Page 40 of The Defiant Curse

She ate more beef, and it was getting difficult to swallow as the emotion was welling up in her chest.

Graham went there.

“You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met,” he said. “That you stand for the dead…”

She was honest.

“It’s a curse most of the time. I carry them each step of the way. It’s like that scene in the Christmas movie when the man’s long-dead partner comes back with that long chain of sins. Each person who dies is put on my chain. I’m tired of carrying it.”

Michael was sure she was.

“I don’t know why I was cursed to do it, but here I am,” she said, laughing sardonically. “Deep in the pit with the shit falling in. Up to this case, I was able to stay ahead of it. Now, not so much. Something had to give, and it was me. Watching Jet die, getting shot in the head in front of me, and then seeing that Russian spy about ready to murder Winn and Caspian was a bridge too far for me.”

When her voice hitched, both men put their hands on her arms.

Graham was to the point.

“Talking about it helps. Michael taught me that. He said he learned it from you.”

She sighed.

“I’m annoying on a good day, clearly.”

The once-bodyguard laughed.

“Oh, so now, you see it. It’s terrible to have someone love you so much they are up in your business. How ever will we all survive being loved so much?”

She was amused.

“Apparently, I owe you an apology, Graham.”

He looked surprised.

“You do?” he asked.

She nodded.

“He gets his sass and sarcasm from me too. I’m annoying, apparently.”

They all laughed, and in that moment, her heart felt a little lighter. Was she still carrying the burden?

Yeah.

Only, having two of her sons with her helped. It wasn’t like she wouldn’t love being with any of her children, but they were still young. How was she supposed to talk it out with EJ and CJ when they were just starting to get to the age where pimples and girls were a thing?

She couldn’t.

Together, they continued to eat, and when they were done, Graham and Michael cleared, not letting her help. While she wasn’t a guest, she looked ready to drop.

“How about you show Mom around, and I’ll make some cookies?” he asked. “I hear someone likes them.”

She was the someone in that scenario.

“I haven’t had a homemade cookie in a while. Wyler’s been away.”

Graham glanced over at his husband for the cues. He wasn’t familiar with the whole family. There were a shit ton of kids, and people.

Michael shared.