22
Mark kept checking on her, worry in his eyes. Jamie tried to sleep a bit, but she was not tired. The odd shadows she'd seen all morning were gone. She did not feel a bit nauseous. But she made herself lay there for an hour, then two, just to be sure it was not going to happen again.
Eventually she gave up on napping and headed for the stairs. Mark was outside, talking to Kayla. Abby was carrying what looked like a box of leftovers and a small bag. She was also giggling and dodging a black fur ball that resembled a dog, although it was very small. Jamie smirked and went to the fridge to find something to eat. Hard to believe that just a few hours ago the thought of ribs had made her green at the gills, but now she felt like she could eat a whole pig.
Jamie was just sitting down with a sandwich when Mark and Abby stepped inside. Now Mark was carrying the little ball of fur. Abby was talking a mile a minute and stopped to give Jamie the paper bag before putting her leftovers in the fridge and heading to the living room to watch some television.
Jamie set her sandwich down and peered into the bag. There were a couple of cans of dog food, along with a blue leash. "Odd afternoon snack." She said sarcastically, eying the dog that Mark held. He smiled and scratched the puppy under its chin.
"Apparently Abby thought you could use a buddy. And Kayla is a sucker."
"What? This fuzzy rat is for me?" Jamie said, but she did not mind taking the little dog from Mark when he handed it over. "I don't even like dogs."
Mark laughed at that. "Like 'em or not, you got one now. It's a boy, by the way."
"Well he's cute as he can be, but…I am so not a dog person." Jamie grimaced as the puppy licked her chin. "I like cats. Or hamsters that stay in cages and don't poop all over the floor." And the dog started nuzzling her neck. Jamie sighed. "Hell. So I have a dog now, huh?" She scratched the little pup on the neck with one hand, and picked up her sandwich with the other, eating and avoiding losing her food to the animal.
"You must feel better." Mark observed, leaning against the counter and watching as she took a bit of the huge sandwich.
"I feel great. Now. Don't know what my problem was earlier." She said around a mouthful of food. The puppy gave up on trying to get a bite and curled into a ball, practically on her shoulder. "Does he have a name yet?"
Mark smirked. "Abby was leaning toward calling him Bear. He's about the furthest thing from a bear I've ever seen though."
"Well it's your house. What do you think about having a dog?" Jamie stroked the puppy's soft fur thoughtfully.
"If you want it, darlin', you can keep him. And this is your home now too."
"If I ask for a pony, would you get me that too?" Jamie asked, the beginning of a smile on her lips.
"I'd have to build a stable first, but sure." Mark grinned and came forward, bending down to kiss her. "I'll add it to my list of things to do."
"I was kidding." Jamie said with a laugh. "I don't really want a horse."
"Yeah. Well." Mark rose up and shook his head. "I have another project I'm gonna be workin' on anyway. Might not have time to turn this into a ranch for you."
"Oh really? What project?" Jamie returned to eating.
"It's a surprise. First I gotta work out all the logistics."
"Uh oh. Big words and everything. It must be serious." She grinned and looked out the window as the noise of a car engine interrupted their conversation. It was Phil and Lexi, returning. Mark opened the door for them and smiled as Abby ran into the room, offering up hugs and kisses as if it had been a year since she had seen her aunt and uncle.
"It's nice to be missed." Lexi grinned and lifted her niece up, squeezing her. "And yes, I got you something. And yes, it's in the bag…" She barely got it out before Abby was wiggling to be let down. Lexi handed her the bag and shook her head as she ran off toward the living room once more. "To be young and full of energy again."
"You can have it." Phil said with a yawn. "How are things?"
"Great. She's been great." Mark took a seat next to Jamie and swiped a slice of tomato from her sandwich. "Gonna miss having her around here with it comes time for her to go home."
Lexi grabbed a drink and sat down across the table. "Well, her mom is either torn apart missing her…or out with her friends partying so much she doesn't remember Abby's name. There really isn't a middle ground."
