December the 27thth 2018

Jason POV

Bryan P. Blessing's Pure Bliss Private Business

In Paloburn

Bryan Patrick Blessing

The papers with what was going to be a new health centre I had put to lie on the bedside table when I came to Grey House only to have them out of the way when I unpacked everything else. And there they had been lying since. I had barely thought about that in the middle of everything else.

I was due to start it as a massage therapist at this new place… It felt like a thousand years we had passed trying to put it together.

Now, when I was finally about to move. My whole car was filled with all of my stuff, finally making my way towards Paloburn, then I just took a break since we'd start the company after new year's eve…

Here I was, with the paper sheets and leaflets for the whole health centre. And I was stuck!

"I know you're bored Cammie." I could hear Mr. Moore's voice while he spoke to his only grandson right outside my bedroom door. "I think we're all quite bored nonetheless hungry. But it's just not safe to go outside when the weather's like this… Now come on. These rooms are Charlie and Jason's. Don't wake them up."

I hadn't moved from my bed at all since last night, but it hadn't even hit me that I should get up today too. And I had a bit of a chock when I forced myself to sit and looked towards the clock and it turned out to be past noon.

I already knew, I could hear the storm. But still, it was with a great deal of disappointment and wondering about whether we'd ever get out of Grey House I slipped my covers off me and got up. Only being in the cold for a second, then I grabbed my clothes for the day. One very colourful tracksuit that I had had for the past twenty years. But I just couldn't get myself to ever get rid of.

And it was at least as ugly the day, not before he passed away Philip chose it…

"That tracksuit is something of the ugliest things I've ever seen."

When I came into the kitchen I had to turn away from Remi and the Moore's and forced myself not to snort with laughter. This tracksuit really was something of the ugliest of this world, my brother had given it to me and I wasn't about to ever get rid of it even though I'd only worn it a handful of times.

"Ramona!" I could hear Mr. Moore scold the girl that had spoken and the little boy who seemed to agree with her. "You do know, how you've been bullied? When someone's really mean to you?"

I had to go away, this was just too much for me not to break down laughing. And Charlie had entered the room anyway.

"Well. I have to say… that outfit is… like something I've never seen before!"

"I have to say though." Mrs. Moore came over before she was obviously going upstairs. "It's quite… interesting. Loving the colour though. And I always love it when someone uses something I've made myself." I looked down on my socks, knitted in red and white. "I ran out of the red yarn." Right out on the toes there was a little, white tip on one spot. "That's what happens… I have to go see my granddaughter now."

I was only half thinking about that in one hand Mrs. Moore was carrying a small glass with popsicles, and in the other also holding an empty bucket she obviously carried with her.

I looked down on my clothes. Except for the hand knitted socks it was really no surprise the kids were commenting on it. The tracksuit was patterned in neon pink, turquoise and yellow. I smiled to myself though when Philip had been gone for a long, long time by now. It said that it should only be hand washed and I kept it as clean as possible.

When I came into the living room I grabbed a blanket of more neutral colors and wrapped it all the way so it covered me all the way from my neck and to my knees.

"Do you think people will stop commenting on my outfit now?"

I was only saying it jokingly, but it was that first time I heard Charlie laugh. Even if it was ever so shortly.

It was good right then Charlie was turned away, and concentrated on not spilling her cup of hot chocolate. Or she might have heard me gasping when something suddenly fluttered in my stomach hearing the sound of her laugh.

And it was then I knew more than ever this was the one I wanted to spend my life with, forever and ever was far from enough.

Then, all of a sudden, I thought of the papers lying on my bedside table. After all of the talking we had done the last few days. I had a feeling there was so much she had left out, that she was on the run from her brother and didn't even know where to go next.

Maybe… If I talked to who would be my boss. Yeah. I had known him for as good as my whole life, maybe I could sort out a job for Charlie so she could at least have an income to live…

To live somewhere where she didn't have to be with the ones who hurt her every day.

Every new health center could need a massage therapist. And Charlie was a massage therapist just as much as me. We had studied to them together what felt like a thousand years ago. Back when I felt, something I didn't know what for her. But Alexa- my ex wife had scolded me for even looking at another girl. As if she knew already back then she wasn't the one I wanted next to me.

"Here." I handed Charlie the papers when I came back to the living room where Cassie and George were obviously trying to make do with cooking over the open fireplace. "I was going to work there, then I well… I got stuck with everyone else."

It wasn't like I just give her a job just like that…

But I wanted to! Oh I wanted to so bad!

I wanted to have her so near me all day, every day.

