was her grandson. If that was so, then he had to be my mate because Mrs. Rose had said her grandson was my mate. I looked down at his hands, but he’d shoved both into his pants’ pocket. I could see the skin around both of his wrists, which meant he wasn’t wearing gloves.
Not wanting anyone to catch me looking at the two, I rang up Mrs. Rose’s books, dropped the money into the drawer, then went back to check on the kids before grabbing the stack of books I had pulled for Mrs. Rose to look at and putting them back on the shelf.
Mrs. Rose left shortly after that. Jackson approached the kids. I could tell he was talking to them, but I couldn’t hear anything from my location.
When I’d finished shelving the books, I found Jackson scanning the shelves surrounding the tables and the kids hard at work. Around four-thirty, Azure motioned me over and pulled out her copy of Romeo and Juliet, a book she was reading for pleasure. In a low voice, she began asking me questions about the story and the language. I did my best to help her interpret the form of English that my world no longer used and to explain the gist of the story.
I looked up a bit later while discussing the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets to see that we had the attention of Allison, Ezra, and Jackson.
“I want that book,” Allison said, breaking the silence.
I chuckled and got up to get her a copy of the play from Anne’s side of the store. Anne had had a busier day than I had. A great deal of the parents and other people were curious about the kids coming to the store after school, but they were too afraid to come to my side of the store. She’d been so busy that she hadn’t been able to peek in on me that much since Mrs. Rose had arrived. When I asked for a copy of the book, I promised to tell her all about Mrs. Rose’s visit the following day.
27.
~~~Valerie~~~
At closing time, Jackson saw the kids back to the orphanage so that I could lock the store. Afterward, Anne and I walked to the restaurant in silence. Once there, I was surprised to see that Jackson was already sitting at his usual table, reading a book.
“Anne, what do you think about invading Mr. Nichols’ space?” I asked conspiratorially before the waiter could seat us. An idea was forming in my head that I knew wasn’t the greatest idea but one that would be somewhat amusing.
“How do you mean?” Anne asked.
I could tell by her hesitancy that she was more than a little worried about what I might have planned.
“I mean, what do you think about going to sit with him while we eat?” I tilted my head in Jackson’s direction.
“Why would you want to do that?” She didn’t sound confused. She sounded scared, not scared in that she thought he might attack her, but scared in that he intimidated her. I guess any average citizen might be a little worried about offending someone in power.
“For one, because every time I see him he’s alone, and two, because he won’t talk to me. Maybe I’ll annoy him enough for him to tell me to go away. That would be a step up.”
“I’ll pass, but you should go over there,” she said, laughing at my plan once she’d removed herself from the situation.
“Suit yourself. See you in the morning,” I said, making my way over to Jackson’s table. Anne followed our waiter to the one he’d been escorting us to while watching me warily.
Jackson didn’t say a word when I slid into the booth opposite him, not that I expected him to. He did put his book away and not just down as if he assumed I would be leaving soon before looking at me. I took that as a good sign.
“No, don’t speak,” I said, putting up my hand in a stop motion and smirked. I was trying to keep things lighthearted despite how nervous I was. “I can talk enough for the two of us.”
The waitress interrupted me before I could say more. She looked from me to Jackson and back again unsure if she should tell me to move or if she should take my order. I made the decision for her by telling her what I’d like to eat. She hurriedly wrote down what I wanted and walked away when it was apparent that Jackson wasn’t going to ask me to go.
“So where to start,” I said, daring to look him in the eye. “Again, thank you for the table and chairs and the help rearranging the store. I worry that you’re putting too much money into something that isn’t going to be a sound investment. I did have a few sales today and two more children, so maybe things are changing. It occurs to me that the two of us haven’t had a chance to get to know one another. I’m a stranger in your town, but you haven’t asked me about myself. I’m sure Stephanie gave you all the information she has, but that isn’t anything like sitting down and talking to someone. I know this will be a one-sided conversation, seeing that you have a strange aversion to speaking to me. Whatever I’ve done to offend you, I apologize for it. I’m sure your problem with me is simply my being here, though. Well, I’m here for a while at least, and since I have you pinned where your only option is to be a dick and leave or listen, I imagine you’ll listen to make a good impression on those watching us.”
I chanced a look around at the people in the restaurant, all of whom could probably hear every word of our conversation if they dared try. When I turned back to Jackson, he was also looking around at the restaurants’ patrons.
