Page 10 of Sick Little Devotion

I nod. “Okay.”

That sounds good to me, and as we step inside the big house, I realize that it smells really good. It’s clean. It reminds me of that one store at the mall—the one that all the old ladies go into. I like that store.

“This is your new place,” my new dad says. “Home.”

“What do you think?” Miss Parker urges, squeezing my shoulder again. I hate it when she does that.

“I like it.” No point in letting her bother me. She won’t be staying for long. She’ll leave and never come back.

“Do you want a tour? Or would you like to see your room first?” My new mom has a pretty smile. She looks like some of my friends’ moms. Only richer.

“My room.”

“Okay, let’s head down the hallway, then. You and Sahara are on the first floor. Martha and I will be staying down here for a while, too.” My new dad grins.

Man, I like him.

“Right in here, buddy.” He swings open a doorway down the hallway. I notice the bathroom before I get there. It’s got weird black and white tile. It’s different. But I guess I like it. It’s my home.

I step into the room and am surprised. There are cars everywhere. How did he know that I like cars? He sets my bag on the bed and smiles at me.

“What do you think Aiden?”

“I like it a lot.” I’m not used to anyone asking me these questions, but okay. I guess it’s nice that they’re asking me questions.

“Can you take me fishing?” I blurt out the question before I realize what I’ve said. My cheeks get really hot. I reach up to hide them as everybody goes really quiet.

“You’d like to go fishing?” The man tilts his head at me.

I swallow hard. “Uh… I guess so.”

“I’ll get the poles out of the garage, and we can go this weekend.”

My brows shoot up as this strange sensation rushes over my body. I’m happy. I’m really happy. I’m going fishing… with my new dad. This is going to be the best family in the world.

I look over at my sister, Sara. She looks weirded out by me. I don’t care. She’ll realize really quickly that I’m a good brother. I haven’t been one in my entire life, but I know that if I have a good dad that takes me fishing, then I’ll make a real good brother. He can tell me how to be a good brother.

“I think he’s happy,” Miss Parker says.

“I hope he stays that way,” my new mom says, and I catch a hint of what sounds like worry in her voice. I ignore it. I know I must have done something really bad for my mum and dad not to want me. But whatever it was, I won't do it again. And she’ll see.

I’ll be a good son.

Chapter Five

SAHARA

Istare at the ceiling, watching the fan blades spin. I used to love going to bed. It meant that Aiden would be here with me. He would climb into my bed, and I’d fall asleep to the sound of his breathing, enveloped in the comforting embrace of his scent.

But that was years ago.

The pain is still sharp when I think about the time that things changed between us… when everything fell apart. I shut my eyes and wish it away. Aiden taught me a trick a long time ago, to count to ten and try to breathe as slowly as possible. It always led to sleep—but ever since he left, it hasn’t worked.

I keep my eyes shut as I try to will myself to sleep. My breath slows and grows deeper as blackness sweeps into my mind, quieting the noise from the day. Will has left us alone about the robbery, although I think we might just be lucky this time.

And that’s the last thing I think before I think I hear the sash of my window sliding up something or someone entering my room. But I don’t wake up fully or even try to guess what made the noise. I wonder if there might be a mouse in my room. I don’t register the weight on the mattress. It’s just my mind playing tricks on me. It’s been doing it ever since he left—and it still happens some nights, even now.

Aiden go away.