Page 23 of Blissful Vixen

EMBERLYNN

I’d gone shopping while Hardison was in his sessions today. He was distant, and I feared he’d changed his mind about us. I hoped he hadn’t since it was the opposite of what I wanted.

I decided to go to the spiritual and holistic store nearby. Inside, I walked to the healer, who suggested calming stones, burning sage, and infused crystals to offer protective energy. I didn’t expect her to have jewelry, but she suggested a jade and celestite bracelet. When she brought it to me, it felt right, and I could imagine it on Hardison’s wrist.

“I have matching earrings,” Josephine, the healer, said before disappearing into the back.

I’d already spent more than my budget, but because Hardison hadn’t allowed me to pay for anything, I still had money in the bank I was supposed to use while I was there. Depending on how much the earrings were, maybe I could afford them.

“Try these,” She instructed as she approached.

“I—” I stopped when I saw how beautiful they were.

I took off my silver hoops and put on the earrings she’d shown me. When I had them on, she put on a smaller bracelet that matched.

“One hundred sixteen dollars and twenty-three cents.” She smiled up at me.

There was no way all this stuff was just a hundred bucks.

“Was there a sale?” I asked as I removed everything in case she needed to ring them up.

“No. I was inspired by the story you were telling me. I really hope that your boyfriend finds peace. Plus, I’m a sucker for a man in a military uniform. The fact that he was injured on duty and suffers because of his dedication, I find that more than honorable. I’m thanking you for his service. You’re sacrificing, too. You’re helping him through combat PTSD and healing him with your love. I’m grateful for you, and I know he is too.”

She wrapped everything up, including some tea to help him with his anxiety. I noticed there were more boxes than I’d asked for and a few other packages I didn’t remember picking out. It was too much.

“Josephine, I can’t take all this.” I wiped the tear that broke free.

“As women, who are we if we don’t lift one another up? By helping you, I help him. And I want you both to heal. I know you’ve got your own trauma, and you should know that the past should stay there. He doesn’t deserve your daily gifts of being part of your present.” She swiped the card I’d pulled out. “Tomorrow is Christmas, and you’ve got everything you need. You feel it, and so does he. Don’t let the trauma keep you from getting what you both deserve. Emberlynn, be brave. Own what’s already yours, sweetheart.”

I hugged her, and she rubbed my back. “Merry Christmas, honey.”

“Thank you.” I wiped my eyes and tried to make myself decent before I walked out. “Really, thank you so much for everything. Merry Christmas.”

“You’re very welcome.”

When I walked out, I felt the crisp winds along my face offering me a strength I lacked when I first arrived. Hardison was worth the leap. He was just afraid. Hell, so was I.

My phone rang, and Tia’s face was on the screen. I answered the call smiling. “Hey, best friend.”

“Merry Christmas, friend!” She smiled big. “Guess what?”

“What?” Because there was no way that I’d know.

“I’m here.” She smiled.

“Wait, what?” I squinted at her background, recognizing the lobby of Fitzpatrick Place.

“When we talked, you seemed sad, so I came to raise your spirit.”

“I don’t know if he’d mind…” Torn between wanting to see my best friend and not knowing if Hardison could handle it, I didn’t know what to do.

“I found an empty unit on a rental site. There’s a woman who is renting out the second room in her unit.”

“What floor?”

“Unit D4?”

“That’s down the hall. Wait… I think that’s the woman from Love Catered.”

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