Extremely sorry for the long absence. Fortunately, it has nothing to do with writer's block. My life simply has become too busy lately (moved twice, found a new job, and needed to help my sister-in-law, who recently became a mom).
Alas, it means that starting from now on, I'll go on a less regular posting schedule. Friday will remain my posting day for this story, but I can't promise it'll be every week.
Everything hurt. Jim winced, dispelling the armor.
"I still think we need to call the ambulance," Toby mumbled. "There's a limit to everything!"
"I believe it's not even half as bad as it looks," Jim protested. To be honest, it was definitely worse than that time when he had taken a direct punch from Bular, but still not to the point where he would have called it 'the problem'. Thankfully, Daylight had minimized the damage, so even in the worst-case scenario, there should be some nasty bruises all over his body.
His head, though, was a whole other matter. The possibility of concussion aside, his face looked horrible at the moment, according to Tobes. On the other hand, his best friend tended to exaggerate, so…
Jim could easily find some reflective surface and check the level of disaster himself, but honestly, he felt too drained to actually bother.
Besides, right now, he'd rather focus on thanking his savior, who, for whatever reason, was more invested in exploring his surroundings.
"Draal? Em, I know our last encounter didn't end nicely, but… Thanks for helping…"
No, that was too awkward. And that apology sounded too cringe for his liking. Perhaps, he should have tried once again, especially seeing Draal didn't react to it in any manner.
"There was another one," the troll muttered at last.
"Sorry, what?"
Jim wondered if he had misheard. Another one? Who or what?
Sure, the most obvious answer would be another enemy, but then…
He felt everything freezing inside at the realization.
Someone who could possibly know his identity had escaped. The breather Douxie's magic talisman had won him wouldn't last anymore.
"Jimbo!" Toby tugged his sleeve, returning him back to reality. "Remember to breathe, OK?"
Oh, he definitely had forgotten something as basic as breathing for a second. But…
Everything had just gone to hell. Every single crafted strategy they had had before would become useless with the current state of things.
Jim's identity had become a known fact - and with that, there would be no safe spot anymore.
"Maybe you're overthinking," Tobes attempted to cheer him up a bit, without much success. "You know, that big dude could just have a leisure stroll and get lucky to stumble upon us…"
At times, Jim wished he could have been as optimistic as his best friend. Especially right now. Alas, some unpleasant inner voice was whispering to him that the dangerous encounter had been anything but a coincidence.
That troll - whatever-his-name-was - had revealed himself before the boys. And his expression back then - yes, he had definitely known, who exactly he had faced even before Jim had summoned the Daylight.
There were too many questions without answers.
How had the enemy learned Jim's secret?
When and where had that happened?
Had the fallen troll been the only one with that dangerous knowledge? Well, apparently, the answer to this one was no.
And, more importantly, what should Jim have done right now, with his defense lines crumbling into countless pieces?
"Duck," Toby whispered all of a sudden, dragging him down. Behind them, Draal stepped back, disappearing into the bushes.
Some loud company passed them, totally unaware of their existence. Well, at least, there were no trolls this time.
"This city is nuts," Tobes claimed with some pathos after the oblivious passers-by disappeared from their sight. "How can everyone be ignorant of… well, everything?"
He gestured wildly, pointing at some ruination, then the pile of dust remaining from the enemy, and finally at Draal, who glared at him with some annoyance.
"Just let's go home," Jim sighed. "I'm too drained to think about possibilities…"
Though, to be honest, apparently, he was too drained to think about anything, let alone the nearly mysterious reason for the locals' obliviousness.
Besides, he was close to a panic attack as he pondered about the current state of things. A weaker part of his psyche hoped for yet another miraculous solution, like that time when Douxie had appeared before him for the first time.
But no, of course, Jim was mature enough to understand that lucky chances were so treasured because they were rare. It would be dumb to wait for another miracle to happen.
"Say, Jimbo," Toby broke his best friend's thoughts once again. "Not that I mind, but the big guy surely isn't in a hurry to go home…"
The last part was whispered in the lowest tone possible as Tobes cast cursory glances in the troll's direction.
That was true - both boys were going home, and Draal… Jim wondered if that one was actually trying to grant their safe return.
Why would he, though?
"Maybe you should ask him," Tobes suggested.
Jim shook his head. He still wasn't sure how to approach Draal - after all, their fight led to the troll's banishment. Only a total jerk wouldn't feel guilty because of that.
