Page 31 of Always You (Guardian Hall #1)
JAZZ
It was Christmas Eve, a night draped in the soft glow of fairy lights lining the windows of Guardian Hall. The gentle fall of snow muffled the world outside, and Alex and I sat together.
We were spending time together before Alex headed down to cover the night shift. We were subdued because while our Christmas Eve was warm and settled, many veterans were out there in the frigid Chicago night, unable to take that first step toward Guardian Hall. We'd been out all day, handing out flyers, cards, donations where we could, food bundles, heavy coats, and blankets.
I hoped at least one veteran I'd spoken to would make their way here.
Alex handed me a wrapped gift with a nervous smile, his eyes bright with anticipation. “I know it might be too soon, but I want you to have this,” he said, his voice a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
I carefully unwrapped the gift to reveal a set of detailed plans. They were architectural drawings for converting his room, which shared space with the room next door and some room in the eaves, into a living area.
“For us, if you want to stay,” he murmured when I was quiet, and he sounded cautious. “This wouldn't even start until next summer,” Alex hurried to explain, watching my reaction closely. “You keep your room for now, and we'll see how things go at the shelter, and?—”
I kissed him, cutting off his rush of words. “It's not too quick,” I assured him once our mouths parted. We'd been together for eight weeks, but every day had only deepened my certainty about who we were to each other.
Everything.
Rascal leaped from my dresser to the bed and curled in my lap. He was the official Guardian Hall cat. Barnaby-Blue was the official Guardian Hall guard dog. Although he was eleven, and he was happier to sleep than guard anything. They were both in my care, and both were, unofficially, therapy animals. They spent most of their time in the large lounge downstairs.
They weren't exactly friends but were happy to live alongside each other.
I passed Alex my gift. He'd been asking me what I wanted to do next, and up until I submitted an application a week back and was offered a place, I wasn't sure what my gift for Alex would be. I had funding available for college and other resources to which I was entitled, and the printed acceptance was the next step. It was everything he wanted for me—hope.
He unfolded the paper, and I waited for him to read the evidence of how I was making sense of where I fit into my post-military world.
“I want to enroll in courses to become a veterinary technician,” I said when he remained silent. The idea of working with animals and building on the experience I'd gained at the shelter felt like the right choice.
“A veterinary technician,” he repeated.
“Yeah, I'd need to complete an associate's degree in veterinary technology, with all the hands-on training at the shelter if I can, and a ton of coursework, and it will be a few years of work or more if I take my time. What do you think?”
Alex's face lit up. “That’s perfect, Jazz.”
He kissed me.
I kissed him.
Always you.
At 2 a.m., there was a knock at the front door of Guardian Hall.
I stayed back and hid myself from view, peeking around the corner as Alex welcomed someone in.
A man, bundled in layers to keep warm, overwhelmed, staring, terrified, and in his arms, a baby.
Desperate.
Hopeful.
Somehow, through the horrific snow and painful ice, Corporal Morgan Armitage had taken the card we'd given him and made his way to Guardian Hall with his daughter.
And so, it started again.
THE END