"I don't know how to thank you enough!" Naima said as she hurried around the house, grabbing last minute things on her way out the door. "With Ray called into work and not knowing when to expect him back, us being down staff at work and our usual babysitting sources out with this flu that's going around, I didn't know what I was going to do!"
"I really don't mind! I'm glad you called!" Jess said as she lowered her backpack to the floor near the couch. "I don't have class tomorrow anyway and Thursday it's a night lecture, so I've lots of time to hang out. Besides, I feel like I haven't really had the opportunity to properly say thank you for Christmas yet."
"Well, you are a lifesaver! It's going to be a chaotic night with this full moon so I'm glad I can go in and help out. That, and the overtime is good." Naima pointed at the fridge. "Food is already portioned and plated. Help yourself to whatever you would like. I should be home in the morning around nine, if everything goes well. You already have my number, I wrote a list just in case you forget anything and you can call Stella if there's any minor problems. Call me if there is anything major."
"We'll be just fine!"
"Oh, I know you will be. With the number of younger cousins you looked after I'm confident you've got this all under control." Naima headed for the door. "I told them you were coming before they went to sleep, so there shouldn't be any surprises. See you in the morning!"
"Bye! Have a good shift!"
With Naima gone, Jess sank into the couch and looked around.
It was crazy to think that at the start of fall semester she'd been basically terrified of every single one of the Bravo Team boys, especially Scott. Now here she was babysitting Ray's kids while Naima took on an extra nightshift at the hospital.
She'd thought for sure after Christmas that things would just go back to normal. The sense of love and closeness she'd experienced over the first few days of the holidays would become nothing more than a grateful memory. And she was ok with that. They'd all been so kind to her and it was more than she'd ever expected from them.
Then, about mid week after Christmas Day, Emma Hayes texted her out of the blue and admitted to 'bullying' Jess's number out of her Uncle Scott. The girl had an invitation for Jess to join her and Naima for lunch and Jess accepted in a moment of 'weakness' because she hated how lonely she was. She swore it was a one time thing and that she couldn't get any more involved in the guy's personal lives after this. She didn't have that right.
A simple lunch date turned into going for a walk along some local trails, and then that evolved into Jess getting brought for yet another holiday event. A barbecue, this time at Blackburns house. To this day she was convinced that was the plan from the start and that they were all in on it to some degree. Eric Blackburn, for how little she knew him, didn't bat an eyelash when she came through the gate with Naima (coaxing her along). If anything he was expecting her.
After that, Jess worked harder to convince herself it was all a one time deal and swallowed down the bittersweet feeling with a smile. She didn't think she could bear the thought of putting her hopes in the possibility that they actually meant to keep inviting her to things even after Christmas only to find out she was mistaken later. She could be cruel to herself, but not that cruel.
New Year's Eve crept up without incident and Jess didn't mind so much. She planned on entering the new year strong by joining an online gaming campaign with friends she'd never met (in person) and eating way too much chocolate. The morning passed quietly and Jess was resolved to her plans despite the fact she glanced out her windows a few too many times just to make sure no one was coming up the walk.
It was Naima who called her. She explained they had meant to invite her earlier, but Bravo Team got spun up unexpectedly so plans changed a little. Then she asked if Jess wanted to come join a few of them for a quiet night of games and company.
There was just no saying no. She couldn't help herself. The second she heard Naima's voice, all resolve shattered and she wanted nothing more than to be around these wonderful people who kept letting her into their lives.
By New Year's day Jess had fully bonded with Mikey over Star Wars, won RJ's affections by reading his favorite book to him nearly twenty times, earned Emma's respect by beating her in a game of Dutch Blitz, been thoroughly and completely mothered by Naima, tutored in English Lit by Stella and completely made Jameelah's day when they teamed up against Mikey and Emma playing road hockey.
No escape could be made after that. Jess was done for. Hope glimmered despite her better efforts because Naima, Emma and even Stella wouldn't let it die. They texted her semi regularly just to check in even after her housemates all came back and the new semester started up. It was nearly February now and the poor girl still couldn't wrap her head around it. How did she get so lucky to get 'claimed' by such great people?
"Jess?"
Startling out of her thoughts, Jess spied Jameelah padding out into the living room.
"Hey! What's going on? I thought you were asleep?"
"I had a bad dream." Jameelah mumbled, hugging her doll, Tina.
"Awww, man! Bad dreams are the worst!" Jess patted the couch next to her. "Come sit for a bit. Change of atmosphere helps to shake them faster."
Jameelah curled up next to her and lifted Jess's arm up so that she could cuddle in closer. "Can you tell me a story? Like the one you made up at New Year's?"