Draal would be justified if he decided to hate the current Trollhunter, yet…
He still had decided to help.
Perhaps, it was too early to jump to a conclusion, but having another reliable ally would be a ray of sunshine in the current bleak situation.
Krax had always hated trolls who solved everything with brutish force. Those guys could only ruin even the most intricate-crafted strategy. The plan had been peerless. They simply needed to corner and catch the Trollhunter, then deliver that puny kid to Barverra. Even someone not that bright, like Montgo, could do that.
But no! That braindead bastard had only managed to execute the first part flawlessly!
No one had asked that bastard to give the Trollhunter another chance to fight when he had recovered consciousness. Montgo could have knocked that boy out, but no! That dumbass suddenly had remembered about the troll honor.
Troll honor! Changelings had none to start with!
And had it been worth the effort? No, obviously. That dumb decision had only led to Montgo's own demise.
At least, Krax himself had managed to escape without any damage or lasting consequences. He still thanked his inborn carefulness. Initially, he planned to join Montgo in cornering the Trollhunter, but his sixth sense had told him to stay hidden just in case - if his identity was ever revealed, the entire trollkind would be hunting him, stripping him of his well-established position in their society.
Krax gulped unwittingly, imagining the possibility. No, sure thing, he was still safe - he only had watched the entire encounter between Montgo and the Trollhunter, and after Draal had appeared, he had escaped before anyone had decided to follow him.
But what if…
"Well, that was surely something," someone sneered from above.
The voice was too familiar, and Krax prayed that wasn't her but someone who sounded similar. Alas, as he raised his head, he immediately pinpointed Nomura perching on a tree branch.
It only continued spiraling out of control.
They hadn't been friends even before her appearance at the Trollmarket, but after Krax had exposed her… Well, most likely, only Stricklander's orders kept Nomura from destroying her offender.
"I'm not in a mood to talk," Krax muttered, hoping to leave fast enough. He still needed to think out another strategy - his main trump card remained intact, after all.
"That was a fine plan," Nomura shrugged. "A pity that Montgo was too dumb to execute it perfectly."
Krax frowned - he had no need of reminders about the recent failures. Besides, she was obviously making fun of him as she couldn't do more.
"You should've joined," Nomura continued rather matter-of-factly, "it could've gone differently then. I'd help too…"
Her green eyes flashed with hostility. Krax gulped. Her 'help' clearly meant she would have joined Draal in obliterating him, all consequences be damned. Though, consequences? She had always been Stricklander's favorite, so their scheming leader might have found some way to pardon her behavior.
Krax himself could never hope for that kind of protection. Sure thing, there was Usurna, but her influence on the Janus Order had been dubious in the best-case scenario.
If he wanted actual freedom in his actions, he would need someone with way more power as his backer.
And the only one fitting the description would be the Skullcrusher himself. Or maybe one of his children.
Not Stricklander or one of his rivals.
No, those always treated their subordinates like disposable pawns. If Krax wanted to raise above, he needed a direct approach. Like…
"The info you have," Nomura drawled as if reading his thoughts. Was he that obvious? Well, sure thing, no - it could be only some dumb coincidence.
Besides, Nomura was an enemy, restricted only by her superior's direct orders - as if someone like that would lend a hand in brainstorming!
Krax suddenly felt some cold creeping up his spine. Exactly! She was an enemy - the one who finally stopped hiding her murderous intent right now.
"I think you're smart enough to keep something so valuable to yourself," Nomura smirked, her hand gripping the handle of her khopesh tightly. "Blabbermouths tend to die fast."
She would definitely prefer to use her weapon already - Krax could say that for sure. Luckily, her goal tonight was something else altogether - not that it made anything better for him.
Krax gritted his teeth. Of course, Nomura wasn't dumb, she could put two and two together. And her course of action? She found the best strategy to restrict his moves. If he couldn't share his valuable knowledge it would lose its worth. Acting himself while risking his exposing his identity? Out of the question for obvious reasons.
"As if you ever dare to harm me. My position in the Order is way more stable," Krax snorted, hoping his bluff would work. Even if his statement was undeniable, there were also too many factors with the ability to change everything.
Nomura cackled, her eyes full of unkind fire.