Once he turned back to me, I started rambling again. I went on and on like that throughout the entire meal. His face showed no emotion, not even annoyance, though a time or two, I thought I saw his mouth curve into a smile at something I’d said.
I didn’t hold him up after we ate. As soon as the waitress picked up my plate, I said, “Am I to assume you’re picking up the tab for this? I’m not saying you have to, but I just want to know for sure before I leave.”
He nodded, so I said goodnight. He nodded again, and I left. A part of me had hoped he would walk me out, but then again he probably lived on the opposite side of town and walking me home would b
e out of his way. No worries, I needed to apologize to my neighbor, anyway.
The apartment across the street from me was empty when I got home, so I showered, grabbed a bottle of water, and the book I’d yet to finish reading, before going out to the balcony.
I’d just settled into a chair when my neighbor entered his apartment, turned on his living room lights, and opened the balcony door. I got up and went to the railing in anticipation of talking to him.
“I missed you last night,” he said, settling on his balcony.
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t very happy with you last night.” I hadn’t meant to be so blunt to someone I didn’t know, but it was the truth.
“I’m sorry. Was I not supposed to say anything about your idea for the kids?” he asked, sounding genuinely worried that he’d upset me.
“No…yes…I don’t know. I just wanted to see how things would go at the store for a few weeks first before talking my plans over with Azure. It isn’t a big deal. I’m sorry for giving you the cold shoulder.”
“No worries. You sound as if you aren’t in the greatest of moods tonight either. Do you want to talk about it?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure you’re the right person to talk to about my issue. No offense.”
“None taken. Who do you think you need to talk to?”
“I’m not sure. I guess the person whom the issue involves, but he refuses to talk to me.”
“I see.”
I couldn’t discern the tone in his voice, but he sounded regretful and a little sad. Deciding to get off that train of thought, I asked, “I’ve been calling you my neighbor these last few days. What’s your name?”
“You can call me Nick if you like.”
“Well, Nick, I guess I should thank you for going to Mr. Nichols about my idea for the kids. I did have two more kids show up today. Azure seemed a bit uncomfortable with them there, and that worries me. I don’t like seeing her so alone like that.”
“You actually care for the girl, don’t you?”
“I do. I don’t know why, but from the moment I met the child, I felt connected to her somehow. Like she’s family. More than that really, like she’s my little sister.”
“I’m glad she has you in her life,” he said. His tone suggested that he too had been worried about her.
“Are you kin to her?”
“Distantly.”
There was a short pause after that, as he seemed to be thinking about something painful.
To break the silence, I said, “Mrs. Rose came in today and said something about Azure being her protégé. I think that has more to do with her loneliness than anything else.”
“How so?” Nick asked.
“I think the others see her as a future leader, and that probably intimidates them. They most likely see her quietness as snobbery. I don’t know how to help her. I wish I could.”
“You already have. You’ve done more for Azure than most as of late. It isn’t that no one cares; it’s just that with all the death, everyone’s grieving. It’ll do her good to have someone dote on her for a while.”
“I’ll do all I can for her. I feel for the other kids, I do, but she’s different. When I’m around her a protective instinct kicks in, making me want to change the world so that she’ll smile.”
“She thinks highly of you as well,” he said after a moment.
“How do you know?”
The news made me happy.
“I hear things.”
“You hear things, huh? You hear things from Jackson, don’t you?”
“Maybe.”
“If you two are so close, then tell me why he won’t talk to me. No, don’t tell me. I don’t think I want to know what he thinks of me. If it’s something bad, you’ll lie to me to save my feelings anyway, so I won’t know if you’re telling the truth. Ahh…that man is so frustrating.”
“Sounds to me like you might have a thing for him,” Nick teased, and I immediately went on the defensive.
“Oh, no, I most certainly do not. Don’t get me wrong, the man is good looking, but most of the people I’ve met from Valeterra are easy on the eyes. Being physically attracted to someone doesn’t mean anything. I don’t know him enough to have a thing for him. He appears to be putting a lot of effort into my business and all, but he doesn’t seem to care anything about me, which I get.”
“And just what is that supposed to mean?” he asked, sounding a bit angry. I instantly realized I was saying self-deprecating things again.
Backpedaling a bit, I said, “I only mean that I’m not from here. I’m sure Mr. Nichols isn’t acting prejudiced in a mean way, but some people like to stick to their kind. I don’t feel that way, and I don’t judge others for who they are or aren’t attracted to.”
