The Guardian

Chapter Thirty-Two

"How did you like my parents?" asked Seth as he put a nail in the wall above her bed for the picture that Alec and Deidre had bought Julianna for her birthday.

"They're really nice. I had met your father before, but I hadn't met your mother. And I was really surprised at the gifts that they and your brother got me. I wasn't expecting anything. I can't remember getting a birthday present before."

Seth smiled. "I know, and that makes it fun to buy you things."

"You told your parents about the picture I liked." She was secretly pleased and knew that she would treasure the picture for forever.

"Yes, I did. But my mother looked at your room and saw that you liked classic looks all on her own, so she was the one to pick the sweater and dress pants for you."

"How did she know my size?" She had been surprised. Deidre had never even seen her before.

Seth smiled. He had gone shopping with his mother, and had surprised himself by having fun choosing something she would like. "Comes with being a doctor. I guessed. And if I was wrong, we made sure that you could take back the clothes and get something that fit better."

She smiled, hung the picture on the nail and stood back. She adjusted the art until it was straight on the wall, then turned to her new clothes. She carefully hung them in her closet. "No, the clothes are perfect. I'll be able to wear them if I get an interview."

"That was the plan. Gideon got you the set of scrubs for after you get the job. And remember how I asked you for the final copy of your cover letter and your resumé? My father took them down to Human Resources himself so that he could be assured they will be considered for one of the positions."

She worried her lip. "I'm sure there are many qualified people who have applied. More qualified than me."

"I don't know about that. However, I do know you'd be good in the position. You're a smart person and you'll be able to figure things out quickly." Seth turned and led Julianna out of her bedroom, down the stairs and out to the kitchen. He stored the hammer in the small toolbox under the sink and put the kettle on to make Julianna a cup of peppermint tea. He knew she had developed the habit of having some before bed while she was at the group home. He had made sure that there was some in the house for her when she arrived.

"I never knew Gideon was your brother."

"That's a closely kept secret. You'll see him around the school, and you'll have to pretend you don't know him. He doesn't hang around your group of friends." Seth didn't mention it, but although Gideon wasn't a member of her group of friends, he had still kept tabs on her for Seth, reporting to him what Julianna was doing when Seth couldn't be there to guard her. It was one of the reasons that Gideon had been posted at Julianna's high school.

"I can do that. I rarely ever see him in the first place. We don't have any classes together."

"I'm not surprised. He's playing the part of a drugged-out junkie. He doesn't take the advanced placement courses that you're taking. He'd never be allowed to pass them and still keep his cover."

"I've seen him around school. He does a good job in the role. I never would have guessed that it wasn't real."

Julianna met Caleigh at her locker as the bell rang at the end of the school day. "Are you sure you want to do this at your house?" said Julianna. "We could just go to the library instead."

"The school library is closed this afternoon", said Caleigh. "The teachers are having a function there. No, it's okay going to my house. My parents are both at work, and I'm an only child. It will be a quiet place for tutoring."