#{c.jennifer}

Gabriel found her at work, because of course that’s where she was. Jennifer Fords was going to help as many people as possible, for as long as possible - but he was told she was owed an hour for lunch, and he hoped he’d be able to talk her into it. “Janey,” he called as she strode away from a patient, catching her arm. “Time for you to have lunch, they said.”

“Hey.” Gabriel bit his lip, hesitating. He needed to vent to someone who wasn’t Jazmine, because he knew he was being ridiculous, but he was fairly certain Janey wouldn’t want to hear it. He shook his head instead, offered a tight smile. “Have you worked out the mechanics of all the rides at the fall carnival yet?”

"Millie,” Gabriel called, exasperated. The puppy tended to alternate between either avoiding everyone or sticking to someone familiar, which was why he wasn’t worried when she slipped the lead. Which, he knew for a fact, hadn’t happened at all. More likely his mom had taken pity on her and unclipped her so she could do as she wished, darting around people playing volleyball, lingering around the fire, eating barbecued meat...

Austin and Marie were laughing among themselves, trailing after their son as he tried to track Millie through the crowd. They glanced up when they noticed Gabe’s figure had stopped moving, the wings lower than before, showing he’d crouched down. Probably to grab the puppy.

No. Well, yes, but, no. What had actually happened was that Millie had found Jennifer, and after an excited greeting from Gabriel - “told you you were his favorite auntie” was part of his first words to her.

“What are you doing, angel?” Austin was asking, amused more than anything else.

Gabe looked up, grinned at her, even more than he had when introducing someone he called ‘the best roommate he could’ve asked for’. “Dad, mom, I’ve told you about Jennifer, right?”

“Only in every email since you met her, Gabriel.” Marie’s voice was fond as she caught up, smiling at the girl in greeting. “I hear you’re to thank for my little boy branching out into buying me books for birthdays?”