Julia

The holidays aren't bad. It's the winters that suck here. Mother Nature can't make up her mind. One minute, we have a heatwave in winter. The next, it's below freezing outside. Let's not forget about the snow and ice, too.

January decided to make its mark with frigid temperatures outside. The college and schools canceled classes for a few days due to the below-zero temperatures.

So, I stayed in my sweatpants, hoodie, and fuzzy slippers. I might as well stay toasty if I'm home.

I heard pounding on my front door on my way to the kitchen to brew coffee and answered it. Grace and Stella shoved me out of the way when they entered.

I closed the door and looked at them while they removed their coats. "Don't you have a home?"

"Yes, but our parents won't let us stay home alone. They're afraid we'll set the house on fire," Stella said with an eye roll.

"That's because you caught your kitchen on fire when your dads weren't home," Grace said.

"It was one time." Stella raised her finger. "You would think my dad's thought it was intentional."

"You heated food wrapped in aluminum foil in the microwave."

"My dads could have warned me that aluminum foil would spark in the microwave."

"You're not touching our microwave, firebug." I shook my head and headed to the kitchen. I needed caffeine to deal with these two.

Grace and Stella were fifteen. If they stopped starting fires, they might make it to sixteen.

Lucky for me, they followed me into the kitchen.

"Where's Jas?" Grace asked.

"Sleeping," I said, grabbing the creamer from the fridge and pouring it into my coffee cup.

"I wish I was sleeping. What's the point of school getting canceled if you have to get up early?" Stella asked with a shrug.

"Uncle Casper and Hayes don't care. They care if you set their house on fire," Grace said.

"We could live with Grandpa Oliver and Conner if that happens."

"I doubt Uncle Casper wants to move in with our grandpas. Dad already threatened to tie me to my bed if I attempted to ask Grandpa to move in."

"Why would you want to live with your grandfathers?" I asked.

"Have you met my dad?" Grace gave me a deadpan look. "The guy told me I couldn't date until I was thirty."

"Only because Uncle Jordin is the guy you hide your daughters from," Stella said.

"At least Mom didn't smack him with a babydoll at last year's pageant."

"No, but you didn't get to deal with Preston, either."

"We have a screwy family."

Stella nodded. "Yep."

"Since your parents saddled me with you, do you want breakfast?" I asked.

"We thought you would never ask," Grace said with a cheeky grin.

I shook my head and grabbed stuff to make breakfast. Since Jas would get up in a bit, I'll feed the natives.

"We heard Jace gave you a promise ring," Stella mentioned.

"Yeah, he did."

"I can't wait until a guy gives me one," Grace said.

"Isn't theory too old for a promise ring?" Stella cocked her head to the side and wrinkled her nose.

I focused on waffles and sausage while Grace and Stella debated Grace's dating age. Uncle Jordin needs to chill since I doubt Grace will wait until she's thirty to date.

Jas shuffled into the kitchen, grabbed the orange juice from the fridge, and poured a glass before returning the carton. "Why are you here and not at home?" She sipped her juice.

"Our parents don't trust us," Stella said.

"If I were your parents, I wouldn't trust you, either."

"How can you say that?"

"You're a firebug, and Grace can't stay away from the guys."

"You lack faith in us, Jas."

"No, I know you crazies. Where's Lydia and Luna?"

"They're hanging out with Sofie and her heathens," Grace said.

I gave Grace an odd look. Casp will be at the construction site if we don't have classes. I could have used his help to deal with this chaos since Jace was working.

******
Jace

With the frigid weather outside, we encountered a furnace issue. Odin called Owen, who has an HVAC license. Owen arrived and checked out the furnace.

"Well?" Odin asked.

Owen finished checking everything before giving us the news. "The blower motor isn't working. But that's not the only problem. The control board is fried. Whoever installed the furnace wired it wrong. We're lucky it didn't cause a fire."

If the furnace were shot, I would need to replace it. At least two grand would be the cost.

"I'll order a new unit and install it."

"I don't have the money for a new furnace," I said, knitting my brows.

"No, but I do," Jordin said.

We looked at Jordin.

"I can't let you pay for a new furnace for me," I said.

