Chapter Seventeen
JAMIE WASN’T surprised to find he didn’t have an apartment anymore.
What else was his landlord expected to do when there’d been no word from him for months?
The lease should have been renewed a month after the Gerans had snatched him.
At least all his stuff had been packed up and stored: Jamie knew that had to have been Lauren’s doing.
As the landlord’s wife, she was the one who took care of the tenants, took in packages when they were out, and generally acted like a mom to everyone in the building.
The hug she gave Jamie when she opened the door almost brought him to tears.
I might never have seen her again.
He owed Horvan, Aelryn, and their teams big-time.
“So where have you been?” Lauren asked as she poured him a cup of tea. “I was worried when I couldn’t get through to you either by phone or email. It was as if you’d dropped off the face of the earth.”
He glanced around her kitchen with its pale cream walls, cherrywood cabinets, and gleaming pots and pans hanging from hooks over the kitchen island, and he had to fight to maintain his self-control. It all seemed so… normal, and a universe away from what he’d been through.
“I can’t tell you,” he said at last. “I do understand why Craig gave my apartment to someone else when the lease was up. And thanks for storing my stuff. I don’t suppose there’s another apartment going empty right now?”
She shook her head. “And no leases up for renewal either, so there won’t be anything for a while.” She gazed at him, her eyes warm. “What will you do?”
“Oh, don’t worry about me. I’ll find something,” he said nonchalantly.
There was one route open to him—Aelryn had said he could stay at the school for a while. And if he did get a job there, that would be his accommodation taken care of.
“Well, when you find a place, let me know, and I’ll have Craig bring over all your things.
” She chuckled. “That man needs to be kept busy. Now drink your tea, and help yourself to some of my shortbread. You look as if you need fattening up a little. Wherever you’ve been, they obviously haven’t been overfeeding you. ”
If you only knew.
Jamie stilled. He didn’t like the negativity that had forced its way into his thinking of late.
Well, no more. I’m going to put the last months behind me and try to forget them.
Except he knew it wouldn’t be that easy.
“SO YOU’VE worked for the school before?” The new principal, Gina Payton, seemed easier-going than the previous incumbent, but they hadn’t gotten to the awkward questions yet.
The ones where he told her he used to be a Geran, and exactly what he did for the school. Two items that were sure to blot his copybook.
“Yes, but not as a teacher. My job was to interview parents who wanted their child to attend here. I realize that while this is still a school, it’s changed dramatically since—”
She held up her hand. “Mr. Matheson, I don’t want to dwell on the past. Since I was brought in to run this institution, I’ve made it my goal to provide a safe, positive environment.
Every student here was previously in a school in Texas.
They’ve been brought here to start a new life, and this administration is currently seeking foster families for them. ”
“Does the school provide therapy for the students? Because I imagine many of them will need it.”
She arched her eyebrows. “Why yes, we do.” She paused. “Where have you been since you last worked for the school?”
He looked her in the eye. “In a Geran camp in northern Maine.”
She studied him for a moment. “Then I should think you might need a little therapy yourself.”
“Let’s just say it’s on my to-do list.”
Gina leaned forward, her hands clasped. “You said in your email that you want to work here. In your previous capacity?”
He shuddered. “Oh gods, no. The way I described my previous employment made it sound quite innocuous. I don’t want to tell you what the school did with the information I gave them—a process I knew nothing about until someone opened my eyes to what was really going on.
” He paused. “I have a degree. What I lack are teaching qualifications.” And now he’d finally gotten to the point, his courage failed him.
Why would they want me? What benefit could I bring to the school?
Gina didn’t break eye contact, and he squirmed under her intense scrutiny. Finally she sat back in her chair. “I’d like to propose something rather unorthodox. You don’t have to say yes, but maybe you should consider it.”
Jamie blinked. “I’m all ears.”
“Suppose I were to offer you a place here as a teaching assistant. We’d train you on the job, as it were.”
His heart hammered, but before he could tell her what a wonderful idea it was, she held up her hand.
“However… I would also like you to work with our two counselors, to be involved in their sessions with the students. And I’d like you to consider taking a course in counseling.
I think you have a lot to offer our students.
