Aaron stood saying, “I won’t take up more of your time. I just wanted to give you my number. If you need anything, you giveme a call. I’ll have someone help you or I’ll be there myself. My wife conveys the same message. Her number is on the back.”
I told him sincerely, “It’s an honor. I totally don’t know that you rarely give out your number.” Aaron laughed, “The honor is ours. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Melanie. I will quite literally never believe your personality changed ever again.”
I nodded, “It was an honor to meet you as well. I mean… I’m kind of meaner than I used to be so… I did change… whole personality? Well… I already went through a massive trauma and I’m still… me, with jagged edges.”
Aaron disagreed, “You’re not mean. You’re cautious with people but you are brutally honest. I heard you were that way before. The change is that you used to respect the title, deserved or not. From my observations you’ve somewhat adopted how the Hackura behave. You just have a hair pin trigger on disrespect where we give people leeway.” I replied, “Leeway is often a mistake… Iblis tells Bjourn that a lot… I mean… maybe he doesn’t.”
Aaron laughed, “Iblis does tell my brother in law that. I don’t mind your hair pin trigger because you pull it for people I probably would myself. Just know that I, as a former Commander, can easily help make an assignment if you need one.”
“Also, I’m retired and I have free time should someone need to die. I can easily wear black or check our own files for someone who is available. No one would bat an eye if we offed people we were already watching.”
With that he walked out of my office. Well… that was certainly a start to the day. Also, adding the former Commander of the Hackura Army… as a member or honorary Resistance member sounded fun. Freya snorted, “Are you going to talk to Keaton about that?” No… and odds were he wasn’t going to talkto me about it either… but now he could go out with me and be an actual member.
Freya snickered, “The current and former Commanders of the Hackura Army like you.” I replied, “Well, that stands to reason… Cayden’s dad would like me. They are similar, I provide good intel… and I did save his daughter.”
Freya snorted, “That’s not why he likes you. You are likable.” To some people, I guess. Maybe I’d just finally found my people. Or… just bad guys didn’t like me because I didn’t buy the way of life they were selling.
Freya agreed, “That’s absolutely part of their problem.” Yes well… I didn’t think a woman only had two uses. That way of thinking was archaic. I also didn’t believe men or women were wrong for who they loved… or what they loved to do. People had passions… and that was that.
I was surprised when my Grandma Esther came in next. I said, “Umm… grandma? Did you make an appointment to see me? That’s silly.” Grandma Esther laughed, “It’s not so silly. You’re a hard girl to pin down. Then again, you always were. You were always off doing something. Some camp or recital this, that, and the other.” She had a point.
Grandma Esther rubbed my hand saying, “You don’t need to shut anyone out because you are not the pup you were. You’re still our Ladybug and we love you. No one expects anyone not to change as they grow. It’s part of life.”
“Personally, I am glad you still ramble and talk out loud when you don’t mean to. I adore that I can see what you’re thinking on your face. I love that you never let anyone try to tell you to be someone else. You are still joyfully you. I don’t care if you slaughter every bad person in the world, you’ll always be my Ladybug.” Tears filled my eyes.
Freya said, “I like her and her wolf.” I did too… it was that way with my family. I didn’t just love them because they werefamily… I liked who they were as people too. Grandma Esther asked, “So what’s been going on with you? I want to hear all about it.” She did this when I was growing up.
I snorted, “I don’t know where to start.” Grandma Esther shrugged, “Wherever you want is always a good place.” I said, “I got married… which you know.” Grandma Esther smiled, “I do.” I sighed, “You also know about the Resistance stuff and…”
Grandma waved her hands, “The Resistance is something you do, Ladybug. Getting married to the love of your life is more like what I’m looking for. The Resistance can be part of your story, but that doesn't tell me how my grandpup is.”
I sighed, “I don’t know how to answer that. Everything is the same for you guys, but not for me. It feels weird. This is better than any version I had of how things would go for me being here. It’s nice but it just wasn’t in the many plans I had.”
Grandma Esther laughed, “Awww my Melanie Jane and her plans. I see that’s another piece of our problems as a family. I know that it is hard for you to mentally grasp when there’s a scenario you didn’t expect happening to you.”
“You did always have twenty different scenarios to the same situation running in your head. Even as a pup, you hated it when the outcome wasn’t something you’d thought of. Even if that outcome was good.” I sighed, “I’m happy with how things are….”
Grandma Esther interrupted, “You just don’t know how to plan out the rest of the story in your head.” I nodded. Grandma Esther advised, “Ladybug, you can’t plan your life away. Just enjoy the moments as they come. Keep your plans but let life surprise you again.”
“These last few years will end up being an anomaly of surprises being bad. I’ll make sure of that, don’t you worry. I hate what you went through, but I can’t say I’m not damn proud of the woman before me.”
I questioned, “Aren’t you upset with me?” Grandma Esther smiled, “About fighting in the Undergrounds and letting yourself get beaten up before you won? I don’t like that at all. If you so much as THINK about doing something like that again, you’ll not like my response.”
“I don’t like how to choose to deal with your pain, but it was not my pain to decide how to deal with it. It was yours. That was your choice. We do not punish ourselves for the decisions of others. You were influenced by those fake wedding rings you wore. We were under compulsions. Things happen and you don’t have to like them all. You do have to move on.”
I snorted, “You should give the rest of the family that advice, grandma. They are all blaming themselves. Especially dad. Jase and T are though too.” Grandma Esther said, “Yes, well I’ll be getting around to them. Along with your grandpa. You saved him, a lot.”
I nodded, “Of course I did.” Grandma Esther smiled, “You say that, but you are one of a kind. Plenty of people would’ve turned their backs on him thinking he had done the same. He’s losing his mind over this situation.”
“You were always close to your grandpa’s heart, all our hearts really. They tried to take away the heart of the McAlister’s, but they didn’t count on my sweet Ladybug. Your heart kept on going. No one will agree with all the decisions you make in life; however, there is no denying the wonderful woman you’ve become.”
“In the face of adversity you rose to the challenge, above it actually. You fought for the underdog. Hell, you were the underdog, and you were never meant to be one. You were meant for an easier life. Despite being dealt a bad hand, you never gave up. I’m damn proud of you.”
I smiled and got up out of my seat to give her a hug. Grandma Esther hugged me tightly asking, “Now, how’s life here?” Ilaughed, “It’s certainly different. I think Xander would like it if I slept more… but he doesn’t seem to understand I’m sleeping so much more now,…than I have been these last years.”
Grandma laughed, “There will be plenty of time for sleep. You will figure that out. It won’t be an overnight change. You used to sleep quite a bit.” I shrugged, “I don’t think I need to now… it’s been a whole thing…but I didn’t sleep as much as you guys think I did either.”
Grandma touched my face, “I’m sure you’re right. You will find the balance. You always find a way for everything you want to happen. When you put your mind to something, nothing and no one can stop you.” I kissed her cheek, “Thanks for teaching me how to shoot.”