"Oh, I've never said that I want to harm you. On the other hand, I know a certain Trollhunter's son with anger issues who might have a different stance…"
"As if Draal will ever believe you," Krax jeered, visibly relaxed. If that was her threat, it was pointless. Sure thing, Draal's ire would be dangerous, but…
There was no trust before two former lovers. Had never been and would never be.
"I'm aware that dumbass tends to trust only his own eyes," Nomura shrugged indifferently. "I know him way better than you… But, let's say that a displaced gaggletack ends too close to you, and he sees your dirty little secret…"
So that was it. She didn't simply wish for Krax's demise, no, she wanted him to lose everything first, to be cornered with the only option to run away from everyone - not just the Trollmarket, but the Janus Order as well. Changelings rarely kept those who lost their value - and unfortunately, Krax was important only as long as he was a mole.
An eye for an eye and a gaggletack for a gaggletack.
He gave Nomura a murderous glare - without any result, unfortunately. It was her win tonight, that was for sure…
It was the first time in years that Nomura felt so conflicted. Finding out that Krax - that bastard! - had managed to team up with the major headache named Montgo was an unpleasant surprise. That unlikely team somehow capturing the Trollhunter had been even worse, even if she wouldn't have minded seeing Stricklander's face when he had realized his own carelessness in overlooking the possibility.
If it was someone else, Nomura would have been willing to let the events unfold naturally. Luckily for her boss, she'd rather have died than allowed Krax to succeed.
Besides, the luck was on her (and the Trollhunter's to a certain extent) side, as Draal had gotten involved just in time, and Krax had fled, being a pathetic coward as usual.
Nomura had only to seal his mouth afterward.
Oh yeah, she would also need to report the recent developments to Stricklander. That bastard also owed her a lot now - hadn't she basically saved his sorry ass? If Krax had delivered the info to Barverra, Stricklander could have kissed goodbye to his immunity. Perhaps, her boss should have started to invest some time into planning his escape. If Krax ever decided to gamble everything, Nomura's threats would mean nothing.
Well, whatever. Why should she have bothered when Stricklander himself kept making the odd or outright crazy decisions? Besides, he was seemingly way more invested in something else at the moment. Nomura knew her boss too good to miss all those tiny signs that he wasn't as focused on the plan as he should have been in theory.
Though... Lately, it felt like Bular was the only one truly interested in liberating his father. Everyone else, including his fearsome sister? Obviously pursuing their own agenda.
If that wasn't about Gunmar, Nomura would have probably felt some sympathy. Unfortunately for the Skullcrusher, she never liked him in the slightest.
She frowned, remembering that there would be another meeting underneath the museum tonight. She'd rather have avoided seeing anyone there, be it Stricklander, Barverra, or Bular. Everyone was equally horrible.
On the other hand, weren't all of them free in their decisions to a certain extent? Even Strickler, despite being a changeling, like Nomura, had obviously obtained some space for maneuvers through years of manipulation and scheming.
And her? Hadn't she only kept getting farther and farther from her own goals?
She caught herself whistling her favorite tune once again. What was the point of that? Was there a bleak hope? Peer Gynt might have found his closure in Solveig's embrace after all the years of wandering, but there was no Solveig, no place to return to for Nomura in this life.
She should have given up much earlier. Just stop bothering. Just give in to the fake existence like so many of her brethren…
The museum had already appeared in her line of sight, meaning that she should have thrown away any hesitation or wavering and focused on the meeting itself. Ironically, being in actual danger helped with clearing the mind better than anything else - there was only space for simple battle experience and survival instincts there.
Nomura half-expected her to enter during another argument about strategies. The Trollhunter kept escaping their clutches. Bular should have been dangerously close to losing it. No, sure thing, the smug bastard Stricklander might have found some way to direct that explosive rage into some advantageous direction… Or maybe not. Not with Barverra around. Though in that case, her brother might have probably tried to keep calm. Well, calm in his understanding.
Not that no raging Bular would make things easier - it would just mean another clash between the daughter of Gunmar and the Head of Janus Order.
Yeah, somehow, Nomura would prefer to stay as far as possible from that.
She winced, mustering the most indifferent expression before entering the lair. In any kind of scenario, the wisest decision would be staying as unnoticeable as possible, hoping that no one would bother with a humble protector of the Killahead. At times, it was better to be a simple pawn.
And…
It was too quiet - that was the first suspicious thing Nomura noticed. Heavy steps of someone huge - most likely Bular - passing back and forth and incomprehensible mumbles of goblins were the only sounds her ears picked.
