Alien in the Family

time to shop for this?”
    “I went down to the mall about fifteen minutes after you and James. I figured it was the best time. I’d picked it out when I felt your terror with Moira, told them to hold it, and ran for you. I had my father make sure it was held, and he picked it up when he got the clothes for you. I picked the clothes out while waiting for backup with Moira. Had to do something to fill the time.”
    “No complaints. You know, your dad loves you so much, Jeff.”
    “Yeah, I’ve picked that up. Finally.”
    “Are your blocks down?” I tried not to sound worried. Failed.
    “No, they’re all up and functioning. You’ve just helped me . . . filter a little better when it comes to my parents, that’s all.”
    I felt pleased for a moment, then I had a horrible thought, and my stomach clenched. “If you’d gone down first, or with me . . . Moira would have gotten you .”
    Martini held me tighter. “No more what ifs. At all. It’s bad enough we almost lost James, but I don’t want you living with that kind of worry, especially since it’s based on nothing. ‘What if’ doesn’t help anything, and it changes less.”
    “Okay, I’ll do my best. Jeff?”
    “Yeah?”
    “How are you reading my mind all the time?”
    He sighed. “I’m not. I just pay attention to you—because I love you. And, like I said, you broadcast your emotions.” I could hear evasion in his voice.
    “And?” He didn’t say anything. “Jeff, I know there’s got to be an ‘and’ in there.”
    “Okay, fine. I just didn’t want you to worry.”
    “About what?”
    He took a deep breath. “The drugs the Club Fifty-One people gave me?”
    “Yes? The ones that could have killed you and pretty much drove you crazy? Hard to forget those drugs.” I tried not to let the dread take over. Failed.
    He hugged me more tightly. “They’re out of my system, but . . . they affected me.”
    “How?”
    “Remember how I told you they enhanced my powers to where I could feel every emotion you had and almost see you?” I nodded. “Well, I still can, but with even more . . . depth. I can’t read your mind, exactly, but pretty close. Only you, though. With everyone else it’s the same as in the past, maybe a little more enhanced than before. So,” he added dryly, “I knew what the football players were up to. I just decided to trust you on it.”
    “I call that personal growth.”
    “You okay with it?”
    I thought about it. “Yeah, I am. I kind of like it, in a weird way.”
    “Sums up our entire relationship.”
    “Pretty much. What about your healing?” He’d been amazingly active awfully soon after his beat down from Kyrellis.
    Martini grinned. “That’s another positive—my regeneration has sped up. I’m stronger, too, and a little bit faster than I used to be.” His expression changed to quietly upset. “I’d say it was all worth it if I hadn’t come so close to losing you forever.”
    I hugged him. “It’s in the past. Everyone’s here and fine, and that’s what matters. And as long as the only aftereffects make you more awesome, I’m good with it.” I looked at the clock. “We’d better get going. We’re late.”
    “Dad knew we’d be late.”
    “I didn’t think you heard anything he said.”
    “He knew I was giving you this tonight.” He leaned back. “What do you mean, what he said?”
    “You agreed that I was going to be passed around to every man at the restaurant and then go to Australia with Chuckie.”
    “I did not!”
    “You did. Your dad will confirm it.” I laughed at his expression. “But, under the circumstances, since you really are planning to marry me, I think I’ll save myself for our wedding night and stay here with you.”
    “Thank God you like the ring.”

CHAPTER 44

    WE WERE ONLY ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES LATE to the restaurant, which I thought was doing pretty darned well for us.
    Our party did have the entire place, but it was small, and there were a lot more of us than I was prepared for, so it was packed. I looked around. “Oh, my God, Jeff. My entire family is here.”
    “I don’t see your dad.”
    “Everyone else. And I do mean everyone. Oh, my God . . . Uncle Mort’s here. And so is Richard! What is going on?”
    Christopher spotted us and shoved through the crowd. “Took you long enough. My dad was getting worried about you.” He gave Martini a meaningful look.
    “Yeah, sorry.” Martini put my hand out toward Christopher.
    He grinned. “Told