"Stop being bitter." Phil shook his head and rubbed Lexi's shoulder lightly. He looked at Mark and Jamie, and lowered his voice so that Abby would not catch what he was saying. "Now that Steve is gone, Donna's already talking about moving to California with Abby. She tried that before and Steve wasn't hearing it. It was part of the reason that their custody arrangement was so out there. But now that he's gone…"
"Surely she will let Abby visit you guys. You're her only link to her dad."
"We aren't even a consideration." Lexi said with spite. "She only called eight times yesterday, hinting at her plan. I know that she needs money, but really she can find a job as a secretary anywhere."
"Maybe she's got a boyfriend out there." Jamie said with a shrug. She took another bite of her sandwich. "Or family?"
"Who knows?" Lexi sighed.
Jamie pushed her empty plate away and went back to stroking the now sleeping puppy's soft fur.
"Oh. Hey. What is that thing?" Phil asked with a laugh. It broke the somber mood as Jamie shot him a withering glare.
"It's a dog. Only smaller and not nearly as smelly."
"Oh, he's precious." Lexi reached over and scratched the pup gently behind the ear. "I thought you didn't like dogs?" She made it a question.
"I don't." Jamie said with a smile. "Your niece decided I needed a puppy, apparently."
"Well. Good. I hope he was a rescue and not a pet-shop pup." Lexi gently looked at Bear's paws, his stub tail, and his small nose. "He looks like a mix of about eight breeds though, so if I had to guess I would say they weren't anywhere near a shop."
"Eight?" Jamie laughed.
"No exaggeration. Sometimes it's hard to tell with mixes. I wonder if he's been examined and had his first shots."
"I have no idea." Jamie admitted. "Of course, I just got him ten minutes ago so you can't really blame me."
"All problems should be as simple to solve." Phil said, heading for the living room. Lexi excused herself to follow him.
Jamie looked at Mark. He was looking out the window, and it was obvious he was miles away. "Are you all right?"
He looked at her and smirked. "Great. Just thinkin'. I have to get a few things done this afternoon. Are you gonna be all right here with Abby?"
"Well yeah. Lexi and Phil are back." Jamie snorted and snuggled Bear closer.
"I think I might get Phil to give me a hand. If we can borrow your Jeep."
"Sure. Keys are on the counter." Jamie watched as he rose to his feet and took her plate to the sink. In ten minutes he and Phil were leaving without telling anyone exactly what they were up to.
Fifteen minutes later, Bear was awake and being examined by a curious Lexi. She had dug through her bag to the very bottom and found a folder that she usually carried in her purse. It had extra copies of her vet forms, so she pulled out a few and gave the puppy a thorough going-over.
"Free vet care. This dog gets better and better." Jamie said, watching as Lexi checked Bear's ears and eyes.
"Ha. You can make a donation, moneybags." Lexi glanced down at Abby, who was watching closely. "So what did the lady say? The one who gave you the dog?"
Abby frowned. "She said that she couldn't afford the food and the doggy doctor for six puppies and the momma, so she had the shots done and decided to give them away."
"Well that's good."
"Bear's two months old." Abby pointed out.
"Yep. That seems about right. You might want to give him some dry food with the canned, so he can get those little teeth tougher." Lexi spoke to Jamie that time. "And I do believe little Bear here is a mix of Jack Russell and Pekingese. At least, that's the closest I'm going to guess without seeing his mama and daddy."
"Well. Cool." Jamie scratched the pup's ear. "I guess."
"Don't you love him, Jamie? He's just so cute…" Abby was in the throes of literal puppy love.
"Baby doll, if you want a dog I'm sure we can…"
"I can't have a dog. Mom's allergic." Abby's look of scorn was hilarious. "I can have a hamster. Maybe a bird." The prospect obviously did not thrill her.
"Then I guess Bear can belong to both of us, and we can share him. I'll just take care of him for you." Jamie gave her a pat on her shoulder.