The next second she saw the infamous Butcher himself - pissed, much as expected. He momentarily glanced at the newly arrived, losing interest immediately.
The son of Gunmar not unleashing his anger upon one of the 'hateful impures'? That was new.
Nomura raised her eyebrows in puzzlement, looking around in an attempt to figure out what exactly was going on.
Goblins keeping as unnoticeable as dumb creatures like them could. Well, even someone that primitive had some self-preservation instincts, and Bular's presence alone could keep those tame. And furious Bular? Nomura seriously doubted that even goblins could be that deranged to provoke him.
She couldn't see Stricklander anywhere, which would explain the dark prince's ire. On the other hand, Gunmar's son would have been annoyed even if the Head of Janus Order had been present. Wasn't he at the very top of Bular's shit list of hateful impures?
And, of course, Barverra was absent as well. Perhaps, her brother was more annoyed at that fact.
Nomura barely refrained from rolling her eyes. Somehow, she could relate. Both people who did the planning had decided to skip a night yet expected everyone else to be present.
Speaking about 'everyone else', Nomura suddenly pinpointed Shen.
Just great, couldn't that one have dropped dead like Montgo?
Even if the backup team had created more annoyance for Stricklander, Nomura would prefer to return to the simpler times without it around.
At least, three-quarters of the unwanted helpers had fallen already - each one for their own reason. Unfortunately, Shen would never be as careless.
Or not.
"Doesn't Lord Bular consider it unfair?" Shen inquired with as much reverence as possible. Nomura suddenly realized that there had been some kind of conversation before - and she somehow had entered amid it.
Bular's foul mood was, apparently, a result of that one. Shen must have really lost her grip if she dared to think of trying to stir that one in a favorable direction. Even Stricklander wouldn't always use that tactic, only choosing it when it didn't backfire.
Shen, on the other hand, was seemingly playing with fire. Not that Nomura was willing to stop her. If anything, it could be entertaining.
"Unfair?" Bular growled. "It's not your place to decide such things, scum!"
If Shen wished to beat Stricklander in that 'hateful' list, she was obviously making some success.
That was something a changeling with way less experience would assume. Nomura wasn't one to fall for the first impression.
Shen was evidently gambling - albeit it was unclear what exactly she had tried to achieve.
"Yet it's impossible to miss that your venerable sister treats you without any trust, Lord Bular," she continued after a faked reluctant pause.
Wow!
Nomura stepped back just in case, expecting a storm coming. Her hunch hadn't betrayed her again.
"SILENCE!" Bular roared, smashing some of the crates. Goblins shrieked, scattering like cockroaches and running for their life.
Shen was doomed, that should have been for sure.
Yet…
The crates remained the only victim of that outburst. Bular suddenly got uncharacteristically silent, his fury only evident in his expression.
"Why would Lady Barverra keep Stricklander around then? As her brother, you should be privy to that information," Shen stated with more confidence as if she wasn't talking to someone who could obliterate her any second.
"She has her reasons," the son of Gunmar spat.
Finding some insecurity and doubt and using those. Nomura would give her that - it was a clever move. Yes, extremely dangerous as Bular remained the wild card, but…
On the other hand, what exactly was the goal? Stirring conflict between Gunmar's children? Simply impossible. Lack of trust or not, Bular was loyal to his family, and no poisonous words would change that.
Unless the real target was Stricklander. Did Shen want to sic the son of Gunmar on her rival?
Nomura chuckled inwardly. Those folks at the headquarters had only the surface level of understanding of what was going on between everyone staying in Arcadia.
Bular absolutely hated Stricklander. That was an undeniable truth.
But he also would never attack unless there was permission from Gunmar. Perhaps, Barverra's would have counted as well. Though, probably, Bular was the only one who could tell that for sure.
"And could her reasons be a personal preference?"
The next question had broken Nomura's train of thought at once, even if it wasn't directed at her. It took several seconds before it fully sank, but…
'Personal preference' was probably the most roundabout way to imply that, but Shen was obviously hinting at some kind of feelings between the daughter of Gunmar and the Head of the Janus Order. And according to her, those feelings were way too different from dislike or hatred.
Nomura had always believed she could maintain a neutral expression even in the worst situation, but right now, she failed to keep her surprise hidden.
The statement was absolutely bonkers. Stricklander and Barverra? Those two who seemingly wished to obliterate each other?
