Barbara grinned. “Caleb’s pack can certainly do with some internal cleaning.”
“Alright, I should go.” Emma stood. “I need to go grade papers and homework for tomorrow.”
Emma kissed Jordan on the forehead. “Glad to see you’re doing better. Now hurry up and get back on your feet. Your students were split between our classes and all they ask for is you. In fact,” She dug through her handbag and pulled out a big card made out of construction paper, “this is for you.”
“I’ll walk you down to your car.” Ellie followed her to the door.
Jordan was getting sleepy from the painkillers. She watched Ellie and Emma walk out before turning to the card in her hands. A giant yellow sheet of construction paper had been folded in half. The front of the card displayed a bunch of yellow posies and a bear with a get-well sign. Inside the card, all her students had written little messages about how much they missed her and how they hoped she’d be back soon.
She didn’t realize she was crying until Barbara sat beside her and handed her a tissue.
“I’m sorry,” Jordan whispered, choking on the tears. Looking at that card, she realized what a close call she’d had.
“It’s alright dear. Those children clearly love their teacher.”
She covered her face with her hands, placing the tissue directly over her eyes. Barbara hugged her, and this was one of those moments where she was once again thankful that Ellie and her parents had been in her life.
“I feel so stupid. I’m getting upset thinking of what would have happened to Aric if I…If I hadn’t woken up again.”
Barbara glanced away from her. “My son would have experienced your loss very deeply.”
Jordan frowned at the way she said the words, almost as if it were too painful to consider. “How deeply? I mean he would have been sad, but he would’ve moved on eventually, right?”
Barbara smiled sadly. “No. You’re his mate. It would be devastating for him to lose you. I don’t know how much you know about mates, but it would take him years, maybe even his entire lifetime to get over losing you. It’s why protecting our mates, our families, is so important to us. The loss of one or both can kill us.”
If that were true, that would explain his anger the night he found her in the shifter club alone. Barbara was right. Anything could happen to her, and he’d be left to deal with it alone.
Something inside her cracked. She couldn’t imagine her life without Aric, and she wasn’t a shifter. If he felt half as strongly for her as she did for him, then she knew what she had to do.
“I can’t put him through that kind of pain. I love him.”
“And he loves you. It’s why he’s out hunting. He needs to get rid of any threat against you. Our family is all that matters to our kind.”
For a person who hadn’t really known what family was first hand, Jordan began to understand that she had been lucky to be taken in by them. “Why did you and your husband help me after my parents left?”
Barbara lips tilted up slowly. “So you finally ask. I didn’t think you ever would, seeing as you’ve been like another daughter to us for so many years.”
“Tell me, please.” Jordan fought the nerves twisting knots in her stomach. She hated thinking of those years, but they’d never hesitated to help her.
“When you were a tiny thirteen-year-old with her first crush on my son.” Barbara laughed. “I see you remember those days.”
“Well, in my defense, he was the cutest eighteen-year-old ever. And way too old for me, but still.” She had forgotten the fact the shifters scented everything. Jesus Christ. How often had she fantasized about Aric in front of his mother?
“He most certainly was. All my boys were,” Barbara said with pride.
Jordan giggled. “It’s why they’re the sexy four.”
Barbara’s eyes went wide and then she burst into laughter. “Oh, don’t let them hear you call them that or their heads won’t fit through my house door.”
“We only call them that in our man-bashing sessions.” Jordan laughed and then winced at the discomfort she felt. “Only our man-bashing sessions usually end up with us talking about how cute they all are.”
“I think I should come join in one of these sessions. They sound fun.”
“You’re definitely welcomed to. They are tons of fun, and there’s wine.” Jordan added as if she needed an incentive.
Barbara chortled. “As I was saying, you saw Aric and he saw you. That was it.”
“What do you mean that was it?” What did she miss out of the first time she met him?