Abby smiled up at her, seemed on the verge of saying something, but stopped herself. Instead of speaking to Jamie, she turned her attention back to baby talking the little dog that happily nipped at her fingers.
"It's so damn cute, it's almost sickening." Lexi said, setting Bear down on the floor finally. He chased after Abby's feet as she jogged off toward the door.
"Don't let him wander too far out there!" Jamie called as the little girl shut the door behind them. She shared a look with Lexi and they both started laughing.
"I heard you weren't feeling so well earlier." Lexi said, going to the sink to wash her hands.
"Word travels fast. And I'm fine. Just needed to eat. Plus…well, there was a lot going on."
"Right, right." Lexi dried her hands and once more looked at Jamie, more critically then before. But she chose not to pursue it as Abby went running past the window, giggling. She sighed heavily. "I don't know where she keeps getting the energy."
"Sucking it from all of us." Jamie said with a smirk. She went to the fridge, even though she'd just eaten lunch, to see what she would be doing about dinner. Lexi headed for the door, smiling and shaking her head.
Jamie shut the fridge door, keeping a mental grocery list as she turned to fix the dog a bowl of food. She could see Abby and Bear in the yard from the window, the little puppy trying his hardest to jump on the little girl. She set down the food, added a bowl of water, and turned to head to the living to grab a piece of paper and pen. The dog was definitely going to take some extra thought. Jamie wasn't used to shopping for an animal. There had been no pets in her childhood at all.
She was lost in thought and picked up the first thing she saw that was paper. It was an envelope. Jamie glanced at it and did a double take. It was the envelope she had pulled out of the pocket of the shorts she'd worn when she had been gone…wherever it was she had been.
That was odd. She would have sworn she put it in the dresser drawer with her other things. Jamie looked at it, feeling a small coil of unease roll through her stomach. She did not know why. Hell, she should just open it and see what was written there.
But she didn't. Instead, Jamie gripped the middle and ripped it, envelope, and everything inside. Then she ripped it again. In seconds she had small squares of paper. She balled it up and went to the kitchen, tossing them into the garbage.
Feeling a little better she turned and took a step. And saw it. The envelope was now sitting, intact and unripped, on the kitchen counter. Jamie paused mid-step, looked at the garbage can in confusion, and shook her head. "What the hell?"
She picked up the envelope again. And stepped toward the garbage can. The shredded paper she had just tossed in was gone. Jamie sighed and dropped the envelope into the can. Then she resolutely turned and headed back toward the living room, for her paper.
Jamie was not surprised at all to see the envelope sitting on the end table.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~S~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yeah, this could totally work." Phil said finally, after walking around the area Mark had pointed out.
Usually when it came to getting opinions, Mark went to Glen first. But now that Glen was starting his own life, Mark realized he was going to have to do the same. Starting now. Phil had been willing to listen, and he was an outside opinion – if the idea was a bad one, then he wouldn't hesitate to say it.
They had gone to town first, with Mark hesitantly telling Phil about his idea. He had listened, and rolled it around in his head before finally asking Mark where it would happen.
Mark made him wait while they poked around a local car dealership. He finally settled on a dark blue truck. After another talk with the insurance people, and looking at the wreck itself, the SUV was definitely a total loss. Mark had looked at the evidence of blood on the seat, the steering wheel, and the broken glass, and felt a shudder work its way down his back. Jamie could have been seriously hurt. Never mind him.
There was nothing in it worth saving either. Mark signed the title over to the junk yard. They would salvage what parts they could and get rid of the rest. He was glad to see it go. He had liked the vehicle enough when they had owned it but now it felt – and he realized it was ridiculous – haunted.
That was behind him now though. He signed all his paperwork and shocked the salesperson by writing a check for the full purchase amount. He could afford it. It wasn't like they lived out of their means. And now here they were. Phil had followed in Jamie's Jeep. They pulled over near the turn that led to the house in the woods.
