#Chapter 143: Cousin Mary Comes To Town

Julian’s POV When we made it to Gail’s Alice shoved her way outside before Gail could even fully open the door. Immediately, she wrapped both arms around my legs, pulling me into the tightest hug she could manage. Smiling, I leaned down and then scooped her up into my arms so she could hug me properly with her arms around my neck. She must have been worried about me, but she didn’t say so. Instead she asked, “Did you pummel Uncle Roman?” “Alice,” Amber scolded. “We don’t use language like that, and we don’t talk about fighting.” Yet, even as Amber talked, as she looked at Alice clinging to me, her voice and face softened. She wasn’t really all that angry, that much was clear. Like me, she was probably warmed by Alice’s clear worry and care for me. Alice glanced back at her mother. “I just want to make sure Daddy is okay, Mommy. I wanted him to win.” “I’m okay, angel,” I tell her and kissed her on the cheek. “You won the fight?” Alice asked. “Yeah,” I told her. “Good,”