Page 13 of Frozen Flames

I laugh. “Yes, way more.”

“Well, I’m sure he’ll come around,” she says, sitting down. “Give it time.”

“I know.”

I drink the hot liquid, watching my mom do the same with such calm. I wonder sometimes what she saw in my dad or how she birthed my sister, since they represent powerful storms.

But perhaps that’s what they don’t tell you—that there’s power in serenity, that calmness is a pure state of mind, a powerful state of nature. In the heat of chaos, calmness can be the hardest thing to master, yet here she is, my beautiful mama, the epitome of it in my eyes.

“Sometimes even a decade in school can’t prepare you for the real world,” my mom adds. “You won’t learn until you’re out there, on your own. Once you do it, though, it’ll be easier.”

“Yes, you’re probably right.”

She winks at me, her acrylic fingertips tapping my hand. And that’s all the pep talk I need.

Claire

Today’s a beautiful, sunny Thursday in January. It snowed last night, and the trees looked mesmerizing on my way to work this morning.

“So he’s doing okay during the day?” Gemma asks me, dressed in a nice burgundy pencil skirt and cream blouse.

Why doesn’t she simply ask him?

I mean, I feel like a part of me knows why she doesn’t. When I see them together in the morning before Gemma leaves for work, I can sense the tension between them.

He barely responded to her earlier when I heard them talking in his room shortly after I got here. I wonder if they’re fighting about her new job and if that’s why Harvey’s mood has been up and down.

“Yes.” I nod. “He is.” I don’t tell her that her boyfriend can be a pain in the ass. Instead, I smile sweetly, knowing she at least wants me here more than he does.

“Okay.” Her lip twitches, and she exhales loud enough for me to catch it. She stares at his bedroom door, pushing a strand of amber hair behind her ear.

She’s stunning. There’s no other way to put it. There’s also a serene, mysterious appeal to her. I find her genuine.

But by God, does she ask questions.

Harvey’s parents may be covering my pay, yet she’s asking all the questions. Some of them make sense. Some of them are pushy.

I mean, it’s clear to me as a nurse that Harvey could very well be at home independently every day. But it’s not my place to question their motives.

I leave Gemma be and head to their living room, placing the floor mats all over before setting up the parallel bars.

“I’m off to work,” she says eventually.

“Okay. Have a nice day!” She smiles back at me. It’s impossible not to notice how much weight she’s lost since I started working here. I told her so recently, though now I feel bad—it’s none of my business.

I might start bringing food over to make for myself and Harvey. I’ll keep the leftovers for her, in case she’s hungry. I’m sure she’ll settle into her job soon and realize that Harvey’s doing well.

My stomach starts growling, so I set off to make eggs, toast, and bacon for us. Gemma insisted that I can help myself to anything to eat, not that I’ll continue doing so. But Harvey must be fed. It’s rule number one that I learned with my dad and Audrey.

Food comes first. If not,beware.

This will energize Harvey and give him fuel for the rest of the day.

Once I’m done prepping and setting the food out on the table, I knock on his bedroom door and peek my head inside, not wanting to intrude on whatever he’s doing.

He’s playing the same video game, and it beats me how people can stand gaming. Audrey seemed addicted toFortnitegrowing up, but she’s over it now, thank God.

“I made breakfast. Come eat, then we can start training.”

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