"The name's a bit long. I mean… You didn't come up with it… Or did you?"

"No." I said, before Charlie had the time to continue. "But I know Bryan Patrick Blessing and you can bet he had a lot of fun playing with his favourite letters- B. and P… And besides, he knows I studied to a massage therapist and all of a sudden I was moving. He used to be my baby sitter when I was little and we were still in contact just a little. So when I moved to get away from you-know-who to get a divorce and he was about to open his health centre and he needs staff… Then I got stuck here as well as everyone else. End of story."

We were interrupted when Cassie was going around the room with a plate for each and every one with grilled cheese sandwiches that had been made over the open fire.

"My Gosh, this storm." I said- partly to myself, partly to Charlie and partly to Cassie. "I've never seen anything like it!"

Charlie was quiet eating for several seconds, I wanted her to say something- anything at all because I wanted to hear her voice.

Then she spoke, but I wasn't certain she had even meant to say something out loud.

"I wouldn't mind this weather going on so I'd have a reason to stay."

I wasn't sure if I had even been meant to hear that last.

Even less so when I saw the look in her eyes. I could bet that Charlie had no idea about where to go when she had to leave Grey House.

I have never felt an urge so strong as when I wanted to tell her about my new job and my new place, that I could sort out a new job for her and we could live together. I could make sure she wouldn't have any reason to pay rent.

But I did… Oh, I did get how hurt Charlie had been. I didn't want to hurt her anymore and tell her all about my ideas at once. I didn't even dare to touch her at all, afraid that any touch from me as a male could cause a flashback I couldn't even imagine.

So, trying to stop myself from touching her I looked towards the window where she was watching and listened to people eating all around mixing with the noises of the storm.

Right outside the windows it was roaring as loud as ever. So I wouldn't think we were any end in sight of this storm. I was due to start my job. Set that health centre ready for patients and customers, sort out new staff. Which one could I become as a massage therapist?

I could do this!

You could do anything you want to do. Was something that Bryan used to tell me all of those years ago. As long as your parents are okay with it.

It could both make me feel happy that I was now an adult who made my decisions on my own without any inference of my adoptive parents. Or my biological, whoever or wherever they were.

Still, nothing ever hurt me as much as to know as none of them cared. Yet, in front of anyone else I could always pretend I didn't know how each and every one had given me up.

"There…" Cassie came back into the living room now taking a grilled- cheese sandwich and handing the last one to George. "…I'm sorry. I should have thought of making something more in this way earlier. But there's a late lunch. For dinner I think I'll try and make some soup for everyone…" She smiled, a bit silently and inwards while she looked towards Cammie and Remi who still sat on one of the couches still eating grilled cheese. "And I think I have some marshmallows and skewers so maybe we could try and make that for the evening. You could have each skewer, so if you promise me you won't burn yourselves on the marshmallows…

"MARSHMALLOWS!"

I could have heard Cammie's voice and shout from two streets away. But I had to say I liked marshmallows too,

Well, storm or not- I wouldn't mind staying where Charlie was…

Then she was right, as soon as the weather was better we'd be due to leave. But the thing was, I was in no rush

Well, for now I could hope that there would be some way for me to make everything, everything better for Charlie after everything she had been through.

Cameron POV

"I'm bored bored-bored-bored- boooored."

It felt like billionth day we were stuck here at Grey House, I wanted to go home! I wanted to go watch TV and play games on my computer.

And I wanted Elsa to ever be quiet. Grandpa had been holding onto her all day and nana was with Taylor upstairs and both I and Remi sat by the kitchen counter. So we had for hours!

Those hours felt like years, and Elsa carried on wining while grandpa carried her back and forth and back and forth.

I thought he really should have gone upstairs with her, not to have Elsa all fussy around all of the people here downstairs, where I and Remi were watching Cassie with a big kettle over the open fire. And Charlie and Jason sat so quietly…

But then, as soon as he'd left and this place was even near quiet he was back again, mumbling something about Taylor and he kept pacing back and forth because as soon as he sat Elsa started screaming.

"I've been trying to make a soup." Cassie suddenly interrupted me but I forced myself to frown as deeply as possible. Maybe if I did it as deeply as possible then someone would be listening to me. "I know we only had chicken soup the other day. But chicken soup in this cold is the best, and…." She put up soup in two bowls and handed them to myself and Remi, we were sitting by the kitchen counter. Then she looked a bit towards grandpa and Elsa. "I am old enough to know that. Should I hold on to the baby for a bit so you can eat?"

