“No big deal?” he whisper-shouts, clearly not wanting to involve our mother. “What about your job? Do you at least get to file for workman’s comp?” His eyes scan my body, looking for anything else I might have hidden.
“Noah. I have it handled. I have another appointment next week.” No need to share that next steps depend on a new set of scans. I’d like to keep some autonomy until plans are concrete.
Mom’s voice drifts from the kitchen, her ears finally picking up the extra voice. Or maybe she just felt the tension rise. “Noah? Is that you?” She nearly bulldozes him with the force of her hug. “Oh, my baby boy. I missed you.”
“Hey, Mama. Just here to drop my things off. I’ll be back for dinner.” As he hugs her back, I notice the duffle at his feet.
“Where in the heck are you running off to, boy? You just got here.”
His eyes cut to me briefly before he gives Mama another squeeze. “Going to check in on Silas. I’ll be back.”
She looks back and forth between the two of us, and you know that look I said I didn’t like earlier? It’s back.
“Why don’t you invite him for dinner. You know I’ll make more than enough for the three of us. That boy needs all the help he can get.”
Her words strike a nerve, but I can’t pinpoint why. That combined with the pinched look on Noah’s face makes that knot of worry in my gut double in size.
I’m seriously missing some vital piece of information about the love of my life.
“Why is everyone worried about Silas? I talk to the guy at least once a month, and nothing’s seemed off. What am I missing?”
Noah is already shaking his head before I finish asking the question. “You want answers, ask him yourself.” Then he turns back to Mom. “I’ll ask, but don’t hold your breath.”
Chapter 8
Silas
Okay, I’ll admit it.
I am the overbearing, helicopter parent I always complained about as a kid. Why else would I send a text to my little sister after she told me on a video call an hour ago that she was fine and to leave her alone until tomorrow?
I guess I owe my mother an apology. She’d probably laugh and tell me she told me so. Or remind me that the stress of raising me is why she jetted off to another country as soon as I moved out.
Silas: You sure you want to stay with Aunt Hannah another night? I can come get you.
Aubs: U r hovering
Silas: Say the word and I’ll be there in five.
Aubs: I’m telling on u
The phone rings within seconds of her last text, Thorn Cason’s name lighting up the screen. I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose as I hit the green button.
“Sorry,” I mumble before he can say anything.
Instead of scolding me for not trusting him to keep Aubrey safe, he lets the big brother figure come forward. “She’s fine, man. Hannah has her messing around with a self-defense dummy, teaching her some protective moves. Kind of scary how vicious that little girl can be.” He chuckles.
“Thanks. I…” Words get stuck in my throat as I realize how dependent on that little girl I’ve become. She may be my responsibility, my kid sister, but she’s given me a reason. The realization knocks the wind out of me.
When I don’t continue, Thorn drops his voice to an almost whisper. “I know things haven’t been easy for you guys. You’re struggling with not having eyes on her. But I have every gate, door, and window locked and my alarm system is the same as yours. Top of the line. And you know this lump of fur is more protective of Aubrey than she is of me and Hannah combined,” he says, referring to Hannah’s protection dog.
“Think the pilot would let us bring a K-9 on the plane next week without asking questions?”
“If it would give you peace of mind, just say the word. We can figure something out.”
I was somewhat joking…I think.
“But for now, my little niece is having the time of her life with Aunt Hannah. I’ll bring her home at the first sign of distress. Swear it.”
