Blaze of Glory - Liberty Parker Page 0,32

stumbling over my words.

I hope she’s able to accept this for her mother. Her mother has sacrificed everything for her growing up. She never, not once, went on a date, not wanting to tarnish her late husband’s memory where her daughter was concerned. She wanted Maritsa to understand that Calvin was the love of her life and something of that magnitude, a love as pure as the one they shared once upon a time; isn’t to be taken lightly.

“I’m so happy for her,” she whispers quietly, and if I hadn’t been the shifter that I am, with extended, supernatural hearing capabilities; I would’ve completely missed what she said.

Glory

My eyes bounce back and forth between Echo and Maritsa and Angela and Jake. I knew there was a reason I felt so connected to this mother and daughter duo. It’s because they’re meant to be one of us, it’s that magical string that pulls us to one another. I may not have understood our link to one another in the beginning, but it’s all loud and clear for me now. I’ve witnessed many unions in my lifetime, but none that were so intimately connected to me.

I feel as if the universe pulled us together so that I could be here for the two of them now during this life’s transition. I’ll be able to answer all of their questions where it pertains to shifters and what they can expect their life to become. Many things will be changing for the two of them.

Their sight will sharpen, as well as their hearing. They’ll be much stronger than the average human, things they’ve struggled with before, will be as easy as snapping their fingers together.

“Shall we eat?” I ask, breaking the tension in the room. Angela’s head whips in my direction before mimicking a bobblehead.

“Yeah,” she stammers out, taking a quick look up in Jake’s direction before sliding around him.

Around the dining room table, everyone’s mouths are busy eating, no one says a word as we consume the food. Once everyone is full, I help Angela clear the table and take care of the dishes.

“There’s something you’re not telling me, isn’t there, Glory?” she asks me as she dries a plate.

“There is, but wait until we’re done and we’ll all sit down to chat,” I attempt to dismiss the conversation. Not wanting to be alone while the cat is let out of the bag… no pun intended.

I hand her the last glass, and as she finishes drying it, she gives me a side glance before heading off toward the living room. I sigh with dread, not sure if it’s because I’m fearful of the way she’ll take the news, or worried that she’ll try to run off in the dead of the night.

Not that Jake nor Echo will make that easy on her. I have a feeling they’ll both be camping outside of her home tonight… and many nights to come until she fully accepts them into her life. But who knows, she may surprise me. Stranger things have happened. It’s the fear of the unknown that has me all boggled up inside.

I’m still standing there in front of the sink when Blaze comes strolling in. “We can’t put this off forever, Glory. Come on,” he imparts as he sticks his hand out for me.

“We can try,” I mumble underneath my breath. “Can’t Jake just change her so she doesn’t have a choice?” I hopefully ask, because that would be much easier on me in the long run.

“And take away her free will? That’s not the way things work and you know it, Glory.” Why does he have to go and be all sensible and shit?

“I suppose,” I once again sigh, wanting to drag my feet for as long as he’ll allow me to.

“I’ve got you, Glory.”

I snap my shoulders into an upright position before we make our way in, joining the others. I need to be strong for my friend, not the coward I’m currently being. This is about her at the end of the day, not me.

Glory

“All right, we’ve eaten and stalled, now someone start talking,” Angela says, taking the lead. Jake is hovering at her side; I can feel fear in waves as he suddenly acts as if he’s got a dry mouth. Shouldn’t he be the one leading this conversation? I would think that’d be the case since things have flipped and it’s he who needs to gather the courage and explain this shit to his future mate.

Am I right?