“I think you’re reading too much into his behavior. I believe he likes you just fine. If I know him as well as I think I do, I think he’s simply taking you in, getting to know you. He’ll speak to you soon.”
“If you say so. Please don’t tell Mr. Nichols that we’ve talked. I don’t want to anger him in any way.”
“I promise. To purposely change the subject, how did today go?”
28.
~~~Jackson~~~
“So how did your meeting with Valerie go?” I asked Stephanie when she stopped by my cabin the Saturday after Valerie had arrived. Stephanie and Valerie had spent the morning sightseeing and talking about Valerie’s experience in Valeterra thus far.
“Just as you can guess. You need to get your shit together and quick,” Stephanie chided me as she dropped the bag of groceries she’d brought with her on my kitchen counter.
“Did she mention the mating mark?” I asked, unloading the items.
“She asked about them, yes, but she didn’t tell me she had one, though her covering her hands is a dead giveaway to those who knew her before she started wearing the gloves all of the time.”
“Did she say anything…” I let my words trail off as I put away the items I wouldn’t need for my afternoon meal.
“If you’re asking if she said anything about you, the answer is yes. She talked a good deal about you. She thinks you hate her and that hurts her more than she’s going to admit to anyone. She’s requesting we move her out of the area as soon as possible or start bringing in the other alphas right away, but I can tell she doesn’t mean either. She likes the town, the bookstore, her apartment, and the people she’s met so far, especially Azure and the man living in the apartment across from her. As far as I can tell, she’s only told Azure and me about this man. If you aren’t careful, she may say something in front of the wrong person and that person will out you without knowing they shouldn’t, and that’ll piss her off real good. You need to suck it up and tell her what’s going on, all of it before she goes home or learns the truth and never accepts you. If she does either, it will damage your role as alpha.”
“I know, but at the same time, she needs to get to know our world a little more before she becomes my mate. She needs to know the people and all of the differences between our worlds. I won’t force her into anything. We don’t know if my mating her will mean the same thing as if I had mated one of our own since she is human. What if the mark doesn’t mean she has the potential to love me? What if the mating doesn’t tie her to me the way it ties me to her? I won’t lose another mate.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that. From what I’ve seen and heard, this mating is working the same way any other has aside from the fact that one of the parties is being a stubborn ass and not owning up to the mating. Have you ever heard of such a stupid thing? Why would an alpha reject his female?”
“I’m not rejecting her,” I said, slinging a package of meat onto the counter and spinning to face her. “I’m just giving her time. Besides, I still can’t talk to her. I’ve tried everything I know, and the only time I can say a word to her is when I’m pretending to be her neighbor.”
“Do you think something is preventing this communication?”
/> “I don’t know. The words are there. I think them, but when I open my mouth, I can’t say them. I’m not sure if I’m stopping myself or what.”
“Well, you had better figure it out soon. Valerie might give up on you and fall for Nick, her neighbor with the hunky voice,” Azure said, following Rose into my cabin. She said the words teasingly since she knew I was the neighbor across the street, though oddly enough I was growing jealous of myself, which was messed up and confusing.
I shot an annoyed glance at Stephanie, knowing she was probably the one who scheduled this impromptu family visit. I had planned to stay at the cabin all weekend by myself and try to figure out why I couldn’t talk to Valerie, but if all the females left in my family were going to insist on congregating at my home, then I would head back to town as soon as I could to escape them.
“Great, you’ve all decided to gang up on me, have you?” I said, sighing loudly. I turned my back to them and headed to the back porch to start the grill. If they were all here, then I was going to have to feed them or at least distract them with my bad cooking.
“I didn’t come here to talk about Valerie, though she is a lovely woman,” Rose said, following me. “I eagerly await your official mating and the children that will come after. She will make a great mother. All of that is beside the point,” she said hastily, sensing the anxiety and tension the subject of Valerie was causing me. “I’ve come to discuss some rumors that have recently come my way. Rumors I’m surprised you haven’t heard already. Wait, no, I’m not surprised, considering you missed this week’s meeting.”
“I had a good reason,” I said, motioning for Stephanie to begin prepping the food I had laid out on the counter. All three ladies knew what kind of cook I was, but if they didn’t leave me be, I’d threaten to cook it all myself.
“You did, and any other time your mate would have trumped whatever business we would discuss, but I told you this week’s news superseded her arrival.”
Marked (Valeterra Series Book 1) Page 11