Dream Partners: Dark Rain (book 2)

Chapter 32: Back to Normal

Andrea and Jay woke up together in their bedroom back on earth and they instantly looked at each other before darting out of their bed and down the stairs. When they got there, they found the rest of the family passed out gently on the couch as they both sighed a breath of relief that everything was okay again. Andrea quickly got dressed, kissed jay, and said "I'm off to work...sorry about your job" and jay smiled and said, "don't worry about it, I have a feeling I'm going to receive my job back with double pay". Andrea smiled and said "good, I'll see you later, love you" before heading out the door and getting into her car. Meanwhile, Jay used his telepathy to control the CEO that fired him and got her to confess to her misconduct and wrongful termination of jays position, and within a few minutes, he received an email offering him his job back with increased pay and vacation days. He smiled and accepted and filled out the proper paperwork thus solidifying the new deal.

Jay headed into the kitchen to cook, but Julie had already beaten him to it and was already making him a plate. She smiled and said, "eat up, today we're headed back to the house to clear the rubble away and I'm going to need your help". Raul came in and said, "yup, it's a tradition that when building something whether it just be a shed, all of the Mendoza men build it, together". Jay shook Raúl's hand and said I'd be honored to sir" and Raúl smiled and said, "call me Raul...you are one of mine, blood doesn't matter at all around here". After eating breakfast, they all gathered up the tools and made the phone calls before heading down to the site of the former Mendoza residence. The scene was utter devastation; the entire house was burnt out with most parts collapsed in on the second floor but that didn't stop them from entering the remains".

Julie was the first to enter and as the sight that was in front of her nearly brought her to tears, the entire living room was completely burnt and partially caved in, but surprisingly, her bedroom was still intact. As she walked into her room, there on the wall sat the family portrait of herself, her mother,  and her father; Raúl. After surveying the wreckage themselves, Joanna and Raúl came up behind her daughter and held her hands. Joanna said, "see this is a sign that if a family is strong enough, there isn't anything that can tear it apart...and we are strong...grab that picture and the rest of what you can salvage and meet me us back outside for the sendoff".

After everyone had made it outside, Raul nodded as two wrecking balls leveled the houses remains, and Jay snapped his fingers and cleared it all away, leaving an empty foundation. After that, Raul and the workers offloaded the piles of timber that would be used to frame the house and called it a day, and headed back home. When Jay got in, he was greeted by Andrea who pulled him into a kiss, until he noticed her family was watching and blushed hard. Andrea smiled and said, "okay, since I didn't have time to say it this morning, you guys will be staying with us but in the interest of me and jays privacy, your rooms will be in the finished basement downstairs". Andrea's mother said, "based on what I just saw, I would say that's fair".  

Andrea blushed hard before Joanna said, "relax darling no need to be embarrassed, we've all been there... oh the stories I could tell about Julie and her boyfriends". Andrea's mother blushed hard and said "no no no no and nope" as Joanna winked at Andrea and said, "maybe another time". Andrea slipped out of the house and drove over to Paula's house to escape the embarrassment while jay headed off to his office. When she reached Paula's house, she saw her best friend's demeanor completely change. She looked sad and that was understandable as her relationship with her parents was anything but perfect. She pulled her outside and said, "Paula you can pack your things because you're coming to live with me and Jay, we have plenty of rooms...if you want".

Paula sighed and said "I don't wanna crowd you and Jay" and Andrea giggled and said, "you're my best friend, anything that happens between me and him you would be the first to know so really there's no need for privacy from you at least". Paula smiled and said "okay I will live with you but I need to go pack" before Andrea snapped her fingers and said, "all done now let's go, we're having a small get-together tonight to celebrate being back". Paula hugged Andrea tight and said "thank you" so many times before she got in her car and followed Andrea home, feeling a lot better that she wouldn't have to deal with her parents criticizing everything she did and telling her she doesn't work hard enough when she knew she did.

When they arrived home and stepped through the front door, Paula was greeted by the family who welcomed her with open arms and it made her feel like she truly was where she belonged. Joanna smiled and said, "you better get used to that Paula because you're part of this family now and forever". Andrea showed Paula her room before heading to Jay's office to see what her gentle giant was doing. As she walked in, she smiled at the sight of him watching television instead of working hard. She smiled and said "good to see you taking it easy and he smiled and said, "yep but tomorrow it's back to work for me just for a few weeks while we prepare for our wedding". 

Andrea screamed and said "you really meant it?" and he smiled, pulled her into a kiss, and said, "yes, forget another year, now is the right time...before anything else happens". They both giggled before pulling each other into a deep kiss that lasted an awfully long time. After pulling away, Andrea smiled, looked him in the eyes, and said "I can't wait to start more adventures...as your wife" before kissing again and then watching tv until dinner was ready.