"Bet roadside land is pricy as hell." Phil spoke again, returning to Mark's side. He had walked along the shoulder for a minute, really giving it some thought.
"It doesn't matter. We own it already." At Phil's raised eyebrow, Mark smirked. "My father, apparently, was a land junky. At some point our family had own just about all the land in this county. Sold it off in pieces here and there, donated some. We still have the rights to about forty square miles though."
At that admission, Phil's other eyebrow lifted and his mouth fell open. "Damn. You're a land baron."
"Huh. Not me. Dad." Mark ran a hand through his hair. "But I figured it was time I did something. I'm not gettin' any younger."
"Well. I think it'll work." Phil slapped him on the shoulder. "When are you gonna break ground?"
"As soon as I figure out what all I need." Mark looked around. The overgrown area where they stood was clear of trees for about a full acre and a half. It had good frontage to the road. While Mark tinkered with his motorcycle, it had hit him. A garage. He had always been good with his hands and with motors. So why not open his own shop? He'd be close to home, he had the land, the time, the money. It wasn't like starting a business would break him, and he thought he would do well for himself, especially considering that he was between towns, in farm country, where he could always find work if the price was right. And he could definitely afford to work inexpensively.
"You're a car guy?" Phil asked as they picked their way back to the vehicles.
"Kinda. I know enough to get by."
"What do you know about running a business?" Phil grinned and opened the Jeep door.
"Practically nothing." Mark admitted, glancing around once more.
"I think it'll work." Phil said with a nod. "You have general Jamie. Just tell her to kick you in your ass on occasion to keep you on track."
Mark laughed at that. "I probably won't have to tell her to do it. She just will." He got into his new truck and started the engine. He had a lot of research to do but…he thought it would work out. He could hire a few mechanics, even someone to deal with the business side of things. It could definitely work. He just had to be sure to stay on track.
~~~~~~~~~~~~S~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jamie gave up and just opened the envelope.
The thing followed her around the house, upstairs and down. She could take a hint. "It better be the most important shit ever put on paper." She muttered as she slid a finger under the flap and tore it to pull out the single sheet of paper.
There was only one line. "He won't let me take away your power." Jamie spoke it out loud and frowned. Who? And apparently her power was gone, because she had not seen anything since they had come back.
Jamie stared at the paper, as if will more information to appear. Hell, why not? The letter had floated around the house all day, why not this too? The words remained the same. She set the paper aside and got up, heading for the stairs. And remembered belatedly that Mark had taken her Jeep. That was all right, there was always Lexi and Phil's rental.
Abby, Bear, and Lexi were at the back of the house, so Jamie didn't disturb them. Instead she tried to driver's side door and slipped into the too warm car. She wanted one thing, and when she flipped the rearview mirror to face her she found it. Another one of those shadow things, vaguely human shaped. It appeared to be sitting in the back seat.
So that was what she'd seen all morning. Jamie thought maybe it was the strain of trying to catch whatever it was that made her feel ill. But there had only been a few here and there. And at the funeral there had been none. She had no idea what was going on. And she seriously wondered if she should tell Mark. He seemed to content in new ways and she did not want to ruin it by making him worry over what was happening to her.
"He won't let me take away your power." Jamie said softly, without realizing she had spoken the words on the paper from the envelope. "Mark? But…" The shadow in the backseat did not move. It did not even flicker. She heaved a sigh. If her power was coming back it was taking its own sweet time. She could only wonder what it meant, especially when she remembered Celia's admission – that people like Sterling were afraid of her. But why? She was not the revolutionary, hostile takeover, lead people into a new way of thinking type.
"Will this shit ever end?" She expected no answer to that one either. That was all right. The 'he' obviously was not Mark, because Mark would probably pull out his own teeth to be able to give up his own power. He was secretly, or maybe not so secretly, pleased that Jamie no longer had to deal with it. It was one less thing to worry about.
