Page 2 of Starting Over
Sighing once more, Jude replied, “I know, Bren. I just need some time. I can’t think when they’re around me. I need time to just think… to come to terms with not making that part of me… that dream I’ve always had come to fruition. I just… I need time.”
“Jude, they never said they didn’t want kids, they just want to wait. Taj, Spirit and I talked about it and we want to wait. We want to enjoy each other longer before starting our own family. Maybe that’s all your mates want?” Rylee said.
Jude shook his head even though his friends couldn’t see him on the phone, saying, “No. You didn’t see their face every time I brought it up. It was like I asked them to pick up dragon shit or something. No, they don’t want them, Ry. I… I don’t know why and they don’t seem fit to tell me, so I don’t have anything to go on… no way to process any of it. You know just like I do. We can’t change other people, we can only change ourselves. I just need to think about how I can do this. I’ll figure it out. I know I will.”
“We know you will too, Jude. Although, I’m with Ry that you should talk to them. Trust me, you taking off like you did has really opened their eyes. I honestly believe they’ll be willing to talk it out now,” Bren said.
Jude’s voice tightened and Rain could tell the man was pissed. “Yeah, well it shouldn’t have had to come to this to begin with. They made their bed and they can damn well lie in it.”
A loud sigh was heard on the other end of the line, then Bren said, “Just keep in contact with us. Things are kind of crazy with the move and all. Courtney and Darbin signed the papers and is now the new owner of our building in the Poconos Boulevard.Darbin said to let you know that he appreciates you contacting your patients and transferring them to him. It all went smoothly. He’s kind of excited owning his own practice. I also saw how he was looking at Courtney, and since she is taking over my vet practice… well, let’s just say I won’t be shocked if we get a wedding invitation one day.”
Jude laughed, although it didn’t sound exactly right, and the scent of pain was still coming off so strong from the man, Rain had to figure that he was doing his best to sound okay, but really wasn’t… poor guy.
“Oh, and you should have seen Darwin when Axl finished his last day. He held a huge going away party and the huge guy cried like a baby, held onto Axl, begging him not to go. I’m not quite sure if it was because he was one of his best employees of Beer and Brats or if it’s because he looks at our Axl like a son. Either way, it was kind of sad,” Bren said.
“Darwin has been like a father to Axl for years. I have a feeling it’s like a parent watching their child leave the nest for the first time. I’m sure Axl let him know that he’d come and visit,” Jude said.
“He did,” Bren answered.
Jude turned on his signal as he slowed the car down, asking, “What about Lex? Did he get the transfer he requested or is he going to have to quit?”
“He got the transfer, and TJ got a friend of his to take over for his patients and although he doesn’t really like the idea of starting over, he’s also really excited by the new plants he’s going to get access to in Montana. Stone is still going to do what he does, but then again being our lesion allows him to work from anywhereand Orion said he’d take him to any important meetings he might need to attend.”
Jude laughed once more, this one more sincere then the last, as he said, “Ah, the Orion Express. Gotta love it.”
“Well, it isn’t like we can’t fly and with as fast as our maharishi go it isn’t like it would be more than a couple of hours,” Bren said.
“True,” Jude said.
“I still don’t know why you guys didn’t just do that instead of selling your business,” Rylee muttered.
Bren quickly answered, “We sold it because we won’t ask our maharishi to extend themselves like that, and besides, it would defeat the entire reason for our leaving Drago to begin with.”
“How are Ingray and his brothers settling in?” Jude asked.
“They seem to be doing well, but Rusty took Ingray and his brothers to the new place to start setting up the fire house,” Bren answered.
Sighing, Rylee said, “Pit was going to have Nolan look into who to help with the new policing team he wants to create for Drago, but since we’re moving, a meeting was held and we all decided it would be best to wait for the move and then put it together.”
“So, Pit still thinks it’s necessary?” Jude asked.
Bren let out his own sigh, “Sadly, yes. We have too many people in our town to keep an eye out and make sure they’re okay, and it isn’t like DOA is in lack of business. We have to do something.”
“True. Have you guys come up with another name?” Jude asked.
Rylee snorted, “Pit said we will always be Drago no matter where we live.”
“But doesn’t that defeat the purpose of us moving as well?” Jude asked in confusion.
“Nope. Heck already did his thing. No one and nothing will even remember the town we bought ever even existed. He already warded the shit out of it and since you aren’t going to go into business in town and neither am I…”
“What about Axl? Isn’t he going to try and open a restaurant or something?” Jude asked.
“Not in town. He and Gordy are going to open a place at the new location. We have a shit ton of residents of our own. Wiz is going to start offering computer classes for the townsfolk and help them with online businesses and anyone that has to work in town is going to have someone to take them and pick them back up. Pit’s getting some special vans, so if we have product that needs to be mailed in, we can do it ourselves,” Bren said.
Jude sighed, “It really sucks that our cover was fucked by that sleaze bag Loon. I guess it is what it is.”
Cover blown? Learning to operate businesses from the internet?