I was holding onto my new, stuffed Pluto that Grace had given me the other day- the girl who lived in this house, I now held Pluto so he almost had his nose down in the bowl I was supposed to eat the soup from.

"Soup is always yucky."

"You can't say something is yucky without even saying it. And stop putting your stuffed animal in your food…. And taste it!"

I knew that when grandpa spoke like that there was really nothing else to do than do as he told me. I glared back at him and waited until he had his concentration back towards Elsa before I held my breath and took a spoonful from the bowl. Then finally, with a grimace put it in my mouth.

It wasn't so bad actually…

It didn't take me as long to take one spoonful of soup. And I looked towards grandpa and looked as if I wasn't so sure. Then when grandpa had his back turned against me, he wouldn't notice that I actually liked it so I kept eating.

"Do you know what I think Cassie?"

It was when I had emptied my bowl when Cassie came back towards me. As if she had known I wanted to talk to her.

"No."

"I think you could come home to ours place every day and make food this good. Because this chicken soup is much better than the one nana makes."

"You wouldn't even taste the one nana made Cammie."

"Yes I did!"

"No you didn't."

"No you did not."

Stupid grandpa!

Why did he always have to be on the side of one of the girls' especially Remi's. I could always pretend that they were wrong. And I could always pretend I didn't like Cassie's soup neither like when I threw the spoon down into the bowl so hard and quick soup jumped out from the bowl and towards the sides. "You just said you liked it!"

"I… I… I…"

"You just said you liked it. I'm sorry. But it's a bit too long for me to go all way to come and book one dinner for everyone… It would be fun."

"MARSHMALLOWS!"

"I think that now dinner is done and everything. I have some marshmallows we can eat too for a barbeque."

Cassie was holding something behind her back. Now she held it forward…

"MARSHMALLOWS!"

It was for sure marshmallows. At least three bags of white, big marshmallows and skewers. I didn't even have to hesitate, Sarah came and helped me some to put a marshmallow on a skewer and then held it over the fireplace. But even as I did, I suddenly noticed Remi hadn't moved much and she looked so sad.

"Do you remember who really loves and loves grilled marshmallows?"

"MARSHMALLOWS!"

But all of a sudden, while I felt happy and wanted to try, then blew on the grilled marshmallow so I could eat it without burning myself I could remember one time we had grilled marshmallows by Halloween.

"Taylor… and nana."

And for just a moment it seemed the whole Grey House of this place was all quiet. It couldn't be, the storm was still outside roaring as loud as ever but I got a feeling there was something, or rather someone missing. For just a little while I listened and watched towards the stairs, it was like I could see in front of me how Taylor, or at least nana could come along here.

It just wasn't fair how Taylor was so sick she needed nana all the time. I wanted her too. She could make the best grilled marshmallows.

"What are you doing Remi?"

"Shut it Cammie. I'm trying to concentrate."

I had to watch Remi who had laid one grilled marshmallow in a bowl. Then I took some chocolate sauce and sprinklers and added it in the bowl.

Nana always liked anything and everything we made for her. Maybe she would like this too. Even though it didn't seem grandpa did much.

And so, at last there were some grilled marshmallows with chocolate sauce and sprinklers and a spoon. Nana would like it for certain!

"I do think she will like it for sure." I said, hoping that if I said it it would mean she did. Maybe nana could hear me. "I love marshmallows."

I wished even though I had almost whispered for once. I didn't even know if anyone had heard me at all.

"What did you say Cammie?"

Grandpa was still carrying Elsa back and forth, and around and around. And he didn't wait for me to answer before he looked down into the bowl I and Remi had made for nana while Cassie took it and put it on a tray.

"That did look a bit messy. But since it's for nana…" We watched as Cassie left the room and continued up the stairs. "But since it's for nana… I think she'll always love what you make."

"I SAID." I shouted and tried not to cry, now Cassie had disappeared towards Taylor and nana's room. "I LOVE MARSHMALLOWS"

Well… for now I could hope that nana would like that.

Alice POV

"I LOVE MARSHMALLOWS!"

It was at least the fifth time my only grandson yelled that so loud his voice sounded from the living room, up the stairs and down to the bottom of the hallway where I was with my oldest grandchild. My heart was breaking for her while she heaved over a bucket, tears were rolling down her cheeks and the heaves had gone painfully dry hours ago.

Every time I heard footsteps outside I was hoping it could be Dr. Radford who had an answer to this. Who would have an end to all of this heaving making her whole body tremble while it seemed even her dark- brown hair had gone pale white.

