Page 7 of Shielding Maya

"I do. But, she gives it right back."

Maya looked into her Uncle Josh's eyes and he winked at her as he stepped toward Myles. They hugged, a bit longer than usual, and Maya grinned. Myles needed to see Mama and Papa too. She'd call her mom as soon as she had a moment.

When Uncle Josh released Myles from his hug, he slid over to put an arm around Aunt Isi, as he usually did when she was near. Their love was inspiring.

Adelaide and Rafe stepped from the office next, Addy's cheeks were pink, so were the tips of Rafe's ears. The conversation in that office likely got pointed with Uncle Josh making sure Rafe understood what would happen to him if he hurt Addy.

Addy's eyes locked on hers and they held for a few moments. Maya raised her brows and tilted her head in silent invitation to have a chat, but Addy shook her head once then looked away. Maya would catch her later.

Uncle Josh looked toward Addy and nodded. "My little one is going to be a wife. I can't believe this day is here."

Addy's brows furrowed. "Thanks." Her shoulders shrugged. "I'm not so long in the tooth that it was unlikely to ever happen."

Uncle Josh laughed. "I didn't mean that sweetheart. I meant, the time flew by far too fast for my liking."

Aunt Isi leaned toward Addy and took her left hand in hers. "Come, let's sit and have a nice chat with all of us. Jax and Dodge will want to know everything and we all know I'll be grilled until I spill every tiny detail."

Maya laughed. She was right about that. Her mama was fierce, determined, and loved her children with everything she had.

5

Jasiah exited his cabin near the east edge of the mountain. He got the best sunrises here, and he enjoyed every one of them. Usually with a warm cup of tea, but he'd been introduced recently to coffee, at some meetings in Glen Hollow, and he rather enjoyed that. Someone told him he'd need to get a coffee maker, now that they had electricity and water up here. That was on his list of things to do. One of these days.

He strode toward his parents’ cabin, across the common area from his. They enjoyed the sunsets on that side of the mountain. The thought made him simultaneously smile and feel awful. Inhaling a deep breath, he held it until his lungs burned. He hadn't been called during the night, so that meant his father was still alive, but for how long, was anyone's guess.

He stepped onto his parents' front porch and knocked softly with the knuckle of his forefinger. Without waiting for permission, he turned the handle and eased the door open. His mom stood at the newly installed kitchen sink as the water spilled from the faucet.

He grinned watching the wonder on her face. She turned to him. "I just can't get over this. Water comes right from this faucet. Just move this handle and water comes out. I don't know how many times I've done this."

"Yes. Amazing isn't it?"

She turned the faucet off and lifted the pan she'd filled to the stove. "Do you want some tea Jasiah?"

"If it isn't any trouble, mama."

"It's no trouble. I was hoping to get your father to drink some of it. Maybe we can get him to sit and drink."

"That sounds good. I'll go see if I can help him up."

When he moved past his mom, her hand grazed his arm and squeezed. His eyes focused on his father's prone form. He'd lost so much weight there was barely a wrinkle in the covers. The heaviness in his chest as he watched the shallow breathing threatened to consume him.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he picked up his father's bony hand. "Morning, Dad."

He squeezed his father's hand gently, hoping to wake him, scared he wouldn't.

Taking in the thin hair on the top of his dad's head, which once had been a dark blonde or light brown, depending on how the sun shone on it. Now, it had lost all its color and fullness.

"Dad. Mama’s making some tea for us to enjoy."

His dad's eyes fluttered opened. Their color had also faded, even more overnight. The light which signaled life, was fading away minute by minute.

The blank stare from his father made his heart twist. "Daddy." His voice cracked. He swallowed and sucked in some breaths. He closed his eyes for a moment and willed the moisture to dry. He needed to be strong for his mom. This would be harder on her than him. Though it was hard to imagine anyone would feel Gerard Weston's loss more than his son. They'd been inseparable most of Jasiah's life. Only during school hours were they apart. And, after he'd moved to his own cabin a few years ago, it was usually only in the evenings they were apart.

His father squeezed his hand and Jasiah opened his eyes and stared. "Dad. Can I help you sit up?"

His father moved his head side to side. "No," he whispered.

"You need to eat something."

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