“What? That you’re an overprotective nut? I’d just set up a program to monitor their vital signs. Way less intrusive.”
Everett still underestimates me. I flip screens to the one with Hope’s vital signs.
“Oh.”
Exactly. “Sometimes I just need to see with my own eyes that she’s still alive.”
“I don’t really know Gabe, but yesterday was scary. It was like watching my mom die again.”
None of us stopped to think about how this might have affected Everett. I stop and lean against the wall. “That had to be hard.”
He shrugs. “It was like she was there one moment and gone the next. I’ll never got to say goodbye. I don’t even know where they buried her or if they buried her. It was common for them to cremate remains. She’s probably just dust that they tossed out without a single thought. These people aren’t human.”
He went through so much. “What was your mother’s name?”
“Tanith.”
“It started with the same letter as Mom’s.”
“That’s really common for twins.”
“It’s wild to think Mom had a twin who she never met. Was your mom a good cook like mine?”
Everett shrugs. “I don’t know. We didn’t have a kitchen.”
A bunker without individual kitchens. These little clues will help.
“Sharing your family—”
“Our family. You’re part of us forever.”
Everett blinks back tears.
“We’ll never make up for the fact that you lost your mom, but at least you’ll have someone looking out for you when she can’t.”
“Will you threaten doctors and offer to buy hospitals for me, like you did for Gabe?”
“I will.”
“Fiona almost lost her mind yesterday when Antonio tossed her over the wall. I don’t think she’s ever broken a rule in her life.”
Fea’s broken laws. “Not by choice.”
“You picked the best woman in the world. You know that, right? If I were five years older, I would have fought you for her.”
Everett wouldn’t have stood a chance. “Maybe if you put on a hundred pounds of muscle in those years.”
He flexes a scrawny arm. “I’m working on it. I gained some weight this week.”
“Let’s keep that up. It smells like Mom has something wonderful cooking in the kitchen.” The thought of food turns my stomach, but I’ll eat to keep up my strength. The family needs me to do whatever I can during this time.
“I don’t think it’s your mom.”
“Huh? Why do you say that? Mom always cooks when she’s stressed.” The more stressed she is, the more complex the dish.
“We’ll see.” Everett smiles.
That kid likes messing with people’s heads.