Yet…
She had been in love before. That irrational feeling knew no logic. Even if Nomura's relationship with Draal had never started with hostility, there was always some feeling of rivalry between them. It was just a troll way to do things - always challenging each other in different things. Never petty, no. More like the kind where both had fun, no matter if winning or losing.
And it was dumb to deny the existence of rivalry between Stricklander and Barverra. Even Shen, an outsider who hadn't been around for that long, had noticed that.
Well, probably, she had made some wrong conclusions afterward, but…
Somehow, Nomura could see that absolutely deranged theory as plausible, and the more she thought about it, the more sense it made.
And Bular…
A quick glance in the dark prince's direction made Nomura freeze on the spot. She could never have imagined that one day she would prefer raging and roaring brute. That was still better than that hard-to-read expression that somehow spelled doom for… Well, for someone. Even if Nomura was an unlikely candidate, she would still have preferred to be somewhere else right now.
Why had she decided to attend the meeting again?
Oh yeah, there was something about Krax having his own agenda and Montgo's untimely demise and some changes to the status quo, which should have been valuable data for Stricklander.
Yet now it somehow lost any meaning, with Shen trying the scheme of her own.
Nomura cursed her luck once again. Seriously, some higher forces must have hated her, sending her challenge upon challenge.
The silence was already too uncanny. Even smug Shen started to get nervous - apparently, Bular's reaction differed too much from her expectations.
"Do you think I haven't noticed myself?" he inquired at last. Ironically, it was the first time Nomura saw him acting as someone worthy of his position. "However, no one ever questions Gunmar's kin! Only Father has the right to decide who's right or wrong!"
So, in the end, his loyalty to his family won against the ugly doubts. Nomura wondered if Bular was willing to accept the situation in which Gunmar would have given his daughter and Stricklander his blessing.
Wait, her brain was surely going into some really unhinged direction.
There was no way the Skullcrusher would ever accept any impure into his family, let alone Stricklander, who wasn't even one hundred percent loyal.
Not to mention that the entire 'there's something between Barverra and Stricklander' was just Shen's speculation.
Even if Nomura had been close to believing in it.
Even if Bular had been convinced already…
The quietness was too pressing, uncanny even. At times like this, Jim really missed Tobes's cheerful remarks. That was just a unique talent - to be the pillar of mental support no matter what happened.
Alas, right now, Toby had gone out for 'some reconnaissance' as he jokingly worded it, leaving Jim alone at the Domzalski's house.
No, of course, that was a part of the plan - after all, Barbara shouldn't have learned about the recent battle. Some preventive measures were just common sense.
So, Jim was standing before the sink in the bathroom, examining his reflection and wondering what kind of excuse could possibly explain the state of his face.
Sure thing, wiping off the blood had done some miracles, but it still looked like… Well, like his face had met concrete, which was a one-hundred percent precise description of what exactly had happened.
Jim groaned, wondering what kind of excuse he could tell his mom. Probably, Toby would have invented one thousand and one explanations on the spot, each one as crazy sounding as the previous one. He, on the other hand, couldn't think of even one - neither dubious nor realistic.
And it wasn't something Barbara would ever let slide. Jim knew his mom - she was genuinely terrifying when she thought someone had harmed her child. Scary to the point it gave him the creeps.
No, sure thing, most of the time, she was normal. Yet occasionally, it showed, slipping through the cracks and making Jim wonder how well he knew his closest family member.
Or perhaps, he was simply overthinking. What was wrong with being a mama bear in times of need?
Some rushed steps broke up his thoughts. Toby peered inside the bathroom, his expression difficult to read.
"Hey, Jimbo… Are you sure that Dr. L should be at home tonight?" he asked carefully, his tone barely concealing panic. "No sudden appointments? Maybe a meeting with a friend? Has she found a boyfriend?"
Jim had stopped listening somewhere in-between that phrase as he rushed past his best friend, nearly stumbling and falling from the stairs.
Hiding truth? Finding excuses? What a joke! He should have run home immediately to check if everything was alright there!
"Jimbo, wait!"
Tobes was trying his best to catch up. He also added something, but Jim's mind refused to register a thing. It was the second time already - the second time he realized how much his secret obligation could have possibly harmed the people around him.
Douxie's help had been great, but hadn't it also birthed the fake sense of safety? Everything was seemingly falling apart at the moment.
