“…okay.” She tried to be brave and look Jason in the eyes, but the darkness there felt like staring into an abyss, so she bottled her nerve and dropped her gaze down to his chest instead.
“I reacted badly to the flash in my eyes. I didn’t really
see what I was swatting away; I just reacted.” He shoved his hands in his jeans
pockets, making him seem younger than he did before. “I didn’t mean to break
your camera, and I’ll replace it.”
“And?” Caleb prompted. Emma raised a brow at the way Jason groaned and huffed.
Suddenly, he seemed closer to Beth’s age.
“And I shouldn’t have put my hands on you. Period. No matter my intention. I should have just gone to my Gran, not gone after you. It’s just, she’s all I got, and she nearly died a few months back from a fall and I just…over reacted.” Jason folded his arms and looked off to one side awkwardly. “But I shouldn’t have grabbed you when you were on the floor. And if it helps Gran grounded me for the summer no matter what happens here.”
“She…grounded you?” Beth lifted her doe eyes to look into his sulking face. “…how…erm…old are you?” Emma realised Beth had made the same conclusion she had.
“Nineteen. Why?” He countered suspiciously.
“You look older than that.” Beth innocently answered, and Emma palmed her face behind her. He just glowered and raised a dark brow at her.
“Whatever. So? Am I forgiven or will you want Caleb to kick my ass or something?” He grunted. Emma nodded and smirked, rather liking the idea, and her reaction made Caleb huff a chuckle to himself.
“No, no I think it’s enough that you’ve apologised and that you’ll replace my camera.” Beth held her elbows and shrugged. She threw Emma look and knew she’d be getting an earful from her later for giving in so easily.
“And I’m grounded.” Jason groaned, like salt was rubbed in the wound. “Why were you taking my Gran’s picture by the way?” He took a step towards her, and his choppy ebony curtains tussled as he inclined his head curiously.
“I planned on making a collage of new memories in my new home, including the people I met.” Beth almost left it there, but she was too honest for her own good. “And Emma was dying to go into the clinic to meet the midwife lady Deloris, and your Gran was talking her ear off, so I distracted her long enough for Emma to get away.”
Emma paled and held her face in her hands in humiliation. Caleb cupped his mouth to stifle the laughter. Even Jason chuckled.
“Yeah she’s a talker.” He shrugged. “Caleb? Can I go now?”
“Yes Jason. Good lad.” Jason nodded to Beth and made a quick escape from the Walker house. “Auntie Del is off today.”
“Yeah.” Emma dramatically sneered. “I gathered that when I got to the clinic door and the sign said closed.” Caleb chuckled and got to his feet. He hooked his thumbs into his jean belt loops and smiled at Emma.
“How about we start again?” He walked right up to her and ignored the way she stiffened at his sudden proximity. “I’m actually a nice guy, and today I saw that you’re just one big protective mama bear in there Darlin’.” He sniggered at the appalled look on her face. Surely he had to know it grated on her every time he called her that? Emma made no attempt to hide her displeasure. “I can relate to being protective. It’s probably why we butted heads yesterday. So how about we start afresh? Hi, I’m Caleb.” He offered Emma his hand with a big smile. “I’m the Mayor. Young and rough around the edges, but I go above and beyond for my people. I’m a family guy, not a creepy cult leader.”
Emma didn’t look convinced. Beth gingerly came to her side and cleared her throat to prompt her. Emma rolled her yes, but she forced herself to put her hand in his.
“Hi.” She mocked him. “I’m Emma Carter, student nurse and hopefully I’ll meet this Deloris soon and she’ll be legitimately certified to take me on as her apprentice to become a midwife. Oh?” Smiled unkindly. “I like to sleep with a gun under my pillow.”
“Now why would I need to know how you like to sleep Darlin’?” He chuckled at her, no longer alarmed by her defensive nature. It as almost like he found her behaviour cute.
“Just in case you or any of your ‘Glen Valley family’ decide to break in at night and kidnap us to sacrifice during a creepy cult ritual.” Beth’s jaw dropped and she blushed madly.
“Why? Are you a virgin?” Caleb countered with a highly amused grin. “Aren’t sacrificial maidens meant to be delicate virgins?”
“I not delicate, but I’m a virgin.” She countered, unashamed, and amused by how he suddenly flushed. “No one screws me.”
“Oh I don’t doubt that.” He chuckled and nodded down at his hand. “Can I get that back?” Emma released him and Caleb chuckled again at her intense moxy. “Well rest assured? There’s no cult here in Glen Valley, and the only religion here is found on a Sunday at Church. Hopefully I’ll see you there.” Emma didn’t let her guard down for a second even as Caleb walked past her to shake Beth’s hand. “Welcome to Glen Valley. Sorry again about Jason. He’s a good kid really. Now you two be gentle with Ben now.” He aimed back over his shoulder at the two redheads as he headed for the front door. “I’ve never seen him so hurt, and he’s a teddy hear beneath his police officer gruff exterior.” Emma bit her tongue. He can stop trying to boss me about for a start, creep. Telling me how to treat Ben? Ass. Caleb opened the door and Ben was waiting anxiously on the porch with Joanna. A nod from Caleb reassured the pair that things had gone well, and they sighed with relief. A reaction that Emma noted and added to her ever-growing pile of red flags. “I’ll be sure to tell my Aunt to expect you at the clinic tomorrow so you can see she is the real deal!” He shouted over his shoulder with a chuckle at Emma and winked at Ben. “Best to keep that one busy, I feel.”
“Agreed.”
Caleb left, and Emma and Beth were faced with very anxious and quiet parents for the rest of the evening. Beth was not her happy bubbly self without her camera and sighed whenever she thought of it. Emma clearly trusted Ben even less now than she did before. She was polite but barely said two words to the man when addressed. Any ground he’d gained with her in the last two years had gone.
Even over dinner Emma had her guard up and her hazel eyes almost as sharp as her tongue. Joanna was just happy the girls both took their bags back up to their rooms and hadn’t burnt rubber back to Seattle. Baby steps, she told Ben that night as they all turned in. The last thing Emma did that night was inspect every door and window to ensure the house was locked up tight. She didn’t really own a gun, but thought it didn’t hurt to tell the Mayor she did…just in case. What she did have was the good idea to take an iron poker from the fireplace downstairs and put it under her bed. Just in case, she told herself. Just in case.
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