Shades of Gray by C. Dulaney Read Free Book Online

business.” I reached up and squeezed both her shoulders. “It is, Nancy. You’ve been like a mom to us.”
    I let go and stepped to the side, leaning against the counter next to her with my arms crossed. I stared at the floor, trying to decide whether or not to tell her that I’d been having hallucinations, seeing dead people who weren’t really there.
    Nancy dried her hands and turned to face me. “You think I haven’t noticed the change in you? In everyone else? Of course I have. Is that why Mia is so upset?”
    “I don’t know.” I clenched my jaw. “I know she’s upset that I won’t take a break, because of these changes you’re talking about. She wants to go back out there without me. She and Jake argued about it on the way back. He said no, she said yes. You know how it ended, I’m sure.”
    “Oh yes, he told me all about that, but not the reason behind it.” She grew quiet and laid a hand on my arm. When the silence became obvious, I looked up into her face.
    “I’m fine, Nancy. Just a little burned out is all.” I closed my hand over hers and gave it a squeeze.
    “Alright, honey.” She wiped her hands on the front of her apron. “Course you’re fine, I don’t know what I was thinking. You know you need to make up with her though, right?” With that, Nancy turned back to her soapy dishes.
    I closed my eyes and blew out a quiet sigh of relief.
    “Yeah, I know. I’ll get right on that.” I squeezed her shoulder once more and shoved off the counter. “Thanks for supper.”
    “Anytime. Hey, I think John and the others are in the Head Room, going over assignments for tomorrow.”
    The “head room” was actually the large den adjacent to the living room. It got its nickname from the kids, because of all the animal mounts hanging on the walls. Deer, moose, elk, and one bear head. It just kinda stuck.
    “Okay, I might drop in. Or I might just head up and shower. Hit the sack early tonight.”
    I waited an extra beat in case she had more to say. She kept scrubbing the dishes, so I backed out of the doorway and headed toward the Head Room. I was pretty sure that by this time everyone would’ve heard about the fight and be aware of Mia’s position on me going back out. Most likely I’d be on wall duty for the next week or so as punishment for Andy’s death. I sure as hell wasn’t going to hide my face in shame. I hadn’t done anything wrong.
    The den’s door was closed when I got there. The voices on the other side were muffled, yet it was obvious they were discussing something that had Jake bent out of shape. Even through an oak door, the trademark swearing could be made out with ease. I raised my fist to knock and paused, wondering whether to wait or plunge headlong inside. I figured they were talking about me, whether I should be “grounded” or not. I wasn’t aware of anything else going on that would cause Jake to tear into them like he was. After raising and lowering my fist three times, I said screw it and knocked twice. The muffled voices died immediately, and I heard footsteps approaching the door.
    “Hey, girl, about time you got here,” John said. He grabbed me in a hug and pulled me inside, shutting the door behind me.
    “Uh, thanks, John.”
    I scanned the room. Everyone was there except Troy, Todd, and Eric. They must be on the wall . Troy was a pretty decent guy, but Dumb and Dumber had made my shit list about three weeks after settling in at the Winchester. Obviously the kids weren’t there either: this was a grown-up meeting, as Sam would’ve called it.
    “Pull up a seat. We were just going over the assignments for the week.”
    John patted me hard on the shoulder, as was his way, and pointed to an empty chair by the window. I spoke a word or two to the others as they said their various hi’s and welcome home’s , then sat down and relaxed back in the overstuffed leather chair. My fingernails tapping on the arm was the only sound in the room for an uncomfortable