Chapter Thirty-Six
Gemma finished dressing in black slacks, thick socks, and a wonderfully warm yellow sweater before heading out to face the day. Jethro had left the bed before she’d awakened, much later than usual. They didn’t have to be to the university for the staff meeting until eleven, so perhaps he’d figured they should just sleep late. Right now, after the superb sex and excellent night’s rest, she could easily see the wisdom in that plan.
She walked out to find Trudy in the center of the sofa, covered in her green blanket. Ian sat on her left and Oliver on her right, both covered in blankets, their legs stretched out on the ottomans.
“Morning,” Ian said, reaching over to dump yellow star marshmallows from his bowl into Trudy’s.
Trudy grinned. “Hi, Mama.” She dutifully plucked the purple half-moons out of her bowl and put them into Ian’s.
“Cool,” Ian said, munchingon his cereal.
Gemma’s heart just turned over. “Don’t you all want milk in your cereal?”
Oliver shook his head and handed over his yellow stars. “Then we couldn’t trade. It’d be messy.” The mottled bruises along his jaw had turned a brighter yellow thanthe day before.
Life hadgotten bizarre.
Gemma glanced at her watch. “Trudy? How about we go get dressed for the day?”
“Okay.” Trudy puffed up her cheeks. “Today is reading day so we get this week’s goodies tomorrow.” She patted Oliver’s hand. “It’s every week and different yummies each week. I’ll bring my home tomorrow to give you some. It’s good candy.”
Gemma winced. “You’re staying here today, honey. I already called Barb and said you wouldn’t be in this week.” As her daughter scrunched up her face to protest, she held out a hand. “Barb said she’d leave this week’s candy and goodie bag in my office for you, and you can earn it today by reading to me and eat it tomorrow when your friends eat theirs at school.” A routine was crucial for them all.
Trudy grinned and snuggled back down between the twins. “Cool. I’ll share.”
“You bet you’ll share,” Ian said, his gaze on the television.“I like candy.”
Movement sounded from the other side of the kitchen right before Jethro came in through the mudroom with Wolfe and Dana on his heels. Dana was dressed in a thick green sweater and Wolfe had a coat tossed over his shoulder. He removed the coat to reveal a white cat with a mangled ear perched on his shoulder. A closer examination showed that the cat had one green eye and one blue one. His good ear twitched as he surveyed the room.
Oliver cocked his head. “Wolfe? Why do you have a cat onyour shoulder?”
Wolfe gingerly placed the cat on the floor, where the animal stretched. “He doesn’t fit in my pocket any longer.”
Gemma almost laughed and then realized the man was serious. Hmm. Okay.
Jethro moved her way and kissed the top of her head. In front of everyone. Trudy’s smile extended from ear to ear and revealed a full mouth of marshmallow cereal.
Gemma’s face heated. “You eat all of the cereal and not just the marshmallows, young lady.”
Dana leaned down and scratched the cat’s ears before straightening and heading right for the coffeepot. “I thought I’d write my current article from your breakfast nook and keep an eye on the injured as well as Trudy. Plus, I thought we could color some new coloringbooks I found.”
Gemma inhaled. Everyone had put their lives on hold to help her.She swallowed.
Jethro tugged her into his side with one arm. “Get used to it,” he whispered, turning to kiss her temple.
Gemma looked around. “Where’s Roscoe?”
Jethro angled to look out the front window. “He’s outside, but I’m sure he’ll be scratching on the door at any moment.”
Was this what family really felt like? Gemma liked it, and apparentlyTrudy loved it.
Jethro’s phone buzzed, and he read from the screen. “It’s Brigid. She was up all night but managed to show that the videos of me carrying dead bodies and bombing my apartment were doctored. Unfortunately, she can’t prove that it was Fletcher actually doing the deeds.”
Well, that was something. Gemma smiled. “I assume she sent the proof to thefolks at HDD?”
“Yes,” Jethro said.
Relief even tasted good. Gemma leaned against Jethro’s solid body. So at least the government would know that Jethro wasn’t a killer. That had to give him a moment to breathe. “It’s too bad Fletcher was able to hide himself from the cameras.”
