"So you are a ..." Nathan's words trailed off when Billy leaned just a little closer.
"What was that?" he asked.
"Just kidding around," Nathan said, his voice just a little higher than it had been before.
Which was when I realized that Billy's other hand was out of sight, shielded from view by both his body and the table. From as straight as the guy was sitting, I had a funny feeling that I knew where it had gone. Either he was gripping or pointing something right at Nathan's balls.
"Good joke," Billy promised. "I think you can improve, though."
"And you," Ash said, "need to come sit down. What part of a relaxing dinner didn't you understand, Billy?"
"The part where you went to jail, Ash," Billy replied as he stood back up and returned like nothing at all had happened. "So, I hear the food here is pretty good. Think we should make this a regular thing? Haven't had this much fun since I got back to Texas."
I just shook my head and chuckled. "We need to talk about your definition of fun, Blaze. Maybe next time you can just let me take you riding on a horse, hm?"
"Won't say no to that either," Billy agreed right as our food began to show up. "So, sounds like we have the first lingerie party. What's next?"
"Next?" Zeke asked.
Faith leaned over the table. "Yeah, Southwind is going to start mingling. We're going to convince people that just because we live in that big, fancy house, it doesn't mean we're all jerks. Well, Billy is, but he's kinda cool too."
"Only to you," Billy promised. "Always wanted another little sister."
"Eww," Faith told him. "No. Violet cannot be my stepmomandmy sister. I have to be your niece, I think. I mean, you are my Uncle Billy."
"She has a point," I said. "Unless you're trying to chase me away from Violet?"
"Nope," Billy said. "Not at all. But you'd better invite me if there's a wedding. I will never forgive you if you don't."
This time I was the one smiling. "I'm also not scared of you, Blaze. Not anymore."
"Good man," he said softly. "I think you've just figured out exactly how this works."
Chapter Twenty-Three
The rest of the dinner was actually nice. Yes, Ash tried to annoy the idiots beside us a little. He leaned over to kiss me. He made a production of holding my hand, grabbing my arm as we talked, and other gestures that I adored. The jerks at the next table may have started it, but none of them were brave enough to say a thing. Not after Billy had made his point.
Zeke noticed. So many times, I'd said that we needed to pick a fight, and he was the reason why. Not him specifically, but all of the kids out there who thought they were alone. It didn't really matter if it was their sexuality, their religion, their race, or just the fact that they weren't like other people. Being true to ourselves was the first step to succeeding. Then again, maybe that was why so many people didn't want us to do it. Plenty of people out there enjoyed seeing others fail.
Slowly but surely, Emily began to warm up. She had no problem talking to either Violet or Cessily. She seemed comfortable with both me and Luke, but Ash was a little more intimidating. With either Darnell or Billy, the poor lady suddenly turned shy. Then again, she didn't really know either one. Not well. She was still willing to try.
Violet's decision to hire her for Southwind may have been a little impulsive, but I completely approved. The woman had that caring nature that we had all needed as kids. She was willing to work hard, and I didn't think she was a pushover, but she also wasn't threatening. That would be useful with the new kids. Fresh out of jail, all of their instincts would say to challenge anyone in a position of authority, but there wasn't much about Emily to challenge - except that she was nice.
When we finally called it a night, there were no problems on the way back out to our vehicles. Ash and Billy went out of their way to walk Emily and Zeke to their car, but there was no one else in the parking lot. Yes, we were being a little paranoid, but that was okay. When it came to the kids, I would rather be paranoid than remorseful.
The next day was more of the same, to get into a regular routine at Southwind. Every morning, we made sure that Faith got off to school without a problem, then dove into the daily tasks. For me, it was the cottage. Darnell said it usually took about a week to get a background check completed. We were right at that point, and I couldn't imagine a reason for Emily to fail. That meant we needed to have her new home ready.
Luke and Darnell had made quick work of installing the smoke detectors. Now, they were working on removing the outdated appliances in the mess hall. Cessily was up in the guest suite, working on the cases that she had been putting off. Thankfully, most of them were corporate contracts and involved things like contracts and tax codes. In other words, the sort of thing that wasn't exactly time-sensitive. I knew Violet was still working on securing the last of our contractors, but when I'd left the house, Billy had been in her office talking about something.
I had been tasked with going through the boxes that had been left behind in the cottage. It was always possible that Vera or Bea had tucked something in here long before they passed away. Instead, all I found was junk, junk, and more junk. Anything that looked like it might be able to be repurposed went against one wall. Most of it, however, was moved to a pile near the door so we could throw it away when the dumpster arrived.
I'd just set down another box when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. Half expecting a text from Luke telling me to come add some muscle, I pulled it out and swiped at the screen - but that was the notice for the gate. I glanced at the time and I saw it was ten minutes until noon, which meant we weren't expecting anyone yet. Still, I opened the app that would let me see through the camera and tapped the button for the microphone.
"Can I help you?" I asked.
"Fire marshal here to do an inspection of the property," the man said.
"Mr. Armstrong," I greeted him. "Come on in, and park wherever is convenient. I'm already down at the cabins, so see you when you get here."
