Betrayed

What do I do now?

Janice was eager to hear all the details about my morning with Gabriel and the doctor, though I felt that she was more interested in the Gabriel part. She was very supportive and empathetic about the situation and declared she was going to move back and take care of me after my surgery.

"No Janice, I'll be fine!" I assured her. Remi told her several times that he was going to take care of me during my surgery and although it took a bit of time for him to convince Janice, she finally conceded that I was in good hands.

"You better take good care of my girl," she glared at him. She was a good foot shorter than Remi but that didn't stop her from asserting her dominance with him. Remi smiled down at her and nodded.

"Yes ma'am" he said bowing slightly.

"Now you two love birds run along, Aunty Janice has some dishes to do '' she said, shooing us out of the kitchen.

"You're sure?" I asked as I surveyed the mess of dishes all over the counter.

"Yes, I will get Sam to help me out. Don't worry your pretty little head, you have at least an hour of alone time before I go to bed" she said and winked at Remi. Unaccustomed to Janice's teasing, Remi's face reddened at her implication. I pulled his arm towards me, directing him out of the kitchen before Janice continued picking on him. We met Sam and Gabriel on our way back to the cabin.

"Where are you two going?" Gabriel asked sternly.

"None of your business" I snapped.

"Ace, you can't go in there," Gabriel warned. Flustered, Remi looked from me to Gabriel in confusion.

"I'll meet you at the river Harper" he said softly, placing a peck on my cheek. The hand that was around my shoulder dropped to his side and he walked off towards the river.

"Mind your business Gabriel" I muttered under my breath, glaring at his smug looking face. 

"You know I don't need him here right?" he said in a low threatening voice. I glared at him in defiance.

"The season is almost over, why would you get rid of him?" I challenged him.

"He isn't following the camp rules that are set for your protection and I have plenty of older, more experienced welders here."

"Oh please, Gabriel"

"If it were any other man doing the things Ace is doing, I would have fired him a long time ago" he said quietly through clenched teeth.

"Bullshit. Leave me alone, I'm not a damsel in distress" I turned my heels to him and called out: "Remi, wait!" Remi stopped and waited for me to catch up with him wrapping his arm around my shoulder once again as I snaked mine around his waist. I heard an engine rev and spin out of the campsite. I had no doubt it was Gabriel, but I didn't give him the satisfaction of looking back, nor did I give Remi any reason to doubt my interest in him. We enjoyed each others company down by the river until the sun began setting.

**

The next day, Janice ran into the kitchen, breathless, startling me.

"Harper. Quick. Come. With. Me" she panted. Expecting the worst, I wasted no time with questions and ran after her. We stopped in the work field where two shirtless men were digging an incredibly deep hole. I watched them work for a minute then looked at Janice who had a blissful smile on her face.

"Why am I here?" I asked her, confused.

"Shhh, just watch," she whispered, fanning herself. Upon closer inspection I noted the shirtless men to be Remi and Gabriel, the two of them working intently almost competitively.