Page 77 of Gifts

But I shouldn’t have looked away. Asa’s eyes get big and the next thing I know, I’m almost bowled over by his ex-wife and the mother of his children.

Shocked by her invasion, I wince from my stitches being squeezed because I’m all of the sudden encased in the arms of Danielle Wegman. She’s sobbing—unruly and ugly tears—as she holds me in a tight embrace with my arms trapped between us.

“I don’t know how to thank you.” Danielle squeezes me tighter and I gasp from the pinching in my shoulder. “What you did—I’ll never be able to repay you. Thank you for saving Emma!”

“Um…” I start, but Asa interrupts as I sense him at our sides.

“Danielle, you’re hurting her. Let her go.”

She instantly releases me, but holds onto my forearms. Her face is a blubbery mess and she shakes her head. “I’m so sorry. Emma told me you had to have stitches from where you were shot.”

I groan.

Asa also groans.

“You were shot?!” my father bellows from the head of the table.

“Oh, my word!” my mother gasps, reminiscent of as scene from Gone With the Wind instead of standing in my dining room in the twenty-first century.

“Keelie Elizabeth!” Aunt Lillian Rose exclaims, sort of excited, her tone confirming this is way better than her evening shows.

“I can’t believe you were shot and didn’t call me!” Stephie exclaims.

Danielle ignores everyone and grips my hands, demanding my attention. “I’m so grateful. Emma told me how brave you were and Asa told me how you’re helping with her at school—”

“Mother!” Emma yells from across the dining room.

Still, in a fashion that only Danielle must be known for, she carries on without any interference from anyone. “—and Levi told me how nice you are, letting them stay here after what happened until the repairs are done on Asa’s house. Thank you,” she gives my hands a squeeze, “I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”

By this time everyone is crowding us and I suddenly feel flushed—claustrophobic. I return her hand squeeze, though mine is as weak as the current state of my knees. “Ah … you’re welcome.”

“Mom.” Emma pulls her mom’s hands off me and when I look over, her face is a mix of something between embarrassment and frustration. Danielle forgets about me and wraps her daughter up in her arms. Even though Emma allows this, she looks at her dad with wide eyes and mutters to her mom, “Chill out.”

Asa shakes his head while Danielle holds Emma tight and keeps talking. “I’m just not used to being away from you both and then this happens. I had to see you.” She pushes her daughter back to get a good look at her. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look skinnier, has that happened since the shooting?”

“Yes, the shooting,” my dad interjects from my other side. His face is tight and angry, standing stiff with his arms crossed. “Do tell us about this shooting, Keelie.”

I open my mouth to make something up, but Danielle butts in. “From what I know, she was so brave and saved my daughter’s life. I guess there were bullets flying from multiple guns. It happened in Asa’s driveway and Keelie was hit, but she shielded Emma with her body the whole time. Emma and Asa told me all about it. Keelie ended up with stitches but, thank God, they were both okay.”

Well, now. Those aren’t the words I would’ve chosen to use when lying to my family about how I was shot at—but what’s done is done.

My father’s eyes are as big as saucers, my mother looks like she might need smelling salts, Aunt Lillian Rose seems mildly impressed, and my sister, well, she looks like she might kick my ass for not telling her sooner.

Stephie narrows her eyes and glares at me.

Definitely—she’s definitely going to kick my ass.

“Levi,” Asa clips. “You and Emma take your mother to the family room. Now.”

“I’m sorry.” Danielle looks around. “It looks like I interrupted lunch.”

“How long are you here for?” Levi asks, and if I didn’t know better, he’s probably worried he’ll miss out on more time with his girlfriend.

“I fly back Tuesday. I don’t even know where I’m staying yet—I just couldn’t go another day without seeing you.”

A weird silence blankets the room, the type of uncomfortable quiet that forces one to do anything to make it go away so, like a fool, I open my mouth. “If you need a place to stay while you’re here visiting Levi and Emma, I’m sure I can make room—”

“No.” Asa’s voice comes out strong, cutting me off and pins me with a glare before turning it to his ex-wife. “I’ll get you a room. Levi, you and Emma take your mom to the family room and catch up there.”

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