The months passing quickly, Jett is well settled into school. He grins to himself, Ah, a weekend at home. He's been bored in his classes and the homework is too easy. With all this free time he could wander and try to meet new people, but, why do that when he can stay home and entertain himself in the garden or with video games? Justice looks frazzled as he steps outside. 'Jett, would you please sit with Jace while I grab something to eat?' Jett chuckles, 'Sure. He's busy, isn't he?' Jace cheerfully chatters to Jett while Justice feasts on cake. Gathered at the table, everyone listens to Jett's stories of high school. Graduation is near, his classes are fine but it turns out he's been a bit shy, so he's still hasn't made any friends. That's okay though, he's not bothered by being alone. There's a big difference between being alone and being lonely! After the meal Justice and Jett clean up while Juliana takes little Jace up to his bed and tucks him in. Justice and Jett talk and tidy. 'Dad, I get that mom worries, so would you please try to reassure her? I don't really want to be all popular.' 'She's a social butterfly, so she doesn't understand why we'd be okay spending time alone. Truly, before I met your mom, I had two friends. They were the only two people I could stand in this town, but Jules changed that for me. You never know, you might meet the right person and decide being alone feels lonely after all.' 'Maybe...thanks Dad.' Justice casually dances behind Juliana as she works at her computer, 'So I talked to Jett. He's good.' 'Oh yeah? Anything I should know?' 'Only that I think he's got his social life under control, and it's about time for us to have the talk with him about what he'll be doing after high school.' 'Really, well, I know it's time, but it feels like it snuck up on me! I can't believe I'm going to send him off to Willow Creek alone.' 'Send who to Willow Creek alone?' Jett was alighting the stairs and caught the last of the conversation. 'Oh hey! We were just coming to get you.' Juliana grins and Justice looks sheepish. They would have liked more time to prepare. 'You remember how we were talking about my early years in town? Well, as soon as you're an adult it's your turn; you'll go to Willow Creek, lovely place with a plot of land that's been waiting for you in trust.' Jett smiles, a bit stunned. 'Um, where is this place? Willow Creek?' 'Just a sec, I think I can bring up the website with some info.' Justice smiles warmly, 'Independence! You'll love it!' 'Independence? Well, it would be nice to be on my own I guess. I do have questions, but I want to get them all organized in my mind before we talk about it.' Juliana smiles, 'It's fine, I'm sorry for springing this on you suddenly. There is some time left before we have to send you off.' Justice can hear stirring coming from Jace's room, so he excuses himself. Juliana smiles with optimism,'Here it is, the website for Willow Creek. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, it's nothing like Oasis Springs. Very green.' 'That sounds good to me! I mean, I love the desert, it's pretty and the weather's nice most of the time, but I'd like to be somewhere where the fishing doesn't require so much sun screen.' Juliana laughed, 'Yes indeed. I totally understand. Why don't you poke around a little on the site and see if you can find out anything interesting.' Justice finds Jace rubbing the sleep from his eyes with a big pouty lip. 'What's wrong, bud? Bad dream?' Jace points to the bed, 'Growler,' Uh, oh. That monster wouldn't mess with a little baby, would he? Justice makes a mental note to buy a bunkbed for him. He can't go through the monster thing again! Justice snuggles Jace and reflects on how fast life moves! Soon Jace will be in a big boy bunkbed, Jett is moving out, and Jules is having her birthday. It feels incredible that they've come so far from the days when Juliana was doing yoga in the front yard. Time has been kind.
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