26
XANDER
The gala is super classy, all black and white. Reminds me of how CFD used to be when we had the black and white tiled floor—before Jesse went all Papa Bear and had carpet put in with about two inches of foam padding. Just in case one of the kids fell. At first I thought he was overdoing it. Then they started to walk—the K-Quads, and that changed everything.
We find our table and somehow, they managed to squeeze all eleven of us onto one table. Sera and Cage, Lucy and Jesse, Tera and me, Ben and Nicole, Kennedy, Ethan, and Linc.
Tera and Lucy coo about the dim lighting with the white fairy lights that surround the edges of the room.
“It’s so romantic,” Lucy adds.
“I’m proud to be here tonight,” I say out loud. “Sponsoring such a great charity, something that hits close to home—well, it’s a good choice.”
I think of Nicole and Linc as well. Both suffered from leukemia and both needed financial help to get them through. Organizations like St. Jude’s Children’s Network are ones I support and donate to on a regular basis.
"What's on your mind, Fee?" Cage asks.
Sera looks up at him. "It pisses me off that there isn't a cure."
He nods.
"If only they didn't have to go through what they do. If only it were as simple to cure as the common cold," Sera murmurs, a tear slipping free.
Cage reaches up and wipes it away with his thumb. "Fee."
I look away, their conversation a private one, an intimate one I don’t want to intrude on.
“I don’t think you all know, but Nicole’s not the only one who battled the big C,” I begin. “Linc had a brief battle with leukemia as well. It wasn’t pretty, but he kicked its ass just like you did, Coley.”
Nicole smiles. “I’m so glad you did, Linc.”
“Ditto. Some day we can share war stories,” Linc replies.
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
Dinner is served.
Jesse bites into his lamb and I note Sera watching him.
"Baaaaah,” Sera voices.
He looks up, brows furrowed.
"Baaaaah." She does it again, and I’m trying hard not to laugh. I nudge Tera with my elbow and she snickers.
Jesse raises one of his brows as he chews thoughtfully.
"Mary's missing her little lamb," I say and Sera nods.
"Totally is because Jesse's eating it! Baaaaah!" Sera adds.
"What about you over there? You're eating Nemo. Or maybe it's Dori. Maybe it's Nemo's dad?" Jesse mocks.
"Whoever it was should have just kept swimming and they wouldn't be on my plate," Sera snarks and we all crack up.
"And Mary should have taken the key and locked her up and the lamb wouldn't be on my plate," Jesse retorts.
Sera shakes her head and snickers. "That's London Bridge, but I'll give it to you. Well done, brother-in-law. Well done.”