” She smiled. “I know this isn’t how things are done in human schools—I’ve worked in a couple of them—but these are no ordinary students.
They’ve been brought up to believe they have a particular place on this earth, and—”
“I was brought up the same way,” Jamie blurted. “I believed what my parents and teachers told me. I was a student here too.”
She smiled, and it reached her eyes. “But you know the truth now, don’t you?”
He returned her smile. “Yes, ma’am.”
“So you have been where they are now. You know what is going through their minds. They need support, encouragement, and while the staff and counselors can give them that, you can give them something unique—understanding and insight.”
Jamie swallowed. “I like your unorthodox proposal, Ms. Payton.”
Her eyes sparkled. “I thought you might. Your salary wouldn’t be large to begin with—that will grow as you gain experience—but we’d provide you with all your meals, accommodation, laundry facilities…
.” She paused. “Although I should warn you about the two counselors you’d be working under.
They already have a bit of a following around here.
They’re rather exuberant characters, and the students adore them. ”
“Would it be rude of me to ask what they are?” He was dying to know.
She chuckled. “I don’t see that as an issue, seeing as you’ll be working with them. Shawn is a grizzly, and Brandon is a North American cougar. And one thing more….” She gazed at him. “I don’t know if you’ve ever met any shifters like them before.”
Jamie raised his eyebrows. “What makes them so different?”
“It was the first time I’d come across this, but since then I’ve met more, so—”
“They’re mates, aren’t they?” Jamie smiled. What is there, something in the water?
Gina stared at him. “You know about this?”
He laughed. “My half brothers have mates, their friends have mates, my dad has a mate. I guess you could say I know a bit about it.”
She beamed. “That’s something else you can discuss with the students. Word is getting around, and they have so many questions.”
“I’m not sure I have the answers, but I’ll do my best.” He tilted his head to one side. “Is that why they have a following? Because the students know they’re mates?”
“Partly.” She chuckled. “It might also be because they’re rather good-looking gentlemen, and they have a lot of admirers—girls and boys.” She extended a hand across the desk. “Welcome aboard, Mr. Matheson.”
“Delighted to be here, Ms. Payton.”
Gina stood. “I’ll show you the way to the staff accommodations and we’ll find you a room. Then we’ll come back and sort out the paperwork.”
For a while at least, Jamie had a home, and possibly two careers.
He was content.
JAMIE CALLED Dellan as soon as Gina had finished with him.
“Hey, how did the mission go? Are you still in the UK?”
“Yeah, we’re still here. Vic’s okay. Saul and Crank are with him at a clinic. Theron’s locked up in Richard’s dungeon until Aelryn moves him. Dad’s going to Rome with Seth, Brick, and Orsini. And… we lost Alec.”
Jamie’s throat seized. He’d hoped they could’ve done something, but….
“He was too far gone and in so much pain.” The tremor in his voice told Jamie how hard Dellan was fighting to keep his emotions under control.
“I’m so sorry.”
“But enough about us. What about you? What’s going on in Boston?”
Jamie told him the good news, and the joy in Dellan’s voice reminded him what a generous, kind man he’d gotten for a half brother. He’s going through hell, and he can still be happy for me.
“So what are they like, these counselors you’re going to be working with?”
“I only just signed my contract! I haven’t met them yet. In fact, all I’ve seen is my room.” Which was more than satisfactory. He’d call Lauren later and make arrangements to move his stuff.
“Well, let me know. And tell me how things are going, okay?”
“Of course. As long as you keep me informed about whatever Dad discovers in Rome.”
“I will. Visit as soon as you can, all right?”
“I promise. Give my best wishes to Horvan and Rael.” He hung up.
It felt strange being back in the school, a place he’d known since childhood. He had to admit, he liked the atmosphere.
They’re doing something right, obviously.
He walked through the hallways as the bell rang for lunch.
Doors opened, and kids of all shapes and sizes poured out from the classrooms, chatting, laughing like kids anywhere in the world.
Here and there he noticed a few students who didn’t appear as carefree as most of their classmates, their brows knitted, their eyes dull, but he also noticed how it wasn’t long before another student joined them, talked with them, linked arms with them.
They’re looking out for each other.