Jim rushed inside his house, bumping into Draal. Somehow, that made him regain some of his cool - his former rival seemed calm enough. Shouldn't it have meant something?
Besides, nothing suggested a possibility of a fight. Jim glanced over familiar furniture, trying to pinpoint anything with an odd position.
Nothing.
"No fresh troll scents," Draal reported.
"Good," Toby responded as he entered. "Gee, Jimbo, how can you still run after all of that?"
The last phrase sounded half-jokingly, yet…
Tobes was worried as well. Probably as much as Jim himself, but he always had been better at hiding his anxieties behind a cheerful tone.
"And what about human scents?" Jim inquired. Not that long ago, he would have been wary of trolls only, however, it had never been that easy. In addition to those who looked monstrous enough, there were those who skillfully concealed their true nature, blending within human society. If one of those had visited the Lakes' house, there had been no need for a fight - they could have simply used some deception to capture Barbara.
"The only fresh ones are yours, your loud friend's, and the one, which I assume, belongs to your mother," Draal responded.
Again. There had been some weird emphasis before, when he had talked about troll scents. Jim wished he had been simply overthinking. Yet now, when Draal used that 'fresh' again, all the hopes were crushed.
'Fresh scent' simply equaled the one a troll could track. How long did it count as fresh though? Jim was absolutely terrified to ask about that. If it was a week or even a day, that should have been fine, but what if it was an hour or even less?
He gave Toby a cursory glance, silently praying for some optimistic comment. Something that might have possibly made him feel relieved.
Alas, his best friend was seemingly busy with his phone. Was it Toby's attempt to escape the difficult talk?
Draal broke a suffocating silence all of a sudden:
"How many trolls have come here?"
Jim didn't like the question or the stuff it might have possibly implied.
"Only Blinky and Aaarrrgghh."
Yes, that could be the only possible answer, and…
"I see," Draal scowled, refusing to say more than that.
Not that any additional explanation would change a thing. Jim could say for sure what exactly had been implied between the lines.
Some other troll had visited his house. Who, when, and how remained unknown.
An optimistic thought would have been some kind of explanation, like an ally visiting, but…
Yeah, the thing was that Jim's troll allies were extremely limited in number. Someone from the Trollmarket barging in, while seeking help? Oh, that one would have been just the best explanation possible.
Unfortunately, it would be too careless to depend on convenient theories. Besides, if someone wanted help, wouldn't they have tried to approach their champion after failing to find him at home?
There should be something else.
An enemy? As much as Jim was close to panic, something still hadn't added up.
The scent wasn't fresh, and according to how Draal had worded his question, he had assumed that the supposed visit had happened a while ago.
But that was simply impossible! Until recently, there had been Douxie's barrier preventing anyone hostile from entering!
Unless an enemy entered before that protection existence, which made little sense as well…
And honestly, all the thinking led nowhere. The main issue was Barbara's mysterious absence - and nothing so far had brought any answers!
"Oh."
The answer came - just not from the place Jim expected.
"Jimbo, your mom's fine," Toby shifted his attention from his phone and smiled nervously.
"How can you be so sure?" Jim inquired. It hadn't sounded like a simple attempt to comfort. No, that one was more like his friend knew it for sure but somehow was reluctant to elaborate.
"Well, I texted Douxie with a request for help," Tobes started. "And Dr. L apparently had been at the Benoit's tonight, and…"
He shifted on his feet uncomfortably.
"Why mom isn't at home now then?"
Sure thing, it was good news that they could track Barbara's location at some point in time, but even if she had dined out there still had been more than enough time to return. Toby couldn't have missed that as well, so why would he have stated that everything had been fine?
Unless Douxie had texted more, and that unsaid fact was an actual confirmation.
"I'm not sure you'll like that," Toby confessed at last with a sigh.
"Why should I be upset if that's a confirmation mom's safe?" Jim frowned. Honestly, he couldn't think of any scenario like that.
"Your mom dates someone."
Or not.
For a second, he wished he had misheard.
No, not that Jim had something against his mother's personal happiness, but… But there had been only two of them for years, and yeah, he wasn't that sure that the possibility of another person as a potential family member made him happy.
And if his mom's date wasn't serious… Well, Jim hated even the thought of Barbara being heartbroken.
Moreover, the fact that she kept everything secret hurt.
His consciousness accused him of hypocrisy at once - his own secret wasn't something he should have concealed from the family…