Theodore (Xavier's Hatchlings #2) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,42

livelihood, that you’d not be there in time to make sure she was treated. I told Pem that you were going to be volunteering with the suicide hotline. She does as well three nights a week.” Austin told him he might learn a thing or two himself. “I don’t doubt that one bit. Even Pem said she was dealing with her depression a lot less than she had been since she’s been working the phones.”

Pem was waiting at the end of the ramp for them. MaryBeth was there as well, but he only wanted his mate. Grabbing her up when she leapt into his arms, she kissed him all over his face until she’d had enough. Looking over at her uncle, she grinned at him then told him that she’d missed Theo.

“I can see that.” They all looked toward where MaryBeth was still standing. “Is she upset that I’m here?”

“No. She’s not sure how she feels about you living here, but she is willing to meet you halfway. I think you should understand that she’s also afraid you’ll get into her heart again then leave. I don’t know that she can take that a second time, Uncle Austin.” He told Pem that he wanted this to work as well. “Then I suggest you take the first step toward that and go hug your mom. She needs it too.”

Theo set Pem down on the floor, and they walked hand in hand toward Austin and his mom. They were talking quietly, which Theo thought was the best way for the two of them to start off. As soon as Austin wrapped his arms around his mom and started crying, he hoped it was good news.

“Mom and I are going to work on this. I can’t tell you how happy I am about that.” Pem told him it was showing. “I hope so. We have a lot of years to make up for. A great many more hurts, but I’m going to do everything I can so that Mom and I can be together.”

“Good.” Grandma hugged Pem, then him. “I’m so glad you helped him out, Theo. You’re a good man and a better grandson-in-law than a woman could ask for.”

“I’m hoping to get lucky later.” MaryBeth smacked him on his chest as she moved toward the outdoors to the little airport. “I’ve had some people meet the plane at the tarmac, and they’re going to bring the things that we brought back with us to the warehouse. Austin is going to be staying with us until the sale of his house. Then he’s going to be looking for a place of his own unless he finds himself an apartment. He’s going to be looking for a job as well.”

“I’ve not had a job in a long time. I mean, other than just calling in my orders for the day at the business I was supposed to be running. I’m actually kind of looking forward to it. I’d like a job where I can be around people.” Pem was telling him about the waitstaff job that was opening up in the local pizza shop. “Really? I might apply for that. I really do want to work around the public. It might not be such a good idea right now, not with everyone still hurting from what happened, but I’m willing to do it.”

“I can talk to the owner for you. I know her from some of the meetings I’m working on for the new hospital and the staffing there. When we begin to hire there, we’re going to be hiring several hundred people before it’s up and running completely.”

Theo was glad that Pem had gotten some advice from his mom when she’d been there for the funeral. She’d told Pem that there was all kinds of work that needed to be done behind the scenes. Mom had even given her a list of things that she could startup with the help of Rachel. Not busy work, but things that would help the community as a whole.

It’s what he and his brothers had been doing since they got there, working small to work up to the larger things that the town and its people needed. Even when he’d not been home for the last few days, Theo had managed to set up someone to go to all the empty building just off the main street and see which ones could be used after a thorough clean up, as opposed to which would need a