Surrogate for My Brother-in-law - Chapter 32: Chapter 32

“Thank you for trusting me,” Ethan said. “Do you want me to keep calling you Angel when you're in the mask?”
“Yes,” I said. “I don't want anyone else to know.”
“Okay,” Ethan said.
The salad course arrived a few minutes later. I dug in, enjoying the crisp greens and fresh vegetables. The waiter seemed very happy that I liked the salad, and offered a second helping.
When he left, I asked, “Why is everyone being so nice to me? It's a little weird.”
I was most used to being ignored. I was just a half-blood. If I wasn't ignored I was bullied.
Ethan sighed and leaned closer to me. His face sobered.
“Tessa, most people don't know this, because we don't want to cause a panic.”
“What?” I asked.
“We are in desperate need of healers,” Ethan said.
“What do you mean?” I asked. There were other healers. Dr. Lee said her brother was one.
“Healers have always been rare,” Ethan said, “and when the Rogue attacks started, they targeted the healers.”
“Why would they do that?” I asked.
Ethan shrugged. “I can't understand it myself. Their side needs healers too. But they did it.”
“They're monsters,” I whispered.
“Most of them were desperate, I think,” Ethan corrected gently. “It's a dangerous trap, to make your enemy a monster in your mind. They're just people.” He frowned. “Although it's tempting to break that rule for the King. He was a piece of work.”
“Did you fight him, too?” I asked.
“I was leading the group that drew off his second in command,” Ethan explained. “I wish I was there. I wouldn't have done much better than Leo, I know, but I wish he hadn't faced that alone.”
“Me, too,” I whispered.
“Hey, he's getting better,” Ethan said. “And I'd be willing to bet that's because of you.”
“W-what do you mean?” I stammered.
“Leo was badly injured after that fight,” Ethan said. “And believe me, I had the best doctors available look at him. He was as healed as he was going to get.”
I winced, remembering what Leo had been like when he'd first arrived to marry Eva.
“And then he marries Eva, marries his pack to yours. And you become his personal maid. And suddenly he can see again. His wolf is speaking to him again. His scars are fading.”
I looked away. “It... it's not like that. He just made me his maid because of that chore list you showed him. He felt bad for me.”
“Yeah, that sounds like Leo,” Ethan agreed. “And I bet you, a barely trained healer, felt pretty bad for Leo. Hm?”
I shrugged and ducked my head. I could not tell Ethan how I'd come to be able to heal Leo.
“Hey, no judgment here. You're a healer, you see someone hurt, you have to try.” Ethan shrugged.
“You... won't tell him?” I whispered.
“Nah, although I'm a little baffled why you are so determined to keep it a secret.” Ethan said.
“Thank you,” I said.
“I promise you, nothing bad would happen if Leo found out you are a healer,” Ethan said. “He'd be overjoyed, actually.”
“Because healers are rare?” I guessed.
“That, and because we will need as many as we can find and train, very soon,” Ethan said.
“Why?” I asked.
That time it was Ethan who hesitated to speak.
“The Rogues are gathering again,” he finally said. His voice was barely above a whisper.
My blood ran cold. I wrapped my arms around myself. I remembered the day the Rogues attacked my pack.
I remembered how scared I was, how I hid while they attacked my mother. I remembered the way the screams echoed through the halls and there was no one to come help us.
They were coming back? That could happen again?
I didn't realize I'd whimpered until I felt Ethan's arms wrap around me.
“Hey, it's okay,” Ethan said. “We'll stop them. We did it once and they were stronger then. We know they're coming now. We're ready.”
I shivered in his arms.
“Is she all right?” the waiter asked.
“Yes, I'm afraid she received some upsetting news,” Ethan explained.
“I could bring some wine, with the main course?” the waiter offered. “It might help”
“Please, that would be very helpful,” Ethan said.
“I...” I hesitated. I couldn't drink. I was pregnant! But I could not tell Ethan that.
“Oh, I'm sorry, do you not imbibe?” Ethan asked. “I didn't think to ask.
“I don't,” I said. “I'm sorry.”
“It's no problem. I'll take a glass, to be polite, and explain that you're abstaining for a planned healing. They'll understand.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“No, it's my mistake, I should've let you answer. It's a bad habit of mine, speaking over others.”
Anything else he would have said was interrupted by the return of the waiter with a well laden tray. He deftly placed a plate in front of me and then Ethan. Properly, he should have offered food to the alpha first.
But I was learning that people considered healers a special case. So I smiled and thanked him.
He showed Ethan a bottle of wine and poured a half glass for him, and then turned to me.
Before I could explain that I didn't drink, the waiter's sleeve caught on something and his wrist jerked. The open wine bottle dropped. He caught it in an impressive display of reflexes, but some of the wine splashed out and hit my shirt.
“Oh no, I am so, so sorry,” the waiter yelped. “I don't know how I was so clumsy...”
“It's okay,” I said.
“No, no, let me get the owner. He'll make this right. I'm so sorry.”
“Wait, don't...” I protested but the waiter was gone.
The owner rushed over. “I am so sorry, Dr. Angel, Alpha Ethan. I will of course insist that you do not pay for tonight's meal, and let me assure you our staff are not normally so careless.”
“It was my fault,” I rushed out.
I couldn't help but imagine what would have happened to me if I'd spilled wine on a guest. I'd be lucky to walk the next day after the beating. I couldn't let something like that happen to the nice waiter just because of a few drops of wine.
“Pardon me?” the owner looked over at me.
“I, um, I bumped him. His arm. I didn't mean to but it happened and he caught the bottle, it's not that bad,” I insisted, daubing at the dark red stain.
“Angel, it's all right,” Ethan said. “No one's in trouble here. Right?”
“Right, of course. It was all an accident.” The owner paled. “Oh, you thought I was going to fire Jeremy for this? No, no, perish the thought.”
“I'm sorry,” I said. “I've caused a scene.”
“No, no, miss, you're just a little rattled. I understand, you've had such a stressful night. Here, we keep spare shirts for our staff, in case of these accidents. Let me bring you one, and you may change in my personal office. No one will bother you. Take a moment to gather your nerves.”
“Thank you,” I said, mostly into my own lap.
The owner returned with a crisp, clean shirt and a small cloth bag to hold my ruined one. He showed me to a small office off the kitchen.
I took a moment to breathe after I changed. He'd said he wouldn't fire the waiter. Jeremy wasn't going to lose his job because of me. Everything would be fine.
I stepped out of the office and saw Jeremy was waiting for me by the kitchen. He offered me his arm.
“I heard you tried to take the blame,” he said, “That's so sweet of you. Are you okay? You're shaking.”
“It's been a long day,” I admitted. “I'm fine, now.”
“If you're sure. Let's get you back to your table so you can eat. And I'm bringing you a complimentary dessert, no arguments, healer. You'll feel better after our house special cake. Chocolate ganache makes everything better.”
I smiled and followed him back to the table.
Which was, of course, the moment I saw Eva and Leo enter the restaurant.