"Sch, sch, sch." I couldn't soothe myself much. But I could do some for Taylor- or try at least. "It's okay. You'll be okay."

Poor Taylor! She was barely ever ill. Barely ever had as much as a cold. But then, when she did get ill… well. We had ended up in the hospital more than once. After stomach flu's and mono when she couldn't stop vomiting. When she was little she had whooping cough so bad we- both I, William and her parents thought we were losing her…

Now, as I held her as much as I needed for her not to fall off of the bed. She had only tried to have a few sips of water during the past twenty four hours and yet it seemed her whole body was trying to get rid of something. That heaving had turned painfully dry. Taylor's whole body would tense with each one as she part whimpered in pain, part heaved and part hyperventilated. My husband couldn't stand anyone vomiting, not even on TV so I'd just accepted that I would have to stay with Taylor today. It wasn't that I minded! But anyone would be hurting from seeing a child sick- let alone your own grandchild.

"Sch, sch, sch…" For what felt like the thousandth time I rubbed circles, slowly towards her back while Taylor heaved over a bucket Dr. Radford had made sure we had, with tears rolling down her cheeks. "Try and take a deep breath, deep breaths…"

Earlier times Taylor had just glared at me- was I just stupid? Not getting that she was trying with every piece of her to get time to catch a breath? But she was so tired it didn't seem there was no energy left in her to do just that. And her whole body, from head to toe was shivering when she could finally catch a break, and still panting laid down.

Her cheeks were so swollen and wet. Her eyes were so wet and red. This wasn't the Taylor that everyone knew. The one filled of spunk, always happy and always moving. Never giving the chance to make her voice heard.

If there could only be a way for me to take all sick from her and deal with it myself so she could be healthy. Be with the others- grill marshmallows and drink chocolate milk, without it coming right back up again just like the ginger popsicles she hadn't even gotten the chance to swallow….

"Hello, you two." Everything had gone so quiet I jumped when there was a knock on our door. I gently pulled Taylor's arm away from me and tip-toed over the floor to find Cassie, who was holding onto a tray and right next to her was Dr. Radford who was holding onto a bag of his. "We thought that you might need something to eat without a worry. And Sam will look over your granddaughter some."

"I think she's asleep but… well, you're the doctor."

I really had thought Taylor was far gone into her dreams' world. But when Dr. Radford had come over to her she squeezed her eyes open just a little bit, and with him gently leading her she sat on the edge of the bed.

"I thought you might need something to eat." Cassie held up the tray she had brought, with tea and some sandwiches on the tray. "I can still only do so much since we don't have any electricity. But Cameron and Remi melted each three marshmallows. Put them in a small bowl, then added some chocolate sauce and sprinklers… I don't know for certain what to call it but they had fun making it!"

It looked quite interesting too, and not until then I did realize that I hadn't eaten since some time before Taylor had started getting sick- and that must be…

"Thank you so much."

"Nana…"

I was about to take the teacup from Cassie when I heard Taylor call out for me. She was with scared eyes looking at me, at Dr. Radford, back at me….

"Nana please."

Cassie took the cup again, it was like she could read my mind and I went to sit back down by Taylor. When I put my arm around her it was like holding something of burning fire.

"Do something!" I barely knew what I was doing but I begged the doctor. "Please. Anything."

"Here." I wasn't sure if the doctor even heard me. But he had pulled up new things from his bag and had a wooden tongue depressor in one hand and a flashlight in the other. "I just need to check those gag reflexes and look some into your throat. It won't hurt."

Oh, Taylor had gag reflexes alright?

I decided to not care about the doctor's job, but reached back for the bucket again since- as soon as Dr. Radford got anywhere near her mouth with his doctor's things Taylor was soon gagging again. Trying to grab the doctor's hands she was, and kick him away from her but didn't have the energy left for it and instead fell lax towards my chest and pushed her face into my shirt.

"It hurts nana." She whimpered. "Make it stop. It hurts."

I just glared at the doctor, as if it was his fault he had to do his job. And I could only imagine how much her throat hurt being so red and sore while she vomited.

"It's okay." I rubbed Taylor's back again and didn't care for what Cassie had brought now. "Don't try and talk. Just breathe… You'll feel better soon."

Well… I could hope that before we had to get out of here. I would have found a way to help her.

Random fact

Cameron's part was quite hard to write. It's hard to try and think of a way a toddler will think except "I love marshmallows" I hope I did okay.

Pictures of Jason's outfits (socks actually knitted by me) will be posted on my Instagram Linneagbfanfiction