"Hmm…I think I can make that happen. What should it be about?"
"A magic fairy. And a warrior."
Nodding, Jess began. "Once Upon a time, in a far off land of myth and magic, there lived a little fairy called Pix."
"Like, short for Pixie?"
"Yeah! Just like that!" Jess tightened her arm as they settled comfortably into the couch, taking to the familiar roll as if it were breathing. One thing she could thank her mother for was the fact that she volunteered Jess constantly for babysitting duty at her Aunt Sarah's. Sarah happened to be the opposite of her mother so Jess didn't mind at all that she ended up helping with the twins and four others three nights a week all through high school. Somehow she could afford children what she never seemed to have for herself. Compassion and patience.
Really she should be thanking her mom too. If she hadn't volunteered her and gotten her out of the house to be with reasonable people so much Jess might still be stuck trying to please her all the time and never have struck out on her own.
"Jess…Jess?"
"Oh! Right! The story. So Pix was a clever little fairy. She could solve complicated problems that others had trouble with and she loved to learn about the world. One day, Pix went on a long journey all alone."
"Why was she alone?"
"Because she was appointed to a special quest by the Queen."
"She made friends along the way, right?"
"Who's telling this story? You or me?" Jess laughed. "Yes. She makes some very special friends along the way. See it all started with…"
Thirty minutes later Jess had Jameelah back in her bed, snoring. RJ was sleeping peacefully too, so she settled down to study and then fell asleep on the couch.
Early in the morning, Jess was dragged from sleep by the sound of her phone.
Naima was calling.
"Good morning! Sorry to call so early." Naima said. She sounded exhausted. "Just wanted to know how things went?"
"They were great! Jameelah was up once because of a bad dream, but I told her a story and she went back to sleep no problems"
"Oh good. Thank you! So, the reason for my call is that we just got word there was a major accident on 45. Ten car pile up and it's all hands on deck. Are you ok to stay longer?"
"Of course! Like I said, I don't have anywhere I have to be till tomorrow evening at six."
"If you could stay, that would be great. They are short handed here and it's going to be messy."
"Not a problem. We'll see you when we see you."
"Thanks Jess!"
Hanging up, Jess rolled up her sleeves to make breakfast. She wasn't much of a cook, but she could make french toast and eggs decently enough. A happy thrum built in her chest.
It was nice to be needed.
By the time Naima got home around dinner time Jess was feeding the kids.
"Mommy! You're home!"
"Hi, babies!" Naima came and kissed each of her children before giving Jess a hug. "How was your day?"
"It was amazing!" Jameelah exclaimed eagerly. "We painted, and played outside and we had a tea party and built a huge tower city out of blocks, then we baked bread! You should try it! It's so yummy! And we painted our nails! And then RJ wanted you, so to distract him Jess sang all our favorite disney songs!"
"Wow!" Naima smiled fondly as she sat down to eat with them. "That sounds like a wonderful day! I hope you said thank you to Jess for taking such good care of you!"
"Thank you, Jess!" Jameelah sang, eyes sparkling.
"Thank oooo" RJ's sang, mimicking his sister.
"Well, thank you for letting me spend the day with you!" Jess smiled. "I had a lot of fun!"
After dinner as Jess prepared to leave, Naima grabbed her purse.
"Now…what do I owe you?"
"Not a thing." Jess backed towards the door, folding her arms and smiling. "Like I said, I've been wanting to say thank you for Christmas."
"Jess-" Naima gave her a stern look. "I can't let you walk out that door without giving you something."
"You fed me. I got to spend time not doing school which, let's be honest, my therapist says I need to do that more often anyway. So really, we could argue you gave me a mental health day and fun company. I'd call that pretty priceless." Jess scuffed her toes into her other foot and hugged her coat tighter to her body. "Don't give me anything. Please. Being allowed into all of your lives these past weeks has been more than enough to cover all the babysitting you ever need. Trust me…what you guys have here, being allowed to become a small part of it? It means the world to me and I'll never be able to repay you."
"Jess…honey!" Naima walked to her, arms open and hugged her fiercely. "I've said it before and I'll say it again. You are always welcome here and I'm so glad that Scott reached out to you when he did that night at the Bulkhead. You're a sweet, wonderful girl and we're extremely fond of you. Never think otherwise."
"Thank you!" Jess's voice was muffled and husky in Naima's shoulder.
Naima pulled away and added as Jess made her way out the door, "Don't think you're getting away with not being paid, young lady. I will find a way to make sure you get it."
Jess smiled and pretended it was a joke, but inside she had a feeling Naima was just as bad as the rest of them for following through with stuff like that. She couldn't say she minded in the least.