"Yeah, you can. I owe you."

I pulled in my brows in confusion. What did I do that Jordin owed me?

"I'll order the new unit, deliver it, and install it. It'll take a few days. Since there's no heat, there's no work. Everyone goes home," Odin told everyone.

Everyone packed up to head home.

I stopped Jordin to talk to him. "I don't understand what you meant that you owe me."

"You accepted Uncle Bradley and Aunt Hazel as your family. I struggled with my adoption. You showed me why adoption is important," Jordin said.

"I just wanted parents." I shrugged.

"And you got them. Uncle Bradley didn't have it easy growing up, but he showed us kindness and care. Jace, you're family. You love my niece. I would do the same for Dallas and Braydon."

"Thanks, Jordin."

Jordin nodded before leaving the house.

I packed up before locking the door and heading to Jules's house. If I couldn't work, I might as well spend the time with my girl.

*******
Julia

We finished breakfast and cleaned up when I heard the front door open and closed.

"Pumpkin! Peanut!" Dad yelled.

"In the kitchen!" I yelled back.

Dad and Jordin strolled into the kitchen.

"Wait. You made breakfast and didn't invite us? You wound me, Julia," Jordin said.

Dad chuckled.

I rolled my eyes. "I had to feed the natives since I got stuck with Grace and Stella."

Jordin grinned before collecting Grace and Stella and taking them home. Thank the lord. I didn't need Stella to start a fire.

"Wait. If you're home, what about Jace?" I asked.

"Give it a minute," Dad said.

The front door opened and closed before Jace appeared in the kitchen, trying to warm himself.

"What happened?" I asked.

"The house needs a new furnace. Owen is ordering one, but it won't arrive for two days. So we get a reprieve," Dad said.

"Works for me." I shrugged before greeting Jace.

******
Jace

Dexter made everyone hot cocoa since it was freaking cold outside. We sat around the living room and huddled under blankets, drinking hot cocoa.

"How did you draw the short straw to watch Grace and Stella?" I asked, warming my hands on the mug.

"Dumb luck on my part." Jules shrugged, drinking her hot cocoa.

"You didn't let Stella use the microwave, did you?" Dexter asked.

"God, no.  I'm not insane."

Dexter chuckled.

"I told everyone the cousins were crazy," Jas said.

We laughed.

My phone rang with an incoming call from Dallas. I answered it. "Hey, Dallas."

"Jace," Dallas said.

I sat forward and set my mug on the coffee table while everyone looked at me. "What's going on?"

"It's Braydon."

"What's wrong with Braydon?"

"He switched therapists."

"What?"

"The coach gave him an ultimatum. Braydon could switch therapists or ride the bench. If Braydon doesn't play, he can't get sponsors. It's a mess. Emerald isn't happy."

"What about Darby?"

"Darby is fine. The doctor said there were no changes at her last visit."

"Okay. Let me make some phone calls. Tell Emerald to hang in there."

"Okay." Dallas ended the call.

I called Grayson and told him what was happening.

"You didn't tell Dallas I have the contract, did you?" Grayson asked.

"No."

"Good. Don't. I must gather evidence to take to a judge to get an injunction."

"What will an injunction do?"

"It will stop the owner and coach from using legal action against your brothers."

"Did you find out who gave the green light at your office?"

"Yes. I fired them and filed a lawsuit against them. It was a legal aid who had no right to authorize that contract. I also learned more about this situation but can't disclose it to you."

"Is it bad?"

"I won't lie to you, Jace. It doesn't look good."

"Great."

"I'll keep you and your folks updated on the case."

"Okay." I ended the call.

"What's going on, Jace?" Jules asked me.

"The coach pushed Braydon into a corner. He switched therapists."

Dexter furrowed his brows as Jas said nothing.

"Grayson found out a legal aid was who green-lit the contract. He fired the person and filed a lawsuit. It's a huge mess right now."

Jules wrapped her arms around me and held me.

I hope Grayson can figure out this mess before it causes more damage. I had a feeling it wouldn't matter in a few months when my brother's life imploded because of people's greed.

My family and I would learn about the worst type of betrayal when it happened to our family.